Watering dead flowers
Watering dead flowers
For the Flower Lady
She said water the dead flowers
When the desert summer passes
They will come back in beauty.
Like in the Bible I said.
Water the dead flowers.
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz
Bob Schwartz
August 16, 2024
July 25, 2024
Netanyahu and Trump bring out the worst in Jews, Americans and people
Above is Jimmy Carter. His presidency is seen by many as a mixed bag. His humanity was and is never in question. He is now 99 years old, and nobody in American history has had a more successful or shining post-presidency. As for his administration, he is a world leader who brokered a peace deal in the Middle East, a rare milestone.
Which is a segue to Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke yesterday to Congress, at the invitation of Republican Speaker Johnson, a speech boycotted by many Democrats, a speech that resulted in a large and difficult protest by opponents of Israel’s Gaza war.
Netanyahu is a segue to Donald Trump, who Netanyahu desperately wants back in the White House, because Trump is his kind of president—corrupt, dangerously self-interested, inhumane, etc.—and because President Trump will allow, encourage and enable whatever scheme Netanyahu has to stay in office and avoid peace. Netanyahu correctly views Trump as his less smart but equally narcissistic but more powerful brother, one he can wrap around his finger.
Just as Trump has brought the worst out in many Americans, that is, the worst that was already there, Netanyahu has brought out the worst in some Jews. Nothing those Americans learn about who Trump is or what he has done or plans to do seems to bother them. Nothing those Jews learn about who Netanyahu is or what he has done or plans to do seems to bother them. Thus always with demagogues.
There are no easy answers, In America, we can elect Democrats for every office, from president on down, because Republicans who remain in the party are all in Trump’s thrall, whether or not that’s what is actually in their hearts and minds. For Jews, we can stand up for the humanity that Judaism in its best lights and moments represents, and which Netanyahu doesn’t.
While we are at it, consider Jimmy Carter as a role model. A man of genuine faith, a man whose life has been guided for 99 years by a calling of service. Those who think that either Trump or Netanyahu are people of genuine faith or are good role models can and will go on with that dangerous and devilish delusion. Some know better.
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz
July 21, 2024
Fire dance
Fire dance
For J
Grab the fire stick tight
And dance.
Fist inches
From the flame.
Who needs the hand
When the feet move
The body flows.
Alive.
July 16, 2024
If Biden loses, it will destroy him. Do his supporters think about that?
Nothing is certain in politics, until it is. It appears possible that Biden will insist on being the Democratic nominee for President. It appears possible that he will lose and Trump will become President again.
It is certain that if Biden loses, as defiant and stubborn as he seems now, it will psychically destroy him. While politicians are generally used to losing, and have to be resilient, the special circumstances here will defy resilience for him.
As much as he now says he would be okay as long as he did his best, he will know that he is responsible. Maybe he will convince himself, or supporters will claim, that none of the alternative candidates could have beaten Trump—an unprovable proposition. They may say that it was all the negative Democratic talk about Biden’s age and abilities that sabotaged his nomination.
But somewhere deep, in some moments of self-awareness, Biden will know that it could have been different. That had he gracefully stepped aside in early 2024, or in the summer of 2024 when his problems became more prominent, that the next generation of leading Democrats could have taken his place—and beaten Trump.
That fact would tarnish his legacy. It will be a lead, if not in the headline, of the historical record. Most of all, it will be a psychic wound that Biden will bear. And for a man whose public contribution has been so full, it will be a sad shame.
Why don’t his family and friends, why don’t his Democratic supporters who love him, think hard about that?
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz
July 15, 2024
Caves and mines
Caves and mines
Caves and mines laugh
Watching the greedy
Break spirits and backs.
Metals and minerals
Reflect and channel light
Colors that mesmerize and enslave.
Caves and mines
Free and outliving them all
Laugh.
© 2024 by Bob Schwartz
July 10, 2024
“You tell him. I don’t want to tell him.” How Biden is still holding on.
Ordinary Democratic voters are the only constituency consistently saying that Biden should drop out. But their voices are easily ignored.
Three other constituencies with loud and influential voices—Democratic leaders, Democratic donors, Democratic-leaning media—are currently more timid and quiet, with just occasional outbursts so far.
The unspoken mantra among them is “You tell him. I don’t want to tell him.” They hope and pray that the other one will make the case so insistently and persuasively that Biden will relent.
They need to break that standoff and end their public equivocation. They all have to join in a chorus of respectful reality. Otherwise, while each is waiting for the other to be the “bad guy”, Biden will remain defiant and deluded—and likely the losing Democratic candidate.
Please, Democratic leaders, donors and media, shout out. Now, because time is wasting. You have nothing to lose and a historic, existential election to win.
