I asked in the last post about the
spirit of Christmas. Perhaps it isn't just about giving, but also
about faith. The faith we have in what we cannot see, but can only
imagine. Right now it seems that everywhere I turn there are only
sad tidings. But that isn't the spirit with which my country was
founded. So many people who have went before imagined a different
world. One where anything was possible for those who worked hard and
kept the faith in something larger than themselves.
Maybe we need to regain that faith we
had in ourselves and in a larger meaning to life.
It's Christmas time again. So what
have you been doing to keep the spirit alive? Or perhaps a better
question is, what is the spirit of Christmas? I've done some
decorating, some shopping, and I've made my fudge and will probably
make another type of candy today. Next weekend will be the Christmas
cookies to take to a Christmas Day gathering. It's what many of us
do. Perhaps it is our version of self sacrifice and giving.
Fighting those crowds at the stores isn't a pleasant thing. ;)
But while we have been doing those
types of things, others have been up to something quite different. I
ran across an article just today about the USNS Comfort. It is one
of our hospital ships, which is sent to support our troops, to assist
at disaster areas, and has also been tasked to aid those in South
America who have little access to medical care.
Some have asked why so many people want
to come to the United States. Perhaps the answer lies in something
so many seem to have forgotten. It is something that is within all
of us, the compassion and kindness to recognize people in need and to
offer help.
I also ran across this video of a scene
from “The Newsroom”.
Maybe the place where Christmas spirit
resides is also where a great country does too.
Today we observed a day of mourning for
former President George H.W. Bush. A man who garnered the respect of
many who were fortunate enough to have known him. In this day of
bitter political rivalry, and the self absorption of so many, it was
almost a relief to reflect on the life of someone who came from a
gentler generation, someone who believed in something greater than himself.
We will miss your light.
(This is one speech where W. shined. His father would have been proud.)
Well, another Black Friday has come and
gone. We have seen the usual stampeding crowds.
But something else happened during the
start of this holiday shopping season. A report was issued by the
federal government, yes, the same federal government led by President
Donald Trump.
There is some speculation that the
timing was deliberate. You know, everyone distracted by the annual
holiday shopping frenzy and partying for Thanksgiving that somehow
they wouldn't notice. Ahhh, but those nasty press types were quick
to make note of this rather dire report.
Now we see the talking heads that have
denied climate change basically saying, yes, there is climate change,
but there is no real proof that man is at fault or that we could
actually make a difference if we tried. Our climate is always
changing. Basically parroting what Donald Trump has come up with
for his new position. I say new, because in the past he was of the
belief that climate change was a hoax.
I hate to throw multiple things out
there all at once, but I feel I really need to make mention of
something that goes hand in hand with climate change, and that is
species extinction. While we have focused so much of our attention
on climate change we may have overlooked something that has just as
great an impact on the health of this planet, at least with respect
for human life. If you have a moment please listen to Elizabeth
Kolbert, the author of “The Sixth Extinction”, on her book and
this critical topic.
I would remind people that Donald Trump
is 72 years old. Unless there is a sudden snapping of the Earth's
climate, which is something that has been speculated on because there
is nothing to say this will be gradual, Donald Trump will not live to
see the extreme's that the recent report enumerate. His children
may, but he will not. And yet, he is having an inordinate amount of
influence on what the Untied States does to deal with this very
serious issue. An issue that will affect all of humanity in the
coming decades.
Perhaps it is time for us, “we the
people”, to try to stop and take a moment in our busy lives to look
a little more closely at climate change and species extinction.
Because while we may blame Donald Trump, he is only the expression of
what so many people out there believe. Because he and his followers
are what WE have allowed to be elected to run our government.
This is the start of a famous poem by
Emma Lazarus, a nineteenth century Jewish poet. Most Americans, I
know, are familiar with it. But, I wonder, do they really understand
how important it was for so many people who have looked for a refuge?
We have seen the ceremonies commemorating Armistice Day, the day
that marks the armistice of World War I. But it is a day that has
come to mean more to so many who have fought in all of our wars, as
well as those who we have fought for.
I have for you today another book
recommendation. The book is “Sons and Soldiers” by Bruce
Henderson. It is the story of the sons of desperate Jewish families
who managed to escape to America prior to WWII, and subsequently
went back with the U.S Army to fight Hitler.
