Saturday, June 6, 2026

Roy Cohn: As Evil As He Looks?

Poor Roy always looked sickly and downright evil. At least, I haven't seen any photos of him where he might be called a handsome man. When I'm thinking of the fact that this creature had a tremendous part in turning tRump into the mean individual, he has become, I'm ready to think that Roy's looks are the perfect symbol of what he really was, namely genuinely evil. However, I may be somewhat unfair to him, so that he is not quite the ogre I see him as.

They first met at a fashionable nightclub in 1973 where the lawyer and prosecutor Roy Cohn (1927-1986) was introduced to the young and very ambitious Donald J. Trump who decided to hire him to help the family with some legal problems. Roy, who was a closeted gay, had a penchant for young, blonde men, but the two of them are not assumed to have had a sexual relationship although they became extremely close. For instance, often they talked on the phone several times a day.

The fame and status of Roy Cohn stems from his tough handling of the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg-case and his being Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel in the Army-McCarthy-hearings. Both of these endeavors were centered on what was considered the ultimate threat at that time: Communism.

His influence on Donald Trump was immense, and he not only represented, but also mentored him. However, he also represented many other clients, some in Catholic clergy, some in the political world, real estate as well as organized crime. At one point he was considered one of the best, but over the years his reputation waned. His career as a lawyer ended five weeks before his death from Aids when he was disbarred for unethical conduct: He had tried to fraud a dying client into making him his heir.

There is no doubt about the bad character of Roy Cohn, and he taught tRump ways to exploit people and the system that did not exactly better what he may have of a soul. Being short, not in the least handsome as well as suffering from a botched pediatric surgery to modify the appearance of his nose which only left him with a rather prominent scar did not leave him with a "good hand" in the erotic game of the gay world. However, he was undeniable very smart as well as ruthless which sort of became his "trademark".

In his private life he tended to focus on people who were what he himself wasn't, but the closest person to him was his mother whom he worshiped as much as she worshiped him, or maybe even more. As to his being gay, he really was closeted and he also denied suffering from the "gay-pest", Aids, which eventually killed him. No matter what, he did have some well-known romantic relationships, one of them being with the wealthy heir G. David Schine.

Roy Cohn with G. David Schine and gay-hater Joseph McCarthy

Being what he was, it must have been a very strange and not exactly pleasant experience to work with and for Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was adamant in his witch-hunt for and expulsion of gays. After ending his assignment with the gay-basher, McCarthy, Roy Cohn entered private practice as an attorney. His status as a lawyer was not the same as before, and he was indicted several times on various charges, but also he was acquitted. Actually, to me he seems to have steeped himself in what can't be seen otherwise than what he, as a representative of the law system, was supposed to fight, for instance blackmail. But then, in some respects, he was the man of contradictions: When the first rights of the gay citizens were being discussed, he said that homosexual teachers posed a grave threat to children.

At some point he tried his hand in politics, sort of "his way", namely e.g. using bribes to help others win. Interestingly enough he served as a helper for Ronald Reagan in his 1980-campaign. However, the most interesting part of his work, as seen from a 2026-angle, is what he did for tRump, for instance when he was accused of keeping black inhabitants out of his housing programs. He didn't win the case, but it may have given tRump some good ideas for the future. Anyway, his representing both tRump and the mobster Anthony Salerno came to play a role in the building of the so-called "Trump Tower. When he died, he had achieved what he had said was one of his main goals, namely to be totally broke and owing millions to the IRS. That may be his form of defiance against the world, but it makes me think of what Epstein said about tRump and his lack of morals:

https://www.cjr.org/first_person/twitter-roy-cohn-rosenbergs.php

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240517-roy-cohn-the-mysterious-us-lawyer-who-helped-donald-trump-rise-to-power

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/eavesdropping-on-roy-cohn-and-donald-trump

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/us/politics/donald-trump-roy-cohn.html

https://www.tiktok.com/@star_boy20to80s/video/7362282792975125765?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7645166064573793814

https://thebrokenelbow.com/2017/07/01/the-bizarre-world-of-donald-trump-and-roy-cohn/

Wikipedia

Friday, June 5, 2026

The Master Liar

Yes, we know it by now: tRump is the biggest fibber of all, at least for now, as politics - and religion - open up for the use of lies as "tools" and in the future there may come others who are even more expert in twisting the truth as they need to for their own selfish purposes. Hitler and Goebbels were mastering the liars-trade before tRump, but I think he has surpassed them by now. Nothing seems to stop him in lying when he finds that necessary. As his lies influence the lives of other people, and maybe even ruin them, I see them as malicious and unforgivable: No excuse! However there are liars who are more like authors of fairy tales, although their stories may not be as innocent as we assume, because they cross the line between truth and lies. As we know by now, that goes for religions of various art and some political systems ....

Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and her mother, DeeDee

These days the name of The Master Liar is known from a very famous mental illness, namely "Munchhausen by Proxy", and the special case of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard who murdered her mother for ruining her childhood by lying about her health situation. Poor Gypsy-Rose underwent multiple not-in-the-least necessary medical treatments because her mother needed to bask in the limelight as a maternal angel, taking good care of her poor, deadly sick child: All of it was lie, upon lie, upon lie - or one wonderful fairy tale upon another one.

As to "Munchhausen", whom this illness was named after, then he, in real life, was a German baron, Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Freiherr vor Münchhausen (1720-1797) who fought the Turks much of his life as an adult. Some time around 1750 he changed into a home-loving host for his many friends who came to visit him and, most likely, also to listen to his many stories/lies about all the adventures that befell the fictitious figure, "Baron Munchhausen", that he turned himself into. This baron is an alter ego who was met with extreme dangers, and experienced unfathomable hazards that are very enjoyable to read about, namely because he always gets out of them alive.

Not only did he survive taking a ride on a cannon ball, but he also didn't fall prey to "The Grim Reaper" when he met him. At one time he escaped a swamp or a lake by grabbing hold of his hair, thus being able to pull his horse and himself up into safety.

As it is this fictitious baron experienced such entertaining adventures that someone saw to it that they were published. Something he is assumed not to have been happy about, but they have nonetheless achieved their own literary fame, as well as having been turned into movies. People simply love this fairy tale-baron who got out of all kinds of scrapes which the real life Munchhausen didn't master as he died in 1790, seemingly having been worn out by his second and disastrous marriage.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001555.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy-Rose_Blanchard

https://www.giffonifilmfestival.it/en/sezioni-film-1990/2844-the-adventures-of-baron-munchausen.html

Wikipedia

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Boundaries of Language

Wise words from Reddit, and I agree to a certain point: We experience the world in words, and they often can't cover what we see, feel, fear or are longing for. However, to convey our feelings to others, whatever they are, we also have to resort to words, which may not always do the job, so to speak. That means that both our own experience and our means of conveying it to others may not be clear to us because the words are faulty or not fitting: Absolutely, a double-trouble to everyone.

The need of a mutual vocabulary is made evident when one has to learn and use a foreign language. There are "shades" in certain words or wordings that form a sort of "language in the language", telling the world that one doesn't command that particular language. That's when the people one is talking to come to realize that there may be grave misunderstandings afoot. An observation, which doesn't do much for the conversation.

And then there is body language. With the thumbs into his belt, tRump signals something on this line: "I'm a real man, and proud to be." His tiny hands are noticeable, but nothing one can blame him for even though he has an annoying way of waving them at people. As to his body tilt when standing, and his often rather wide turn of his torso when speaking then they indicate something that takes an interpretation, and more likely than not, some discussions.

When it comes to the meaning of particular words education and general knowledge are very important, and I admit that I'm very surprised at the extreme ignorance of many Americans. These people are far behind in fields that they should have been taught at school, but weren't. For instance, MAGA love to call everything they don't like "Communism" or "libtard", but they don't even know what these words mean. They're too uneducated to know that when they themselves demand that the government takes control of the means of production and prevent the free market from shutting down a failing plant, THAT's Communism. Because "Communism" has been turned into an insulting word which is used about a lot of things that's not even political it has no genuine meaning for them.

hands-and-shoulders-telling-story.html

Wikipedia

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Short Story by Else Cederborg (Previously published): "Always Room for Doubt"

