The United States of America

Please Honor Memorial Day

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I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend, but I also hope you remember why this holiday exists.  The word “holiday” comes from “holy day,” and the remembrance of this day and its purpose should be sacred. It was originally known as Decoration Day after the end of the Civil War, and it was designated Memorial Day in the 20th Century.

This day is intended to honor, give thanks, and remember those who have sacrificed their lives for The United States of America.  Please honor the fallen and the wounded on this day.  I realize the day was meant originally for the dead, but I extend my wishes and  thanks to the wounded also. Regardless of political beliefs or stands on a war, these are the men and women who fought to keep us safe, and they deserve our remembrance.

They deserve our thanks and our honor.

Please keep in mind that this day is not merely the beginning of the summer season, nor is it intended to be the time of a special sale. This should be a sacred and somber time. There will be plenty of opportunity for shopping and vacationing afterwards. Please remember those who sacrificed.

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Of What Is Trump Afraid?

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I typically try not to post about politics in this blog, but it is more and more difficult not to say anything. Our President is acting like he is above the law, and he now has an Attorney General who behaves like a personal lawyer to Trump and not the chief law enforcement officer of the United States of America.

It feels very much like a massive constitutional crisis or crises will soon occur, and I fear for our very democracy.

Our first President, George Washington, in his farewell address spoke of both the dangers of not obeying the law and of the perils of political parties:

But the Constitution which at any time exists, until changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle and of fatal tendency. (11)

Washington does not say that all people, except the President must obey the law; he says that everyone must obey the edicts of The Constitution.

Furthermore, he adds his thoughts on the risk of party loyalty opening the country to foreign influence:

It [political party] serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. (14)

The words of our first President are wise, and we should take heed of them. All citizens of the United States of America should ask themselves: what matters more to them–their allegiance to a political party or to the country?

I hope most Americans, liberal, conservative, and independent, choose country over political party.

And I ask again–why is Trump afraid of Mueller testifying? If he is innocent, then he should have nothing to fear. If he is guilty, then he is trying to stop justice.

Works Cited:

(https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Washingtons_Farewell_Address.pdf)

 

Teargassing of families and children–the stuff of fascism.

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The Trump administration has ordered and defended the use of tear gas against families, against mothers, against children, and against babies. This is beyond reprehensible–it is evil, and it is the stuff of fascism, racism, and bigotry.

We must never become used to such abominable behavior. All of those who oppose these actions must speak out.

This must end.

Remember that we are all connected.

“No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee”

John Donne

Be Sure To Vote!

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Be sure to vote! As Americans, we have a precious gift and an awesome responsibility to take part in our Democracy. Be sure to go tomorrow and vote!

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This right to vote is enshrined in our constitution and has been fought for in many ways, both by soldiers in war and by civil rights activists. Honor their achievements and efforts.

Go vote!

I Stand With The Jewish Community

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Today we have seen the commission of a horrible act of terrorism and murder committed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A shooter opened fire inside a synagogue and killed 11 and injured 6 others. I am not sure if those horrific numbers will increase–I hope they do not.

It must be said without any doubt that this was an anti-Semitic, racist, bigoted, and fascist act, that also is chillingly reminiscent of acts in Germany during the 1930s. In our current political climate, in which hatred is growing, and in which guns are easily available to anyone, including some people who have no business having them, such horrors occur far too frequently. This was an act of hatred by a racist, an extreme right winger.

People of all political views, at least those who are sane, must oppose these increases in hate. There are no excuses, no justifications, and no political spins that can reduce the culpability of a political culture that has lead to the massive increase of both shootings and attacks on places of worship, especially of people in the minority in the United States. These actions indicate a growing and disturbing trend towards fascism, and it must be opposed. My parents were of the generation that fought against totalitarianism by Japan and Germany and Italy. They did not sacrifice so much so that our country can slide into fascist attitudes. We must never forget the lessons of the horrors of the 20th Century, especially the Holocaust and World War Two.

Freedom and democracy demand that reasonable people, who can certainly disagree with how to fix problems in the United States of America, unite to oppose this disturbing trend.

Again, I am horrified by this shooting, and I feel great sadness for the Jewish people who suffered from this attack–the dead, the wounded, and their families and friends.

It is not enough to offer thoughts and prayers.

This must never happen again.

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An Attack On American Democracy

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American democracy is under attack–the threat of the bombs that have been found that were aimed at numerous people, including political figures, business people, artists, and leaders from national intelligence–has precedent only in the assassination of President Lincoln. That conspiracy intended to kill 3 other government figures and bring down the Union.

There can be no doubt that this is a domestic terrorist attack, and all Americans should be horrified by these actions. These are the kind of actions that put many people, including the people who work in the postal facilities and offices where the bombs were sent, into grave danger. This is an attack clearly focused on one political side. I would condemn this kind of action, no matter who is the focus.