It was a time in history where America
and her allies stood up against a tyrant that threatened the lives of
so many innocent people. People who had endured suffering the likes
of which we do not ever want to see again. This was a time when a
state's endorsed racism, bigotry, and persecution of it's own
citizens in the name of some kind of national purity led to the
killing of those who Hitler and his minions deemed inferior or a
threat to the Nazi party's existence.
While Nazi indoctrination of the
population had been occurring for some time, people tended to brush
it off assuming that Hitler wouldn't last, that people would not go
along with what he preached. Those people were wrong. On Nov. 9 –
10, 1938 the Nazis turned what had been political, physical, in an
event that would be called Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken
Glass.
For many in the Jewish community it was
the last straw. On this Armistice Day weekend I would post this in
remembrance of those who endured the events unleashed by Hitler and who fought back. “Sons and Soldiers”
is their story. It should be heard, lest we forget.
...shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. You've heard the saying, I'm sure. Some of you have probably even lived it. If you've read this blog you all have a pretty good idea of where I stand politically. So I won't belabor that point. What I want to say is simply this. When our country was formed, it was formed with some basic ideals in mind. The biggest one being that our government was going to be "by the people, for the people". I know that for many that hasn't always proved to be the case. But that is by no means a reason to give up on that ideal. It was, and still is, a good one.
When buying a car it is always a good idea to look under the hood, kick the tires, and take it for a drive. When choosing our elected officials we should do no less. It is imperative that we look beyond the sounds bites, and the outright lies, to get to the real truth of how those elected officials will govern. That means look beyond Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat (if anyone on there actually talks politics) and all of those negative political ads and partisan talking heads we see on television. Because while those elected officials have a duty to uphold our Constitution, we the people also have the same duty. It is our duty to do our due diligence and elect the best out of the bunch we can find. We have had two years of Donald Trump and a Republican controlled Congress. Do you like what you see happening in our country?
If the answer to that question is no, then maybe you want to listen to Willie.
We are now at the halfway point of
Donald Trump's term as President of the United States. This
fall America will vote again. With the mid-term election we are
given a chance to make our views known. There have been any number
of books on what has been happening behind the scenes in Trump's
administration. One released recently is “The Fifth Risk” by
Michael Lewis. I hear so many people complain about the lack of
talent or bureaucratic inaction in our government. What this book
does is look behind the curtain, revealing that there are some very
amazing people, or were, behind it.
If you really want to be an informed
voter, one who carefully weighs their selection, one who is able to
look beyond the hype of those MAGA hats, listen for a moment to Mr.
Lewis when he talks about the subject matter of his book. Because
this isn't about sound bites, it's about the nuts and bolts of
running a country. It's about our putting in place people who really
do have the ability to make our country great, not again, but still.
Before you vote in November take a
little time and pick up this book and read it with an open mind.
This year the Nobel Peace prize is
being shared between two people who have worked to bring to the
attention of the world the sexual violence that is being used as a
weapon of war. The first is a doctor who has worked to treat those
who have been subjected to sexual violence and the second is a young
woman who was held as a sex slave by ISIS.
In this video Dr. Mukwege asks a
pointed question. What are we, ourselves, doing to change this
situation?
While we are not all living in
situations of war where sexual violence is systemic we can not know
when we will find ourselves in a situation where we can stand up and
make a difference in the lives around us. It starts at home and it
takes courage. It means listening and believing someone when they
finally have the courage themselves to stand up and try to be heard.
Sometimes
that courage is sadly lacking, even in those in the highest positions
of power. In fact, sometimes they are part of the problem.
Was it five years ago? Three years?
Sadly, I don't recall now. But whenever it was it was the first time
I really came across homelessness. Sure, there was always a problem
in the Cities. But never had we seen it to the extent we do now in
the suburbs. In my neighborhood there used to be a wooded area which
I drove by every day. What I didn't realize, until I was speaking to
a neighbor, was that in that area was a different world. A world of
struggle, a tent camp for those who had nowhere else to go. Well,
that area is gone now, stripped of its concealing trees and bushes to
make room for a townhouse development. But the issue has not gone
away. It has only moved. In my city we have more shelters for those
who need help. But those are only a band aid to a wound that goes
deeper.
