The Tragedy of Errors

"Conquered, we conquer." -- Plautus


I am only mildly aware of the Roman playwright quoted above, because it is said that two of his plays inspired Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors." And I only thought of that as a result of watching the news, with its reports of infidelity, madness, and theft. I''d even add the demonic possession from Shakespeare's shortest play, though not in a "religious" sense. For there is no evil outside of human beings.

There are, as in that play, sets of twins, with masters and servants. If, for sake of this discussion, we can agree that the defendant is the devil -- the doer of evil -- we can get to the maga cult. It is easy to identify the most rabid among them: some in Congress, some in state offices, militias, Sov-Cits, Moors, and unhinged loners that neighbors will say was "a very quiet man who kept to himself."

We know to avoid these people in public. For we understand that in clusters, they are prone to January 6-type behaviors. A smaller cluster had plans to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer, to "put her on trial." And even as individuals, they are prone to being aggressively obnoxious in public places, including grocery stores and parking lots.

There is another sub-species of republicans that we must recognize. You may encounter them at extended family gatherings, in the work place, or in your neighborhood. Because they don't wear maga hats or have 20+ maga yard signs on their lawn, they can often fly under the radar. Older forum members will remember Senator Eugene McCarhy's description of the republicans in the 1960s:

"They're somewhat like the lowest forms of plant and animal life. Even at their highest point of vitality there is not much life in them; on the other hand, they don't die."

Perhaps mold comes to mind. Unfortunately, these republicans did not follow the defendant's suggestion to inject bleach in the early phase of the covid epidemic. So there remains an issue of mold between now and November's election. How potentially dangerous is that mold? The answer is found in the exact ratio of how much the do at the grass roots level, compared to how much you do.

My cousin called me yesterday, after he had an encounter with mold. (Note: my cousin is a very clean old man, much like Paul McCartney's grandfather.) On an internet archaeological web site, he was conversing with a fellow he's know on the site for years. Out of no where, the guy said he supports the defendant. My cousin asked why, as a retired union worker, he would vote for the defendant? The guy said because his disabled daughter is losing her house.

My cousin said the guy has always seemed a decent man, and intelligent. That despite his best efforts, he was unable to get the fellow to tell him how he connects his daughter's loss of her house with President Biden? Or what he thought the defendant would do about it?

My cousin said he talked with the guy for almost an hour, and found it exhausting. He said that he figured it must be like some of my experiences working at the mental health clinic. That he had been careful not to insult the gentleman, and wondered if I might chat with the guy? Thus, although I am from a different state, I recommended potential legal services for his daughter. And added that President Biden advocates for programs that assist the poor and disabled.

It's a tragedy, really, that a seemingly intelligent human being would support the defendant. It was a small investment in energy on my part, in an attempt to assist this guy transition from being ruled by fear and anger to rational thought. It remains likely he will not connect, so I do not spend much time on his one vote.

It is a wiser investment for me to communicate with undecided voters, those who are independents. One voter at a time. I know that they are thirsty for positive change in our society. So I refer back to a lesson from Malcolm X and explain we have a choice between a clean glass of water, and a glass of filthy sludge. I remind those of my generation that McCarthy didn't get the nomination in 1968, in the year Nixon was elected.

A surprising number of young people, my children's peers, like Robert Kennedy, Jr. Some know that my family has been friends with Robert for 35+ years, others a bit surprised to hear that. I tell them that Robert and I are friends, but that I do not support his running for president. I'm not opposed, in theory, to primary challenges, but I would not have supported Robert if he had stuck to that. And I explain why.

But there is an important step between this, with both old hippies and young activists: I listen to them. Respectfully. I don't ever say, "No, you are wrong." I keep that door open. Then I bring out those two glasses of water.