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01/09/21 02:59 PM #8814    

 

John Maxwell

I might be wrong saying this, I may insult the collective intelligencia, the proponents of free speech etal, but this petty bickering is profoundly boring me to death. And if you have it in your heart to save a life, please, for Christ sakes stop it. It befuddled me how one ego maniac has divided the mighty, mighty Eagles into opposing camps. I don't feel that our reunion (should it ever happen again), will consist of two groups on opposite sides of the room. Weren't we all united at one time? How could we have kicked hell out of DeSales if we weren't? We're the good guys and now we're hurling epithets at one another under our breath. That's not us. Is it?? Rise up! Our country needs us. They need our example of cooler heads. We made it through the sixties and seventies, way more violent than January 6th. C'mon think about it. We may not be the greatest generation,but we ain't that bad. But if we keep this kind of behavior we'll just end up a footnote. I suggest we draw a 12' diameter circle around each of ourselves and be concerned with that space until we have all been either inoculated against or cured of Covid. Maybe someone could come up with a ribbon color to indicate that they are safe to interact with others. Leave the damned politics to the politicians and the thugs to the police. We owe the next generation a demonstration of living life with grace and love. Call me Pollyanna, but it's how I feel. Now, who wants cookies?

01/09/21 03:28 PM #8815    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Clare,

Tim asked if any of the events of 6 January had changed my mind about President Trump and wanted to know what is my truth. I must not have answered that as clearly as I had meant to do.

The short answer to the first is "no" but the events that followed that day have changed some of my thoughts on this whole episode in our soon-to-be history. I now also feel very sorry for him having to endure the "piling on" and the "kick 'em when they are down" approach that many Democrats, several Republicans, the press (of course) and the moguls of "social media" have taken. I am angry that with just a few days left in his presidency there are those who want to invoke the 25th Amendment, demand he resign, impeach him again, remove his possession of the nuclear codes because they believe he might want to launch a nuclear attack against somebody, rescinded his freedom of speech on certain platforms and even arrest him.

As for my thoughts on why so many Democrats hate him (from the day he was elected), one of my first reasons was that he defeated Hillary, I stand by that. I do not often rely on articles and press releases written by others to help me form my own opinions. I stated that was my belief. Mike is correct, I cannot read minds. Nor can anyone else (except on the TV show The Listener which my wife loves). Naturally, the press is not going to state that one reason he is hated is because he defeated Hillary when they can accuse him of assulting democracy which would resonate better with their liberal audiences.

From every view point, and for different reasons, this is a very sad and difficult time for America. It will leave a wound on our country that can fester (Mike: note a single metaphor!) if those in control allow it. I hope and pray that will not happen.

 

Janie,

Interesting article. I have read others during the past months of campaigning that more subtilely favored President Trump. As we have been told, the Church frowns upon their priests preaching in favor of individual candidates. I think this is an oft broken rule. Perhaps writing about them differs from preaching in the pulpit. I do not know.

I am not a "one issue" voter and I doubt if any of our classmates are. Some issues are obviously more weighty than others in both the Church's and individuals' minds. It becomes a matter of conscience for many. In my mind, policies win over personalities and character flaws. In past posts I have said this and others have responded in both negative and positive ways. We probably don't need to revisit the issue but it may happen anyway.

 

On a brighter note it is a grey, snowy day here in Colorado Springs and, when you live in a region experiencing a drought, grey and snowy is bright!

 

Jim

 

 

 


01/09/21 03:47 PM #8816    

Timothy Lavelle

Jack, 

You're not pollyanna man. You've got great instincts.

It's just this...well, a couple of things...it was almost 60 years ago that we were all mates. We don't individually think the same way we did then for the most part. Secondly, it's an obvious fact...at least to me... that some of us are more intensely feeling what has happened...and those feelings are real. Real, and worth yelling about.  

I want you to live long and prosper but if my diva-esque departure from politeness yesterday or anyday offends, just drive by the LaVelle train wreck and keep on truckin'.

Clare, thanks for your remarks. You are always a source of true clarity.

Got a date tonight?

Jim, while I would bet you're a hell of a doctor, I think your ability in the diagnostic area could be looked at a bit. The country is sick from the devisive tactics of Trump but you would assume the position "hey, America, you're not dying, you brought this on yourself and half your body really loves this disease." Just nonsense from a smart man. Like Jack, you have a good heart but I think you might want to take up golf.  


01/09/21 04:40 PM #8817    

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Very thought provoking article, Janie. But did Jim just say he forms his opinions without relying on reading or research? Wow.  And Tim, regarding "clarity", I picked up on the pun. Back at old 99 East Cooke Road in our glory days, the nuns and others teachers would explain a theory or translate a phrase or list the causes in a lesson. Many times they would wrap it up with an attention-getting "Very clear?"  I often panicked, emerging from a daydream, thinking they were calling on "Mary Clare" without a clue of an answer! Busy watching football tonight.  Going with the Seahawks and the Buccaneers!!    
Clare

 


01/09/21 05:02 PM #8818    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Clare,  

Just for the record, I wrote that I don't often rely on them; I didn't say I don't read them. 

