How History Repeats Itself.

I have no been here in a while, so dear readers, with so much going on in the world, I thought I should chime in.

Last week there were horrific attacks in Paris by Muslim Extremists. Extremists being the key word. The world is in shock and should be. Paris is such a wonderful city. Nations of the world all showed support by lighting up iconic landmarks in blue, white, and red the colors of the French Flag. (By the way, the next time some right wing idiot wants to call them "Freedom Fries" to put down France, kindly remind them that there wouldn't even be a United States of America if it were not for France helping us defeat the British. And also explain that the French were so impressed by our Revolution it inspired theirs, and in an expression of kinsmen-ship, they chose the same flag colors as ours.)

The immediate speculation was that the extremists were Syrian refugees who had entered the country seeking asylum. Remember this was speculation. Immediately here in the US, 39 Governors issue statements that they will not allow any Syrian Refugees in. Including Governor Snyder of Michigan. Never mind that the highest concentration of Muslims in the United States are in Dearborn, Michigan.

First of all, there is no hard evidence to support the claim that any of these folks that committed the atrocities in Paris were Syrian refugees. A Syrian passport was found next to the body of one of the shooters, but it was later proved to be fake. The way these things get started is simple. One reporter in a room full of reporters wonders aloud to another reporter, "Hey, I wonder if any of these guys were Syrian Refugees?" And then the story gets passed from reporter to reporter around the room. Remember that game at summer camp when a story starts and is whispered from person to person around a campfire, and at the end the originator tells what he/she said initially and then what they got back, and how hilarious the difference is? That's how it works around a newsroom. And by the time it gets to the next to the last reporter and they say "I heard one of them was Syrian Refugee." The last reporter then reports, "Sources say some are Syrian Refugees."  Folks, when you see the phrase "sources say," please understand that might just be reporter talk and not a legitimate news source.

And now Republicans on the campaign trail see this as a great talking point. They want to let in only Christian refugees. That is a great talking point for their right wing base, who think they are Christian although they hate the Bible's Book of Matthew. All that 'feed the hungry, clothe the naked' crap, screw those moochers!

I have to give credit to the new Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who listened to the President and would not go for a "Religious litmus test" for refugees, but wants a "security litmus test." Hey to me this was huge. A Republican actually listening and trying to compromise. The President threatens to Veto. This basically means, he'll tweak what they offer, and they have a deal. Wow. There's an idea. Government actually working. Hmm.

In 1938 Germany there was a famous incident called, "The Night of the Broken Glass" where Jewish owned shops were shattered, looted, and burnt. And then the authorities said the owners were to pay a "accommodation fee" for the damage done to their own property! After that all of their assets were confiscated. Rumors of a mandate of Jewish extermination abounded. Naturally, the Jews there decided their only recourse was to flee.

And it's a good thing they did. Many of the German scientists who fled were instrumental in helping us defeat the Nazi's and the Japanese. Many of those people have been major contributors to the American way of life.

But here's the deal. 85% of Protestants, and 84% of Catholics were opposed to allowing any of the refugees into our country. And remarkably, 1/4 of the Jewish population in the US were against it too.

Somehow, it seems history keeps repeating itself. The United States puts pressure on Europe to accept Syrian refugees who are trying to escape the crazies and are willing to leave their whole way of life behind for one they don't understand because they want to stay alive, but then Europe looks back to us and says "What about you?" And we stand here and look like we are 'all talk and no walk.'

Look we did some stupid things in the past. Locking up Japanese people in camps after Pearl Harbor was deplorable. What the hell were we thinking? We weren't, obviously.

But let's re-evaluate knee jerk reactions. This seems like WWII all over again. Let's just calm down, and think for a minute. Let's not jump on past mistakes until we have thought this through.

Jim Crow Is Alive And Well.

The glorious state of Alabama, a state I truly do love, whenever I pass through I admire their wonderful beauty, and the fabulous Barbecue joints, have re-embraced Jim Crow. Just when I thought they were becoming more cosmopolitan.

The have recently decided to close 31 DMV offices. Budget constraints. And ironically the 31 they chose to close all have a black base of 75% or more of black voters. And since Alabama requires a picture ID to be able to vote.....you get the idea.

Voter suppression once again.

The fact that they chose these offices to close is no accident. This is a carefully orchestrated move to eliminate black voters from the process. Yes the powers that be just don't want to allow Democrats the right to vote.

It's understood. There are more Democrats in America than Republicans. Everybody knows that. So the only way Republicans can win is if they deny millions of people the right to vote. Everybody knows that. But this is just way too obvious.

Hey Repubs, try and get more subtle.

