The Spirit Catches You…

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

The Book of the Week is “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, a Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures” by Anne Fadiman, published in 1997. This volume alternately told the story of every last detail of the medical history (too much information!) of a child of the Hmong tribe from the country of Laos, and how the child’s fate was determined by the clash between American and Hmong cultures.

The history of Laos from the 1960’s onward is an infuriating and depressing one. Via their war-orders, American presidents destroyed Laos’ populated areas with land mines, bombs, napalm and agent orange in order to cut off a major North-Vietnam supply route called the Ho Chi Minh trail.

To start with, JFK violated an international agreement that Laos (neighboring Vietnam and Thailand) remain neutral in the event of war in the region; this, by secretly ordering, via the CIA– the recruitment, training and arming of a Hmong guerrilla army (even child-soldiers); at its peak thirty-thousand strong. This militia (consisting of the “Royal Lao”) continued fighting the (Communist) Pathet Lao (who behaved genocidally toward the Hmong), through the LBJ and Nixon administrations. Previously, the Hmongs had been farmers, growing opium-poppies and rice. This expertise of the Hmong, provided “Quiet War” funding.

The Americans’ delivery of rice (terminated in June 1974) kept the peasants from starving to death. When the Vietnam war “ended” in spring 1975, about 150,000 Laotians flooded refugee camps in Thailand (the nearest country that would take them due to funding from the United States and other “democratic” nations).

Long story short, the American government destroyed the Hmongs’ peaceful way of life of agriculture and herding in the mountains of Laos. Thus, some politicians sought to salve their consciences by allowing a few Hmong refugees to come to the United States beginning in May 1975.

Preference was obviously given to the few thousand Laotian military members who had aided the Americans, and thereafter, about 25,000 Hmong arrived through 1980. The Hmong felt a sense of entitlement in collecting American public assistance, because: the CIA broke its promises to aid the Hmong in exchange for their risking their lives to help Americans fight the Vietnam war; and the United States military wrecked their country.

In 1980, the Lee family arrived. Born in July 1982 in California, Lia was the fourteenth child born to the Lees. As a baby, Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy. Even by the late 1980’s, not one tribal member who lived in their community– Merced, CA– spoke the English language. The language barrier plus lots of other cultural differences the Lees had with Merced Community Medical Center, led to many misunderstandings and serious physical consequences for Lia through the years.

The Hmong people perform rituals based on superstitions, beliefs and customs; for, they believe in honoring their ancestors, shamanism and alternative medicine in the form of herbalism and acupuncture. Their humungous families have multi-generational households, and their priorities consist of taking care of their families, then their clan, then their own tribe.

They stick together and their mentality is one of cooperation rather than competition. Here’s an example: “Then Jonas [who speaks five languages and works long hours; an anomalous member of the Hmong tribe in that he was educated and had jobs] drove home [of one residence] to his wife, his three children, his brothers, his brothers’ wives, his brothers’ ten children, and his ringing telephone.”

Read the book to learn much, much more about the cultural clash between the Lees and their American community, some history of Laos, and how, as is typical for war-refugees coming to America, the younger generation of the Hmong tribe is becoming assimilated in this country.

The Making of A Leader

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

The Book of the Week is “The Making of A Leader, The Formative Years of George C. Marshall” by Josiah Bunting III, published in 2024. This short volume detailed the career of a war hero, up until the late 1930’s.

George C. Marshall, whose name is fading from the public’s memory, was best known for playing second fiddle to Eisenhower in WWII, but he still did a good job. He was born in December 1880 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. As a military officer, he played well with others, even his subordinates.

During WWI, Marshall got glory for deploying American troops and equipment across France, more efficiently than was thought humanly possible. He made a small dent in reducing the total number of deaths (close to 52,000) and wounded (close to 200,000) in that war.

In summer 1919, after having experienced or heard about the horrors of the war gone by, most Americans’ attitude was anti-authoritarian and pacifist. They highly doubted a new dictator would rise up anytime soon; moreover, military aggression was so expensive. Contradictorily, perhaps desperately clinging to his job, General Peyton March, secretary of war, believed the United States should have a large military of half a million already-trained men at-the-ready to deal with future threats. General John Pershing, a WWI hero, thought half of that might be necessary, as additional men could be trained quickly.

The government assigned Marshall to be an instructor at military schools on and off through the years. In the early 1920’s, he became gatekeeper and assistant to the aforementioned Pershing, military chief of staff. This new Washington, D.C. administrative job also stalled his career. Commanding soldiers in a war was the fastest way to win medals, and get a promotion to a better military title and rank.

