T P O

T   P   O
The Patient Ox (aka Hénock Gugsa)

G r e e t i n g s !

** TPO **
A personal blog with diverse topicality and multiple interests!


On the menu ... politics, music, poetry, and other good stuff.
There is humor, but there is blunt seriousness here as well!


Parfois, on parle français ici aussi. Je suis un francophile .... Bienvenue à tous!

* Your comments and evaluations are appreciated ! *

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Tight Spots - by Hénock Gugsa

  
Tight Spots
by
Hénock Gugsa
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Let's face it. The current political zeitgeist is practically a perennial quagmire. We are dealing with a few self-inflicted vicious cycles that continue to exacerbate the "bad situations." * [George Clooney called them "tight" spots in "Oh Brother, Where are thou?"]

A major cause for these situations is people's lethargy - their disinterest and indolent attitude toward knowledge and information about important current political and social events in their lives. Furthermore, even when they read and listen to the information media, people hardly ever bother to verify the veracity and objectivity of the news sources. Thus they are misinformed and misguided.

It is also a sad fact that far too many citizens are too lazy to even bother to exercise their right to vote. Well-founded protests are not demonstrably expressed, and above all more people need to be active in their communities.

Another cause - Americans' desire and preference for quick-fixes and short-cuts when it comes to solving problems ... also, the ready-willingness to assign blame and the aversion to share responsibility.

To wrap it all up ... there is a real and radical need for cultural reform, for education, and for leadership to steer us to the right (the progressive) political path. We need to get away from the old and tired, the cyclical, political mire of today. It is for this reason, that we should enthusiastically welcome Bernie Sanders! At least, he will educate us!


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  * These bad situations are the result of the utterly worthless policies and laws that our political leaders are imposing on us. Bad policies and positions are affecting the environment, types and use of energy, labor, employment, education, health care, the elderly, income gaps, rights and freedoms (LGBT matters, planned parenthood, etc.), civil rights (race relations, protection from police brutality) , ... and the list goes on and on!




Tuesday, June 16, 2015

The Old Italian Gentleman - by Unknown


The Old Italian Gentleman
- by Unknown -
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An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa

A few days later the old man received a letter from his son.

"Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’ s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie"

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

"Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie"
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The moral of the story is: Wherever there is a will, there is a way - so never lose hope .
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TPO says: Amazing! An impishly clever son coming to the aid of his beloved father in spite of a seemingly towering impossibility! 

Nothing cuter!