LIVING IN CONSEQUENTIAL TIMES.

Editor's Note: This week, Peter continues his commentary on the global crisis that threatens to consume us, presenting a somber reflection on our times. In On The Table, we celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the Lamborghini Muira, complete with Peter's personal remembrance of the machine back in the day. And we have a new historic racing video, "The 1965 12 Hours of Sebring," which corresponds nicely with this week's Fumes. Our AE Song of the Week is "Midnight Blue" by Lou Graham. In Fumes, Peter presents the next chapter of his series, "The Great Races" focusing on the 1965 12 Hours of Sebring, famous for "The Deluge" and Chaparral's first major international victory. And in The Line, we have F1 results from Shanghai, China, and INDYCAR results from Arlington, Texas. Onward! -WG

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. Last week's column "Hello, Pendulum" didn't sit well with some people, who responded with agitated suggestions that it was an overreaction to what will surely be a short-term blip in our daily lives. And, I’m paraphrasing multiple comments here, “I will drive ICE vehicles until hell freezes over,” or something like that. I wasn’t surprised at the reaction. In fact, I expected it. But I have a question for everyone out there in WebVille: You didn’t seriously think we’d endure this conflict in the Middle East unscathed and without repercussions, did you? Oh, and by the way, if you did, I really don’t know quite what to say, other than, are you frickin’ kidding me?

If you’ve been around long enough you have come to understand that life doesn’t exist in a vacuum, that actions have consequences. When things happen, whether they be local or global events, it will affect you, sooner or later. (As an example, premium fuel hit $5.25/gallon around here this week, which was nothing compared to the sickening report of an active shooter at Temple Israel last Thursday afternoon, a synagogue just west of our location here. -WG)

 

Some actions are more consequential than others, of course. When we have operatives at the top levels of our government making decisions based on whims-of-the-moment and self-aggrandizing thought balloons, while operating on the woefully misguided assumption that this current conflict with Iran will be “limited” in scope, well, saying they’re sadly mistaken doesn’t even begin to cover it.

 

(I reserve particular ire for the person currently occupying the Secretary of Defense position in Washington. I refuse to mention his name, but to say that this loathsome creature is totally unqualified is the understatement of this or any other year. To say his half-wit “Bro” conduct is painfully embarrassing and not worthy of someone tasked with sending our young men and women in harm’s way is simply inadequate. He’s a relentless fool who never should have gotten within 1,000 yards of any job of consequence – there’s that word again – in Washington. And there’s only one guy responsible for it too.)

 

Yes, serial incompetence has a stranglehold on our government right now. The assumptions made and the actions taken by this administration have put our nation in a serious bind, well beyond sky-rocketing fuel, food and fertilizer prices. The success of the action so far, of course, is due to the fact that our military power is unmatched and our fighting service men and women are admirably doing the jobs they were trained to do. We are lucky – and so extremely proud – to have them. But, unfortunately, that will not automatically result in a "win" in this conflict.

 

A political leadership unencumbered with rhyme or reason isn’t a matter of which political spectrum you’re coming from, because the reality is that this administration’s incompetence is destined to put all of us in serious jeopardy, which is first and foremost infuriating, and at the same time, heartbreaking.

 

And, while I’m at it, reactions have consequences too. Anyone who thinks Iran is going away is kidding themselves. They may be militarily depleted, but the country’s fury toward the U.S. has only been rekindled and intensified. That country’s political operatives will wage war against this country in one form or another for decades to come, long after this pathetic “Epstein Class” of politicians fizzles out.  

 

The ugly reality is that we’re living in unpredictable, consequential times, and as much as we’d all like to “duck and cover” and pretend otherwise, that’s simply not possible.

 

And yes, of course, as a country, we’ve found out the hard way that elections have consequences too. And that may be the most painful reality of all.

 

And that’s the High-Octane Truth for this week.

I'm closing this column with some consequential words by Bob Dylan, from his song “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”):

And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
And the executioner's face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll tell and speak it and think it and breathe it
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my song well before I start singin'

And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” by Bob Dylan, from the album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” (1963).* Written by Bob Dylan. Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Listen to it here: 

*This is a 7-minute anti-nuclear war anthem. It was one of three social protest songs Dylan recorded on “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.” The others are “Blowin’ In The Wind” and “Masters Of War.” Dylan said that the rain was not literal fallout rain, but "some sort of end that's just gotta happen." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)

Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG