Lies They Tell Us

Murder, cruelty, dishonesty – all in a day’s work in the U.S.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

– George Orwell, 1984

If you haven’t read Orwell’s masterpiece novel 1984, please do so. Or just watch and listen to the United States’ current administration’s crimes against humanity, and you will have found the heart of Orwell’s magnificent book.

In his fictional classic, the author tells the hard truth about totalitarianism. Truth that is missing from the so-called leaders of the regime that has permeated the U.S. The regime has waged war on its people and, in doing so, has waged war on democracy.

ICE – made up of thugs and criminals – executed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in cold blood in Minnesota. And the executioners literally got away with murder in our lawless land. And, to justify these killings, the United States regime has told the most outrageous lies about the victims.

The U.S. dictatorship is telling a blatant lie about Good, saying that she ran over an ICE agent, who sustained internal injuries. And the regime is spinning lies about Pretti by telling us he was out to kill ICE agents with a gun – that was legally concealed and carried but not drawn.

But so many people of the United States and the world at large know the truth. Because videos and audio recordings serve as eyewitnesses to these cold-blooded murders. Let’s face it: the regime in the U.S. – I won’t call it a government – knows actually what happened. Covering up the incidents with lies shows the regime as incredibly despicable and cowardly. The regime is smearing the reputation of both murder victims, so that we the people can be calmed down. So that we the people can be passive and compliant.

But we the people of the United States have truth on our side. Minnesota is a shining example of courage. The people are not backing down. They are continuing to peacefully protest and be eyewitnesses. When ICE started committing atrocities some time ago, I had a sickening feeling that some day their invasion would lead to murder; I just didn’t know where or when.

This is not a political issue. That time of philosophical differences between Republicans and Democrats has long been over. Now it’s people who want democracy vs. those who want a totalitarian regime. As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said, “What side do you want to be on?”

During the last presidential race, Project 2025 and the impending dictatorship plans were clear, yet he was put into office – thanks to people not showing up to vote or those who would rather have a dictator than a woman in office.

Well, now we have our dictator.

And now the United States of America and the world are paying the price.

Nancy Stordahl’s extraordinary essay also points out what’s going on in the U.S.: Anger, ICE, and Minnesota Nice. If you haven’t read it yet, please do so.

New Art

For me, art replaces some of the sorrow with joy, and that’s why it is a huge part of my self-care regimen. During these hard times, it can be so difficult to continue creating.

My advice: keep creating.

Unlike the detailed bridge I finished last week, this week has me painting a huge cloud. The first draft is below. I plan to eventually put treetops on the bottom of the painting, but for now, I am trying to make the cloud as textured as possible. I’ve got a long way to go, but that’s okay; I’m patient.