One time, a group of men from the Tennessee GOP came to Marshall’s office when Pershing happened to be out of town, to urge Pershing to run for president. Marshall turned them away. For, he knew Pershing would be another Ulysses S. Grant as president– a naive leader whose administration was horribly corrupt.

Through the decades, Marshall was paid very little money, but when stationed overseas, his family was provided with household help in what was considered luxury accommodations in those locales.

Read the book to learn much more about: Marshall’s personality, his colleagues, and how his talents were arguably wasted when he was assigned to sit behind a desk and push paper instead of training men to fight; and the first forty years of his working life.

I Saved the World – BONUS POST

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

As is well known, no one wants to see Iran experience the same kind of extremely horrible nuclear disaster Japan suffered in March 2011 (See this blog’s post, “Ghosts of the Tsunami”), and no one wants to see a radioactive cloud blow across the Middle East, to create a significantly higher probably of cancer for everyone.

Regardless of how Iran is stopped from launching missiles at Israel, America’s president Trump of course, is taking all the credit for doing so. Here’s what he’s singing now:

I SAVED THE WORLD BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU

sung to the tune of “I’ll Melt With You” with apologies to Modern English and to whomever else the rights may concern.

Ending wars, I get hardly any rest.

Making peace for you is never second best.

I saw Iran, threatening the Middle East.

As you know, my miracles never cease.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

The U.S. defense, is getting better all the time.

Iran with nukes, just won’t do.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

I give you a better life, Netanyahu and I are mates.

I’m creating a state of beautiful world peace.

I made pilgrimages to make America great, like no other leaders in modern times.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

The U.S. defense, is getting better all the time.

Iran with nukes, just won’t do.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

[The future is on my side.]

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

I’m making changes, and I’m getting better all the time.

Iran with nukes, just won’t do.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

[The future is on my side.]

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

The U.S. defense is getting better all the time.

Iran with nukes, just won’t do.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

I saved the world, but it’s not about you.

Face It

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

The Book of the Week is “Face It” by Debbie Harry, published in 2019.

Born in July 1945, Harry had terrible separation-anxiety because she was adopted after having spent a bunch of months with her birth-mother. She grew up in New Jersey, but lived in the New York City area in adulthood. She didn’t inherit major money, connections or mentors. This made her learning curve necessarily longer than other celebrities’.

Coming-of-age half a generation later, Cindy Lauper evolved largely similarly. Probably not coincidentally, the lyrics contained in Harry’s and Lauper’s biggest hits in the United States set the Women’s Movement back decades!

Here are the factors that allowed Harry to become famous as a singer in a rock-music band. She made herself memorable in that she:

  • was extremely persistent over years and years;
  • got friendly with Andy Warhol’s social group, and others who had show-business connections;
  • developed a unique sound;
  • found a partner in work and home-life whose creativity complemented her own;
  • sought out mentors;
  • experimented with fashion and hair colors; and
  • was a female lead-singer of a group, all of whose other members were male.

Read the book to learn numerous additional details about Harry’s life and social groups, and her band, “Blondie.”

Kristi Scandals – BONUS POST

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

As is well known, Kristi Noem is the United States Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Here’s a little song about her.

KRISTI SCANDALS

sung to the tune of “Sixteen Candles” with apologies to The Crests, and to whomever else the rights may concern.

[Having a bad day. Having a bad day, indeed.] Oh. I hate you so.

Kristi scandals

scream, “might makes right”

all to the delight, of the xenophobic whites.

She outs her-own scandals, makes her power-plays come true.

And she’ll be fishing, for dirt on YOU. [for dirt on YOU.]

The ends-justify the means. There’ve been brutal scenes.

She’s the most-ruthless, huffy-est DHS-chief, I’ve ever seen. [I’ve ever seen.]

Kristi scandals. Deportations will grow, until deaths and lawsuits

end her reality show, end her reality show.

The ends-justify the means. But there’ve been brutal scenes.

Oh, she’s the most-ruthless, huffy-est DHS-chief, I’ve ever seen. [I’ve ever seen.]

Kristi scandals. Deportations will grow, until deaths and lawsuits

end her reality show, end her reality show.

TACO Man – BONUS POST

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

It might be recalled that “TACO” stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Here’s a song about that.

TACO MAN

sung to the tune of “Rocket Man” with apologies to Elton John, and to whomever else the rights may concern.

He packed the Court to fight for the Right.

Gaining power, getting old.

And his proposals will mo-o-ost, likely be put on-hold.

He repulses the earth so much, left by his wives.

He’ll go lonely to his grave, from all his li-i-fe-long fights.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

In his shakedowns, we see all his lies.

He’s not the man the rich think they own. Oh whoa whoa whoa.

He’s TACO man, TACO man.

