WASHINGTON COUNTY LAWYERS JOURNEY THROUGH MOROCCO

 

“As the wind changed direction and the temple band took five, the crowd caught a whiff of that crazy casbah jive.” Rock the Casbah, The Clash

Following our visit to Egypt, my spouse and I boarded a plane for the five-hour flight to Casablanca, Morocco.  We had two days on our own to explore the city made famous by Humphrey Bogart before joining our group. 

This is the third trip we have taken with the Washington County Bar Association, sponsored by Travel De Novo. The company organizes continuing legal education opportunities to exotic locations. Our expectations were high, and all were surpassed on this wonderful excursion.

It was impossible not to compare first impressions of Morocco with Egypt. This small country in North Africa along both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean was cleaner, more modern, with fewer signs of the abject poverty that we witnessed throughout Egypt. However, Morocco is far from a western nation. The illiteracy rate in the villages is 38 per cent. Male dominance proliferates among three distinct cultures, Arab, Berber, and European.

Morocco’s coming out party will be as co-host for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.  Major construction and infrastructure projects are already being rolled out across the country. Morocco will join Spain and Portugal welcoming the world to a celebration of soccer, diversity, and heritage.

On our first night of the tour, we were treated to a welcome dinner at Rick’s Cafe, a restaurant inspired by the famous eatery in the 1942 film Casablanca. The next morning a visit to the famous Hassan II Mosque was on the schedule. Artisans from all over Morocco worked to cover the building in a facade of grandeur that can accommodate 100,000 worshippers.

Our next destination was Fes. On the way we stopped for lunch at a thriving winery, a real surprise in a Muslem country. Our evening meal in Fes featured the former president of the local Bar Association.

In the morning, we took off on foot to explore the thousand-year-old Fes Medina (old walled city) and its souks (marketplaces). Pungent smells, unusual sounds, and colorful sights of artisan goods and handmade crafts overloaded our senses. The guides helped us with the bartering for rugs, leather goods, pottery, intricately detailed clothing, and delicate metal work. A tour of the large open-air tannery and leather emporium was a highlight. Lunch featured street food in the middle of the chaotic bazaar. For dinner we divided into small groups and were welcomed into the homes of several Moroccan families. They were eager to hear about America and to enlighten us on local culture.

The featured attraction on day four was the impressive Jewish cemetery in Fes, along with its associated synagogue, now a museum. We were given a detailed explanation of religious rights in Morocco. Moroccans are among the most liberal in the Arab world. Community and togetherness are stressed over simply toleration which can lead to conflict. After lunch at a Moroccan Grill featuring piles of aromatic meats, we spent several hours at a ceramic factory where we made many purchases.

Day five saw us on the bus to the capital of Morocco, Rabat. On the way we stopped at the well-preserved Roman ruins, a UNESCO world heritage site in the small town of Volubilis. Finally, on a bright, sunny day, we admired the Rabat skyline while lunching at a superior seafood restaurant along the waterfront.

Our final day in Rabat focused on the Moroccan Parliament where we learned how the government is organized. The system would receive Donald Trump’s stamp of approval. It features a King for life with unchallenged executive powers. The king’s son sits at his side, and the family owns large palaces throughout the country.  The elected Parliament can be dissolved at the King’s pleasure. 

Day seven put us back on the bus for a long bus ride to the tourist mecca of Morocco, Marrakech. Our hungry group was treated to a picnic lunch at the Amal Women’s Training Center. This foundation trains young Moroccan women with culinary skills and helps place them in the workforce.  

Refueled, we tackled the world-famous Jemma el-Fna-Square. The space was packed with tourists observing an outdoor circus of snake charmers, Berber musicians, barking vendors and exotic food stalls.

 

On our last day, we toured two of Marrakech’s main attractions, the Bahia Palace, a showcase of Moroccan artisan skills and the beautiful Majorelle Gardens.

