The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.

Frank Ganley

fIRST TO mARY clare, I did make disparaging remarks about our former firsst lady but unfortunately I did not put the reason for my remark. It was in response to her statement that she hated America and all that is given to white people. Here is woman who was given everything in forms of education that few of us will ever be able to enjoy and further remarks of her's nthat emphasised the same. How unfortunate that not only thinks this was but has stated it in some of her appearances on tv or speeches she has made. 

To those who think i DON'T LIKE Jodelle IS SIMPLY WRONG. WE USED TO BE FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK TILL SHE LEARNED OR READ THAT I SUPPORT Donald Trump for President. If you take the time to review the posts I have never said < I believe, I have never said anything against or about Jodelle but the attacks on me are quite evident. I hope when our country is back in order and all these witch hunts about what tRUMP DID OR DIDN'T DO, and the economy continues to benefit all Americans she will see neither of us, Donald or me, are POS;s . 

To Bull, Mike not one thing on your list is not something that only dems are seeking. these are the goals of all Americans. But what did Obama do for the infrastructure, immigration, the economy, race relations or rebuilding our largest and beautiful inner cities when he had full control of the house and senate. Trump has tried to start a bill but rebuffed by Nancy and Chuck. Anything Trump wants he ain't going to get according to them. Immigration the same, they all , Clinton, Bush and Obama all wanted a wall and strict immigration laws, what happened? All on your list is great, better schools, social security, and as far as Trump goes in women's equality, 40% of his top management are women. Women today enjoy the lowest unemployment in the history of the country, record all-time lows in unemployment for Hispanics, Blacks and the lowest in over 50 years for the entire populations. The question that remains on your list is, how are you going to pay for all of these things. Trump has stated how he is going to do but the dems who all want free this free that education, a monthly stipend, repayment to all blacks for wrongs against them but have no plans as to pay for any of these things. What happened to the Native Americans? Do they not deserve something for all the problems the white man caused, almost genocide, stealing their land and putting them on reservations.. Most to the wrongs towards the native Americans was created by Andrew Jackson under the Indian Removal Act OF 1832. By the way, Jackson was the creator of the democratic party. The party that caused the Civil War and the creators of the KKK.  

Mary Ann states encourage all the trump supporters to join in the forum. Why would some take the chance? Why risk the wrath of the liberal side of our class. The emminant Dr. hamilton has incurred some wrath for some of his statements concerning his views. As Mary Clare correctly pointed out the nazi and jew reference was the only thing that came to mind and it was a weak analogy. Perhaps a better would be a person such as one of our classmates who feared the repercussions if he announces his homosexuality. 

I appreciate Mike and Mary Clare for commenting on their views of why they support the dems wish there was more of it on both sides so we can all begin to realize we all want the same things out of our lives and for the Country just in a different way. Mary Ann so sorry that my views offend you but I know we have more in common together etc, especially when we visited beautiful Beauford and had a great time together, opps that was before the elections. The same goes for Jodelle though I did not visit her in Beauford. 

I voted for Trump as a way to make America great! I did not vote for him because he's divorced, or any of the other names he has been called but because he is a great businessman and negotiator which we need in these difficult times. As all of us at one time were or still are Catholic did you hate a  Baptist because they don't drink, dance or play cards like you, NO! How about a jew, he doesn't even believe in Jesus, NO we all want to go to Heaven they just have a different way to pray for it.

To all my classmates I wish you all peace, success and happiness.

FRANK

Michael McLeod

Just a reminder to all that separation of church and state is at the core of our democracy.

Daniel Cody

I applaud Mike, Mary Ann,Clare, and John. There are far too many outrageous actions by Trump to list in this forum.  His latest attempt to extort a Ukrainian president for his political gain may prove to be a bridge too far for even the most loyal Trump syncophants.

I rise in support of Jodelle who was and is one of the most intelligent women I know. that was evident from our days at St Mikes.  Why i dont support calling people names, referring to Michelle Obama as an ape is nothing more than a racist insult.  Mocking disabled people is unexcusable. Mocking a courageous teenager who speaks the truth to world leaders of the need to end the delay of taking action to stop the advance of climate change is an inexcusable cheap shot. Btw Nazis were never good people.  

