Perhaps you remember April 30, 1975, when NVA tanks rolled through the gates of the Presidential palace in Saigon?  I was twenty six years old then.  I still carry my draft card from that era in my wallet.

That offensive put an end to our attempt to make Vietnam a client state, a colony if you will.  We were there for twenty years at great expense of blood and treasure.  Why?  Many reasons can be given as such things are always a complicated story.  The short version: The United States did what empires always do.  Empires use force, soft or hard, to extract value from colonial subjects.

Again we are leaving another country, Afghanistan, pell-mell.  We thought, convinced ourselves, that we were on the cusp of a negotiated cease fire with the Taliban resistance.  Predictably why settle for half a loaf when the whole loaf is yours for the taking?  The capital of Kabul is surrounded, and is about to fall shortly.

Americans in general have positive emotions attached to the symbol of the American flag, or the iconic bald eagle.  (The eagle is a majestic bird, if you are privileged to view one in the wild.)  When in a town, especially in rural United States it is unlikely that your gaze in any direction will not include the American flag.  You will see the stars and stripes flying, often multiple flags posted from light poles, from store fronts and from the front porch of homes.  To fly the flag is to display one’s love of country.

In foreign countries, many do not have the same warm feelings about the red, white and blue flag or the American eagle as we Americans.  In fact America is viewed, with good reason, as dangerous, as dark and effective as a black cormorant.  The long, thin, hooked-beak bird is a powerful predator, catching it’s prey by diving under the surface, webbed feet and wings used for propulsion under water.  Some cormorant species are known to dive as deep as 150 feet. 

An empire does what empires have always done.

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The summer growing season is ending.  These scenes capture my feeling of sadness, anticipation that Fall approaches with splendor of color, of Nature preparing for a season of repose inscribed in shorter days, and colder temperatures. 

Colorful flamingos are serene amid the purple late summer flowers. 

Tomatoes and peppers are delightful to harvest, and what delicious salads and sauce will be fashioned from this goodness?

Finally the white Buddha holds a single windfall ripe apple.

And so it goes.