A wonderful thing about observing and analyzing the human mind is that
there is a seemingly infinite variety of phenomena to observe and
analyze. I sometimes wonder if it is even remotely possible to master
this subject but, even if it is not, at least it provides an unending
source of 'entertainment'.

The phenomenon that I want to discuss in this article is what Anita
McKone and I call the 'magic rat'.

Before proceeding, let me emphasize that the 'magic rat' is an
incredibly dangerous psychological disorder that afflicts most political
and virtually all corporate leaders, notably including those in the
United States, thus rendering them incapable of responding intelligently
and appropriately to the ongoing crises in human affairs. And,
tragically, it afflicts most other people too, which is one reason why
it is difficult to muster a strategic response to these crises, even at
grassroots level.

In describing this disorder, I also want to emphasize that it never
occurs in isolation. Individuals afflicted by this disorder will

There has been surprisingly little media follow-up on the story about the July 25th Dulles Airport arrest of House of Representatives’ employed Pakistani-American IT specialist Imran Awan, who was detained for bank fraud while he was allegedly fleeing to Pakistan.

Pew did a poll in 38 countries asking about various dangers and threats.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 6:00 PM business meeting, 7:00 PM Public Meeting. At 7:00 our guest speaker, Steve Farber will talk about the International Movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the Anti-BDS movement in the U.S.  Steve is a Jewish member of Jewish Voice for Peace Central Ohio.  Location:  Northwood Building, 2231 N. High St., Room 100.  Parking available behind the building in “R” spaces. 

Thank you for inviting me to speak here. I’m grateful and honored, but it is not an easy task. I’ve spoken on television and to large crowds and to important big shots, but here you are asking me to speak to hundreds of thousands of ghosts and billions of ghosts in waiting. To think about this subject wisely we must keep all of them in mind, as well as those who tried to prevent Hiroshima and Nagasaki, those who survived, those who reported, those who forced themselves to remember over and over in order to educate others.

Perhaps even more difficult is thinking about those who rushed to make all those deaths and injuries happen or who went along unquestioning, and those who do the same today. Nice people. Decent people. People superficially similar to you. People who do not abuse their children or their pets. People perhaps like the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet who was asked last week if he would launch a nuclear attack on China if President Trump ordered him to. His response was a very principled and reasonable yes, he would obey orders.