The numerous legal seminars spaced throughout the trip were well received by lawyers and lay persons alike. Two discussions stood out for me. First, a journalist reporting to a large audience on Instagram (owned by Meta) was recently denied access to the service after reporting on the conflict in Gaza. Despite numerous attempts to learn why, no answer has been provided. 

Second, an American expat attorney, now the head of a non-governmental charity, gave a robust presentation on her efforts to improve women’s rights and to address domestic violence in Morocco.  Our group was stunned and saddened to learn that only days earlier, the Trump executive order canceling all foreign aid, had terminated her small but life affirming grant from the State Department.

What will I remember most about Morocco? High on my list was talking to my waiter in Rabat before lunch about football, soccer, and his brother in Boston. It felt close to home. Then, napping on the hotel veranda, I heard Islam’s most holy Islamic Friday prayer over the sound of the pool waterfall. A prayer revered by 25 per cent of the world’s population. These back-to-back occurrences reminded me that while our cultures are diverse, we are all more alike than most are willing to admit.

 

 

 

REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONERS THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM

The two articles that appeared on the front page of the February 21 Observer Reporter need to be read together. The first, was featured in large 24-point type and announced, Seeking Stability. Washington Co. economy topic at annual event. The second, below the fold, was titled, Republican commissioners slam Chamber. Sherman, Janis upset by lack of speaking role at ‘State of the Economy’ event’.

The first piece reported on the sold-out 13^th annual State of the Economy forum at the Hilton Garden Inn, attended by 300 participants. Local corporate and business entities sponsored the event.

Three programs important to the economic health of Washington County were scheduled at the gathering.  First, an overview of the national, regional, and local economic outlook was presented by Russell Mills, Senior Principal and Senior Regional Officer of the Cleveland-Pittsburgh branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. Second, a regional and local energy update was offered by Jim Welty, the President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. Third, the three university/college Presidents most important to Washington County (Pennsylvania Western University, Washington & Jefferson College, Waynesburg University) hosted a roundtable discussion on the future of higher education.

This affair was clearly not one in which local elected officials would be expected to participate. The focus was on providing in-depth information from knowledgeable experts, important to county business leaders. The three commissioners were given honorary invitations to meet with the business community and participate as attendees. Which brings us to the second article, where Sherman and Janis “slammed the Chamber.”

Democrat, Larry Maggi attended the conference. He told the Observer Reporter “We’ve had good relations with the Chamber for years and years. We’ve worked with the business community.”

The two Republican Commissioners, Sherman and Janis did not attend. Instead of networking with business leaders, they huddled together and prepared a scathing statement accusing the Chamber of Commerce of excluding them from the speakers’ platform for political reasons. Janis wrote, “It is hard not to conclude that politics had somehow influenced the decision-making process, which is not in line with the responsibilities and practices that the Chamber should uphold.”

It is difficult to determine exactly what is going on behind the scenes. The two Republican Commissioners and the head of the Chamber, Democrat Jeff Kotula, are not best of friends. However, playing the political card makes no sense when the Democratic Commissioner was also not invited to the head table. Moreover, in my many years in observing local governments, I have never seen elected Republican officials not support the local Chamber of Commerce.

I can only draw one conclusion from this Republican Commissioners’ temper tantrum and over the top response in not being invited to the dais. Since assuming office, Sherman and Janis have colored every issue through a political lens. This immature reaction is the latest example.

Responsible governance is not at the top of the Sherman/Janis agenda. Throwing red meat to local MAGA Republicans is important. (For example, praise Trump and Immigration/Customs Enforcement for picking up a local migrant prisoner. Criticize liberal Allegheny County. Refuse to support the scapegoated local Haitian community in Charleroi.) Getting a pat on the back from state and national Republican leaders is important. (So, change election procedures guaranteeing that technical mistakes on ballot envelopes invalidate the vote.) Rewarding campaign contributors is important. (Invalidate an expensive contract already being implemented to reward campaign contributor Motorola Systems at a cost of millions.)