We are supposed to be Americans, regardless of political party affiliation. After 9/11, we had a brief moment of unity. We need to end the hatred and divisiveness that threatens all of us.

I also want to commend the various law enforcement agencies who are investigating these horrific attempts at mass assassination, including the FBI, the ATF, NYPD, and other police forces. They are doing excellent work, and I hope they identify the person or persons behind this threat quickly.

I also pray that our country, The United States of America, can remember what unites us. We are stronger than anyone who would threaten or attempt to terrify us.

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Quotations on Leadership

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“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

                                                                    John F. Kennedy

 

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“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

                                                                   Theodore Roosevelt

 

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“All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope”

                                                                   Winston S. Churchill

Capitulation and Treason

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Once again, I find myself forced to speak about politics in this blog. President Trump’s

disgraceful press conference with Russia’s Putin demonstrated a singular abandonment

of American values and policies. Trump has made it clear that the Russian dictator

controls him, and that he values Putin more than he does the United States of America.

He has buckled to Putin and capitulated to the former K.G.B. agent’s agenda.

I wish I were over-reacting, but I do not believe that I am. I quote from CNN Politics (7/16/2018):

“Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who has consistently criticized the President,

said Trump’s comments were ‘one of the most disgraceful performances by an American

president in memory.'”

“Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska, issued a blistering statement
just minutes after the press conference wrapped. Sasse rebuked Trump’s statement that
he held ‘both countries responsible’ for the deteriorated relationship between the United
States and Russia. ‘This is bizarre and flat-out wrong. The United States is not to blame.
America wants a good relationship with the Russian people but Vladimir Putin and his
thugs are responsible for Soviet-style aggression,’ Sasse said in the statement.
‘When the President plays these moral equivalence games, he gives Putin a propaganda
win he desperately needs.'”
I quote from nbc.news.com (7/16/2018): Former CIA director John Brennan, a frequent
Trump critic and a national security analyst for NBC News and MSNBC,   called
Trump’s performance ‘nothing short of treasonous.'”
It is now certain that Russia instituted and conducted a cyber attack against the United
States of America and our voting system, the sacred basis of our democracy, an action
that can be considered an act of war. Article Three of the Constitution of the United
States of America defines treason as “Treason against the United States, shall consist only
in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and
Comfort.” Russia clearly is our enemy, and giving aid or comfort to the enemy is, without
a doubt, an act of treason.
Americans need to put aside differences of being liberal or conservative, Democratic or
Republican, and recognize the clear threat to our democracy that is being shown by
President Trump. Congress needs to act, and Americans must keep pressure on Congress
to act.
We must preserve our democracy.
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World Refugee Day and The United States of America

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Around the world, millions of people are forced to flee their homes to try to escape violence and to attempt to save their families. These are people who are forced into making the most difficult decisions and who are among the most vulnerable people in the world. This includes the families who are attempting to escape severe danger and to seek asylum in the United States of America, which had been before the shining beacon of hope for those in peril.

How they are treated by the nations of the world, including the United States of America, is a defining measure of those countries.

The United Nations Refugee Agency speaks to this issue: “On World Refugee Day, held every year on June 20th, we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. This year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee.” (http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/)

Please support World Refugee Day, and please remember that our current President has caused a refugee crisis by his inexcusable, inhumane, treatment of children on our southern border, treatment that is child abuse.

Speak up for these families. Do not let the United States of America’s beacon of hope die out.

 

Works Cited

http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/

Did He Really Say That?

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Once again, I find that I have to address a political situation in this blog, something I have not wanted to do. But this is so extraordinary that I cannot sit by and ignore it. Once again, Americans and the world need to speak out.

In a White House Lawn interview today, President Trump said something incredible, something  I never thought any President of the United States of America would ever say, in any context: “He [Kim Jong Un] speaks and people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.”

He later claimed that he was being sarcastic, but there is no place for that kind of dictatorial speech by an American leader. Has he forgotten that he was elected and not born into his position that the North Korean Dictator was? And to compliment one of the worst dictators in our world is unconscionable. The North Korean Dictator oppresses, starves, tortures, and kills the people of North Korea. How can the President show any kind of admiration for such a tyrant? How dare he show envy for the North Korean dictator?

There is no place in a democracy for any hint of a dictatorship. How dare he say this? Does he have no compassion? Does he have no decency?

The United States, along with its allies, fought World War Two to defeat dictators. Millions of people died in that war, and their memories must be honored by never–never–having a leader speak like a dictator.  Let us remember that we live in a democracy; in order for it to survive, our leaders and our people must honor that democracy.

And President Trump needs to understand that he serves the American People. The American People are not his people.

Later claiming sarcasm does not excuse this horrific statement. There is no excuse for this statement.

Americans must be aware of the risk of dictatorship.

How dare any President speak like a dictator?