Three Little Songs
The City of Angels and Constant Dangers
This article is from the original Chicano in Paris recently moved here to its new home.
The last few days have been one hell of stretch. The wrong former president died, the right European former wannabe Nazi died, and Los Angeles decided to set itself on fire.
I grew to love Jimmy Carter. I didn’t at first because I was a stupid, stupid child.
Eventually I did grow the fuck up and came to see Jimmy as a sort of beacon. He lit the way with the kind of example you learn about in church on Sunday. To be clear, he was like the guy in that book they hold so dear, not like the people sitting in the pews. The older I got the more clear that contrast and the cooler he seemed to get. It wasn’t about history, or his presidency (although, The Camp David Accords is the kind legendary stuff that separates the chaff from the wheat as far as history goes). It was about the man. He quietly made the world a little bit better everyday with the time he had left. He was the type of human you (should) aspire to be more like. And I really just liked Uncle Jimmy.
So when the football I was watching got interrupted with the news of a “former president’s passing” I went from super excited to incredibly dissapointed in the space between “passing” and “Jimmy”.
And then a racist asshat wannabe dictator DID go ahead and make the world a better place by exiting. Jean-Marie Le Pen died and the whole of France celebrated. There were literal celebrations in the places typically hosting protests in Paris. It was beautiful, honestly.
While thousands of people lined the streets to pay their final respects to Jimmy Carter, thousands of people danced in celebration at the news of Le Pen’s passing.
This is not a rhetorical question at all. I want you to really think about your answer. When The Orange Troglodyte™ finally dies, which reaction do you expect to see expressed by the largest number of people? Jimmy Carter or Jean-Marie Le Pen?
But hey, I’m a terrible person.
And then… my hometown caught fire. I saw a blip about it on my Apple News feed and thought, “ugh, another fire.” Then I saw friends posting that they were evacuating. I logged into my VPN and checked the local L.A. news and my heart broke. I got to calling and texting my people sometime around 0100 this morning and slept that anxiety riddled faux sleep that leaves you up early and exhausted.
I spent some time doom scrolling this morning, seeing places I’ve been and loved gone. Seeing the Hollywood hills where my Uncle Charlie would take me on Sunday drives up in flames killed me. Seeing Pasadena burn. Seeing North Hollywood burn. Seeing Santa Monica burn. It used to be we would keep our wildfires up in the mountains that abutt the 210. Now? Fuck.
And still I can’t stop thinking Los Angeles is burning, but there is no place and no people more resilient. I’m not just saying that as a native angelino. L.A. is not like any other city in the world. People go to L.A. because it’s where dreams get made. People leave L.A. bitter and hurt when their dreams fail. But the strong? The motherfuckers of the bunch - those intrepid few who say, do your worst, bitch and take it and make it in spite of all the naysayers and those who tell them to get a real job, those are the people left behind. They make L.A. home.
When Hurricane Michael destroyed my little beachtown home and leveled the town L.A.F.D. sent fire trucks and personnel to help. The 10 freeway brought them to my front door and they got to work helping strangers. That’s the character of my city. And if they are willing to send their finest all the way across the country, how much harder do you think they’ll work to take care of their own?
In the coming days I am sure The Orange Troglodyte™ is going to run his mouth about California and Los Angeles. And that’s fine. He’s a little man with a small mind and an unimportant opinion. I would say ignore him, but he’s good for ratings. So I’ll say, I will ignore him and help where I can. If you want to help I suggest sticking with charities that you know.
The Red Cross was there for us after Michael, so please consider giving to them.
Team Roubicon was also there and I have no doubts they will be sending help to L.A. In fact, I know one team member there who won’t have to travel far (stay safe, Manny).
Now excuse as I throw on my Dodgers shirt, crank some Randy Newman, and dance around my apartment.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/live-blog/jimmy-carter-funeral-live-updates-rcna186005
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/08/thousands-gather-to-celebrate-death-of-french-far-right-figure-jean-marie-le-pen
https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/palisades-fire-thursday-live-updates/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Marie_Le_Pen
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