The State of Absurdia

Absurdia

Welcome to the State of Absurdia. We’ve each traveled our own bizarre paths, yet somehow, unbelievably, we’ve arrived at precisely the same madhouse.

I’m not even referring to this year’s Darwin Award winners or the surreal sermons recently delivered by Rabbi  Christensen and Reverend Lipshitz (I made these up, but did not check to see if there were real people with these names, FYI) — though both certainly qualify. No, today’s insanity is more ordinary, disturbingly woven into the fabric of our 24-hour news cycle.

Point One: According to recent reports, Attorney General Bondi informed Trump months ago that his name surfaced in Grand Jury testimony linked to Jeffrey Epstein—though with no proof of wrongdoing revealed thus far. Now MAGA-land is imploding, and Trump is melting down over the apparent breaking of his promise to release all relevant information. But honestly, what’s the fuss? Given Trump’s known proclivities, is anyone genuinely shocked by potential involvement with Epstein? Is paying porn stars hush money somehow more palatable than a dalliance with a 17-year-old? Have we finally found the line that even some MAGA loyalists won’t cross? If so, how perversely absurd. Is sex with a teenager more morally outrageous than denying life-saving medications to millions of AIDS sufferers, tossing millions off Medicaid through bureaucratic sabotage, or cutting food assistance to hungry children?  Exactly. Absurd.

Point Two:  It appears, that Spain, despite its history of persecuting (you know, the torture, the forced conversions, the expelling of all the Jews in 1492) Jews has taken to picking on Jewish children.  Historical amnesia at its finest. And, yes, Santayana was right “those who fail to know history are bound to repeat it.”

Last week, some 50 Jewish French children were forcibly removed from their Vueling Airlines flight from Valencia to Paris because employees of the Spanish airline deemed  them disruptive while other passengers reported all they heard was the group singing songs in Hebrew.  When the group and camp leader refused to tell the kids to relinquish their phones,  The Spanish Guardia Civil then violently subdued, handcuffed, and arrested their 21-year-old counselor. I wonder why they wanted the phones.  Oh, yeah, did I mention the kids were visibly Jewish—wearing kippahs, chai symbols, and Stars of David?

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli alleged that airline staff labeled Israel “a terrorist state” while forcibly ejecting the children. Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puerto chimed in, dismissing these French kids as “Israeli brats.” And of course the airline staff denies any actions related to the religion of those involved.

And now, French President Macron proudly announces France’s readiness to recognize a Palestinian “state.”  This country, with its own amnesia regarding the establishment of “states” i.e., the collaboration with Germany in the  establishment of Vichy France, the giving over the rest of the country to Germany and the French colonial forces firing on Allied troops in North Africa.  And later, France in its quest to ingratiate themselves to Arab, presumably oil producing, countries has not just once but at least twice the released from their custody Islamic terrorists known to have committed the murder of civilians throughout Europe.  This France today presumes, once again, to show the world what responsible action looks like by unilaterally declaring a Palestinian “state.”  Presumably, Hamas or Fatah—both acknowledged terrorist groups by the U.S. and many others—will promptly appoint ambassadors.  France’s instinctive capitulation to terror-supporting elements among its seven million Muslims continues unchecked.  Absurd?  Tragically so.

Point Three: Then there’s Ohio, one of the newly minted deep-red states. Republicans dominate the House 65-32 and the Senate 23-9. They hold every statewide office, including the governorship. Recently, the Ohio House overturned one of Republican Governor DeWine’s three vetoes, with promises to tackle the others next session. DeWine vetoed bills complicating property tax levies, warning they’d make passing school levies harder.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s federal representatives enthusiastically backs Trump’s crusade to dismantle the Department of Education while unabashedly and ironically calling it “support for education.” Small wonder Ohio ranks 28th in education spending, 33rd in student safety, and 30th overall in public education quality. Ohio Republicans’ dedication to education: a fiction. Utterly absurd.