Those who are living on the streets
aren't just addicts or the mentally ill. They are also those who
have become unemployed through downsizing or are trying to improve
their circumstances by going to school. They are struggling with
medical health issues or struggling to find affordable housing on a
minimum wage salary.
In Anaheim CA low wages and little
affordable housing:
In Minneapolis MN addiction:
Trying to find a better road in CA:
So far, other than a few local efforts,
I have seen little on a federal level that would address this growing
issue. In fact, most of Washington's policies seem set to exacerbate
the problem. A truly great nation takes care of its own.
Syria is back in the news with the combined Russian and Syrian actions in Idlib. Idlib is the last bastion of rebel territory within Syria. It has acted as the repository for many of the people fleeing other areas of Syria that have come under attack by the Assad regime.
What happens in Idlib will have long lasting consequences for millions of people, the region, and the world.
A report by the special envoy on Syria to the United Nations.
While Russia has warned the United States of a planned attack on Idlib it is apparently the Trump administration's decision to continue a military presence in Syria.
A warning, perhaps?
An analysis of the recent meeting between the most prominent players in the Syrian conflict, Russia, Iran and Turkey. And an interesting take on what the aftermath of the civil war in Syria holds for, in particular, the EU.
In the history of great nations there
are always those who stand out, those who commit their lives to the
service of their country. These are the people who work quietly, or
not so quietly, to build a country to be proud of. They understand
the term “self-sacrifice”. One such man is John McCain. Agree,
or disagree with him as you will, but he has tried to do his best to
defend and support America.
I have compiled a few recent videos of
Senator McCain that I feel show what he has come to stand for.
First is a speech he gave last fall at
the Medal of Liberty ceremony.
These next two are from an interview
with Senator McCain when he appeared on The View.
The first relates an incident, that to
my very real regret, occurred in Minnesota during his presidential
run against President Obama. He is reacting to a supporter's attempt to paint Mr. Obama as untrustworthy. In her mind that was because she thought he
was Arab.
The second contains his views on a past
war that was so critical to John McCain, as well as current events.
It takes a lot to stand up for what you
believe is right when that means standing against your own political
party. Yet, John McCain, along with two other Senators, did so when
a critical vote on a poorly written health care bill came to a vote
in the Senate.
But perhaps one of the most admirable
things about John McCain is that he has attempted to work with his
opponents, earning their respect and also their friendship. This
last video is of an exchange with President Obama at a charity dinner. It
seems a bit dated now, with gentler humor, rather than the acidic,
biting, dialogue that is so prevalent today.
The family of John McCain has recently
announced that he is discontinuing treatment for brain cancer. They
have my deepest sympathy. His voice will be missed.
UPDATE:
John McCain has died at the age of 81. America is a poorer place without him. May he rest in peace.
I meant to watch the first part of this PBS documentary last night, but unfortunately that never happened. So tonight I spent some time catching up. I found it an interesting view of a country I only know through the media. Iran is a country of over 80 million people and I think they deserve a voice beyond what their government or our President have to say.
You will find some of what you might expect, but I think you will also see a portrait of a warm, caring, family oriented people who would like to find happiness, just as we all do. So I thought I would provide a link to the first part of the film, if you are interested in visiting Iran. The second part is airing tonight, August 14. I will have to watch that tomorrow. :)
Another movie has come along that I
feel might be of interest. If there is one thing that makes America
great it is the efforts of people to try to bring about the dream
that created the United States. No matter how large or small, it is
their combined efforts that have made a difference.
This is a movie from 2017, but I just
watched it the other night. It involves a case that Thurgood
Marshall was involved with early on in his career, before he became a
Supreme Court Justice. A hero can come in any shape or form. This
one used education and the law as his weapons of choice.
Are we our own worst enemy? Have we
created a world of 24/7 connectivity which allows others to track our
every move? Or, worse, given our adversaries a weapon to use against
us?
With the Russian interference in our
2016 election, and our president's insistence in refusing to believe
it even happened, are we seeing a threat that reaches inside our
borders, which no wall can stop?
This first video is a short interview
with author David Sanger, who wrote The
Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age. You'll have to follow the link to YouTube on the screen.
This second video is a full length
documentary on a vulnerability we all face as we navigate the wilds
of the internet world.
