From “peace activist” to UFC advocacy? Huh?

June 16, 2026

I find it fascinating that I, who used to “identify as” a peace activist — and then discovered that I was mentally violent in pushing peace, so stopped completely, to begin a lifelong process of healing— was so “into” the UFC event at the White House. What? Advocating violence? Because that’s what it looks like, the “caged” fights, seemingly “to the death,” that involve brutalizing fighters seriously adept in boxing, wrestling, and martial arts.

Well, no; but certainly I am advocating that we do begin to energize ourselves. Especially men.

Indeed I remember even back in my old “peace activist” days, in Jackson Wyoming, having joined the movement to keep Reagan’s new MX “Peacekeeper” missile from being installed near Cheyenne. Even then, back in the 1980s, I noticed the men in our movement were softies, not energized. In fact, I briefly looked at the idea of making a pin, “Wimps for Peace” — but thought better of it.

Reading through this AI description, I ask myself, what’s changed? What’s really changed? Trump is another “Peace through Strength” president, just like Reagan.

And how much money does this nation spend on the military? What percentage of our GDP?

According to this website: 

Then I remember Gandhi, his philosophy of non-violence, what steered me in the direction of peace activism in the first place.

 

At this point, frankly, I’m seriously confused.

 

 

Did the White House UFC Freedom 250 event re-ignite U.S. fighting spirit?

June 15, 2026

Even before it took place, I had a sense this was its purpose. Enough of “soy boys,” “toxic masculinity,” sitting on the couch on screens chomping processed take-out, kvetching about the state of our world and how so-and-so is to blame. Fuck that.

Yes. It’s our world. All of ours. Every person in every country. No exceptions. It’s time to “fight.” Each of us to re-ignite his or her divine purpose, which will automatically open the door for the love that fills and fuels the universe to flow through, vertically aligning you with the sky above and the earth below, spreading your arms to embrace one and all.

We’re done with stupid polarity. It’s time to wake up.

Do we think the founders of this country were soy boys?

 

Back story: I had no idea what the UFC was. Didn’t know it involved fighting  not confined to either boxing or wrestling. Had no idea of the kind of gloves worn, or that they fight barefoot, or who had started it all, or, of course, what the fuck is a UFC octagon doing on the White House lawn?

But even before it happened, I had a sense that this was another extraordinary, deeply purposeful Trumpian move, meant to reignite the fighting spirit that founded this country, timed for Trump’s 80th birthday, as a part of the now ongoing 250th anniversary celebration.

Oh, and did you know: The UFC celebratory event ended at 1 AM; and then, at 3 AM Trump boarded a plane for France. What person of any age can match his trajectory, his momentum?

Some on twitter/X go much further. For example.

Shorter version:

Or was this just a matter of bread and circuses? I don’t think so.