SignalGate

Once the suffix "-gate" is added to an event the stinkiness doesn't ever go away. Nor does it matter what country or profession or administration you are in, as it has been applied to scandals all over the world since the original Watergate mess.

And how far we have come since that debacle. At first, Richard Nixon and his cronies tried to cover up the crime, but intrepid journalism, supported by an editor who recognized their responsibility to the entire nation (and its rule of law), brought it to the light. The ugliness of the action and the actors became visible and he resigned. Can any of us imagine the current FOTUS resigning in disgrace? Or any of the folks who are directly involved in this fiasco? No, we have an administration built on humiliation rather than humility.

Come to think of it, if Pete Hegseth were ever to attend an AA meeting he would most definitely hear the word humility bandied about. Humility - noun - the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc. Let's dig a little deeper: Humble - adjective - 1) not proud or arrogant; modest 2) having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc. Humble and humility are NOT related to humiliation. That's a transitive thing, something that one does to another. No, humility comes from inside and is a mark of great character, of knowing who you are and where you stand in relation to the rest of the universe. Clearly this is not a strong aspect of this administration.

Amidst all the daily shit that gets reported, and all that does not, this event may very well be the chink in the armor. The signal moment (I couldn't help it) when the curtains are drawn back and we all see, even those who voted for this, that there is a rotting, viscerally awful thing back there, and none of us want that in our house/apartment/camper/shelter. Perhaps this is what helps us all turn the corner and work toward a better world.

May we all remain humble, hopeful and vigilant.