This speaks to the fairly common human desire to escape responsibility for one's own life and actions. That desire to be comfortably numb, and to approach life as a matter of going through the motions. — baker

This is a very interesting observation.

They are blocking streets, lighting fires, waving foreign flags, and making “trans autonomous zones”, — NOS4A2

Oh, is that why Alex Pretti got murdered?

Imagine if a bunch of Trumpers did that. — NOS4A2

Trump would pardon them

But this is sheer lunacy and I hope residents put them down. — NOS4A2

Spoken like a fascist

It has taken away much of our mechanical thinking. It copes better with logical problems. We are left only to solve illogical problems or accumulate empirical data for it. — Astorre

And create art

Fascists were always out in the streets protesting. Why don’t you guys just do a little putsch and be done with it? — NOS4A2

Protesting is as American as apple pie.

Trump is a fascist, there can be no doubt.

Let’s first differentiate between patrimonialism, which is a style of governing - and fascism, which is a formal system or ideology. Trump surely fits patrimonialism – in that he treats the state as his personal property and family business.

But, as Jonathan Rauch writes – “Recent events have brought Trump’s governing style into sharper focus. Fascist best describes it, and reluctance to use the term has now become perverse.”

The Trump admin is characterized by these fascist tendencies (read the supporting evidence at the link) -

Demolition of norms.
Glorification of violence.
Might is right.
Politicized law enforcement.
Dehumanization.
Police-state tactics.
Undermining elections.
What’s private is public.
Attacks on news media.
Territorial and military aggression.
Transnational reach.
Blood-and-soil nationalism.
White and Christian nationalism.
Mobs and street thugs.
Leader aggrandizement.
Alternative facts.
Politics as war.
Governing as revolution.

In summary -

… what originally looked like an effort to make the government his personal plaything has drifted distinctly toward doctrinal and operational fascism. Trump’s appetite for lebensraum, his claim of unlimited power, his support for the global far right, his politicization of the justice system, his deployment of performative brutality, his ostentatious violation of rights, his creation of a national paramilitary police—all of those developments bespeak something more purposeful and sinister than run-of-the-mill greed or gangsterism…

His mindset, his symbolism, and his rhetoric all underscore the point he made to The New York Times this month: his own mind and morality are the only limits on his global power. This is Fascism 101.

You present as clueless as Trump.

It's about fascism

The citizens of the USA are hurting, they are hurting badly. They feel their country is lost.

And what does Trump post this morning on his social media?

About his f*cking ballroom.

I’m building, on top of everything else that I am doing, one of the greatest and most beautiful Ballrooms anywhere in the World, with more than 300 Million Dollars of Great American Patriots’ money, and working closely with, right from the beginning, the United States Military and Secret Service. This is a GIFT (ZERO taxpayer funding!) to the United States of America, of 300 to 400 Million Dollars (depending on the scope and quality of interior finishes!), for a desperately needed space, sought for over 150 years by previous Presidents and Administrations, so that the White House would no longer be forced to use a cheap and unsafe “tent,” for big and important STATE EVENTS, Dinners, Meetings, Conferences, and already scheduled future INAUGURATIONS (for safety, security, and capacity purposes!), on a very wet, and subject to weather, White House lawn. Making such a large gift to the U.S.A. was thought to be, by almost everyone, “A WONDERFUL THING TO DO” — But no, as usual, I got sued, this time by the Radical Left National (No!)Trust for Historic Preservation, a group that couldn’t care less about our Country! All of the Structural Steel, Windows, Doors, A.C./Heating Equipment, Marble, Stone, Precast Concrete, Bulletproof Windows and Glass, Anti-Drone Roofing, and much more, has been ordered (or is ready to be), and there is no practical or reasonable way to go back. IT IS TOO LATE! Why didn’t these obstructionists and troublemakers bring their baseless lawsuit much earlier? Congress never tried, or wanted, to stop the Ballroom Project! Everyone knew what was taking place at the White House — A great, big, beautiful gift to the United States of America! For those that are interested, the tiny East Wing was so “bastardized” and changed, built and rebuilt over the years, that it bore no resemblance or relationship to the original building. The so-called “preservationists,” who get their money from the most unusual of places, should not be allowed to stop this desperately needed addition to our GREAT White House, a place that a President has never needed permission to change or enhance, because of the special grounds on which it sits, no matter how big (and important!), that enhancement may be. Additionally, in this instance, it is being done with the design, consent, and approval of the highest levels of the United States Military and Secret Service. The mere bringing of this ridiculous lawsuit has already, unfortunately, exposed this heretofore Top Secret fact. Stoppage of construction, at this late date, when so much has already been ordered and done, would be devastating to the White House, our Country, and all concerned. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Trump, Vance, Miller – these are corrupted people. Their thugs murder an innocent man, and their response is to dishonestly defame the one who was murdered.

Miller posted that “an assassin tried to murder federal agents.” – and Vance reposted it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT8GlKbDzsD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Dude, we saw the video.

Reminds me of a couple of quotes from George Orwell, the author of 1984 -

“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. ”

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

You may be underestimating him (or his advisers). — Ludwig V

It was never about safety or immigration. The state-sanctioned terrorism that the Trump admin is raining down upon Minnesota is a pretext to taking over elections in the state.

Pam Bondi has sent a letter to Minnesota stating that they'll get out of the state if the state turns over all their voter rolls.

Here's the letter -

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/24/us/pam-bondi-walz-doc.html

ETA - Bondi cites the DHS to support her ludicrous claims!

But as noted above, in our history, there has never been a tool capable of generating coherent responses to a query. We haven't been beaten by hardware at chess before. We were needed as thinkers. Because we were needed, everyone tolerated our vices and shortcomings. But now? — Astorre

This is a valid concern.

Relying on generative-AI gives over core human activities to machines. The result is that those human skills atrophy. Generative-AI interferes not only with independence of thought, but competency – in the areas of imagination, thinking, reasoning, and making decisions.

Instead of the human making decisions, the algorithms do.

From an interesting article in the Atlantic –

The Big AI Risk Not Enough People are Seeing: Beware technology that makes us less human

Artificial intelligence could significantly diminish humanity, even if machines never ascend to superintelligence, by sapping the ability of human beings to do human things…

We’re seeing a general trend of selling AI as ‘empowering,’ a way to extend your ability to do something, whether that’s writing, making investments, or dating … But what really happens is that we become so reliant on algorithmic decisions that we lose oversight over our own thought processes and even social relationships…

What makes many applications of artificial intelligence so disturbing is that they don’t expand our mind’s capacity to think, but outsource it…

Are you an American? I am so, so very sorry.

Know that we up here in Canada are rooting for the good guys to prevail.

I read an article today about how the USA is officially in the first stage of civil war, if history is any lesson.

So, for solace, I turned to the third inaugural address of President Franklin Roosevelt, delivered in January 1941, for inspiration, and to remind me what the USA really stands for. The current aberration will fall, and the USA will get back on the right road.

Roosevelt said -

… There are men who believe that democracy, as a form of government and a frame of life, is limited or measured by a kind of mystical and artificial fate that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become the surging wave of the future—and that freedom is an ebbing tide.

But we Americans know that this is not true…

…. For action has been taken within the three-way framework of the Constitution of the United States. The coordinate branches of the Government continue freely to function. The Bill of Rights remains inviolate. The freedom of elections is wholly maintained. Prophets of the downfall of American democracy have seen their dire predictions come to naught.

No, democracy is not dying…

… We know it cannot die—because it is built on the unhampered initiative of individual men and women joined together in a common enterprise—an enterprise undertaken and carried through by the free expression of a free majority.

We know it because democracy alone, of all forms of government, enlists the full force of men's enlightened will.

We know it because democracy alone has constructed an unlimited civilization capable of infinite progress in the improvement of human life.

We know it because, if we look below the surface, we sense it still spreading on every continent—for it is the most humane, the most advanced, and in the end the most unconquerable of all forms of human society…

… we all understand what it is—the spirit—the faith of America. It is the product of centuries. It was born in the multitudes of those who came from many lands—some of high degree, but mostly plain people—who sought here, early and late, to find freedom more freely.

