Patriots

I’m not a subversive
I’m a patriot.

Anyone can wave the flag
While denying the rights to others
Guaranteed by The Constitution.
They can call that patriotism,
but it’s obviously a lie.
Anyone can order troops into the streets
To terrorize the citizens of the
second largest city in the country.
It’s not patriotic to deny citizens their 1st amendment right to protest and object to an unjust government.
That is not American. It’s illegal here.


Patriotism isn’t fealty to one man
Patriots don’t give a FUCK about party lines
Patriots believe in the law
Patriots believe in the rights of citizens
And non citizens
To live without government oppression
True Americans believe in freedom
Freedom means we get to choose
How we live
Who we love
What we worship.

We get to decide where we live and where we go. Americans, and visitors here, get to live without fear of illegal police detainment, searches and worse.

THIS BULLSHIT is NOT AMERICA.
Masked secret police doing the bidding of their political masters is NOT AMERICAN. This is some Soviet Nazi type bullshit folks.

These people in charge are NOT patriots
They hug the flag while ignoring
The Highest Laws of the Land.
They celebrate cruelty, not justice

The insurrection has succeeded
Our Capitol has fallen into the hands
Of traitors and TREASONISTS
Religious bigots and billionaire bullies.
Privateers. Plundering the Treasury.

Thugs and thieves stealing our money and our private information. To be used against us if we speak out.
They are destroying our peaceful way of life, with lies of invasions and crime.
Just excuses to use military force
Against The American People.
Who dare to protest the abuses
By a corrupt and toxic regime.

The invaders are in power
The Crimes are happening
Right before our eyes
Committed upon The People
By a corrupt and invalid government.
Purchased by billionaires.
Operating of, by and for, absolute greed and the extortion of the American People.

The True Patriots are speaking out against this illegal hostile takeover.
True American Patriots are standing up to the treasonous fools, who are out to destroy everything we have, just so they can drain every ounce of value, from the planet and it’s occupants.

Extract. Exploit. Discard.
The rest of us pay for their excess
The rest of us pay for their egos
The rest of us pay for their lack of compassion.
We suffer their lack of empathy.
We pay with our lives.
With the lives of our children.

If you aren’t working AGAINST them, you are helping them. You are aiding and abetting the criminals, who are out to harm all of us. You are one of them.

Silence in the face of injustice is complicity

America is Coming Out

At least now the United States will have a President who accurately represents the American Republic. Trump is not a symptom of American decline, but the result of it. A criminal. Mobster. Abuser of rights. Plunderer of resources.

He personifies all the worst things America does. No filter.

America has been an imperial power since WWII. Buying or taking whatever we want. Under cover story of stopping communism, we’ve invaded Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more. If we can’t win using economic warfare, like tariffs and corporate invasions, we send in the marines.

All of it “to protect vital interests”.
Like big oil and gas profits, and ensuring infinite future profits for the weapons industry.

Sold to the highest bidder. Everything is for sale. Except for peace. We sell weapons to both sides to ensure that unrest continues in the world, because a world without warfare is much harder to exploit for profit and power.

All the unrest and violence in the world also enables a nearly $1T per year military budget, further ensuring the profits and stabilty of weapon manufacturers…and their ever growing stock prices (=huge profits for the rich and shameless).

But good news…we’ve finally come out as a country. Now, our president will be a mob boss. No more hiding, pretending to do good.

Hey world: It’s who we really are. The Home of Monopolies and Organized Crime, The Land of the Deceived.

All that “protect the peace” and “promote democracy” BS is just the cover story. Again and again we make the rest of the world “an offer they can’t refuse”. Our words are backed by aircraft carriers, stealth bombers and nukes. Who’s gonna argue? Who’s gonna be the first next to get fed up, and decide to fight back?

I guess we’re gonna find out. And soon.

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

I’m Ending My Abusive Relationship with The Wealthy.

I think it’s time that the human race figures out, that progress for a few should never mean regress for some. If your success comes at another’s expense, it is not really success.
It’s abuse.
Abuse of human rights. Abuse of our shared resources. Abuse of power, for profit…and more power.
Call it Capitalism. Call it anything you want to, to justify it in your conscience. But I call them crimes against humanity, and only the wealthy and powerful are actually able to commit them. Uber Wealthy People. Big companies. Countries.
Because after all, who can actually hold them accountable?

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Close To The Edge

America is on the edge. Many of the freedoms and the progress we’ve made toward civil rights are on the verge of being eliminated.

I’m not trying to scare anybody, but the time for business as usual is over. Thanks to greed, lies and partisan politics, the Rights of Americans have been abused and degraded. Police shoot at unarmed citizens because they are afraid. That should tell you something about the climate on the streets of America…if you’ve been living in a box and haven’t seen it for yourself already. Violence is everywhere. The System is Failing. Shit is breaking down, and things may get ugly.

It’s actually good news, if you can look past the painful present into a better, more equitable future for All. But the truth is, things usually have to break really badly, before they get fixed in America. Slightly broken just won’t do in the USA.

