WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PARTY?

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I've been enough of a pessimist since 2016 to feel certain the trump court would overturn Roe v. Wade, yet when I saw the news after work on Friday, it was a punch in the gut. Couldn't eat. Felt sick. Yesterday was my Saturday to work; I slumped at my desk.

It's not about loving children. It's about hating and controlling women, especially women who dare to be without sufficient funds to deal with a crisis pregnancy. 

But why has this event even occurred? Democrats, what is wrong with us? 

It's well known that the majority of people in the United States support abortion rights. More people voted for Hillary Clinton than for trump. Because of dirty politics, especially in Florida, George W. Bush became president instead of Al Gore. We watched the GOP, led by Mitch McConnell, block Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee yet allow trump to place three liars on the court. We managed to get Joe Biden elected, but The Big Lie hasn't gone away. 

Somehow, the Republicans who are evildoers manage to triumph repeatedly. Are we Democrats too kind and compassionate? Do we need to engage in more tricks and lies to make our points? Why isn't the truth enough? 

The turmoil in the United States is the worst I have seen, and I grew up with Watergate and the protests against the war in Viet Nam.

I asked Sweet Cheeks last night, What are we going to do if trump is elected again in 2024? We both feel we won't be able to bear it. Nevertheless, we don't know what to do about it other than voting for candidates who share our values and our belief in freedom, donating to candidates we want to see in office, and continuing to speak out against injustice. 

In spite of the evidence presented by the Jan. 6th committee, I do not think anything will be done to trump or about trump. We are stuck with him till the day he dies. We are also stuck with justices who said in their confirmation hearings that Roe v. Wade was settled law.

Infinities of love and despair,

Janie Junebug

DOCUMENTARY WEEKEND: KEEP SWEET

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Last weekend I watched an excellent four-part documentary series streaming on Netflix. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey delves into the lives of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints––the polygamy-loving Mormons who force women into marriages in which they might be the second wife, the third, or the twentieth.

Their president from 1986 until his death in 2002 was Rulon Jeffs (left above), known as the prophet, who ended up with 60 - 65 wives and as many children. Many of his wives were underage. It was not their idea to marry Uncle Rulon, as he was known. Some of the wives describe their experiences in the series. They were shockingly ignorant of what would be expected of them in marriage, with no comprehension of sex.

Rulon often told young people to Keep sweet, which meant they should control their emotions. Protesting their lot in life, which could include domestic abuse and rape, would do them no good.

Before Rulon died, he singled out his son Warren as his replacement. Life for FLDS women became worse. All of the women had to dress the same and have the same hairdo. He moved his band of fools to the Utah-Arizona border, where the "church" owned all the property and a man who might be a threat in some way lost his home, wives, and children. Those wives were then married to other men, and their children became the children of the new husband.

 Dozens of young boys, who would one day want to marry, were cast out to live on the streets of Salt Lake City and other communities.

Warren, not satisfied with simply marrying most of his late father's wives, took on his own circle of young girls to "marry" and rape, including at least one 12 year old. When he moved the group to a new location in Texas, it proved to be his undoing. 

The series made my heart break for those girls, but after reading Under The Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer and watching the series of the same name on Hulu, I was relieved to know that some of the women have escaped from polygamy and now have the opportunity to provide a face and a voice to the stories of their suffering.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

SUPERHEROES LIVE WITH ME

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Who's that on the mantel? 

Let's take a closer look.

I took my action figure out of their boxes so they can roam free, ready to protect us. 

RBG has her gavel. Joe and Barack are holding hands. They haven't lost that lovin' feeling. I wish Kamala had her chucks on. 

I'd like to have Hillary, too, but she's sold out not available at the moment.

How I'd love to have Justice Ginsburg on the court again.

Did you watch the beginning of the Jan 6 hearings? Liz Cheney impressed me. Maybe she'll be worthy of becoming an action figure. 

https://shop.fctry.com/collections/action-figures  Stacy Abrams is available for preorder.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

THE SHOOTING OF THE DAY

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Today's shooting occurred in tiny Smithsburg, Maryland. 

 A man killed three people at a manufacturing plant, and another person was critically injured, according to news reports. The gunman fled. State trooper(s?) found him. He shot a trooper. The trooper shot him. The shooter was taken into custody.

I suspect he didn't have an assault weapon that would have allowed him to mow down dozens, but a gun is a gun. 

For 12 years we lived near Smithsburg. My kids went to middle school there and one attended Smithsburg High School. The schools are near the plant.

Do I know the people who were murdered? Will I see the names of the victims and gasp in shock as I recall them? 

Where will the next shooting take place?

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

SUMMERTIME

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

We celebrate the lush growth of summer

But the heat arrived early this year

too hot to move

Franklin and Penelope wear their new PRIDE bandanas

Summer is a rough season with its heat and storms. Sweet Cheeks and I spend much of our Saturday evenings talking about Ukraine and the horrible shootings in the U.S.

Who was that guy who said "an AK-47 is not a sporting weapon nor needed for defense of a home"?

Oh, yeah. It was Ronald Reagan.

The Lake Junebug Resort & Rumpus Room is not open yet for the summer. Perhaps it won't open at all this year.

I remain your Junebug On The Job, with black scribbly marks to keep work-related info from showing.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug