It is 76 degrees in our neck of the Woods or 25 degrees above normal. Stormy weather is in our forecast. When the weather becomes so extreme storms are a common occurrence in our region of the midwest. As has been sometimes said…you can feel it in the air.

I wonder if the same could not be said for our political climate. What was at one time a gentleman and lady’s sport can now be labeled a bloodsport? The old adage that sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me…is obviously wrong. A few words from a political leader can put those who he speaks about at risk of losing their life.

Many reputations have been ruined by gossip. False accusations are remembered while the truth is placed on the back page of the newspaper. Speaking in general regarding what people are saying is no evidence of veracity.

Of late I have noticed that images of actors and actresses appear on Facebook and if you take more than a cursory glance at the purported likeness it is just that…it is not the person that the caption says it is.

Could it be that we are being manipulated by our betters or at least those who think that we are simple and thus not able to distinguish the difference between the facsimile and the genuine article?

‘During the 1890s Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov was looking at salivation in dogs in response to being fed when he noticed that his dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time that they were given food.’ So it is with us when the words or people that our tribe follows call upon us we obey without thought.

Conditioning is key…

How did our enemies become our friends? How did we decide that sexual harassment and abuse become OK for certain leaders? Why do we embrace division and segmentation of entire groups of people who do not agree with us…

‘And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail King of the Jews!’ Then they spat on him…’

There is a storm coming…