Jim


01/09/21 05:31 PM #8819    

 

Michael McLeod

Jim: I guess I will give you credit for it. On the other hand I suspect that the only reason you got that metaphor right was because it was in your ballpark and you had the home field advantage.


01/09/21 05:52 PM #8820    

 

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Democracy won Despotism lost. 
 


01/09/21 10:18 PM #8821    

 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

A friend shared this on FB this evening.


01/10/21 12:30 AM #8822    

 

David Mitchell

Jack,

I'll take choclate chip please.

And while your'e at it - -  GIMME an  EEEEEEE !


01/10/21 11:17 AM #8823    

 

John Jackson

In an effort to lower the temperature a bit, I’ve posted a belated answer to Jim’s post 8821 on the User Forum.

 


01/10/21 11:51 AM #8824    

 

Michael McLeod

This is from an excellent analysis of Trump's dictatorial pathology - and the tried and true historical dynamics of getting citizens to buy into lies, large and small - in today's NY Times. The reference at the end is to a tweet he made as the mob whose violence he fomented (he used the word "fight" more than a dozen times in his rally) overtook the capitol. You'll note that he told the crowd he'd be with them all the way, then disappeared. Pence was similarly betrayed shortly afterwards when, in the tweet, Trump damned poor Mike, who through no fault of his own was constitutionally unable to go along with Trump's plan to overthrow the election. 

"Like historical fascist leaders, Trump has presented himself as the single source of truth. His use of the term “fake news” echoed the Nazi smear Lügenpresse (“lying press”); like the Nazis, he referred to reporters as “enemies of the people.” Like Adolf Hitler, he came to power at a moment when the conventional press had taken a beating; the financial crisis of 2008 did to American newspapers what the Great Depression did to German ones. The Nazis thought that they could use radio to replace the old pluralism of the newspaper; Trump tried to do the same with Twitter. 

Thanks to technological capacity and personal talent, Donald Trump lied at a pace perhaps unmatched by any other leader in history. For the most part these were small lies, and their main effect was cumulative. To believe in all of them was to accept the authority of a single man, because to believe in all of them was to disbelieve everything else. Once such personal authority was established, the president could treat everyone else as the liars; he even had the power to turn someone from a trusted adviser into a dishonest scoundrel with a single tweet. "

the writer:

Timothy Snyder - the Levin professor of history at Yale University and the author of histories of political atrocity including “Bloodlands” and “Black Earth,” as well as the book “On Tyranny,” on America’s turn toward authoritarianism. 


01/11/21 10:41 PM #8825    

 

John Jackson

I’m going to take a break from the Forum for a while (sighs of relief all around?) but I’ll post my latest response to MM’s lengthy post on voter fraud on the User Forum (which all of you can read).

MM, I’m disinclined to research the voluminous fraud allegations in your post because, as I have said before, they come from websites with extreme agendas and right wing websites are famous, like Fox News, for bending the truth or making stuff up to prove their points.  These websites get away with this because, unlike the MSM, they are only followed by true believers (who believe what they want to believe) so they have no accountability.  

For me, oddly enough, I put my faith not in the MSM nor my ability to research the technicalities of the evidence and allegations (which are impossible for me as a layman to judge fairly), but in the courts that are increasingly dominated by conservatives and Trump appointees. This includes a Supreme Court that is much farther to the right than the one that awarded the 2000 election to Bush 43.  If a more liberal Supreme Court could do that, why would the current Court (in addition to 60 other lower courts) balk at acknowledging the supposed wealth of allegations of voter fraud that you allege?  I know I sound like a broken record, but this is my central argument and both you and Jim have steadfastly refused to address it.

I thought one of Trump’s crowning achievements was supposed to be the appointment and approval of right wing judges who would “do the right thing” (no pun intended).  Given the courts’ unanimous negative response to the allegations of voter fraud, as a “conservative” are there any of our longstanding and revered Constitutional institutions that you do believe in?

 


01/12/21 12:01 AM #8826    

 

Michael McLeod

Funny, John: I just came to the same conclusion and saw your sentiment, which mirrors mine. I'm giving myself a timeout.

This little online gathering of ours is, unfortunately, an accurate sampler of both human nature in general and not all that removed from the violent domestic conflict this country needs to put behind it if it's ever gonna amount to anything again. 

Quick: Name me something we have built as a nation over the past four years. Bet you can't think of a bridge. But you can sure as hell think of a wall, can't you? Our soon to be ex president isn't gonna tour a new children's hospital or even a freeway overpass as one of his last hurrahs. He'll be posing for pics at a wall. It's not the only one we've got going these days. 