Dreamstime-picture

The little girl looked up at the woman, tears in her eyes. Then she bent forward and put her head into her hands, rocking back and forth, back and forth.
"Why did you lie to me?" the woman said in a harsh, monotonous voice, full of something that might very well be hatred or an intense dislike. "You must have known that I would find out about you." The "about you" was almost spat out like a curse. "You should be grateful for my helping you and your family, but you resemble your mother ...."
At the words "your mother" the little girl looked like she stopped listening. Instead she rocked back and forth even faster than before.
"Well, and now what shall I do to make you understand your social obligations in life?"
The girl shot one fast glance at her, but didn't reply. "I shall see to it that you start thinking about your situation by collecting your toys and send it to someone who deserves it. Do you understand me?"
This time the girl dared a muffled "no" and at once the strong palm of the woman hit her cheek twice.
"What about now, did that help you to understand me?" the woman asked.
The girl didn't answer, but tears trickled down her cheeks, wetting her T-shirt.
"Now see what you've done," the woman yelled, shaking her fiercely by her naked and already bruised forearm.
At that moment there was someone at the door. The woman looked annoyed, but let go of the child's arm to answer the door. The girl sat listening to the muffled voices as the woman let in someone she couldn't see.
When she turned around and saw who it was she jumped to her feet, yelling "Karen" in a voice as if she didn't believe her own eyes. The newcomer opened her arms and drew her close.
"There, there," she said, kissing her wet cheek and patting her back, "what is this, Marie, are you crying?"
The child buried her head in her bosom and didn't answer. Instead the woman took over the conversation, saying in an angry voice: "Marie has been so very naughty today that I told her someone else was to get her toys."
"Naughty?" Karen said. "My little sister is never naughty." She held Marie at arm's length and now she noticed bruises, some old, some new, on her arms and in her face. "What is this, you are not allowed to beat my sister?"
The woman let out an annoyed hissing sound, and Karen let go of her little sister and turned to face her instead: "This must have been going on for some time. When I see these bruises …. Well, I'm taking my sister to the doctor to let him have a look at them. Don't expect that that will be the end of the matter ...."
That remark made the woman's facial expression turn from angry to worried. "I haven't done anything," she said, "except feeding and tending your sister, but sometimes she is very difficult to handle …."
The large eyes of the child looked directly into the eyes of her sister with steadfast glance. She didn't speak, but neither did she flinch. As the eyes of the sisters interlocked, Karen nodded one short nod, closed her eyes for a second and again turned towards the woman.
"I know that a child in grief may be difficult to communicate with, but one thing is for sure: My sister isn't naughty and she doesn't deserve to be beaten by the one who promised - and was paid - to look after her while I was away to bring order in our late mother's estate. I've only been gone for two weeks and to me it looks like Marie has been beaten every single day of that time."
By now the woman looked positively scared, and as Karen started to speak again, she hurriedly said: "I may have been a little harsh a couple of times and I'm sorry for that ...."
"All right, but that doesn't solve the problem because child care is your job, your obligation, and that's what pays your bills. Still, this happens so I feel that your business ought to be shut down for good."
"No-no, please understand, that Marie really was naughty, she ruined my TV and cut my books ...." At the words "ruined my TV" Karen glanced quickly at Marie.
"How did she ruin your TV?" she asked.
"I don't know, but it simply seized up when she used it the first time. The same happened with my coffee machine and my computer. I don't know what she does, but …."
At this statement the sisters slowly turned to face each other and Karen started to laugh while a sheepish smile erupted on Marie's face. "Oh you," Karen said, "I knew it, you've got it ...."
The woman looked bewildered at the sisters. "Well, I know that it's a difficult time for Marie - and for you - her mother just dying in such a gruesome way and everything ...."
"Yes," Karen said, "she was murdered by a flock of idiots who thought she was a witch …. that we know ...."
"How horrible, I really am very sorry ...." the woman said, but she looked more annoyed than sad.
"All right, Mrs. Smith, we shall not need you anymore, and I shall pay you what you deserve."
"We did agree upon fixed wages," the woman said, "so I have no doubt that ...."
Karen smiled and said: "Well, there is always room for doubts." While speaking she lifted her right arm as did Marie and both of the sisters pointed at Mrs. Smith while humming in a high pitched voice. The woman looked totally bewildered, but her facial expression changed into terror when she slowly fell to the floor, shrinking more and more. In a little while, all there was left was her clothes and something that moved within it. Karen and Marie watched as the creature in the clothes peeked out.
"A toad! I knew it!" Karen yelled, grabbing a heavy book from the coffe-table and bashing the creature over the head, flattening it to the floor.

