Reposting from my SubStack

Not my Circus, Not my Monkeys
Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy
I’m watching the circus of US politics from my spot up in here in the Canadian cheap seats. But it’s still all under the same tattered tent, so if/when the monkeys bring it all down, it’s on our heads too.

There are three rings. Strutting around the red one is a peacock of a buffoon, caught up in a Gish Gallop tsunami of random phrases, preaching to his Reichstag of ecstatic wild-eyed followers. Nine bobbleheads sit comfortably along the front row, swatched in heavy black robes and gazing unblinking up at their patron.

Slumped in the middle of the blue ring is a sad little pale-faced Pierrot, face downcast, all alone under the single spotlight. There’s an occasional hint of energy, as if the clockwork spring had a bit more left after all, but then it’s back to that thousand-yard stare, then a dejected sag. His fans have stopped cheering. Most are mute in disbelief. Several have discreetly slipped out.

There’s a third ring too, a grey one, with small grey characters. Some shuffle aimlessly about, some wave with a bit of animation to their own tiny crowd, but most seem immobile and translucent.

There is still a scattering of relatively uncommitted fans, gazing from ring to ring to ring, realizing there may be no good choices to be had. Do they want to help break in a new act? As for the rest of the audience, there is no shortage of distractions. High overhead, there’s a troop of monkeys battling in the wires and cables, while dressed in red and blue tunics. Down below, there are dozens of jugglers and clowns and acrobats. There’s even a bear on a bicycle wearing a little red ball cap. He seems to be a big hit with many of the spectators.

Why do we stay in the tent? Do we stay on for a few odd jobs, like cleaning up after the elephants? Do we still scrounge for some day-old hotdogs and stale popcorn? Are we afraid to leave the safety of the tent? Are we just - to mix metaphors - too fascinated by the slow train wreck unfolding before our eyes?