The democratic aspiration is no mere recent phase in human history. It is human history. It permeated the ancient life of early peoples. It blazed anew in the Middle Ages. It was written in Magna Charta…

… The destiny of America was proclaimed in words of prophecy spoken by our first President in his first Inaugural in 1789—words almost directed, it would seem, to this year of 1941: "The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered. . . deeply, . . . finally, staked on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people."

My grandmother was a teacher, and she had the authority in her classroom, not the government wanting paperwork. — Athena

A couple of years in to my teaching career, I learned the secret to never having discipline problems. Treat the students respectfully, as if they were people. And always, in every situation, see it from their side. Always try to understand where they are coming from.

Many countries do not recognise Kosovo as a sovereign country. — javi2541997

Apparently the USA does. And so does my country, Canada.

On the other hand, it surprised me that Belarus appears in something relatively important—I thought everybody forgot Lukashenko's dictatorship. — javi2541997

All of the countries on the list have repressive regimes.

Only one South American country and two African countries. That’s a poor turnout, it looks as though South America and Africa favour China in the shakedown. — Punshhh

Well, Putin and Netanyahu can't show up to join Trump's Peace Board because they would get arrested for war crimes. (The irony is over the top)

I'm Canadian, and I have to say, I am optimistic about the new ties being forged between our country and China. I expect they will be more stable than the ties with the US. And markets love stability.

Education. It's already clear that the classic school and university format of education doesn't meet modern needs. First, it's too long, second, too traditional, and third, it produces far more specialists than is needed. A large supply of specialists, combined with their rapid replacement by robots and AI, lowers the cost of their labor. — Astorre

As a retired teacher, I'm going to speak to this point. I think we learned with the Covid homeschooling that a computer cannot replace a living, breathing teacher. The face-to-face connection between students and teachers is fundamental to effective learning.

What sources do you cite that the modern educational system does not meet current needs?

Another point I want to make is that computers/AI cannot ever supplant the artists in our society - the painters, the sculptors, and the writers.

Trump’s biggest con yet – “The Board of Peace”

Give Trump $1 billion and you get zero say in any decisions.

He is the chairman for life, with sole veto power, and controls all the funds.

No oversight, no accountability.

I guess he is looking for investors for Kushner’s development project

The countries that have so far signed on all have repressive regimes (I guess they feel at home with Trump) –

Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Belarus
Egypt
Hungary
Indonesia
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Morocco
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam

If you want to keep falling for Trump's 'rage baiting' then by all means, — Tzeentch

Observing patterns is not falling for anything. My interest is intellectual

Trump is exclusively a tool Washington uses — Tzeentch

Trump pushes people's buttons and puts them in an emotional state of mind, which makes them predictable and easy to control. — Tzeentch

Can you explain the apparent contradiction is these two statements.

the people he works for are. — Tzeentch

Who does Trump work for?

Every second you're talking about Trump as a person is a second wasted. — Tzeentch

None of this happens without Trump.

Respect has nothing to do with it. — Tzeentch

Well, where I come from, respect means something.

It certainly means something to Trump. A couple of years ago, in an interview, Trump was asked what was the most important issue facing the US. Here is his answer –

“Basically, respect all over the world. We don’t have it anymore. We had tremendous respect three years ago. We don’t have respect anymore. They don’t listen to us. They don’t care about us. They just don’t do what we want them to do and what they have to do, especially since we make life very good for many countries. And we have to get that respect back. And if we don’t, we’ve got some big problems.”

Now, he’s constantly (and erroneously) boasting that the USA is the “most respected country in the world.” It’s one of his rhetorical staples. At a press conference a couple of days ago, he again said, “In the old days, they didn't respect our country … America is respected again on the world stage.”

It’s a ridiculous lie he tells himself to ward off narcissistic collapse.