July 3, 2024
Broken hearts, breaking hearts
I was listening today to classic country music. I know that country is not for everybody, but when it comes to heartbreak, I’m not sure any music does it better.
One standout today was Dolly Parton’s version of her own-written song I Will Always Love You, later a more dramatic hit by Whitney Houston. What makes Dolly’s take so aching is how plainly and plaintively she sings:
And I hope life will treat you kind
And I hope that you have all
That you ever dreamed of
I do wish you joy
And I wish you happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
I love you
I will always love you
I followed that with Patsy Cline singing I Fall to Pieces:
You tell me to find someone else to love
Someone who loves me too
The way you used to do
But each time I go out with someone new
You walk by and I fall to pieces
The good news is that it has been a long time since my heart was broken or I have broken a heart. But I admit to being that cliche as a younger guy, walking past her apartment house at night, looking up at the lights in the room, guessing (knowing) that there was someone else up there who wasn’t me.
This has me wondering whether heartbreak has some benefit besides just creativity. Speaking of cliches, there is “better to have loved and lost…” Maybe, probably. But at the time, it sure doesn’t seem like it.
June 23, 2024
Laughing at the Summer Solstice: Stonehenge by Spinal Tap
In ancient times,
Hundreds of years before the dawn of history
Lived a strange race of people, the Druids
No one knows who they were or what they were doing
Spinal Tap, Stonehenge
I saw a news report about the summer solstice gathering at Stonehenge, as people watched the rising sun shining through the ancient monument.
It is a powerful sight. And so funny. Funny because of the movie Spinal Tap. In it, the band is playing smaller venues to smaller crowds. They devised a spectacular production for their song Stonehenge (video clip below). It goes wrong.
From first viewing of the movie, I cannot see or hear about Stonehenge without thinking about the scene and the song. And laughing a lot.
We need to laugh. Always but especially now. Don’t forget to laugh. Happy summer.
June 22, 2024
Trump: “You may be right, I may be crazy, but it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.”
You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for
Billy Joel, You May Be Right
It is not surprising to conclude that Trump has mental health issues. Experts have weighed in. Years ago, I posted excerpts from the DSM-5 defining the pertinent personality disorders. It remains the most popular post on this blog.
What may be surprising is that Trump’s craziness is precisely what millions—tens of millions—of his fans want from him. They want someone who is crazy enough to “break some shit.” Trump promises to do just that, without conscience or compunction.
What that means for the election is that whatever Trump says or does, however ridiculous, however duplicitous, it is not only okay, it is what is expected. Anything less, anything more conventional or normal, would be disappointing. Trump is just the lunatic they’re looking for.
June 19, 2024
Artists Call for Ceasefire in Gaza Now
It is not easy being a creative personality, particularly one who is popular and commercially successful, and taking a position on controversial and divisive issues. The war in Gaza is such an issue.
Below is the message from Artists for Ceasefire along with the list of those who have signed on, 464 so far. Some of my favorites are there, probably some of yours too. Some of my favorites are missing, probably some of yours too.
What intrigues me is that this list of 464 includes some of the most famous and respected names in entertainment and the arts. Yet while Justin Timberlake’s DWI arrest is a top news item, this receives hardly any coverage.
Dear President Biden,
We come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine.
We ask that, as President of the United States, you and the US Congress call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. More than 36,000 people have been killed over the last 8 months, and over 83,000 injured* – numbers that any person of conscience knows are catastrophic. We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians.
We urge your administration, Congress, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages. Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them.
We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others. Saving lives is a moral imperative. To echo UNICEF, “Compassion — and international law — must prevail.”
Since Oct 7th, more than 45,000* bombs and missiles have been dropped on Gaza – resulting in one child being killed every 10 minutes.
“Children and families in Gaza have practically run out of food, water, electricity, medicine and safe access to hospitals, following days of air strikes and cuts to all supply routes. Gaza’s sole power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday afternoon, shutting down electricity, water and wastewater treatment. Most residents can no longer get drinking water from service providers or household water through pipelines…. The humanitarian situation has reached lethal lows, and yet all reports point to further attacks. Compassion — and international law — must prevail.” – UNICEF spokesperson James Elder
Beyond our pain and mourning for all of the people there and their loved ones around the world we are motivated by an unbending will to stand for our common humanity. We stand for freedom, justice, dignity and peace for all people – and a deep desire to stop more bloodshed.
We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, “History is watching.”