Giving political hacks plumb county management positions is important. Writing op-ed articles to this newspaper puffing up their MAGA accomplishments is important. Refusing to discuss mismanagement and failed projects that are costing taxpayers is important. (Including decision making on the Russian cyberattack and failure to disclose terms of the Motorola radio contract) Seeking retribution against political opponents is important. (Such as interference with the “non-political” LSA award process to deny funding to the City Mission and its new President, Diana Irey Vaughn.) 

When the above political calculations are considered, the decision to assail the Chamber of Commerce is not such a head scratcher. Sherman and Janis are running a government based on getting MAGA votes, rewarding supporters and attacking those with whom they disagree.

The irony of the present kerfuffle is that when Sherman and Janis were invited to speak at a more critical event last year they refused to attend. On May 14, 2024 the Washington County Bar Association, along with several other organizations, sponsored a public forum at the Southpointe Hilton Garden Inn. The program focused on the contentious national election and voting rights. Sherman and Janis were in important leadership positions to explain election procedures in Washington County, ensure the integrity of the election process and to permit the Elections Office to answer the public’s questions. Instead, they made a political calculation to avoid the forum.

The year before, when Sherman and Janis were running for office, they were invited to participate in the annual election forum sponsored by the League of Women’s Voters. Traditionally, all candidates attend to answer voter questions. Instead, the two were spotted having dinner together at a local church.

There is talk in Republican circles of auditing county operations in which Chamber President, Jeff Kotula is involved. This should prove interesting in that the Republican controller’s office, responsible for audits, has been racked by scandal and still appears in disarray. Stay tuned for the next retribution inspired shoe to drop.

 

 

 

DICIPHERING TRUMP’S UNACCOUNTABLE WRECKING BALL

Only a month ago, I wrote that the marriage between Elon Musk and MAGA could not last long. My reasoning was that for Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to succeed, cuts in the federal budget would also affect Trump supporters.  I was wrong, at least in the short term.

Trump and Musk have unleashed a tsunami against government employees that has so-far caused little economic burden on those who voted for the President. Most of the hardship is being inflicted on those who live inside or around the Washington D.C. beltway or on families associated with federal government elsewhere in the country. Of course, cuts to important agencies including the FAA, FEMA, NOAA, the Parks Service, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and the removal of Federal Inspector Generals will eventually have dangerous, negative consequences for all Americans.

I decided to take a closer look at the unusual partnership between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The image of Trump and Musk, addressing the media in the oval office on February 11, was a bizarre spectacle.  Musk appeared in a black MAGA hat, long dark coat with his son perched on his shoulders. He did most of the talking while Trump sat silently, glowering at the assembled reporters.

The impromptu press conference was called for Musk to defend DOGE and its blitzkrieg of activities. This was the first time since the President gave him broad authority to terminate over 10 percent of the federal workforce (300,000+) that the world’s wealthiest man answered questions about the project.

Many political observers thought that Trump looked weak while Musk was basking in the media limelight. I thought this conclusion was ridiculous. Trump knew exactly what he was doing by signing an executive order requiring federal agency heads to coordinate with DOGE and fire employees. If Musk’s efforts succeed in bringing the deficit under control, the President will take the credit. If Musk fails, most of the blame will fall on him.

In support of my position, consider that Musk took the heavy fire from the media during the press conference. Ironically, Musk called the federal bureaucracy the “unelected” fourth branch of government, the exact description of his role with DOGE.

Musk was asked about his personal and business conflicts of interest. After all, his companies have billions of dollars’ worth of contracts with the federal government. His pat answer was that the media would keep a close eye on him and his network of businesses.  Since the press conference, Democrats and the media have attacked Musk as the unaccountable wrecking ball more than the President who has executive authority.

What I witnessed was not a weak President and a controlling, unelected genius. Instead, Catherine the Great of Russia, the reigning Emperess from 1762 through 1796 came to mind. Catherine, like Trump, was ruthless with uncommon political instincts. She was considered egotistical, pretentious, and domineering.