They have about themselves an air of frightened sheep. Trump rattles their cage, and after some loud bleating they pat themselves on the back for a job well done; the bad man could have taken everything, but instead he only got something. — Tzeentch

Do not mistake Trump for a strategist. He is no strategist, but an internet troll (who happens to be the president of a very powerful country) consumed with his own self-aggrandizement, and having the world tremble under him (which he takes to be respect), and increasing his own personal wealth and power. In his capacity as president, he exploits, not serves. It’s estimated his personal fortune has increased by at least $1.4 billion since he took office.

His interest in Greenland reflects a covetous desire to acquire “real estate.” About Greenland, he has said, “I like ownership.” (As if Greenland would become his – part of the self-enrichment mindset.) At Davos, he said, “Who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease?”

And he wants his name stamped in American history (as he does like to stamp his name on whatever he can) for some “great achievement.” (He imagines he is the new Polk. He’s referred to the 11th president as a “real-estate guy” who got “a lot of land,” and he hung Polk’s portrait in the Oval Office, replacing one of Jefferson.)

The Kremlin understands this aspect of Trump’s psychology, and takes advantage of it. They flatter and manipulate him. He’s highly susceptible – so Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, "There are international experts who believe that by resolving the issue of Greenland's accession, Trump will undoubtedly go down in history. And not only in the history of the United States, but also in world history."

But, anyway, take away his audience (he’s running an administration based on spectacle), get him in a room, one-on-one, and he folds, like the little coward he is. Do you believe he got anything more from Greenland than the USA didn’t already have access to? This “concept of a plan” Trump speaks of? But with his outrageous threats and his bluster, Trump got to make himself the centre of attention, as all malignant narcissists crave, but when he’s with people who are far smarter than him, he can never get the upper hand.

No, Trump is not a strategist. Most of his presidency are pages right out of Project 2025, as this Project 2025 tracker reveals. Policy is only the means to his own personal ends. He has no stake in policy per se. He is surrounded by self-serving sycophants – Vought, Hegseth, Miller - who feed his delusion that he’s the one really in charge, while they direct which way policy goes. Trump doesn’t care, as long as his narcissistic needs are met.

That very much may not be hte case. https://www.ms.now/news/dhs-denies-that-ice-used-a-5-year-old-as-bait-to-catch-his-dad?utm_ — AmadeusD

Lol, and you use the DHS as your fact-checker? They, and the Trump administration, are known liars. This is like using the old line, “If you don’t believe me, just ask me.”

The DHS has been caught telling lies over and over again, making claims repeatedly contradicted by eyewitness accounts, video evidence and local law enforcement. A comprehensive fact-checking document of DHS misinformation was prepared by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Read it here.

But, let’s focus in on the opinion given by Judge Sara L. Ellis as the result of her overseeing a case brought by journalists, protesters, and members of the clergy against DHS (the defendants) for unjustified brutality and arrests in the Chicago area.

You can read longer passages from her opinion at this link, but here are some highlights -

After reviewing all the evidence submitted to the Court and listening to the testimony elicited at the preliminary injunction hearing, during depositions, and in other court proceedings, the Court finds Defendants’ evidence simply not credible. Plaintiffs submitted a mountain of evidence, providing the Court with over eighty declarations, numerous videos and articles, and other evidence. Defendants did not rebut anything that Plaintiffs set forth…

… it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to believe almost anything that Defendants represent….

Defendants, however, cannot simply create their own narrative of what happened, misrepresenting the evidence to justify their actions. Overall, after reviewing all the evidence, the Court finds that Defendants’ widespread misrepresentations call into question everything that Defendants say they are doing in their characterization of what is happening at the Broadview facility or out in the streets of the Chicagoland area during law enforcement activities.

Fact check things before getting up in arms. — AmadeusD

I am quite satisfied that I know the facts. But, if you are listening to Vance, it's not facts you're getting. He has certainly spread misinformation about my country, Canada.

I have to ask - are you really unaware of how dishonest the Trump administration is?