*Updated as of 6/6/24
Artists
Aaron Frazer
Aasif Mandvi
Abbi Jacobson
Adam Lambert
Adam McKay
Adeel Ahmed
Afshan Azad
Ahamed Weinberg
Aida Rodriguez
Aimee Lou Wood
Aja Monet
Alan Cumming
Alana Hadid
Alena Smith
Alfonso Cuarón
Ali Adler
Alia Shawkat
Allison Russell
Alyssa Milano
Amanda Diaz
Amanda Gorman
Amanda Seales
Amandla Stenberg
Amber Tamblyn
America Ferrera
Aminatou Sow
Aminé
Amy Herzog
Anand Desai-Barochia
Andrew Ahn
Andrew Garfield
Andrew Thomas Huang
Anees
Angela Dimayuga
Ani DiFranco
Anna Konkle
Annie Lennox
Anoushka Shankar
Aria Mia Loberti
Arian Moayed
Ariana Grande
Arooj Aftab
ASAP Nast
Ashley Lukashevsky
Asim Chaudhry
Atsuko Okatsuka
Auliʻi Cravalho
Augustus Prew
Ava DuVernay
Ayo Edebiri
Bassam Tariq
Bassem Youssef
Bella Hadid
Belly
Ben Affleck
Bilal Hasna
Billy Bragg
BLK ODYSSY
Bobbi Salvör Menuez
Bonnie Wright
Boots Riley
Bradley Cooper
Brandon Holman
Brian Cox
Brian Eno
Brigitte Lacombe
Brittani Nichols
Bruce Cohen
Bryan Adams
Busy Phillipps
Cameron Russell
Carl Clemons-Hopkins
Caroline Polachek
Cat Power
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Van-Davies
Celeste Barber
Celeste Yim
Chani Nicholas
Channing Tatum
Charithra Chandran
Charlotte Riley
Charm La’Donna
Chase Sui Wonders
Chella Man
Cherien Dabis
Chicano Batman
Chioke Nassor
Christine Baranski
Cindi Leive
Clairo
Clean Bandit
Connie Britton
Cora Emmanuel
Cree Summer
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Nixon
Dan Bucatinsky
Dan Cogan
Daniel Caesar
Daniel Garber
Daniel Goldhaber
Darius Marder
Dave Merheje
David Clennon
David Cross
David Oyelowo
Dawn-Lyen Gardner
Deb Never
Denée Benton
Desi Perkins
Dev Hynes
Devery Jacobs
Diany Rodriguez
Dina Shihabi
Diplo
DJ Snake
Dominic Cooper
Dominique Fishback
Dominique Thorne
Drake
Dua Lipa
Durand Jones
D.W. Moffett
Dylan Mulvaney
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Edie Campbell
Eisa Davis
Elliott Gould
El-P
Elsa Hosk
Elvira Lind
Elyanna
Emily V. Gordon
Emily Meade
Emma Seligman
Eric André
Eugene Lee Yang
Ewan McGregor
Fai Khadra
Farah Bsaiso
Farah Nabulsi
Farida Khelfa
Fatima Farheen Mirza
Fawzia Mirza
Fayssal Bazzi
Florence Pugh
Fontaines D.C.
Francesca Fiorentini
Frank Ocean
Fred Hechinger
Fredwreck
Geena Rocero
Geoffrey Arend
Gigi Hadid
Girl Named Tom
Gracie Abrams
Hadar Cohen
Hannah Ferguson
Hari Nef
Hasan Minhaj
Helado Negro
Hend Sabry
Howard Rodman
Ido Mizrahy
Ilana Glazer
Imaan Hammam
Imad Izemrane
Iman Vellani
Indya Moore
Ivan Jackson
Jai Courtney
Jalen Noble
James Schamus
James Wilson
Jamila Woods
Janelle Monáe
Jared Goldstein
Jas Lin
Jay Hernandez
Jay Shetty
Jean Smart
Jehane Noujaim
Jena Malone
Jenna Ortega
Jenni Konner
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Saunders
Jenny Yang
Jeremy Allen White
Jeremy Strong
Jes Tom
Jesse Peretz
Jesse Williams
Jessica Chastain
Jessie Buckley
Jim Jarmusch
Joaquin Phoenix
Jodi Balfour
Joe Alwyn
Joel Edgerton
Joel Kim Booster
Johan Lindeberg
John Cusack
John Early
Jon Batiste
Jon Stewart
Josh Gondelman
Jordan Peele
Joy Sunday
JP Saxe
Judah Friedlander
Judy Reyes
Julianne Nicholson
Julien Baker
Juliet Stevenson
Juliette Binoche
Julio Torres
Kaitlin Olson
Kal Penn
Kali Uchis
Kamie Crawford
Karen Sours Albisua
Kathryn Grody
Kathy Najimy
Katie Gavin
Kaytranada
Kehlani
Kendrick Sampson
Kenza Fourati
K.Flay