I really don't understand why Alabama feels this need. Since Lydon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Legislation of 1964, the entire racist south started voting solidly Republican. And it has never changed. So why make a point of exposing yourself as racist demigods Alabama? You were gonna go Republican anyway.

I hope that in my lifetime with enough northerners relocating to Florida, that state flips and becomes a Democratic stronghold. It is already called a "Purple State" much of the time. And maybe someday all voters will be able to vote in Alabama. And that means they become sane and go Democratic.

And then things will start to get better.

Donald Trump Puts Egg on My Face

I posted that much earlier when Donald Trump entered the Presidential race he was in for a long two weeks. Boy was I wrong! With every outrageous thing he says he gets further ahead in the polls. So, yes, Don I have egg on my face!

And this is killing the media. There is not a single media outlet in existence that hasn't already crowned Jeb Bush with the nominee title. I have never before witnessed the media trying so desperately to get to pick who the candidate will be. And they are obviously frustrated because so far all their efforts aren't working.

I think they want a Clinton/Bush rivalry again so bad they can taste it. But guess what? I don't think Hillary is going to be the candidate anyway. They should probably start to push as hard to make her the candidate, because although they are assuming she's a slam-dunk to get the nomination, they are sadly mistaken.

But anyhow, now I have changed my thought process. I so want Trump to get the nomination. He should get to grandstand and talk about all of his expertise. As a businessman (bankrupt 6 times) and on and on.

And to my Democrat friends. Stop bitching about Trump. It's not our place to have a voice in who their candidate is. It is our job to help get our candidate elected. So lighten up.

Because honestly this will be like shooting fish in a barrel. I really don't think he'll last long enough through the process to get the nomination. And he did wimp-out and placate the alarmed Republican machine (remember when he said he was not willing to say he wouldn't run as an independent if he didn't get the Republican nomination?). Well, since then Donnie Spineless has caved in on this issue and has signed a statement saying he won't. Hopefully it wasn't legally binding.

And I cannot wait to ask my Republican friends, "So in a crisis of extreme complexity can you see Donald Trump making rational decisions in the Situation Room?"

But go get 'em Donnie. Get that nomination.

The Flag Comes Down.

Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., on the grounds of the capitol in Charleston, South Carolina, the "Stars and Bars" the battle flag of the Confederacy, is coming down. Once and for all.

This decision made late last night in the South Carolina State legislature was predicated on an incident wherein a deranged young man (who had posted pictures of himself online brandishing this flag) walked in to a black church's Bible study and murdered 9 participants. It became clear that this flag was the symbol of black suppression and represented a commitment to keep black people enslaved.

Some may argue it just represents Southern pride and culture. Is fighting to keep slavery and trying to destroy the United States of America, something to be proud of? I have a hard time with that one.

Should we attempt to pretend like it never happened, try to erase it from history like some opponents have argued? No. That's what they do. This flag belongs in a museum. It is history. And I hope the very flag that comes down tomorrow ends up in a museum somewhere so that I can someday see it. I am a Civil War buff, after all. If it were on display, then we are all free to walk by and feel pride, shame, or disgust.

Tonight a friend of my wife's posted that is seemed funny to her that a Democrat hoisted the flag in 1960 and today a Republican Governor signed the legislation to bring is down forever. She points out that conservatives are being unfairly targeted. She obviously doesn't know much about American history.

In the 1930s Southern Democrats were the staunch Conservatives in the nation. They didn't like Roosevelt's New Deal, but they couldn't argue with the results. It kept many folks voting Democrat which kept them in office. However in the early 60's they fought the Civil Rights legislation tooth and nail. When it passed, most of the white voters in the south started voting Republican, and consequently most of those Democrats became Republican. So the fact that a Democrat hoisted this flag in 1960 doesn't get Conservatives off the hook, and in fact, Republicans either. Of course the Governor is Republican. They are the only ones who can get elected in the south. She happens to be somewhat of a moderate though, and she was ardently for taking that flag down. She was so happy to sign the legislation removing that filthy racist rag, that she used nine different pens...one to go to each of the families of the shooting victims.

The representatives of the people of South Carolina made this decision. Not the Federal Government. Although I'm sure there are already factions blaming President Obama.

The fact that the people of South Carolina made this decision is good. And can I say that the people of the south that I have met have been a lot more enlightened than ever given credit for. So perhaps the South will actually rise again, reaching a place of wisdom and caring. Not hanging on to symbols of hatred.

Can you imagine what the world would think if the capitol of Germany flew a Nazi flag and they claimed, "hey it's just pride of our heritage!" Find something else to be proud of folks.

The Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage Equality.

I am a Christian. However, being a Christian does not disconnect my ability to think, suspend my knowledge of history, or dismiss science.