Perhaps staying off the grid just a
little isn't such a bad thing.
It strikes me after watching Trump's
performance in Europe and everyone's reaction to it that we have
forgotten who we are. Whether or not Trump has been deliberately
trying to destabilize the United States, Europe, or our alliances, in
some kind of payback to Putin for past monetary favors is really
irrelevant to what we need to focus on. That question is for others
to investigate. No, what we as Americans or citizens of what is
called the West need to remember is something larger.
Why was America created, why did we in
the West fight against Nazi Germany? Simply put it was to create a
world where people do have a say in their own governance. It was to
create a world where we the people could get to decide how our lives
are lived. We did not want to leave it up to a single person, like a
dictator or a king/queen, to control how we lived. Sure, we the
people have made mistakes, it comes with being human. Yes, even
that greed that rears its head in the search for easy money. But
because we have made mistakes does not mean we need a single “strong
man” to tell us how to live.
President Trump has continually
attacked the press as giving us “fake news”. We need to remember
that the press, even with all its faults, does serve a purpose. It
is our eyes and ears to events and actions taken by others on our
behalf. It is our watchdog, and that is the real reason it is being
attacked by President Trump. There is a scene from the movie “The
Post” which says it best.
President Trump has attacked our allies
and our alliances, for whatever reason, but we need to remember that
they were put in place for a reason. They are not our enemies.
They may not have always agreed with everything we did, but they have
stood our friends when needed the most. And before we throw them
over for someone like Putin it would be in our interest to also
remember who Putin really is. His idea of governance is exactly what we have fought against.
We the people have some strong tools
put in place to make sure that government by the people, for the
people continues to exist. But it is really up to us to exercise
them.
As long as we believe in ourselves, we
can overcome those who would tear us apart.
They say that those who do not know
history are destined to repeat it. There are forces at work today
that make me question what our future holds. So I've been visiting
the past to try to make sense of what went wrong in a time period
that was so critical to my country, and to the world, the era of the
Great Depression. Not only did it wreak havoc on families and
governments, but it led us back into a world war.
What follows are pieces of a
complicated puzzle. For the Great Depression wasn't just one single
event, but a kaleidoscope of interwoven events that led to the misery
of millions of people.
Each video stands on it's own, but they
are all important pieces, so I would watch all of them when you have
the time. I know there is more, but I wanted to start with these.
They are all full length documentaries.
The first is a visit to an iconic
American company, Ford Motor Co. It is a working man's view of a
time of euphoria that all too quickly fades. And perhaps a lesson in business that should be learned.
I wish they would tell you in advance that they are restricting viewing of a video. *sigh* Anyway, that is the case with this one. So I will provide a link:
The second is a tale of greed and
excess. Something that we are well acquainted with.
This last has a hint of something that
many may have forgotten or ignored. Yes, even back then climate
change may have been an issue, even if no one seemed to realize it. Perhaps this one could also be a lesson to those in government that believe Americans are complete pushovers.
So what if Donald Trump is right? I
know, I know, I have panned him quite often in the past. But that
doesn't mean I won't give him some credit once in a while. It also
doesn't mean that I agree with his methods, because I don't. Nor
does it mean I am going to change my mind about not voting for him.
We all know that there is an imbalance
with trade. And the method to correct that has usually been the
application of tariffs or some kind of trade agreement that, one
would hope, levels the playing field a little. Everyone is being
affected by the cheaper imports from China, not just the US, or even
the EU. Their government heavily subsidizes their industries,
although they are not the only ones who do so. Obviously their goal
is to keep enough of their citizens employed to maintain stability.
But there is a cost to those who import the cheaper Chinese goods. There is also a plus, in that it does keep prices low for consumers. But if you don't have a job...
We have been talking, quite frequently,
about the immigration situation in Europe. On the surface one
wouldn't think about this in relation to the trade problems. But it
really is an interconnected world. The problem with cheap goods from
China driving local businesses out of business isn't just a problem
for the larger economies. Smaller economies which haven't had a chance to mature are also hit hard. But China isn't the only large economy guilty of this.