Catherine made Grigory Potemkin, her lover with proven military and administrative skills, the chief architect of Russian imperial policies. Potemkin was successful in the annexation of Crimea and in the second Russo-Turkish war. He failed in other areas like liberating the serfs. After the romantic liaison waned, Potemkin lost administrative power and was blamed for plans that failed.

Catherine remains an iconic Russian leader in the eyes of many Russians. Other than Russian historians, few remember Potemkin. Trump is following the same script as Catherine in letting a brilliant henchman perform much of his dirty work.

Many people are asking themselves, why would Musk, a former Democrat, agree to take on the hateful task of shrinking the bureaucracy, terminating valuable services, and causing unfathomable torment to thousands of federal employees. Musk has publicly spoken about his experience in growing up with Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disorder that falls under the autism spectrum. He has explained that he thinks analytically about the future.  He is driven by a strong desire to solve large scale problems. He has a “maniacal” sense of urgency to push projects forward.

Walter Issacson recently wrote the definitive biography on Elon Musk. He concluded that, “Sometimes great innovators are risk-seeking man-children who resist potty training. They can be reckless, cringeworthy, sometimes even toxic. They can also be crazy. Crazy enough to think they can change the world."

Musk is not concerned with the shattered lives of tens of thousands of federal employees in this country or with the plight of starving US aid recipients across the globe. He is laser-focused on reigning in the deficit at any cost. He performed similar cuts and ruined the lives of many Twitter employees after purchasing the company in 2022.

Musk wants to develop a new paradigm for how limited government can work in a modern western democracy. Trump could not have chosen a better wrecking ball in an attempt to achieve this goal. Republican elected officials are willing to go along with the experiment, at least until their own voters are affected.

Musk is not afraid of taking the heat for mistakes. Dramatic failures have paralleled his remarkable successes throughout his career. He takes both in stride. 

Trump is delighted to assign the details for shrinking the government to Musk. The President’s focus is darker and much easier to understand: reward those who supported him in his quest to remain in the White House; seek retribution against anyone who sought to bring him to justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EGYPT- 6000 YEARS OF HISTORY

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” Saint Augustine

While Donald Trump was tearing up the federal government, and leaving chaos in his wake, we were tearing through northern Egypt in six days. Our travels were full of adventures and surprises in one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

When I write about travel it is difficult to decide whether to focus on what we have experienced and felt, or how the country we visited fits into the mosaic of the modern world. This commentary will briefly address both.

First, the Egyptian people. While thirty million live in poverty, their warmth, humor, and pride in being Egyptian is overwhelming. The government employs many at meager wages. The average hourly wage is $2.44 dollars or $430 dollars a month.

Small shops prevail that specialize in every type of product and service. For example, in Alexandra, there were dozens of establishments in the same area, selling nothing but used car parts. We felt safe walking in the cities at night, with traffic and street activity comparable to NYC.

Second, one of the richest countries in terms of historical significance and the development of civilization, is now a third world country with many problems. The local currency has been repeatedly devalued. Fifty Egyptian pounds are equal to one dollar. Once the breadbasket of the ancient world, Egypt now imports most of its food products. The western hotels are like modern oases near the major attractions. Lack of housing is evident and overcrowding is everywhere. In Cairo, at the sprawling City of the Dead, 300,000 impoverished Egyptians live on small family burial plots over the bodies of their ancestors.

Third, Egypt has fewer natural resources than neighboring Arab countries, which export large amounts of oil and gas to subsidize their populations. Egypt exports inexpensive sand to be cleaned in Turkey and then shipped to Silicon Valley. Half-finished roads, bridges, buildings and sidewalks are everywhere. Tourism is a major industry and many educated Egyptian’s leave to work in other countries.

