The World on Fire June 8, 2023

Last night, for the first time, I could really smell it - the smoke from the wildfires in Canada. Of course it could have been mixed with the wildfires in the Pines around Medford, and also, there was a construction site fire in Philadelpia.

Short sighted people. I read some comments after a red alert e-mail news item, and one of the coments was insulting and scornful against people calling this air disaster "Climate Crisis" The commenter emphasized, "It's Wildfires, not Climate Crisis" and added some insults to push his point home. What he didn't realize was that the Climate problem, the drying world, is pusshing the rest of the trouble, the wildfires, the drying up of rivers, water shortages. One of his insults was against "Woke Greennie Weenies" and I reflected on how so much of the current culture war is about manifestations of gender. Macho male dominance has been challenged by sensitive people who care about the environment, about animals, about the big world. That intimidation begins all the way back in the school yard with bully boys picking on sensitive ones and on anyone else they perceive as weaker.

It is interesting to me that Ron DeSantis in his latest ad against Trump, portrayed him hugging Dr. Fauci, whom the radical right wing have demonized, the man who led us through the pandemic. They hate him. The image was manufactured because Trump didn't embrace Dr. Fauci, of course.

I looked up 'Woke' once and it described people who believe in equality for LGBTQ citizens, environmentalism, animal rights, and women's rights.

The "unwoke" want to return to discrimination against all these groups. They want the rich to be spared paying their fair share of taxes. They want to reduce the power of the federal government, push women back into the house, take away birth control so women will be forced to reproduce and hence noat free to get an education or make a career, and be independent financially. That's what they mean when they say Make American Great Again - they mean take it back to the 1940's and 50's, reverse progress.

Air Quality - I called my vet to see what he would say about walking Uma. He advised that I wear a mask, of course, and that I walk her no more than around the block, just so she can get a leg stretcher but not breathe too much bad air.

bad air, bad water, we have more and more of these environmental disasters!

Well, at least it is still cook which I am enjoying so much!

Jo Ann wrightj45@yahoo.com Happy trails friends!