"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." -- Will Rogers

 If there is ever a country that can be accused of chaotic action, it's France (though England can certainly argue). The pursuit of liberty, equality and fraternity was tough enough over 200 years ago, as the French attempted to follow the US example of creating its own self-government. Despite the recent protests over the retirement age, I would argue the French and most of the EU are doing a much better job of Being The US these days than is the "land of the free," which is hamstrung by the idea of individual freedom over the common good.

This photo is one of several I have taken of public buildings with the French national motto. Despite being a traditionally Catholic country, the French shy from a motto like "In God We Trust" because they know they can't. It's something they learned from the US, which has forgotten it. Fully a third of the US electorate wants more God in the classrooms and public buildings, despite multiple Supreme Court rulings over the decades saying you can't do that. Sorry, but God isn't the answer here so please shut up. Man needs to stand up and, these days in the US, it's not happening in the interest of our democracy.

Ask someone who opposes abortion to give a non-religious reason why, then watch them struggle with a response. Yet reproductive rights are increasingly infringed by a minority. There has been some hopeful pushback lately, but the longer-term threat remains.

Speaking of the Supreme Court (and the French), why isn't there a large and loud mob outside the court building throwing Molotov cocktails and pushing police lines and demanding Clarence Thomas resign? Where is the outrage in Congress against such a blatant and obtuse violation of not just ethics but possibly the law itself? The last administration deadened us to lying, cover-ups and daily corruption so much that we apparently are just immune to it anymore. Call it gaslighting, political Stockholm Syndrome or what you want. But it's where we are. Merrick Garland has lately had some success on the criminal front but that's separate from the absolute hypocrisy of the GOP on our debt ceiling. I mean, these mfers voted for huge tax cuts and now want spending cuts in the name of fiscal responsibility when they've done everything  that's the antithesis. But their sycophants in Congress just go along.

Sometimes I just sit on a bench and get teary about the sheer ignorance of too many in my native country and how they're willing to wreck it. 

Denise and I were talking early today about things we'll miss when we go back to the US. I can't speak for her, but my list includes....

Decent public transportation and no need for a car. Just eliminating fuel, insurance and maintenance saves an easy $400 a month -- not including a car payment.

Related to that -- the ability to walk to excellent produce, a bakery, desserts, meat and pretty much any other thing we want or need on a daily or weekly basis. A post office. A bank. Name it. 

Concern about crime -- especially guns. Of course it can and does happen anywhere. But not nearly as often or with as much violence. Yes -- it's the guns. The US has created its own prison where folks feel like they have to get a gun to protect themselves from others with guns. God won't help you there either.

Education and curiosity about more than just one's own country. The ability to converse with, understand and appreciate how others see things.

There are others of course but that'll do for now. As frustrating as a few things have been over the past ten months, they pale when compared to all we've learned.

From the rights of workers to womens suffrage to civil rights to voting rights to the war in Vietnam to BLM to, well, pretty much name it -- Being Nice doesn't usually work. The late Rep. John Lewis called it "good trouble" to actually get stuff done.

There's a ceremony coming up here in town this Monday (May 8th) to mark the 78th anniversary of the end of the European part of WWII. The flags in front of City Hall have already been changed from all French flags to those of the US, the UK, Belgium, the Dutch and others who shared in that victory over fascism. You can bet I'll be attending.

Too many in the US are more concerned about waving a flag than caring about what it represents. These days I am living in a place that appreciates it a lot more than the country that inspired it.

We need more of the good kind of chaos too.