Arrival time in Cairo was 7 am giving us two full days to explore before joining our tour. We presented our bucket list at the hotel travel desk in Giza and like magic a knowledgeable driver appeared. First stop, the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Within a stone’s throw of the Great Pyramid, I predict this modern architectural masterpiece will soon be world famous.  One of the two giant statutes of Ramses II greeted us at the entrance. Inside, the antiquities were well organized and labeled. A magnificent five level staircase, decorated with imposing pharaoh statutory leads the visitor to a panoramic view of the famous pyramids.

The next day, still suffering from jet lag, but eager for more, we were driven into old Cairo to take in the Citadel, overlooking the city. Inside was the iconic Mohamed Ali Mosque, built by the well-loved founder of modern Egypt. 

 

We then visited the Christian Coptic district to view some of the world’s oldest churches.  The most famous was the shelter site of the Holly Family when they escaped to Egypt. We finished off the day at a reputable jewelry store to purchase a cartouche (your name in Egyptian symbols) and at an emporium for exotic spices and teas.

Our tour group came together the next morning for a long day at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo which holds tens of thousands of antiquities and to the Giza pyramid complex. The Great Sphinx is located nearby.

Early the next morning, off to Alexandria with a stop at a very old but busy Coptic Monastery along the way. Our evening dinner at the famous seaport, founded by Alexander in 320 BC, was a whole grilled black bass, covered in vegetables and spices.

The first full day in Alexandria began at the recently renovated Montaza Palace and Gardens. This was followed by Roman ruins of a Noble’s underground catacombs. This exhibit was highly decorated with raised plaster reliefs and colorful paintings. Next, we visited “Pompey’s Pillar”, the only ancient monument in Alexandria still standing in its original location. 

We moved on to the Qaitbay Citadel, site of the now destroyed large ancient lighthouse and wonder of the ancient world. The imposing Citadel is considered one of the most important medieval defensive strongholds along the Mediterranean. The day ended with a stop at the modern Library of Alexandria, built in the same location as the most significant library of the ancient world.

 

On our return to Cairo, we spent several hours in Egypt’s first ancient capital, Memphis. This is where the colossal Rameses ll statues were discovered along with many other important antiquities. We then traveled to Sakkara on the edge of the Sahara Desert to view the lessor known but equally important Step Pyramid. In total, 118 pyramids have now been discovered. We ended our journey at one of the many “Carpet Schools” where village children are coaxed into the classroom by being taught the carpet making trade.

At 4 am the next morning we headed for the Cairo airport to fly to Casablanca, Morocco to meet up with a group of local lawyers. I will report on our Moroccan adventure in an upcoming commentary.

Modern Egypt unquestionably belongs to a social and cultural tradition that is Arab and Islamic.  Despite the overcrowding and poverty, the tourist experience is exceptional.  The country has one of the richest architectural traditions in the world. It is a history that spans 6000 years and includes edifices from the Pharaonic, Hellenistic, Roman, Islamic, and European traditions.  No travel destination in the world can offer such diversity.

 

 

 

VOLUNTARY EXPATS ARE REPLACING POLITICAL EXILES

   

“The idea of being away from home is so inconceivable to me.”  Zadie Smith

History gives us many examples of individuals who supported an out-of- favor political cause who were then forced or opted to live outside their native country. In early modern history, these individuals were often coerced to leave by political enemies and branded exiles. Today, those on the wrong side of election outcomes are more likely to become expatriates (expats) who voluntarily leave their country of origin. This commentary will explore the escalating trend of those opposed to Trump to leave the United States since he was elected president.

First, a brief history on exiles. Traditionally, those exiled for their political beliefs, did not want to leave their culture, extended family, or fellow citizens. Often an exiled individual was the deposed sovereign leader of his people. According to Wikipedia, throughout history 95 important heads of state have been exiled from their homeland based on shifting politics.

To avoid political dissent, governments have also exiled citizens who threatened their claim to power. In 41 AD, Roman Emperor Claudius exiled the respected philosopher Seneca to the island of Corsica for his political beliefs.