Friday, May 29, 2026

The Female Surgeon of the Civil War

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919)

Quite a nice looking, young lady of the 19th century, right? At the first glimpse of this photo most people may not notice anything unusual about her. In her looks she resembles many other women of her time. However, two things stand out: Her medal and her attire, which in this photo is feminine, but that wasn't always the case with her. She is a woman, and looks like a woman, but in her lifetime she came to be known as a woman in men's clothes. When she was asked about her male attire, she said: "Those are not "men's clothes", I, and nobody else, own them so they are mine." So, in her opinion she defined her clothes, instead of them defining her, which is something I applaud as it speaks of both stamina and independence.

Cross-dressing may be seen as some kind of joke, but not so with this woman. She, her five sisters and one brother were raised by progressive parents, and she studied medicine. After her studies she married a fellow doctor, and they set up a medical clinic, but neither the marriage nor the clinic worked because of the prevalent prejudices against female doctors. However, she made a name for herself as an army surgeon and was known as Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to receive this kind of honorary medals for her achievements in The Civil War.

Her work with wounded soldiers was, so to speak, her excuse for wearing men's clothes, but it's obvious that she didn't only wear them when working. In old age she looked like a fine gentleman, not in the least feminine anymore. In her lifetime she went from this:

to this:

I suspect that somehow she has become more renowned for her clothes than for her notable achievements as a surgeon, and that's unfair. However, these sad years of tRumpisism have led to the falsification of the history of women and black people which is something we should remember for better times: The truth is the truth, and should not be murdered for political or egomaniac reasons.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson in 1865. However, the U.S. government rescinded her medal and those of more than 900 others in 1917 when terms of eligibility for the medal was changed. Something which didn't stop her from wearing it for the rest of her life. Also, it sort of came back into history when this coin was issued:

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-edwards-walker

https://youtu.be/VxBvFsoUZYI?si=_bEs2Xx52iG-7QgU

https://youtu.be/VxBvFsoUZYI?si=yro24ZwM_f7DIJRe

Wikipedia

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Symbolic Insults: When tRump Visited China

According to the "factsheet" that was issued by The White House after tRump's recent visit to China he achieved a lot. Also, "Xi is his friend, and everything was a huge success for the American president". Well, the all-in-all-impression of the visit comes out different for those who watched some of the videos of the top moments. Actually, in my opinion it came out as a Textbook Example of subtle, symbolic humiliations, and I confess, I love it. There were no screaming matches, physical fights or verbal insults, but still, I saw a continuous string of secret messages underlying the public moments of an ordinary State Visit.

A lot of pomp, but no Xi to greet the American president

It started in the airport as tRump wasn't given the warm welcome of, for instance, Putin. Why didn't Xi come to greet him like he has done with others? Not doing that is a potent signal of contempt: Xi doesn't see tRump as neither a personal friend nor a statesman of equal status. In my opinion, it was obvious that the Chinese president took trouble in making that fact clear to the world at large, and that tRump didn't have a chance of fighting the Chinese settings. However, tRump being tRump makes it more than likely that he didn't even catch the underlaying stream of insults in everything Xi did. It wasn't only the way the Chinese president made a point in holding back because of tRump's need of catching his breath. The chair which was lower than the one of Xi gave the same message of weakness, because it made him look smaller. On top of that it seems that he wasn't served any tea when the Chinese president had a cup.

There were many sceneries with kids which is interesting when considering tRump's status as a pedophile after being mentioned in the files of Epstein, allegedly, more than 38,000 times. When Xi promised tRump the gift of Chinese rose seeds that must have been a subtle reference to the famous, American rose garden of Jackie Kennedy which now has been turned into a concrete waste land.

There is no personal friendship between tRump and Xi Jinping. Actually, the latter one signalled contempt for tRump and found a way to make that clear. Also, there were not many concrete political agreements or valuable trade deals which made the visit stand out as a success.