The only really useful thing I can think of to say after all the talk talk talk is let's see if I can be more pragmatic and less dogmatic for a while. Students in my classes need guidance. (I'm going to have them write their term papers about the dawn of disinformation). People I know are sick or out of work or just flat out confused. Remember the book "Future Shock"? That came out a long time ago and we're living it still. It's really no wonder we argue. Mankind is at a turning point, a complicated one. It's no wonder people are looking for easy answers, and glomming on to people who are only too happy to provide them, whether or not they're true. 

I like to sing. I think I'll do some karaoke once I get my shots and things settle down. I have a fabulous woman in my life I sometimes think I don't deserve; the way I feel about her reminds me of that line Jack Nicholson has in movie whose name I can't remember: He looks at her and says: "You make me want to be a better man." I've got a really nice garden in my back yard - night blooming cereus around the swimming pool. You should see them: big, exotic, fragrant, mysterious, fleeting: soon as the morning light hits them, they're gone like a dream in the night you can't quite remember as well as you'd like to.

The older I get, the more I think about things I'll never see. I hope our species survives and thrives. And I even hope, and it may be a crazy hope, that we figure out, some day, how to get along with each other -- not just every now and then, but all of the time. That's seems pretty damn unlikely from where I'm standing, but fuck it, I'm gonna keep hoping it just the same.


01/12/21 01:59 AM #8827    

 

David Mitchell

A few short (true) Stories

Preface:

To those who insist that white priviledge is a "stupid idea", or that the answer to Black Americans struggling with a lower place in society is to get off their victim train and work harder, I say,  Hold on!  

There are many heroic examples (Mary Margaret named a list including George Washigton Carver and Tom Sewell - one of my favorite Black Conservative thinkers) but there are also tens of millions of Black lives who have tried but never caught a break, and never had that one "door" opened to them. More accurately, had doors specifically closed to them. 450 years and tens of millions of lives being enslaved, abused, and denial of their basic rights is pretty hard to deny historicly. It's like denying the Holocaust, or claiming that storks bring babies.

(note: playing the victim is not just a Black "thing".  Many of us do it to a degree.  I still believe many people have played the victim and are their own worst enemy)

-----------

The stories involve three lives.

 

First;

Mr. Jacob Martin - Bluffton, SC

Shortly after I moved here, I met an elderly local man named Jacob Martin, who is Black, and a long-time member of the local all-Black Campbell Chapel A.M. E. Church. He is one of the old lions of the local Black community. And he can roar like a lion when he gets his back up - which he did on my first encounter with him (at my first monthly meeting of the all-black - save one curiuos new white guy from Columbus, Ohio  - Bluffton Community Association). I learned that he had grown up here and then had been a cop in Detoit for almost 30 years, and then moved back here after retirement.

But Mr. Martin had another more interesting story. Somewhere around 1956 he had applied for entry into Law School at the Campus of South Carolina Universtity in Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. Martin was accepted and if I recall correctly, planned to attend as the first black man to enter South Carolina Universty Law School.

But he was blocked from entry by Senator Strom Thurmond. This preceeds the attempted blocking of James Meredith from entering Mississippi by several years, but never made news. A door was closed to Mr. Martin, but he found another one that was open. How different his life could have been?

 

Second:

name unknown, a relative of an aquaintence at the same Black church here in Bluffton

The woman who related this story is the mother in law of a young man who experienced another door being closed. She explained that he had come home from the first gulf War. It was the early 1990's when he returned home from the Navy to one of our rural counties in South Carolina. 

He wnet to register to vote and was met with the old Jim Crow "inteligence test" which I thought was long since gone from existence. He had to correctly guess the number of beans in a large glass jar.

Yes! in the 1990's!   I'd say that door was slammed in his face.

He was a physician and had been a Lt. Commander in the Navy on a hospital ship in the Gulf. The town needed another doctor but he and his wife moved clear out of the South where he found work in a large hospital. 

 

Third;

This is a story about a man named George.

I worked with George at my last job before leaving Columbus - at a small Mortgage Compnay up above Worthington. George was about 70 when I met him, about 25 years my senior at the time. He was Black, handsome and a wonderful personality for us "younger" guys in the office. He always brought encouragement to anyone who encounterd him. 

George had been a Major and a Squadron Commnader in the Air Force after the Korean War. I was fascinated that he flew the B-47 - that first long-range strategic bomber that never flew in a War. It came too late for Korea and it preceeded the revolutionary B-52 by only a few years. Many were once staitioned at Lockbourne AFB. 

After the Air Force, he put his savings into a gas station near Cleveland, where he had grown up. Then he bought another one near Akron, and then another, and another. He eventually owned a small empire of Mobile stations from Cleveland to Columbus. He shared with us once about how much he was paid for the final one (on East Broad Street) to end his carreer as an owner - It had been his pride and joy so to speak - and he received a small fortune for just that one station. 

One day George shared this touching story with us. He had grown up in about the late thirties or early forties, on the East sdie of Cleveland -  and gone to the Catholic Acadamy (Benedictine if I recall correctly?). George was one of only a few Black Catholics I ever knew, or even knew of. 

He had to ride a very early morning bus downtown to serve early Mass at the school. The buses he rode on began to be stopped by the police. They would order George to get off the bus and search him, then ask the young Black school boy what he was doing and where he was going? It frightened George and  became a routine. George was getting warnings from the priest about being late for Mass so often that he would be dropped from alter boy duties and put on warning. Finally, George broke down in tears and the Priest asked him what was wrong?

Little George spilled his third-grade guts and the priest was enraged. He called the bishop of Cleveland and passed on the story. The Bishop apparently then called the Cleveland Chief of Police (whom, I think was Irish and Catholic himself). The Bishop told the Chief of Police what the problem was and threatened the Chief of Police with excommuication if it ever happend again.

The police never stopped another bus again. Someone had opened a "door" for little George. 


01/12/21 02:13 AM #8828    

 

David Mitchell

Darn, I went out earlier tonight to watch a football game and a muggging broke out.


01/12/21 09:37 PM #8829    

 

David Mitchell

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TOM McKEON !!

(a guy who still doesn't look a day over 40) 


01/13/21 12:27 PM #8830    

 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Happy Birthday to that old man Al Judy.  Way to go to making it to 93.

 

Joe


01/13/21 02:01 PM #8831    

 

Mark Schweickart

Hey there English majors, here's something I ran across that I had never encountered before. It is apparently something all of us English speakers know, but don't know we know.

Adjectives have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-color-origin-material-purpose before a noun. Therefore, you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French steel whittling knife, but if you mess with that word order it will not sound right, and everyone seeems to know that. For example, this means that since size comes before color, then green great dragons can't exist. 

 

 


01/14/21 10:31 PM #8832    

 

John Jackson

Mark, I saw something on the same subject a few months ago – can’t remember where (maybe the same piece you saw).  Such intricate (and totally arbitrary) rules that everyone picks up by the time they’re 6-8 years old.  Language is a strange and mysterious and wonderful thing (which may even explain the phenomenon of English majors)!


01/15/21 12:30 AM #8833    

 

Michael McLeod

new one on me mark.

like most people in the writing biz I do so many things on instinct or out of sheer repetition I forget the logic behind it. Then when I teach I have to...retrace my steps or look it up in a book to be able to spell it out for students.

(I swore off posting on this place but had to put in my two cents on this as it struck a nerve.)


01/15/21 05:06 PM #8834    

Timothy Lavelle

Do you remember when your parents brought the first color TV into your house? It was such a massive change in those simpler days.  

Re-read this and it does seem out of context...

Was reading The Network (Scott Woolley) about the struggle for radio, shortwave and later television development and  the fight for commercial supremacy. Sounds boring but a good read. Cut throat business! It reminded me of how we are amongst the last folks who grew up black n white and later decided to be colored. Reminded me of how having a color TV seemed like your fam was "making it". 


01/15/21 10:58 PM #8835    

 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Tim,  

I still have trouble wrapping my brain around all those people worried about what would happen to their computers when the clock struck Y2K!

Jim 


01/16/21 10:52 AM #8836    

 

David Mitchell

I remember the day they delivered our very first TV - black and white - a huge peice of shiny mahogany furniture with doors that opened to the 9 inch screen, the "'record payer" (which slid out), the controls, and a speaker. We were late to "color" so we would go to my aunt and uncle's house in Arlington to watch Bonanza in color on Sunday nights.

 

 

(Psst!  Don't tell anybody but I still haven't learned how to "program" my VCR - and oh, by the way, I started with Betamax)


01/16/21 12:30 PM #8837    

 

Janie Albright (Blank)

Tim, I remember clearly about the color tv. I was a freshman at OU. I came home for Thanksgiving and right there in the living room was a pretty big color television! I think we were late to have one. 

I think I have talked about this before but when I was much younger we had a neighbor named Pinky Morgan who worked for Ken Bush appliance and he had a very tiny screen color tv and all the neighbor kids went over to watch Peter Pan with Mary Martin in color. My memory is that it was mostly green. Dave Fredericks do you remember this?! 


01/16/21 06:09 PM #8838    

 

John Maxwell

Timbobway,
Like Dre Jim I couldn't get past monophonic. Then stereo arrived. Heaven on Earth, The stereo high fidelity made me want to be locked in a room alone with the lights out. Then pot swept the neighborhood and the devil introduced quadrophenia. I've spent the rest of my life trying to figure out how to grow another set of ears.

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