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Abstract

les. A pious Senator says she’s tired of the separation of Church and State. She’s videotaped making a complete ass of herself at a show and comes out looking damned unholy.Another holier-than-thou Republican was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University for over eight years. He expects us to believe he knew nothing about the sexual abuse that went on under his nose for that length of time. The wrestlers say he had to have known. He did nothing to help them.Another right-wing politician made up a fake biography to get elected. He says Trump won the 2020 election. Many Americans believe him and may react in unknown ways.Corruption is monolithic. It filters into the world of crime, especially crimes of desperation that are hard to fathom. Imagine the shock to people who thought the Harts were a warm, loving family.There’s a well-known photo with Jennifer Hart in the middle and her wife, Sarah, on the right. They adopted the six children in the photo, two sets of three Black siblings. They are at a Bernie Sanders rally in identical blue tee shirts, smiling at the camera. On second glance, you notice how forced the smiles are. Jennifer Hart put the picture on Facebook.I question the judgment of adults who dress their families in identical tee shirts. For a rock band, maybe. But a political figure? Not so much. Even Bernie.Almost exactly two years after the photo, Jennifer drove the entire family off a 100-foot cliff into the Pacific Ocean.Before that, they projected themselves as a united and even joyous family unit — a Caucasian, lesbian couple with six adopted Black children.I’ve started reading more local news lately, especially the crime sections from around the country. I

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t shows we never know what goes on behind closed doors. The Hart tragedy exemplifies that.Four years before Davonte died, his image made national headlines. Jennifer and Sarah Hart took the children to a Black Lives Matter protest in Philadelphia.Davonte hugged a white police officer who was at the protest to keep the peace. The tears on the boy’s face were real. Someone took a picture and it went viral.I grew up watching soap operas. I remember walking quickly home from school so I didn’t miss the beginning of “All My Children.” Maybe that was the beginning of my divorce from reality. I’ve always lived with one foot in the real world and the other in my imagination.My takeaways? Err on the side of caution. If you suspect a child is being abused report it and quickly. Follow up. The system failed the Hart children.Recognize the blur between fantasy and reality. Know that much of what you read or watch aims to manipulate you. When you can, get information from the dwindling number of people who are not trying to sell you anything. Be wary of scams.Realize that we all project a public persona. Some personas bear little correlation to reality. Watch out for those with a wide gap between their public and private behavior — the Boeberts of the world. They are numerous. Don’t be one of them.When people describe Republicans as the party of family values, call them out.Teach your grandchild a code word so they can call you from jail if they need bail.Davonte’s body was never found. On a soap opera, that would ensure that he survived. He’d surface 20 years later with amnesia and a complicated romantic life. How I wish that was real. Rest in peace, Davonte.</article></body>

Reality Bites: Thoughts on the Blur Between the Real and Unreal

One century there’s a spate of poisonings. Jack the Ripper could have only come from late 19th century London. Deception is the crime that defines current American life. Nothing is what it seems.

It’s nearly impossible to tell fantasy from reality. Women disappear in the act of rescuing toddlers from the side of the road. Turns out, they’re lying. There are people who make money from convincing old people their grandchildren are in jail and need bail.

Statistically, all of us unknowingly bump into murderers, child abusers, and the like. We ask them for directions. Brush against them in crowded theaters. Sit on school boards with them. Is anyone truly what they seem? Are you? Am I?

How many abused kids do we interact with who are forced to wear a smiling face in public? Probably more than we realize.

A sizeable number of America’s voting adults support a proven trickster and charlatan as President. All you have to do is look at Trump and listen to him if you can stand to.

It’s Halloween again. The stores have the pumpkins out. But nothing is scarier than what will happen if Trump takes office. America will have chosen a strongman and thug. He will brush his supporters aside and grind them under the heel of his boot.

The Republican side of Congress is rife with further examples. A pious Senator says she’s tired of the separation of Church and State. She’s videotaped making a complete ass of herself at a show and comes out looking damned unholy.

Another holier-than-thou Republican was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University for over eight years. He expects us to believe he knew nothing about the sexual abuse that went on under his nose for that length of time. The wrestlers say he had to have known. He did nothing to help them.

Another right-wing politician made up a fake biography to get elected. He says Trump won the 2020 election. Many Americans believe him and may react in unknown ways.

Corruption is monolithic. It filters into the world of crime, especially crimes of desperation that are hard to fathom. Imagine the shock to people who thought the Harts were a warm, loving family.

There’s a well-known photo with Jennifer Hart in the middle and her wife, Sarah, on the right. They adopted the six children in the photo, two sets of three Black siblings. They are at a Bernie Sanders rally in identical blue tee shirts, smiling at the camera. On second glance, you notice how forced the smiles are. Jennifer Hart put the picture on Facebook.

I question the judgment of adults who dress their families in identical tee shirts. For a rock band, maybe. But a political figure? Not so much. Even Bernie.

Almost exactly two years after the photo, Jennifer drove the entire family off a 100-foot cliff into the Pacific Ocean.

Before that, they projected themselves as a united and even joyous family unit — a Caucasian, lesbian couple with six adopted Black children.

I’ve started reading more local news lately, especially the crime sections from around the country. It shows we never know what goes on behind closed doors. The Hart tragedy exemplifies that.

Four years before Davonte died, his image made national headlines. Jennifer and Sarah Hart took the children to a Black Lives Matter protest in Philadelphia.

Davonte hugged a white police officer who was at the protest to keep the peace. The tears on the boy’s face were real. Someone took a picture and it went viral.

I grew up watching soap operas. I remember walking quickly home from school so I didn’t miss the beginning of “All My Children.” Maybe that was the beginning of my divorce from reality. I’ve always lived with one foot in the real world and the other in my imagination.

My takeaways? Err on the side of caution. If you suspect a child is being abused report it and quickly. Follow up. The system failed the Hart children.

Recognize the blur between fantasy and reality. Know that much of what you read or watch aims to manipulate you. When you can, get information from the dwindling number of people who are not trying to sell you anything. Be wary of scams.

Realize that we all project a public persona. Some personas bear little correlation to reality. Watch out for those with a wide gap between their public and private behavior — the Boeberts of the world. They are numerous. Don’t be one of them.

When people describe Republicans as the party of family values, call them out.

Teach your grandchild a code word so they can call you from jail if they need bail.

Davonte’s body was never found. On a soap opera, that would ensure that he survived. He’d surface 20 years later with amnesia and a complicated romantic life. How I wish that was real. Rest in peace, Davonte.