There is no assumption. IT is a direct inference from the fact that you made an absolute claim which was false. I infer, then, you are not partial to saying "Well, Meloni likes him" (or Orban, or whoever) Which she does. Because she's conservative. ITs a logical inference. Not an assumption. Otherwise, i agree. Its a professional courtesy from most leaders. — AmadeusD

Sorry, you made me laugh again. Stickler, are you? I read enough to know that there is no love lost between world leaders and Trump. They flatter him, and handle him, and manipulate him, but they do not respect him. What's there to respect? Maybe some realize they have to play gently with the clawed beast. Maybe some are in it for the same reasons Trump is - only interested in "What's in it for me?" And maybe some, like our PM Mark Carney, see reality as it is, and respond with intelligence, foresight, and resolve.

It's not an opinion or something your eyes and ears can tell you, — AmadeusD

I listen with my ears, and I read with my eyes. I am well-informed.

Jesus Christ. — AmadeusD

Lol! Didn't I read a post of yours in another thread disparaging emotional responses?

Just condemn lying about hte president on National TV. — AmadeusD

The fact is, Trump is suspect, and though Kasky may have spoken out of turn, there are a lot of people who do not find it a stretch to believe that Trump was more involved with Epstein than he claims.

“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump told New York magazine in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Why did he publicly endorse (for a Senate seat) Roy Moore, who had been accused of sexually molesting minors as young as 14 years old?

Nine women accused Moore of being a perv. Trump’s response?

“Well, he denies it. He denies it. He totally denies it. He says it didn’t happen. And you know, you have to listen to him also.”

Why did he brag about going into the change rooms at Miss Teen USA to see them naked?

“I sort of get away with things like that,” he said.

Why did he brag about "grabbing them by the pussy?"

For more about Trump's sexual misconduct, go to this link.

There is no evidence he has received death threats as a result of this. — AmadeusD

Okay, so you are calling him a liar, but the Trump admin honest. Why?

That is not really true though, is it? — AmadeusD

You mean what I said about Trump not being respected? It is my considered opinion that leaders around the world recognize that Trump is to be handled, not respected. And his approval ratings around the world are absolutely dismal.

They are just leaders you do not like — AmadeusD

Now, who is making assumptions?

its best not to make statements that are untrue about a President. — AmadeusD

I have eyes to see, and ears to hear. There is nothing respectable about him.

Cameron Kasky — AmadeusD

Yes, he's been receiving a lot of death threats.

A country that allows a five-year-old to be detained, who uses him as bait, is broken

So, here is a quick list of commonalities between all human societies.

We all evolved these capabilities, but took them in different directions!

language
abstraction and beliefs
notions of good and bad
metaphors and figurative speech
symbolism
story-telling
politics
family

you don't understand the game that is being played. — Tzeentch

Peace and security is not a game

(which he does all the time and costs him nothing) — Tzeentch

Do you not realize that the entire free world has absolutely no respect for him?

Just figure if we're to get on better than we have previously this would be good — AmadeusD

very good! (But I did not notice that we weren't getting on...)

Amazonian tribal myth — AmadeusD

interesting! I'm going to find out more. I like this one -

The Curupira, Currupira or Korupira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kuɾuˈpiɾɐ]) is a forest spirit in the myth of the Tupí-Guaraní speaking areas in the Brazilian and Paraguaian Amazon and Guyanas. It is a guardian of the rainforest that punishes humans for overcutting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curupira

You've given me some inspiration for a story. Thank you!

I would refrain from such assumptions. — AmadeusD

I apologize

and had a more whimsical outlook on things. — AmadeusD

Oh dear, sorry to hear if you have become jaded!

Myth-making seems to be a semi-delusional state of being. — AmadeusD

Just wondering - have you ever written any fiction - like a story?

My attraction to ancient mythologies lies in the fact that it connects me to the people who originally wrote the stories, and therefore connects me to a part of humanity that is not me. The fact that I can relate to what they wrote makes me feel like a part of something that is much bigger than me.

For example, reading the description of Cúchulainn's "warp spasm" in battle (copied below) connects me to a people who lived long ago. Is it an accurate depiction? Of course not, but its fierceness and its exquisite imagery connects me the sensibilities of another section of humanity, makes them come alive. And of course, this is what all good art does - makes the receiver of the art feel what the artist felt.