Perhaps solving one problem(trade) would go a
long way to solving another(immigration). So I have for you a very interesting
documentary regarding the workings of global trade. This one is
current. :)
I was thinking about doing a traditional Memorial Day post, but then decided after reading an article in my paper that I would do something different. We normally honor those people who have gone before us, but today I want to remember what has gone before us on our planet. We have been watching the huge lava emissions of Kilauea in Hawaii. We are dealing with extreme weather fluctuations. So perhaps we should take a small trip back in time to see how some of the features of our planet were created. So many answers can be found there.
The article that I was referring to was one pertaining to the Great Lakes and our American southwest region that is in the midst of a years long drought. You can probably see where I'm going with this. People there are proposing diverting water from the Great Lakes to the southwest to relieve their water issues. Of course, people in the Great Lakes region are saying a resounding "no", which would also be my view as well. Somehow I feel that man should not mess too much with what mother nature has created. There may be unintended consequences.
So if you are feeling in the mood for a trip back in time I have for you a video on the creation of the Great Lakes of North America. I found it rather fascinating and somehow timely.
We've heard so much about the wall that
President Trump keeps touting as the solution to all of our security
woes. The big, beautiful wall that he will build to keep us safe. I
wonder, has he ever visited the southern border of the United
States? Does he know of the terrain and the people who live there?
Does he even care about whether or not this will work?
I found a nice BBC video documentary of
the border that samples various areas of the region, giving us an
idea of the enormity of the task, as well as possible insight as to
whether or not a wall would help, or hurt.
Take a break, put your feet up, and
visit the US-Mexico border.
The Trump administration recently
ordered the bombing of Syrian chemical weapons production facilities
in retaliation for the chemical attack on Syrian civilians. Sitting
behind our television sets or computers it is easy for us to forget
the real tragedy that has been unfolding in large portions of the
world. We have never experienced the violence or economic
destitution that has forced millions of people to flee their homes
for the promise of a better life in another land.
Frontline has aired a follow up to its
documentary “Exodus”, which aired in 2016. This second film
documents what has happened to refugees and asylum seekers after
Europe tightened its borders and immigration policies in general, and
after President Trump instituted his ban.
This is long, a full length documentary
of almost two hours. But it is a complex issue affecting real
people whose stories are still being written. If you want to try to
understand it from their perspective then it is their stories that
need to be seen.
After the 2016 election I was worried.
Oh, certainly about the election of Donald Trump, yes. But it was
more than that. I was worried that there was no one out there that
could see through the sham of his rhetoric, that no one wanted to.
I was worried that young voters had turned off to being a catalyst
for change in our country, that they just didn't care. Apathy is
what concerned me. Because it is apathy that allows dictators to
grow, it is what allows countries to fail.
Yesterday was a day of marches across
America. What was important wasn't just the marches themselves,
because we have seen numerous marches since Trump took office. No,
it was who organized, spoke and who came out. These were young
people, some who cannot vote yet and others who will be voting for
the first time come this fall. They were carrying on a tradition
that hits to the very soul of what makes America, America. It is the
idea that we can effect change, that we are the masters of our own
destiny, not some lone person sitting in a gilded cage pulling strings
to remain in power. Someone once said that in America we have a
revolution every four years. Well, maybe yes, maybe no. Sometimes
we tend to slide along without really watching too closely what is
happening and we end up with something that is not so pleasant.
The marches yesterday were about saving
lives, the lives of our children, the lives of innocent people at
concerts, movie theaters, or anywhere else someone picks up an
assault weapon and starts shooting. This is a problem that both
political parties should be concerned about, and should have taken
action on long ago, because it affects everyone.
Here is a clip of Emma Gonzalez
speaking yesterday. She was one of the survivors of the Parkland, Fl
shooting. Someone once asked her why she thought so many people
listened to her. She smiled and said she thought it was because of
her hair. There aren't too many bald girls out there, so she stood
out. I can say with quite a bit of certainty that that isn't
the reason.
This is a righteous cause. This is the
America I know and love. I stand with Ms. Gonzalez and her friends.
It's old, I know, but sometimes those
oldies just seem analogous. :)
Last week right about now I was
watching the Academy Awards. This year I came away with quite a few
interesting movies that I would like to see. Last night I watched my first
selection, Darkest Hour. This is the story of Winston Churchill's
first days in office and the momentous decisions that he was forced
to make. No one can know how they will react to the circumstances
they find themselves faced with. Winston Churchill turned out to be
a man who was the right choice for the time, despite some people's
misgivings.
