#AncientTexan

We make the rules, or more correctly, the rich make the rules that help the rich man become richer.  Meanwhile, the IRS makes sure the masses pay for the machinery of our government that supports the rich.   Is that too harsh?

We as a nation, and each of us that seek to be honest, must examine our relationship to the truth.  We have to seek the truth when we listen, act, and talk.  Do we have a responsibility to make sure that what we are sharing is true?

Is our balance between competition and cooperation in America what we need for more people to realize the American dream?  The American Dream has been based on competition, but upward mobility in America has stalled.  Is it time to remake the American dream around cooperation? #AncientTexan

What is your political religion?  Which pill did you swallow, the blue one or the red one?  Did you surrender your right to disagree on some issues and cross the aisle to the other side?  Did you agree to judge, shame, and berate anyone that does not tow the party line?  Did the pill you swallow make you judge the Other's motives?

When does the fetus become human?  What makes life human life? When do the rights of the fetus begin?  When do the rights of the mother supersede the rights of the fetus?   Are there acceptable reasons for abortion?  rape, incest, mother's health, unwanted pregnancy, unable to care for the baby? Can external factors like free childcare, financial support, etc. impact the answer...

This is a conversation with Matt that happened this summer.  It's long, but if you knew and loved Mat, may this bring you some comfort.    Rest in peace, dear friend. I hope this note finds you,  my dear friend, writing poetry across the universe. Robert

What conversations about life and death, especially about death, do we avoid?  What is the value in having those conversations? #AncientTexan

What is the story, the religion, behind wearing or not wearing a mask?   What is your story/religion?  What is the story/religion of those on the other side of this issue? Do you understand the context behind the stories?   Do you know the heroes behind the stories?

Of course, we all wished Trump well with the virus, but what did we think and feel?  When did such thoughts become the norm in America? and how do we back to a more gentle and wise America?

No, desperate men do not start nuclear wars to save their financial ass, but, perhaps to save their personal reputation they might.  We keep thinking he wouldn't, he couldn't do that.  When are we going to learn?  The zebra has already shown us his stripes. Trump's financial situation is desperate.  Reelection gives him access to money (bribes) from foreign leaders to keep his...

We are told we live in a meritocracy where anyone that works hard can be somebody.   Please see the new book by Michael Sandel, The Tyranny of Merit, if you think America lives up to that ideology.   His Ted Talk on the same subject left me feeling a little angry and I ask your forgiveness in advance for taking it out on my audience.   Namaste,   the #AncientTexan

Cake and Bubbly Last night’s party Full of laughter Howls and merriment. Today, somewhat down, As if the medicine for joy Is sorrow and all around. The shrieks long gone, And only silence fills the space, Leaving my gut empty, Where cake and bubbly Played last night. Roe Sept 2020

Life is precious, marvelous,      exotic, wonderful, sad, scary, everything, and without it, nothing is. It is the most important thing in the universe. Nothing exists without life to perceive it. Does a tree make a sound if it falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it? Without the listener, it makes a       vibration; it takes life t...

What if Trump clearly loses the election and he does not step down?  What do you do?   I believe 60% of American Citizens that would consider this an existential threat to our democracy;  and, I believe we should go on strike.  To be effective when it counts, let's organize now.  If you agree, write to me at Wiley.foxes@gmail.com and we can organize on FB.   If y...

I discuss the stories I was taught as a child about women.  My lessons were taught to me in a fundamentalist church and reinforced by a sexiest, white culture that I was raised in.     Those stories are still embedded in my psychic and are not easily removed.  Finding the tools to remove these stories and others from my mind, my being has been a quest for decades.

The stories you build in your head determine who you are and who you'll become. And you are the author of your story. You determine what goes into your stories and which ones you publish to yourself and others.

Trump, love him or hate him, has brought into focus a lot of challenges that exist in America that we have chosen to be blind to for decades, for example:  1. wealth inequality, racism, the divide between rural and suburbia, and the disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street.   2. The needs of the common man and the effect of outsourcing, computerization, and robotics on his opportun...

Meaningful political discussions required; 1.  Defining facts, opinions, theories, and stories and agreeing to properly label your inputs into the discussion. 2. Agreeing on news/information sources to be used. 3.  Agreeing on discussing and accepting values held by the other person.  4.  Asking questions, listening, and accepting more than talking, pushing opinions, and judgin...

How do you go from observations, events, reactions in your life to knowledge?   How do you make most of your decisions that set your course in your life?  It is not as obvious as you think it is.  If you are an average human or even an extraordinary one, you believe a lot of stories that do not have much substance. #AncientTexan

Developing your own set of values is a lifetime effort of learning from your actions, observing the impact you have on the world and then making constant course corrections. #AncientTexan

Conspiracy theories have some truth in them.   Enough truth that if you don't break them into pieces and think about them, if you don't go get some facts, and if you are not willing to say you just don't know how to make sense out of something, then you are a prime candidate to be taken in by a conspiracy theory.   And last of all, you don't have to reject the entire conspiracy theo...

What is Kamala Harris's passion? #AncientTexan

I grew up in El Paso among the Hispanics.   I have always admired their culture and I have long watched "us white folks" discriminate against them.  But, I would just like to shot out, Hispanic Lives Matter. #AncientTexan

How is blame incompatible with compassion?  How is the need to be right counter-productive in bringing our world to a more kind and compassionate place?  Do you want to make the world a better place? #AncientTexan

I am grateful to you that has taken your time to listen to my words.  May I say something of value to make you think and grow. #Ancient Texan