I just returned from my first hike of the season on Mt. Spokane. As usual, I parked at lodge 1 and hiked up the cat track past chairs 2 and 3 and was heading for Lamonga Pass ski run when I came to my senses and stopped at the bottom of Swede’s Folly ski run. I decided that was enough and assumed I would make it back to lodge 1.

When I got there, I sat down on the deck facing the ski runs and ate my steak sandwich, Manchego cheese, chips, and apple slices while I was contemplating my navel.

On this Memorial Day I began to think about how lucky and blessed I am to have lived this long and to have had so many wonderful experiences in spite of myself. I came into this world with nothing at a time that may have led to the best and most exciting time in history, and I surely will go out with nothing, but what an experience it’s been.

I realize I have had white privilege and have not had to suffer the indignities that other races, as well as people who are simply trying to get to the United States or just get ahead, have had to. And maybe selfishly I did not actively participate in all the trials and tribulations of those who were willing to sacrifice their health and even their lives while trying to make things better for the rest of us. Most certainly all those who have served in the military and those that have fought in all of this country’s wars. I can say, however, that I have voted in every election that I have been eligible to, and for years I have carried on conversations with elected officials. Unfortunately, many of those conversations have been mostly one-sided as the responses have primarily been campaign literature and requests for money, even when I simply asked questions or asked why they voted the way they did. Oh well, at least I did try. And I got things off my chest.

The 1950s, 60s, and 70s were turbulent times, but the country survived them—at least until 2015. Civil Rights protests, the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon (he actually did a great many good things; too bad he was so paranoid), Ronald Reagan, and the Gulf War. 

Today, what we are experiencing is denigrating all the sacrifices that so many have made since the colonists rebelled against the king and ended up writing maybe the greatest two documents ever. The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. 

Unfortunately, millions of US citizens, as well as millions of others around the world, are working diligently to return to autocracy, or worse. They are willing to ignore facts and revel in falsehood and misinformation. In this country they are willing to almost worship an orange demagogue who only cares about his own self-interest.

We are in an unfortunate position of having to choose between two unpopular individuals for the next President of the United States. I know I can never vote for one of them, and am okay with the other since he, although not perfect, has a much better sense of moral conscience, purpose, and character. 

I wish I could change a few minds before the next election but in this current political climate I know that’s a fool’s errand. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts for today after spending a few hours alone in a beautiful place with only the sunshine, clouds, sounds of the wind in the trees, spring rivulets runoff, and birds.

Ken Kaiyala
5-27-2024