Category: Opinion

Cultural, political, and philosophical ideas

Opinion

Fighting Back

The current president has bullied his party into doing what ever he desires without facing anyone willing to stand up to him until Mr. Romney today. Democrats are being forced to fulfill the role of standing up to the bully. Our society is morphing into an organization that does not deal with the truth, but makes excuses for cowering in front of the bully. If the bully lies the party members pretend he is not serious, or that they have not heard what he said. If the bully commits illegal acts; party members pretend that the behavior was not serious or that it was not meant as it appears. The character of America is on the line. You cannot claim to be moral or ethical while tolerating a stream of lies, criminality, and corruption from the people you support for positions of power. Democrats will have to fight for our republic, and some of it will not be pleasant. Speaker Pelosi tearing up a copy of a speech filled with lies is an example of pushing back against the bully with more than just words.

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Opinion

Staying focused

As the election season moves forward it is important for voters to stay focused and balanced about the opportunities and threats of decisions. People who lock onto one candidate and feel that if their person is not elected they will quit the process should consider why they cared about a candidate in the first place. Is it the person or what they stand for that is important? Is the election about a person or a new direction, respectful leadership or personality based programs and events? Citizens who want change from our current occupant of the White House have to play a long and a short game that provides the best probability for their ultimate goal. Emotions are not likely to lead us to the change we seek in 2021. Support your candidate but be ready to vote for the best option for hope and change in the general election of 2020.

Opinion, Self improvement, Words to ponder

Black History Month

February is Black History month. It is a time to remember the many people who risked their lives to push for greater freedom to a group of people targeted for harassment and marginalization by the larger society. I think of heroes from Fanny Lou Hamer to Crispus Attucks who not only dreamed of a better day for African Americans but bravely risked everything to make it happen. The courage of heroes is necessary to overcome the strength of evil ideas that gain acceptance because they are expedient to the larger society. Everyone wants to feel special and advantaged in life but the question is who are you willing to handicap to get that feeling? Minorities around the world have been victimized by the answer to this question. Human beings have grown in their ability to see those who are not like them as people deserving of dignity, but we live in a time of increasing insecurity and tribalism. What will the future look like for human dignity? The answer to the question seems bleak right now, but I remain hopeful that there are many more heroes among us who will lead humanity toward the light.

Opinion

A trial with no witnesses?

America in 2020 is a place that reveres criminals and conmen and runs from the truth. We are a nation at risk. People who call themselves leaders or representatives pass laws that they do not uphold at the highest levels. American citizens are held to higher standards of behavior and legal jeopardy than their leaders. I hope citizens of all backgrounds become resolved that no one is above the law, and the law is not mocked by the people responsible for it. The question that keeps coming up in my mind is: Why do so many see the current occupant of the White House worth the undermining of our country? The upcoming vote will be incredibly consequential.

Opinion

Loss of a Star

The death of Kobe Bryant strikes many of us hard because he was an example of a successful man growing as a person and father who left us too soon. Kobe was not perfect, but he did work hard to make himself better throughout his adult life, and it showed. The prodigal son is the story of a lost young man finding his way to the path of righteousness. A classic story of what it means to be human includes falling and getting back up while helping others do the same. Kobe did this and it makes the world a better place for him having been here. God bless Kobe’s family and all of the families who lost loved ones in the crash.

Opinion

Mississippi Prison System on Trial

Reports of prisoners being abused and neglected are emerging from the state prison system of Mississippi. Prisoners using cellphones to take pictures of broken toilets, pests in the food, and overcrowded conditions are reportedly being given extended sentences with up to 12 years added on. Activists say that racially biased anti-crime bills have led to overcrowding and underfunding of the prisons resulting in horrific conditions. Mississippi is currently experiencing a high number of prisoner deaths due to murder and suicides. It is important for citizens across the country to defend the human and civil rights that we have come to expect in the United States. Vote for candidates who respect human rights and civil rights for everyone.

Opinion, Self improvement, Words to ponder

King Holiday words to ponder

Dr. Martin Luther King said that “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” As I look at today’s challenges this quote resonates as loudly as it ever has. We poison our planet with carbon and plastic while a few thousand billionaires have more wealth than over four billion people. In the United States and other countries tribalism is on the rise and threatens to destroy any effort at global collaboration to save, or improve life on our planet. Many Americans say they would rather have a dictator who thinks like they do rather than have a constitutional republic. Fools and foolish thinking is at high tide right now, but we can change that in 2020… it may be our last chance in more ways than one.

Opinion, Words to ponder

Did he, or didn’t he

Lev Parnas has released documents and an interview that show The current president was soliciting assistance from a foreign government for the 2020 US presidential election. Clear criminal behavior on several levels that must be confronted by our leaders on multiple levels including legally. Should the senate fail to take the assault on our elections and Constitution seriously then the republic will be undermined. Send your senators a clear message that you demand a fair and impartial hearing of all the evidence available. There is an application called “5 Calls” that you can use to contact your representatives. Be a citizen and demand the US Constitution be defended and taken seriously by Mitch McConnell and every member of the US Senate.

Opinion

Desperation or ?

It is not everyday that you see the president at an athletic event marching with the military representatives for the national anthem. That is a lot of symbolism at a major event that is not about politics or government. There was a time when we got a break from needy politicians facing impeachment proceedings, but not now. It is all Trump all the time, and I hope it is over soon. I look forward to sports without politics being inserted to divide the country, or win praise for insecure office holders.

Opinion

What next?

Senators and representatives are saying they did not hear about an imminent threat in the briefing they received on the killing of an Iranian general. Reports are saying that the president had no legal reason to order the killing. In the coming days the debate over impeachment will intensify and the reasons for impeaching the current president will continue to grow. Events add up and have not undermined the idea that the current president may be beholden to a foreign power.