Last Friday the Supreme Court of the United States proclaimed that all US citizens have equal rights. I don't mean to offend fellow Christians, but this was a legal ruling, not a religious one.

Our country was founded by founding fathers, and they were very smart guys. They deliberately wanted to prevent the establishment of a national religion from or by our government. The Church - Catholic or Anglican - was central to most of the other countries in the world and historically in England where our founding fathers were bent on getting away from. It was critical to them that one central religion NOT be declared and NOT be incorporated into our Government or Constitution.  They knew that the establishment of some kind of national religion would someday diminish the very rights they thought were basic; rights they thought were fundamental and were meant to be recognized and protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Religious-based loss of basic rights had been their experience in England and they wanted to prevent that from happening here. So when somebody tells you that this country was founded in Christian/Judaeo beliefs, that is a bunch of made-up hooey.

The Supreme Court ruling was a LEGAL one about the scope of human rights for all citizens. It wasn't about morality, values, social trends, or religion. It was about the scope of the Constitution.

Rights should not be up to States to determine. If they were, black citizens wouldn't be able to vote in the south or eat in white establishments. Rights are absolute and cannot be dependent on anything other than someone is a human being and is a citizen of the United States. It those two conditions are met, OUR beliefs about morality or spiritual right and wrong no longer count.

My father-in-law used to say that the Muslim religion was an evil religion. He was equating all Muslims with ISIS. The fact is when Muslims look at Christian inspired wackos like The Nazi Party, The Crusades, The Inquisition, The Salem Witch Trials, and the Ku Klux Klan, Muslims probably think that Christianity is an evil religion. It's not fair or accurate in either case. But one religious group thinking they know THE truth for all humans is how this awful stuff starts.

Our founding fathers didn't want that to happen. The Supreme Court doesn't either. That this is now the law of the land just demonstrates that all human rights are protected. Why should I be okay with that? Because although there are lots of people turning a blind eye to the "browning of America", and sooner than we might like this perhaps will be a predominately Muslim nation. I, for one, want my rights as a Christian protected.

Perhaps if we think that this ruling is wrong, maybe we are confusing the idea of constitutional (human) rights and not what we call sin. If sin was a qualifier to get a fair shake in this nation, we'd all be in trouble.

Maybe someday historians will shake their heads in disbelief about this the same way they do about the fact that women couldn't vote until 1920, or that once blacks were once 3/5ths of a vote (that their master got to cast).  I guess only time will tell.

But now in this case equality is the law of the land.

Is This the End? Finally?

Oh the heartbreak in Washington tonight. Today the Supreme Court made a final ruling on the Affordable Health Care Act, and in keeping it entirely the law of the land, disappointed all the Republicans who want to let Pharmaceuticals and Health Care providers write an alternate plan to screw the middle class.

Health Care costs are down. Even if you work at a place that provides Health Care benefits, you are saving around $1800 a year and you don't even realize it. One out of three Americans who didn't have health insurance before this law was passed are now insured. And they are paying for it instead of us.

In 1986 President Reagan signed EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Training and Leave Act. Basically it stated that anyone who showed up in an emergency room and needed health care, must be treated whether they had insurance or not. Great! Except it wasn't funded. Which meant that you and I, by paying higher dividends, co-pays, and deductibles, paid for the uninsured. Yes, President Reagan, Saint Ronnie of the Republican Right, signed into law the first socialized medicine program.

Now, all the right wingers hate the poor so much. They're the problem. Not the wealthy leeches not paying taxes. The House has voted around 72 times to repeal the law of the land. The President acknowledged today that this is the most misunderstood law ever. Sure it is, but Mr. President, with all due respect, who's fault is that?

Send folks out to educate citizens about what this really is! Don't let the Limbaugh's and Hannity's keep spreading their lies. Because there are actually people out there that take these guys seriously. And sadly, a lot of them! So start putting these guys in check! Get lots of folks out there educating the masses about what this really is. The Hannity's and the Limbaugh's are naturally going to be scoring points if they are the only ones talking!

And so, the Affordable Health Care Act, that has already saved lives (one woman shared with the President that since they could now afford insurance, her son went in, was diagnosed and treated for a tumor. This would not have happened before the Affordable Care Act. He is alive today because of this law.

So suck it up Righties. If you think this was a bad day for you, wait until tomorrow.

We've been Trumped again.

Donald Trump has entered the field of Republicans for the Presidency of The United States of America. First, can we see his birth certificate? And not the fake one he offered when he was trying to insult our President.  Secondly, please Mr. Trump, explain all the paid actors you hired to pretend to be excited about you entering the race.

After that, good luck. But I have the feeling Don, that you're in for a long two weeks.

Update: Subsequently Mr. Trump has been asked to provide his birth certificate and passport records and has vehemently declined to share this information.