Tag: Opinion

Cultural, political, and philosophical ideas

Opinion

Mueller speaks!

We heard today from Robert Mueller. Mr. Mueller has given the country a report that is over 400 pages long, and he has challenged us to do something hard – read it. Today’s news conference by Mueller clarified that he could no indict the president; only the House of Representatives can. Not enough information could be gathered to determine conspiracy with Russia, and that was because obstruction of justice took place. Today was a big day for everyone who believes in truth, decency, and equality under the law.

Opinion

Who wants a war with Iran?

Americans are receiving notification that Iran is seeking to escalate tension with the United States, and that the administration will not tolerate it. Navy ships and Air Force bombers are being used to send a message to the Iranians. It is good to show strength to prevent a war. It is bad when the President of the United States tells allies that Iran is looking for war and they don’t believe him. Let’s hope that facts triumph over lies before any citizen or military personnel are sent into harms way.

Opinion, Self improvement, Words to ponder

Words to ponder – Mark Twain on Life and Fear

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Mark Twain

I am not sure that I agree with Mark Twain about anyone being prepared to die at any time, but I certainly think he knows more about living fully than I do. Death for the living is an abstract concept. The living only know that death is a final exit from the lives that we know. I do understand the first part of the statement. Life is where the pain that we understand is, and we all know that life with illness or trauma can be extremely painful. So I guess if we are totally engaged with life (living fully) we understand that the end can come at any time…and maybe this is as prepared for death as we can be.

Opinion

Will Ukraine help Trump’s re-election campaign?

We live in a time when a sitting President of the United States of America sends his lawyer to Ukraine to ask for help against a potential opponent in the 2020 elections. Will Ukraine help the president? We know that Ukraine desperately needs the help of the United States to resist the Russians. What will the new president of Ukraine and his team decide to do? Will they give into the pressure from Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump? The citizens of this country must pay attention and decide whether or not we want foreign countries intervening in our elections.

Opinion, Words to ponder

Truth is first line of defense for the Republic

There is a lot going on with our Congress and whether or not our representatives get a chance to review the facts of the Mueller Report. Will the executive branch get away with demanding that it control all of the evidence gathered about Russian influence in the 2016 elections, and the Trump campaign? If they get away with it; what will the executive branch be able to do in the future and avoid congressional oversight? Our Constitution is a plan of government that first describes the legislative branch, (Congress) because this branch through the House of Representatives being elected every two years is closest to the people. We don’t have a republic if our elected representatives are denied access to the facts collected by civil servants that we have paid for.

Opinion

All the smoke of Trump

We are living in interesting times as the old Chinese saying, or curse (May you live in interesting times) goes. It is easy to be worn out by the endless absurdities and conflicts that are broadcast in our media daily. The issues are incredibly important and our republic is at stake, but more important is that we the citizens get the facts and control what we can using all of our rights. “Keep calm and carry on” is a very real message and mindset for our times. We have to remain assertively patient while the facts come out, and we cannot count on some other person or group (Robert Mueller, House of Representatives, or Congress as a whole) to save us; to paraphrase former President Barrack Obama: we need to be the change we have been waiting for.

Opinion

Trump phone call with Putin

President Trump held a phone call with President Putin of Russian and said that he smiled when he told him that US intelligence made a mountain out of a molehill. Trump said they did not discuss Russian interference in the 2016 elections. There was a time when the President of the United States stood up for his nation to anyone who dared pose a threat to the country. I guess those days are over. We live in interesting times, and we must all become engaged in protecting our republic through the political process.

Opinion

White Nationalism

The search for identity can lead people to negative places; in fact the term negative identity is used for adolescents who don’t care about what being perceived as a good person. We live in a time when many people fear globalism, loss of status, and the weakening of the ability to determine the future (immigration, climate change, majority minority status). With all of the valid reasons to feel threatened we have national figures claiming that we should be afraid, and that we can go back to the past. It is not surprising that lost souls are turning to a negative identity that projects an image of unity and certainty for people who happen to be white. Let’s hope that the United States will be blessed with the strength and leadership to make our nation a place where good is stronger than evil.