In 130l AD, the famous poet, Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy, was exiled from Florence for his political affiliations. He was banished at age 36 never to see the city again.

The well-loved author, Victor Hugo, was forced out of France in 1851 due to his opposition to the Second Empire of Napoleon III. Hugo spent 19 years in exile on the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. After the fall of the Emperor, Hugo returned to Paris in 1870 to the welcome of cheering crowds. 

More recently in 1959, the Dali Lama, both the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, was exiled by the Chinese. The Soviet Union stripped Andrei Sakharov of all his Soviet titles in 1980, then exiled him to the city of Gorky. Not until 1985, when Mikhail Gorbachev came to power, was he allowed to return to a normal life in Moscow.

The largest exile movement in the United States took place immediately following the American Revolution. Sixty thousand British loyalists, confronting real doubts about their lives, liberty, and potential happiness in the new republic, left the colonies and started over elsewhere in the British Empire. They took fifteen thousand enslaved people with them, bringing the total exodus to seventy-five thousand. This represented one in forty members of the American population. Based on the aggression they faced in the new nation, the decision to leave was far from a free choice.

A second example of a proposed large exile in America was an abject failure. Before and after the Civil War, some misinformed white Americans supported a “Back-To- Africa” movement designed to transport freed slaves to Liberia. Very few African Americans favored such an option. Less than 20,000 decided to return. Instead, a majority of Black Americans were determined to stay and support the abolitionist and later civil rights movements to obtain civic equality.

There are now few political circumstances that would force citizens to leave the United States. Nonetheless, according to VisaGuide.World, the number of Americans looking to live abroad jumped by 1,500 percent following Trump’s election. All of the internet travel sites reported increased inquiries from discouraged Americans researching the requirements for living in another country. The topic is being discussed by journalists and on blogs across America. While it is not known how many citizens will actually leave, the exploding interest in escaping America to become an expat is unmistakable.

There are several reasons why despondent Democrats are seeking to live abroad. First, threats supporting post-election political retribution were rampant. While campaigning, Trump consistently voiced the opinion that Democrats were the “enemy from within.” He has said, “They are so bad and frankly they’re evil.”  Moreover, never before had a presidential nominee openly suggested turning the military on Americans simply because they opposed his candidacy.

Second, many Americans are vigorously opposed to Trump’s proposed policy positions. They believe he will ratchet up the anti-democratic tendencies he exhibited four years ago and turn America into an authoritarian nation.

Third, in recent years several countries have become pleasant destinations for American expats with great weather and excellent medical facilities. These include Cost Rica, New Zealand, Portugal and other Southern European countries. Canada remains in the mix despite Trump’s taunting of Canadian officials that he will make it the 51^st state.

Personally, I agree with Cara Hoffman, a former expat, who recently wrote a guest essay for the New York Times. She believes that potential expats “should be imagining what it is they want instead of reacting to what they fear.”  Hoffman concludes that, “Would-be Trump expats should be aware that in this age of social media and American cultural dominance, there is little way to avoid the United States.”

The domestic political situation may indeed become uglier and more threatening. President Trump and his allies will no doubt cheer political opponents leaving the country. However, becoming an expat is not the answer.

There is another option that former exiles from Victor Hugo to Russian dissidents would find a better choice. Stay home and embrace the famous words of civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF

 

"Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” Epicurus

Following an excess of holiday giving and receiving, many of us make New Year’s resolutions to tidy up the house and to discard what we no longer need. We also make solemn promises to organize all of our stuff.

Sensing our January emotional needs, every brick-and-mortar retail store is suddenly piled high with plastic storage containers. Unfortunately, like going to the gym, rarely are these efforts carried through past Valentines Day.

My spouse and I are not hoarders. However, our basement and attic are full of objects that never became part of our living space. While I am not as bad as the teenage son in the Zits comic strip, where clothing and dirty dishes are piled up in every corner, my sock drawer is an unmanageable twilight zone.