Doing the same deals he smeared in-the-past.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

In his shakedowns, we see all his lies.

He’s not the man the rich think they own. Oh whoa whoa whoa.

He’s TACO man, TACO man.

Doing the same deals he smeared in-the-past.

Mar-a-Lago ain’t the right place to hide secret-documents.

By the way, where’s the Wall?

Vance will be there, to raise taxes, you-know he must.

And all the academics, Trump doesn’t understand.

He relies on defamers eight days a week.

TACO man, TACO man.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

In his shakedowns, we see all his lies.

He’s not the man the rich think they own. Oh whoa whoa whoa.

He’s TACO man, TACO man.

Doing the same deals he smeared in-the-past.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

In his shakedowns, we see all his lies.

He’s not the man the rich think they own. Oh whoa whoa whoa.

He’s TACO man, TACO man.

Doing the same deals he smeared in-the-past.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time.

And we’ll be able to correct this wrong, wrong time…

The Playbook

[Please note: The word “Featured” on the left side above was NOT inserted by this blogger, but apparently was inserted by WordPress, and it cannot be removed. NO post in this blog is sponsored.]

The Book of the Week is “The Playbook, A Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War” by James Shapiro, published in 2024.

In the 1930’s, American president FDR implemented programs to help the unemployed during the Great Depression. One was the Works Progress Administration, a sub-program of which, Federal Theater (hereinafter referred to as “FT”), put thousands of people to work. However, there were numerous complications every time the group wanted to put on a play, because there were a dozen unions with whom to negotiate.

FT produced thought-provoking shows that starkly portrayed the dangers and immorality of fascism, totalitarianism, slavery, racism, etc. It risked having its funding cut for its political correctness. In autumn 1936, FT was able to stage the Sinclair Lewis novel It Can’t Happen Here because MGM had decided not to make a movie of it.

FT opened the inflammatory play in eighteen big cities across America. In Seattle the cast was inter-racial. New York City performed the play in Yiddish. The traveling version lasted 133 performances. Fortunately, audiences interpreted the play all different ways politically.

In September 1937, FDR signed affordable-housing (what activists for the downtrodden would call “gentrification”) legislation that was diluted due to fears of:

  • government competition with the private sector;
  • over-regulation;
  • budgetary excesses;
  • and Southern states’ getting short shrift because they were more rural than urban.

In response to the above, in 1938, FT staged One Third of a Nation. That theatrical production demonstrated how stakeholders treated America’s slums, which accounted for where one third of the nation’s population resided, according to FDR, as of early 1937.

The movie version was Hollywoodized– its funders were purchasers of distressed assets and profiteers. They made it a story about poor whites with a romantic subplot involving a “kindly capitalist” (the absentee landlord, or in the real world– a slumlord). A suicidal arsonist prompted the landlord to rebuild the place with trees and a playground. Everyone lived happily ever after.

Anyway, FT’s most vicious enemy turned out to be Martin Dies, a U.S. Congressman from eastern Texas, first elected in 1930. He had the KKK mentality, with xenophobia and misogyny thrown in. In 1935, he got himself on the Rules Committee, the most powerful committee in the House.

Dies also fast-tracked his power accumulation with his endless persistence. In 1938, he finally got himself appointed the head of a special committee that investigated a hot-button political issue; this, by chance, through teaming up with the exact right person who could help him– Samuel Dickstein, a Congressman from New York City who was equally driven to amass power and attention. They secretly allied with vice president John Nance Garner, who was on their side.

By spring 1938, their committee was claiming it was trying to root out subversives, Fascists and Communists, and prevent violence at Nazi rallies in America’s streets. But they had questioned a politically active Nazi who stayed right under their noses, and they failed to investigate him further!

Their real motive was to execute a smear campaign against FDR himself, in addition to his New Deal, and unions. So FT became an easy target, too. Ironically, “He [Dies] envisioned the hearings touring nationally, moving from city to city, beginning on the West coast and ending back East.”

One of Dies’ star investigators, Hazel Huffman, ignorantly equated Progressivism, racial integration, anti-capitalism and anti-fascism with Communism in her testimony. She recited verbatim lines from the FT’s scripts, out of context as evidence of Communist propaganda. Dies backed her up. They were so entertaining– newspapers, magazines and radio broadcasters presented her nasty, biased utterances about the FT, as fact. Dies realized he needed to keeping directing fresh accusations at FT and the WPA to keep the media in his back pocket.

Read the book to learn yet again, that there is nothing new under the sun, in terms of demagogues who use age-old propaganda techniques to amass sufficient power to commit crimes, oppress their fellow citizens, and spread hatred far and wide with total impunity.