October 6: Midnight Aloft--Thunder and Lightning, Susan Collins

The Main-top-sail yard - Tashtego passing new lashings around it.

"Um, um, um. Stop that thunder! Plenty too much thunder up here. What's the use of thunder? Um, um, um. We don't want thunder; we want rum; give us a glass of rum. Um, um, um!"

Okay, let's get this out of the way:  this chapter is incredibly racist.  No gettin' around it.  Racist in the way that the depiction of Native Americans in Disney's Peter Pan is racist.  Of course, you must put this in context.  Melville is writing at a very unenlightened time.  The plights of African Americans and Native Americans were not in people's consciousness at the time Moby-Dick was written.  That is not an excuse.  It is an explanation.

Now, had Moby-Dick been published in 2018, I would venture to say that it would not be received with rapturous reviews.  In fact, it would probably not even see the light of day.  Perhaps Melville would have self-published it as an e-book.  It's difficult to get around its inherent racism.

Today, in Washington, D. C., it seems that the Republican members of the Senate are not going to have a problem embracing unenlightenment.  I spent a good 40 minutes yesterday afternoon watching Republican Susan Collins (a senior-ranking senator) justify her decision to vote for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as a Justice of the Supreme Court.  Collins was considered a swing vote.  She swung alright, or should I say all right.  Her speech, in turns, made me angry, sad, indignant, and angry again.  It was an example of the worst kind of partisan politics that I've witnessed in the last couple years.

The part of Collins' speech that struck me hardest was when, almost in the same breath, she spoke of her compassion for Christine Blasey Ford, saying that she believed Dr. Ford was the victim of sexual assault.  Then Collins quickly pivoted, questioning the details and substance of Ford's story.  It was almost as if I was listening to Lindsey Graham or Mitch McConnell in drag.

In a time when there is such a spotlight on sexual assault and discrimination in this country (and across the globe), the vote today, which I'm positive will result in Brett Kavanaugh getting a life-time appointment to the Supreme Court, is evidence of how much things really HAVEN'T changed.  Rich, white men are still calling the shots, putting a privileged white frat boy on the bench in the highest court of the land.

Now, if you're reading this post and thinking, "Kavanaugh was cleared by the FBI investigation," let me point out that the investigation lasted a total of four or five days, and dozens of potential witnesses were not interviewed.  Dr. Ford passed a polygraph test.  Brett Kavanaugh NEVER took a polygraph test.  And, if that isn't enough to convince you that Kavanaugh doesn't belong on the Supreme Court, let me remind you of his deportment when he was being questioned last week.  He cried, yelled, spoke of having a vendetta against Democrats and the Clintons.  His testimony itself proves his inability to remain calm, level-headed, and impartial.  That alone should disqualify him for the job he wants so badly.

Yes, I'm angry.  We are not in the 1860s or '70s.  Moby-Dick contains elements of horrible racism.  And Susan Collins and Brett Kavanaugh are proof that rich, white men are STILL in power, as they have been practically since the founding of the United States.

I am not proud of my country at this moment.  When "The Star Spangled Banner" is played, I don't feel like rising and removing my hat.  Go ahead and post angry comments to/about me, if you want.  I honor the American men and women who have fought and died for the preservation of democracy and freedom in the world.  Unfortunately, the people in power in Washington, D. C., right now are conflating patriotism with these higher ideals.  They aren't honoring our veterans.

I feel like I need to apologize for my country all the time now, because of the decisions being made by its President, senators, and representatives.  Now, it seems, I may have to apologize for the Supreme Court, as well.

Saint Marty is thankful this morning for Senator Susan Collins because she cast a huge, glaring light on all that's wrong with the United States at this moment.

September 29: The Deck Toward the End of the First Night Watch, Job Interview, Brett Kavanaugh

Ahab standing by the helm. Starbuck approaching him.

"We must send down the main-top-sail yard, sir. The band is working loose and the lee lift is half-stranded. Shall I strike it, sir?"

"Strike nothing; lash it. If I had sky-sail poles, I'd sway them up now."

"Sir!- in God's name!- sir?"

"Well."

"The anchors are working, sir. Shall I get them inboard?"

"Strike nothing, and stir nothing but lash everything. The wind rises, but it has not got up to my table-hands yet. Quick, and see to it.- By masts and keels! he takes me for the hunchbacked skipper of some coasting smack. Send down my main-top-sail yard! Ho, gluepots! Loftiest trucks were made for wildest winds, and this brain-truck of mine now sails amid the cloud-scud. Shall I strike that? Oh, none but cowards send down their brain-trucks in tempest time. What a hooroosh aloft there! I would e'en take it for sublime, did I not know that the colic is a noisy malady. Oh, take medicine, take medicine!"

Starbuck, ever even-minded and cautious, tries to convince Ahab on a safer course of action--pulling down the sails, anchoring the ship in the storm.  Ahab, Moby Dick-crazed and unhinged, refuses to see reason.  Full steam ahead, even into the eye of a hurricane or mouth of a typhoon.  Reason plays no part in his decisions.

Over the last few days, I have watched the Brett Kavanaugh hurricane in Washington, D. C.  I'm not going to get political here.  I'm going to try to be like Starbuck--discuss the best course of action for safety and sanity.  I believe that the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is one of the most important decisions that occurs in the United States, more so than the election of a President of the United States.  This is a lifetime job that affects the lives of everyone who lives in this country.

Brett Kavanaugh is interviewing for a job.  A really, really important job.  I don't know about you, but, when I've gone into job interviews, the prospective employer takes everything into consideration--my past job performance, personality, police record, community involvement, education.  Sure, I try to put forth the best picture of myself as I can.  I WANT the job.

If, during the course of an interview, my prospective employer discovers that I have accusations of sexual assault or misconduct leveled against me, I'm sure my application and resume will go into the rejection pile, especially if there are tons of other people qualified for the position.  Plain and simple.  The decision is easy.  Safe and sane.

What happened this week in Congress was the strangest job interview I have every witnessed.  Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual assault, by more than one credible person.  If he's innocent, he should have agreed to a polygraph test, as his accuser did.  He didn't do that.  (By the way, Dr. Ford passed that polygraph with flying colors.)  The employers interviewing Judge Kavanaugh, instead of asking him the hard questions, spent their time DEFENDING him.  Again, I don't know about you, but, if I admit to taking illegal drugs during a job interview, I don't think the person interviewing me is going to defend my character.  It's not going to happen.

So, again, let me be Starbuck in this moment:  Brett Kavanaugh is interviewing for a job.  He's a prospective employee, who will be working for me and everyone else in the United States.  He has proven this week, over and over, that he is terrible under pressure, cannot control his temper, and is unable to be fair and impartial.

Bretty Kavanaugh's resume and application should go into the rejection pile.  I would say this whether he was Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal.

Saint Marty is thankful this afternoon for sanity and reason.  Things that seem greatly lacking in the capital of the United States right now.