Khalid Abdulla
Kimiko Glenn
Kimya Dawson
Kirsten Dunst
Kristen Stewart
Kit Yan
Kumail Nanjiani
Kylie Sparks
Laila Nabulsi
Lauren Jauregui
Lee Eddy
Lena Waithe
Leo Sheng
Lily Gladstone
Lindy West
Lionel Boyce
LisaGay Hamilton
Livia Firth
Liz Garbus
Lola Kirke
Lola Petticrew
Lorenza Izzo
Louisa Jacobson
Lucy Dacus
Luis Bordonada
Lupita Nyong’o
Macklemore
Mae Martin
Mahershala Ali
Majid Jordan
Malala Yousafzai
Mandy Patinkin
Manish Dayal
Marcia Cross
Margaret Cho
Maria Cornejo
Marisa Tomei
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Rylance
Martin Starr
Mary Harron
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Massari
Matt McGorry
Matt Lieb
Matt Rogers
Maxwell Osborne
May Calamawy
Maysoon Zayid
Maz Jobrani
Megan Boone
Mekki Leeper
Melanie Martinez
Melissa Barrera
Mica Argañaraz
Michael Cerveris
Michael Dorman
Michael Malarkey
Michael Moore
Michael Uzowuru
Michael Shannon
Michael Stipe
Michelle Wolf
Mickey Sumner
Miguel
MILCK
Milla Jovovich
Mimi Kennedy
Mira Nair
Miranda July
Miriam Margolyes
Misan Harriman
Misha Collins
Mishel Prada
Mitra Jouhari
Mo Amer
Mohamed Diab
Molly Bernard
Mona Chalabi
Monet McMichael
Morgan Spector
Mousa Kraish
MUNA
Mustafa Ahmed
Nabil Elderkin
Naomi Scott
Natalia Cordova
Natalie Merchant
Naz Riahi
Nelly Furtado
Nia DaCosta
Nicola Coughlan
Nicole Ansari Cox
Niki Takesh
Nikoo Nooryani
Nina Goodheart
Noah “40” Shebib
Noam Shuster-Eliassi
Nori Reed
Omar Apollo
Omar Metwally
Omar Sy
Oscar Isaac
Padma Lakshmi
Paloma Elsesser
Patti Smith
Paul Elia
Paul Walter Hauser
Peter Berg
Peter Gabriel
Peter Rosenberg
Phoebe Bridgers
Poorna Jagannathan
Poppy Delevingne
Poppy Liu
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Quei Tann
Quinta Brunson
Rachel McAdams
Rachel Sennott
Rachel Zegler
Rain Phoenix
Ramy Youssef
Raveena Aurora
Rianne Van Rompaey
Richa Moorjani
Richard Gere
River L. Ramirez
Riz Ahmed
Roberta Colindrez
Rolla Selbak
Rooney Mara
Rosaline Elbay
Rosario Dawson
Rose Abdoo
Rosie O’Donnell
Rowan Blanchard
Run The Jewels
Rupi Kaur
Ruth Negga
Ryan Coogler
Ryan Piers Williams
Saagar Shaikh
Sabeen Faheem
Sabine Getty
Saif Mahdi
Sam Gold
Sam Richardson
Sami Zayn
Sammy Obeid
Samora Pinderhughes
Sandra Oh
Sara Driver
Sara Ramirez
Sarah Bahbah
Sarah Jones
Sarah E. Jones
Sarah Snook
Sarah Sophie Flicker
Sarita Choudhury
Sasami Ashworth
Sean Miura
Sebastián Silva
Selena Gomez
Sepideh Moafi
Shailene Woodley
Shaka King
Shayla Mitchell
Shepard Fairey
Sherry Cola
Shruti Ganguly
Silas Howard
SimiHaze
Simon Helberg
Simon Rex
Simone Ashley
Simu Liu
Sinéad Bovell
Sinéad Harnett
Smino
Snoh Aalegra
Sophia Bush
Sophia Roe
Stella Schnabel
Stephanie Suganami
Stephen Dillane
Steve Way
Suleika Jaouad
Susan Sarandon
Susan Wokoma
Sydney Lemmon
Tahar Rahim
Tala Ashe
Tanya Selvaratnam
Tara Grammy
Tarek Bishara
Tavi Gevinson
Taylour Paige
Tchaiko Omawale
Tessa Thompson
Thursday
Tien Tran
Toby Haynes
Tom Morello
Tom Hardy
Tommy Genesis
Tony Kushner
Tony Shalhoub
Tracey Seaward
Travon Free
Tyler Johnson
V (formerly Eve Ensler)
Vic Mensa
Victoria Monét
Viggo Mortensen
Vijay Iyer
Vivek Shraya
Wale
Waleed Zuaiter
Wallace Shawn
Wanda Sykes
Yara Shahidi
Yasmeen Fletcher
Yasmine Aker
Yasmine Al Massri
Yumi Sakugawa
Yusuf Cat Stevens
Zach Woods
Zayn Malik
Ziwe
Zoe Chao
Zoe Lister Jones
070 Shake
Bob Schwartz 