The bad news is that first, people will get hurt. Innocent people, who did nothing except try to live their lives. The assholes of the world will get a little richer and more powerful, and some people will die. Acceptable losses they’ll say. I don’t agree.

At some point though, people will get sick of the same old rich people fucking over everyone else. People will reach their breaking point, and demand better, and I think we’re very close to that precipice. But in America, things have to get REALLY BAD before that happens. Unless it affects people directly, let’s face it: We Americans just don’t give a fuck.

I know. Some of us do. If you’ve read this far, you probably do. I know I do. But so many intelligent, kind, and generous Americans avoid politics completely. Because by and large, American politics is a disgusting abuse of the public trust, legalized bribery at the highest levels, leaving the average voter relegated to just a number to be manipulated, based on race, religion and zip code. I get it, and I don’t blame them for not wanting to dirty their hands.

But we’ve ALL consented to being treated this way, either tacitly by not voting, or actively by voting, but not demanding better choices. They get away with it because we let them. They will keep taking, abusing our trust, until our vote means less than nothing, if we let them.

Here’s why: Government shouldn’t be done by career politicians, a privileged class of elite liars, skilled in wordcraft (most of them). It should be volunteers, who serve their country briefly, and then return to private life. Doctors. Teachers. Sanitation engineers. Artists. Secretaries. Bartenders. People who know about living in America and who want to make the best choices for Americans.

But more importantly, government should serve the people. All the people. Not just the ones who can afford to influence the politicians with their ‘donations’.

That can only happen if the millions of smart, caring, non-voting citizens, decide to get involved in ‘politics’, and use their voices…and their votes…to demand better.

Demand term limits
Demand money out of politics
Demand demilitarized police
Demand equal rights
Demand an end to the corporate oligarchy
Demand better choices
Demand transparency
Demand Truth
Demand Democracy

Get informed. Get involved.
Vote. November 8th.
Do it. Just fucking do it.
We can be part of a bigger solution, not the same shit different day DC dog and pony show they think is fooling us. We’re not idiots.

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

God Save The Queen

I don’t know why. I’ve never been to the UK. My parents are both from NY. I have no actual connection to Queen Elizabeth. But hearing that she was on her deathbed, and subsequently passed, brought tears to my eyes.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away today.

My Grammy told my mom as a child that she had to keep her room clean in case the Queen were to pay a visit. My mom told us kids the same thing. I suppose I stopped fretting about a Her Majesty’s Inspection a long time ago, but I still found myself weeping today, even as I knew for sure I’d never have to pass the Royal mustard. (That’s a weird expression, isn’t it?)

But if I’m being honest with myself, I know that I’m sobbing, not for a queen I’ve never been subject to, the Mum of Nation, a land far away, but for my own sadnesses and loss. If I’m being honest, I’ve spent a lot of time with tear-streaks on my cheeks the past few years. It doesn’t take much anymore.

The loss of your mom is hard. I miss mine every day; today more than many. Some of today’s tears are for the British people, losing theirs. But as we kids learn to live on, beyond our parents days on earth, the UK will go forward with King Charles (that sounds SO weird to say) at the helm of the British Empire. The sadness will linger, and then fade I suppose, but her reign will be remembered forever. God Save The Queen.

King Charles III becomes King

I wonder how many kids are secretly breathing a sigh of relief that The Queen will NOT be coming to check up on the tidiness of their bedrooms?

Jamie Gray | Conjurer of Bytes, Notes & Words. Seeker of Truth, Peace, & Harmony.

Autumn Kindling

I’d like to say I know who I am. I’m pretty sure I’m still finding out.
I’d like to say I know how things really are…that I know a lot about lots of important stuff.
Maybe I used to. The truth is, these days I feel like I know a lot of useless stuff that I’m absolutely sure will someday be important to someone, someplace.

Fall leaves in the yard | Original Photo by Jamie Gray

But, I do know a lot of things that could be much better, but for some ‘important’ people who are unwilling to change and uninterested in doing anything for anyone but themselves.
I also know that we all can make a difference if we decide not to be indifferent. I try to do my part.
The sun rises and sets, and all that I know seems everyday madness. But it’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than us.
Another day in the gilded age of Internet and impressions.

Every age of glory fades away or goes down in flames. And…It’s just…well, everything about America right now looks a lot like Autumn kindling.
~jg


Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Jamie Gray – Upstate NY Musician, Writer, and Photographer

Can we save our planet? Is it too late?

Several nations are threatened with extinction due to climate change.

Maybe the climate deniers were wrong.
Maybe the scientists were wrong, too, and it’s MUCH WORSE than they thought.
Maybe it IS too late.
But maybe it’s not.
Even if the experts were sure it’s too late.
Maybe they’re wrong. ~jg

Jamie Gray | Musician. Writer. Ally of Earth.
Not a tool of corporate greed.

Read the articles that inspired Jamie’s Rant:

These countries have warned they face extinction. They hope climate report is a ‘major alert.’ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/climate-change-rising-seas-may-lead-extinction-small-island-nations-n1276394

Is too late to save our planet? https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2021/8/10/is-too-late-to-save-our-planet