“The first warp-spasm seized Cúchulainn, and made him into a monstrous thing, hideous and shapeless, unheard of. His shanks and his joints, every knuckle and angle and organ from head to foot, shook like a tree in the flood or a reed in the stream. His body made a furious twist inside his skin, so that his feet and shins and knees switched to the rear and his heels and calves switched to the front. The balled sinews of his calves switched to the front of his shins, each big knot the size of a warrior’s bunched fist. On his head the temple-sinews stretched to the nape of his neck, each mighty, immense, measureless knob as big as the head of a month-old child. His face and features became a red bowl: he sucked one eye so deep into his head that a wild crane couldn’t probe it onto his cheek out of the depths of his skull; the other eye fell out along his cheek. His mouth weirdly distorted: his cheek peeled back from his jaws until the gullet appeared, his lungs and liver flapped in his mouth and throat, his lower jaw struck the upper a lion-killing blow, and fiery flakes large as a ram’s fleece reached his mouth from his throat.”

― Thomas Kinsella, The Táin: From the Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge

I've been reading this poem a few times a year since I was 17. — AmadeusD

Yeah, it is powerful. Your can hear the heartbeat in it, as you read it, in the fast pace, and then the last line stands alone, as if the heart has stopped.

THis is incredibly masculine — AmadeusD

And I bet the average modern man would relate to it.

That's the good thing about some of our mythologies. It's timeless.

They told what they thought were truths, borne of falsities — AmadeusD

You mean fiction? Fiction can contain a lot of truths

Years ago, I read a very good novel entitled Thomas Murphy. It’s about an aging NYC poet who was raised in Ireland (on Árainn Mhór or Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands) In telling his story, he shares his philosophy with the poetic sensibility of an Irish bard. Something from the novel that left an impression on me -

The reverence the Irish have for the ancient poets – who they called “The Music.” Go back 2,000 years ago, and there were about 150 kings in Ireland, and they were always conquering one another. And whenever another kingdom was conquered – “Kill ‘em all, the king said. Except the Music.”

Anyway, there is a wonderful collection in Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry (1911) –

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32030/32030-h/32030-h.htm

An interesting read is found on page 105, entitled From the Instructions of King Cormac, an Old Irish text from the 9th century, presented as advice from the 3rd-century High King Cormac Mac Airt to his son, Carbery.

Cormac begins every answer by stating, “Not hard to tell…”

Here’s one passage:

'O Cormac, grandson of Conn,' said Carbery, 'what is the worst thing you have seen?'

'Not hard to tell,' said Cormac. 'Faces of foes in the rout of battle.'

'O Cormac, grandson of Conn,' said Carbery, 'what is the sweetest thing you have heard?'

'Not hard to tell,' said Cormac.

'The shout of triumph after victory,
Praise after wages,
A lady's invitation to her pillow.'

Here’s another:

'O Cormac, grandson of Conn,' said Carbery, 'what is the worst pleading and arguing?'

'Not hard to tell,' said Cormac.

'Contending against knowledge,
contending without proofs,
taking refuge in bad language,
a stiff delivery,
a muttering speech,
hair-splitting,
uncertain proofs,
despising books,
turning against custom,
shifting one's pleading,
inciting the mob,
blowing one's own trumpet,
shouting at the top of one's voice.'

I really dig the ancient wisdom.

Well said.

I was reading through some old notes that reminded me of this poem.

The poet James McIntyre (1827-1906) earned the distinction of having his poetry included in a book entitled Very Bad Poetry (1997) - a collection of poetry “so glaringly awful that they embody a kind of genius.”

But the following poem is so bad it’s good. Besides, I am a lover of cheese.

Ode on the Mammoth Cheese Weighing over 7,000 Pounds

We have seen the Queen of cheese,
Laying quietly at your ease,
Gently fanned by evening breeze --
Thy fair form no flies dare seize.

All gaily dressed soon you'll go
To the great Provincial Show,
To be admired by many a beau
In the city of Toronto.

Cows numerous as a swarm of bees --
Or as the leaves upon the trees --
It did require to make thee please,
And stand unrivalled Queen of Cheese.

May you not receive a scar as
We have heard that Mr. Harris
Intends to send you off as far as
The great World's show at Paris.

Of the youth -- beware of these --
For some of them might rudely squeeze
And bite your cheek; then songs or glees
We could not sing o' Queen of Cheese.

We'rt thou suspended from balloon,
You'd caste a shade, even at noon;
Folks would think it was the moon
About to fall and crush them soon.

On my First Son by Ben Johnson, 1616 — AmadeusD

That's Ben Jonson?

Here's another poem by him -

On My First Daughter

Here lies, to each her parents' ruth,
Mary, the daughter of their youth;
Yet all heaven's gifts being heaven's due,
It makes the father less to rue.
At six months' end she parted hence
With safety of her innocence;
Whose soul heaven's queen, whose name she bears,
In comfort of her mother's tears,
Hath placed amongst her virgin-train:
Where, while that severed doth remain,
This grave partakes the fleshly birth;
Which cover lightly, gentle earth!

Fair enough man - it's all super interesting stuff regardless of veracity (well, at least accuracy - obviously these are real myths!). — AmadeusD

Actually, I'm a woman :)

I think there is a lot of truth in mythology - a lot to be revealed about human nature.

For millennia - all we had was the oral history - and humans are born storytellers

What did they tell stories about? What was important to them.

Like we still do now.

Oh yes, I knew Medb was mythological, but still think she reveals a lot about that society

Thanks for the insights

being a Celt lmao. — AmadeusD

We traveled to Ireland this past autumn, and thoroughly enjoyed it. What a captivating country.

A book you might enjoy -

How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe - by Thomas Cahill

That's the book that first introduced me to Queen Medb - and her words of 2,000 years ago -

The royal bed is laid, and two large figures are reclining there, conversing playfully amid the pillows, as might any man and woman when day is done. Ailil, the king, is musing:

"It is true what they say, love: it is well for the wife of a wealthy man."

"True enough," replies Medb, the queen. "What put that in your mind?

'It struck me how much better off you are today than the day I married you."

"I was well enough without you."

Stung, Medb goes on -

"I outdid them (her sisters) in grace and giving and battle and warlike combat. I had fifteen hundred soldiers in my royal pay, all exiles' sons, and the numbers of freeborn native men, and for every paid soldier I had ten more men, and nine more, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one. And that was only our ordinary household ... My father gave me a whole province of Ireland, this province, ruled from Cruachan, which is why I am called 'Medb of Cruachan.' ... And I wouldn't go. For I asked a harder wedding gift than any woman ever asked before from a man in Ireland - the absence of meanness and jealousy and fear ... When we were promised, I brought you the best wedding gift a bride can bring: apparel enough for a dozen men, a chariot worth thrice seven bondmaids, the width of your face of red gold and the weight of your left arm of light gold. So, if anyone causes you shame or upset or trouble, the right to compensation is mine, for you're a kept man."

(Cahill, page 71-2)

The image of Medb is so much different than the image of women painted by the Western tradition!

Anyway, it all led to cattle inventory, and Medb's raid.

Rosicrucian — AmadeusD

Thank you for introducing me to them. I went to their website, and read their "Code of Life" -

https://www.rosicrucian.org/rosicrucian-code-of-life

It's a society that calls Scientific Pantheism to mind.

Cathars — AmadeusD

Interesting - two creator deities - spiritual/physical ... made me think of ying and yang

not overtly patriarchal — AmadeusD

it was eye-opening for me to read about the sacred place women held in Haudenosaunee society, and in ancient Celtic culture, too. A book I really enjoyed is If Women Rose Rooted, by Dr. Sharon Blackie - which introduced me to many of the mystical women from ancient Celtic culture.

At 346 pages, it is a detailed look. It was written by Rev. John Heckewelder, a Christian missionary who learned their language and lived among them for many years — Questioner

I never said that quote was from that book