While I knew of the plight of the men at Dunkirk I was not aware of the sacrifice made to save so many lives. The decision that Churchill made that day had to have been the most haunting of his career.
If you haven't seen this movie, I
highly recommend it.
I was going to put this up for Saturday night, but I had to get some sleep before the snow removal project. It's time for one of those lighter posts, this time with a musical mix of new and old. So if you've got a snow day sit back and relax and enjoy a few selections I've come across.
This week there was another horrific
school shooting, this time in Florida, with seventeen people killed
and numerous injured. Those killed were sons and daughters, friends
and co-workers. They were going about their lives with no inkling
that they would be cut short at the hands of someone with a gun.
They were in a school, an environment that should have been safe.
Now they are gone, with their families and friends left to continue
on with only memories.
We hear on the news that the FBI was
given a tip about the shooter back in January, but failed to follow
up. Apparently a mistake was made, something they will have to deal
with. But this is not the central issue here. It is the gun and who
possessed it. We cannot use the FBI as a scapegoat or as some kind
of political cover. The second amendment to our Constitution gives
people the right to “bear arms”. However, it does not go into
how we are to determine whether or not someone has the capability,
mental stability or maturity of judgment to handle a gun. We have
been left with a system that seems to base the right to possess a gun
only on whether or not the person is breathing.
The mass shootings garner much of the
news attention, which is understandable, given the trauma to so many
people. But there are other cases out here that are worthy of
notice, not just because of those who are hurt, but because they show
what happens when you put a gun in the hands of someone who may, or
may not, act with good judgment. These are shootings by ordinary
people. People who just stumble into events that morph into
situations that end in tragedy.
The first one occurred in January in
Rochester, Minnesota.
No incident is all black or white. There are obviously details that we may not know. But did he deserve to die? Over a traffic
accident? One witness to the incident said there was no pushing or
hitting by the victim. It sounds like a conflict between two
immature people, one of whom may have been on some substance and one of whom had a gun. The whole situation got out of hand and now a
person is dead. As his father said, killed in one of the safest
cities in the world.
The second incident occurred just this
past week. Also as a result of a traffic accident.
In this case the shooter was hailed as
a hero. As one of the drivers in the accident said, who on earth thinks that a drive on the way home from work will end in being
attacked with a knife after a traffic accident? But even here there
is tragedy, both for the victim's family and friends and for the
shooter himself, an ordinary person who will have to live with having
taken a life.
Both of these incidents involved
handguns. The mass shootings involve semi-automatics. But the
pain for those involved is the same. Someone has died needlessly.
And just to add another wrinkle.
There are these guys:
They throw a whole new curve into the
mix when they start making their own guns. So what is to be done?
The stock market here in the United States recently took a small dive. According to some it is fear of rising interest rates. I don't know if that is really the case, it seems that for some time it has not been tied in any way to reality. But perhaps that is actually the case for much of our financial system. I ran across a video from 2017 which discusses in depth the workings of this system.
Bubbles come in different forms. Sweden has a housing bubble, I feel we have a stock market bubble. But if the people in this video are correct the whole world is in a bubble that could cause massive pain if, or when, it bursts.
I admit it, I am a fair weather fan. I
haven't been watching the Vikings that often over the past few years.
But this season is different. Like everyone else in Minnesota I
have been drawn in by the rush of having a winning team.
But this isn't about me. It's about a
group of guys who never quit. Whether or not they win in Philly they
have shown a never give up persistence and teamwork that should be a
lesson to others in my country. For them I'm wearing the purple.
Go Vikings!
Update:
The Eagles took the Vikings 38 - 7 in a blowout victory. My hat's off to the Eagles, they were on their game. I will be rooting for them in the Super /Bowl. But I also want to tip my hat to the Vikings for giving their fans an exciting season. There's always next year...:)
This is a Frontline Special that aired in November of last year. Back in 2012 they interviewed three families, focusing on the children and how their family's economic situations affected them. Then they returned in 2017 to see how their lives had changed, or not. When governments enact policies these are the people whose lives are impacted the most. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican these are the people for whom you need to provide support and help in times of need. We cannot ever be considered prosperous or successful as long as the neediest among us have no future.
So when you consider policy choices make sure that first you do no harm.
