Politics
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Fear and Loathing in America
“The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen. What makes it possible for a totalitarian or any other dictatorship to rule is that people are not informed; how can you have an opinion if you are… Continue reading
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My Fellow Americans: An Open Letter
The following letter has been revised to reflect the recent inauguration and the ensuing catastrophe. Dear Fellow Americans, what the hell were you thinking? Is this really the best we could do? There were realistically only two choices unless you… Continue reading
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America
I was born and grew up in the United States of America. From an early age, I was taught that this nation was the greatest in the world. No question. In Catholic elementary school (1954-1962), we were taught to “…pledge… Continue reading
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untitled random poems #2
i am not alonethere are plenty otherswho remember when we believed optimismin the worldus could transform changesweep away the dust blow away the stenchtake swings at the concrete foundationswith a force so deep inside of usthat the walls wouldcome crumbling… Continue reading
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The Enemy is (Us)
In my essay “The Cult of Hate,” I wrote about the long list of groups of people that I’ve been taught since I was a little one to fear, suspect, abhor, accuse, dislike, battle if necessary, and kill if I… Continue reading
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Breaking Eggs
“You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs.” Robert Louis Stevenson 1897 “Breaking people ain’t the same as breaking eggs. All you get are broken lives.” Antonio Pedro Ruiz 2025 According to my handy Google AI Overview, when you ask… Continue reading
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CHAOS.
I’m reviewing my memory disks,I mean our history going backtraveling way backbefore 1948, before my time is full ofCHAOS. Colonialism.Imperialism.Theft.Slavery.Genocide.Exploitationby the color of your skinby the skin of your colorCHAOS. I remember our historysince 1948that cray cray toothe cray cray… Continue reading
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Did You Hear the One About…
The assignment from Memoir I, UCLA Extension online: “Write a stand-up comedy monologue to turn it into a part of your memoir. Don’t make it evident to your reader that you are doing a stand-up routine- tell a story as… Continue reading
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Memoir: A Character Profile
This is a character profile for my UCLA Extension Memoir Class. The assignment was to create a profile of one of the characters from my memoir. The following is based on personal knowledge and the historical record. DEA Agent Ray… Continue reading
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If You Can’t Beat ‘Em…You Know the Rest
On January 6, 2024, Congress convened peacefully to certify the results of the 2024 election. There were not thousands of people rioting to take over the U.S. Capitol, threaten elected officials, or damage the structure, which the Architect of the… Continue reading