For both of us, finding stashed away household and personal items when we need them is often a maddening adventure. Our brain cells do not fully charge like they used to, and the house is large and uncooperative. Short of attaching Apple air-tags to these elusive objects, what is to be done?

Apparently, we are not alone. According to a survey by Pixie Technology, which measures modern trends, the average American spends a total of two and a half days every year looking for misplaced household items. More than $2.7 billion a year is spent replacing misplaced possessions. Disorganization is rampant in American lives.

 

A recent article in the New Yorker Magazine, What Professional Organizers Know About Our Lives introduced me to a thriving industry that is now in vogue. Its sole purpose is to attack clutter and to organize personal belongings. It turns out that Professional Organizers are not simply a legitimate vocation, their trade has turned into a broadening phenomenon. The author, Jennifer Wilson, proclaims that “Decluttering – with the advent of how-to books, Netflix series and even Hallmark movies based on the subject – has become central to American culture.”

Wilson agrees with the Washington Post that the pandemic accelerated our national focus on home organization. She explains in some detail the accepted rules to defeat clutter: “Americans who hated math suddenly could not stop talking about the four-box method (four boxes per room, labelled ‘Keep’, ‘Give Away’, ‘Throw Away’ and ‘Storage’; the 20/20 rule (toss anything you could replace in twenty minutes for twenty dollars); and the one-in-one-out rule (throw out one item for every new one you acquire).”

Before the Pandemic, the Japanese author Marie Kondo was credited with sparking both the do-it-yourself movement and professional organizer line of work. In 2014, this decluttering celebrity published “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The book became a best seller with fourteen million copies sold. It also spawned the 2019 Netflix hit series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” According to Wikipedia, “the show had a notable cultural impact in the U.S. and the UK, where it was reported to have increased donations to charity shops.”

Kondo argues that most organization methods advocate a room-by-room approach, which is not effective. She encourages tidying by category. Her system begins with clothes, then moves on to books, papers, miscellaneous objects and finally sentimental items. Her Japanese Zen training urges us to keep only those things “that speak to the heart” and to discard items “that no longer spark joy.”

Kondo has now authored three additional books. While the first was an introduction into her methods, the second, An illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing goes deep into the details. The third, Organizing Your Professional Life, offers strategies to help eliminate clutter at work.

It is Kondo’s fourth, most recent book, Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home that I find most interesting. Published at the end of 2022, Kondo was now married with three children. She was struggling like many young mothers to keep her life in order.

The Japanese concept of “Kurashi” means “way of life”. Her advice is no longer singularly focused on organizing. Instead, she tells her readers: “I was a professional tidier, so I kept my home tidy at all times. I have given up on that in a good way. Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”

Funny what a husband and three young children will do to an award-winning theory of organization. For Kondo, taking advantage of every moment has replaced perfection in tidying up.

In November 2024, the definitive book on Professional Organizers was published. The author, Carrie Lane spent years studying the topic before releasing More than Pretty Boxes. The book does a deep dive into how these experts alleviate the demands society places on our limited time and energy.

Lane tells us that professional organizers are usually women seeking self-directed work. The book explores the strategies organizers use to help people part with their belongings. It raises social questions of overconsumption and the nature of unpaid home organization that places unfair demands on women. The book also discusses the psychological implications of emotional connections to stuff we own but never use.

Lane concludes that professional organizers are best thought of as “therapists of capitalism.” They form a relationship “suited to people trying to manage their copious belongings while also working through their feelings around their stuff and the labor it demands of them.”

 

 

 

 

 

FINDING HOPE IN THE AFTERMATH

 

I was baffled by the contrasting messages coming out of Syria, where rebel fighters overthrew Bashar al-Assad after decades of despotic rule, and from progressive Democrats following the recent election of Donald Trump.

In Syria, the CBS news show, “60 Minutes,” interviewed exiled factory owners returning to their bombed-out facilities, eager to rebuild. Families in towns destroyed by Assad, living in piles of rubble, only wanted to talk about what freedom felt like after fifty years of living in fear. Parents who finally learned the fate of their sons, killed in the Assad prison system, were relieved to have closure and talked about the future of their country. Hope appears to dominate the social fabric of Syria.

The opposite mindset was expressed by many Democrats following the election.  Author Ben Tarnoff reflected the thoughts of many when he wrote for The New York Review, “Trump’s style is simple, a gleeful hostility toward the institutions that have traditionally organized American life. He positions himself not merely as an outsider but as a destroyer: someone who delights in the demolition of norms and normalcy.”

Shortly after the election, an editorial in the U.S. edition of the Guardian had this to say, “Today is a day of despair, and it would be futile to tell those who fear and grieve for what is to come in America that they will be OK. It would also be dishonest: many of us, in truth, will not be OK.”

How is it possible that such widespread hope can exist among Syrians who continue to live at a subsistence level in an unstable environment? Conversely, what can explain the feelings of impending doom of so many Americans, who enjoy a high standard of living, surrounded by national exceptionalism?

To get some answers, I sought advice from my neighbor, a wise, retired psychology professor. He explained that in Syria, expectations were so low for so long that any positive news created an outpouring of hope for improved conditions. On the other hand, before the election, the expectations for being rid of Trump and sending him to prison were high among progressives. The Trump victory, with many voters who previously voted Democratic now supporting him, sent loyal Democrats into a deep funk.

In America, there was also the psychological tendency for people to overemphasize the negative.  “Negativity bias” ensures that unpleasant results have a greater impact and last longer on one’s psychological state than neutral or positive ones. This helps explain the willingness of Trump supporters to back the “stop the steal” movement since the 2020 election even though there was no evidence of voting improprieties. Similarly, upset progressives now warn of the “end of democracy” even before Trump takes office. In addition, most news coverage is predominantly negative and reinforces this trend.

I decided to stand back from recent occurrences in Syria and America to gain some perspective on where events are heading. In Syria, despite the recent abundance of hope, the political and economic prospects for the country are not encouraging.  As the statues of Assad were being pulled down, a scramble among sectarian rivals was on to see who would replace him.

A number of factors must come together to ensure that the situation in Syria improves. First, there must be an open, comprehensive dialogue involving all social, ethnic, and religious groups leading toward free and democratic elections. Second, foreign powers must agree to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity. Third, the militia that took down Assad must agree to protect minorities, women’s rights, and to prevent acts of vengeance. Fourth, governments and humanitarian groups must provide short-term food relief and longer-term reconstruction aid. Fifth, the chemical weapons manufactured by the Assad regime must be secured and destroyed. Lastly, a pathway must be established for the safe return of refugees.

A recent article in Foreign Affairs Magazine concludes that “The Syrian people face monumental challenges. Piecemeal solutions will not suffice, but realistic goals must be set.” Much must go right in the most dangerous area of the world not known for its success in nation building.

Turning to the pessimism following our election, I was encouraged by the recent and final column of Paul Krugman, an economist and writer for the New York Times. In the article, “Finding Hope in an Age of Resentment.” Krugman points out that when he started writing his column twenty-five years ago, most Americans were optimistic and “took peace and prosperity for granted.” He believes that “optimism has been replaced by anger and resentment” and that “the satisfaction with the direction of the country has disappeared.” This is because “governments have lost the public’s trust.”

Krugman explains there is a way out of the grim place we are in. He argues, “Resentment can put bad people in power but can’t keep them there. The public will realize that politicians railing against elites actually are elites and start to hold them accountable.”

Krugan concludes, “We will eventually find our way back to a better place.” This will happen when, “The voting public begins to listen to people who don’t try to argue from authority, don’t make false promises, but do try to tell the truth as best they can.”

Despite the contrasting public moods, my guess is that after the next national election cycle, democratic institutions in America will be far healthier than in Syria.