David Mitchell

INTERMISSION:

The lobby is still open, but I think they are running low on Whoppers and Milk Duds. 

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Danny, good to see you on this forum.  I applaud your words.

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Just as a point of clarification.....the establishment clause prohibits all levels of government from either advancing or prohibiting religion.  The establishment clause separates church from state, but not religion from politics or public life.  As American citizens we are free to bring our religious convictrions into the public arena.  

I am concerned that the forum is devolving into a subtle formation of camps...good vs bad....right vs wrong.  Political policies and moral principles can be stated and debated on their own merits and we should feel free to share our thoughts and opinions without fear of being personally called out and judged for holding a certain viewpoint regardless of how one has voted in the past or plans to vote in the future.   

The election of 2016 presented the American public with two very flawed personalities.  If we are to look at only the character aspect of Donald Trump (and I have stated over and over to many, his character flaws were a major reason I did not vote for him), I would just ask why high moral character standards would not apply to his opponent as well?  Did Clinton never lie or cheat in the course of her very public life?  Does she always and everywhere champion the rights of the voiceless and vulnerable?  Has she always acted ethically in her responsibilities as a public servant?  Did Obama not denigrate conservatives by boasting to them that "he won" so they should just "get in the back of the bus"?  Did he not lie to the American people when he told them that they could keep their insurance, keep their doctors and that their premiums would decrease by $2500/year?  Did Obama not lie, not only to the nation and the entire world, but to the families of the four dead Americans who stood at the foot of the caskets, about the Benghai attacks being the result of a little known internet video when his Secretary of State knew the night of the attacks that it was a terrorist attack?  

Do I want a moral leader as President?  You bet I do, but I was not given the opportunity to vote for one.  Maybe people have placed too much hope in man alone to provide the solutions to our many problems.  I rather like this quote attributed to George Washington:

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."

David Mitchell

D'ya suppose that a lot of this is about our inability (or refusal) to walk in the ohter person's shoes? 

(or my own inabiity to spell?)

Michael McLeod

Really happy to see free expression, a surge of participation, and most importantly a tone of mutual respectfulness: nobody's pulling any punches, and nobody's punching below the belt. If we can just stick to that, no matter what.....

Lawrence Foster

I interrupt the conversation with this pause that may, or may not, refresh you.  (Sadly Coca-Cola does not pay me to insert their slogans.)

Here are three photos I took a few years back when visitng the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC and then after that are two pencil sketches I made from them.  

And Happy Birthday Mike!!!!!

Michael McLeod

wow!

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Beautiful photos and wonderful sketches, Larry   Happy Birthday, Mike.....I would say, "may all of your wishes come true", but that would mean that mine won't.  So I will just say.....hope you have had a special day! 

David Mitchell

Mike,

For Pete's sake!

Didn't you just have one of these about this time LAST year?

Michael Boulware

Thanks for all the affirmative responses. what I wrote I took mostly from the 2016 Democratic Platform composed mostly from Hillary Clinton. We might have made a big mistake; 'YA THINK? 

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

   9-26-19  Mike:  Great drawings!   Wonderful talent!  So glad to see the politics is settling down. Politics and religion : two touchy subjects!  Kathy W.

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

 Oops! Make that Larry not Mike!! Kathy W.

Michael McLeod

I never bring this up, and if you know my feelings about the guy you understand why.

Apparently I am not the only McLeod who feels this way.

I met a guy at a gala last weekend for one of the theaters we have down here. This guy had a heavy Scottish accent so I told him my last name and asked him a few questions about the clan, which he was familiar with, and he had a story or two. Then he got this guilty look on his face, a bit embarrassed he was, and mentioned the connection to Trump. When I laughed he said that usually when there's an international celebrity with a Scottish name everybody connected with it wants to talk it up about their connection via cousins and uncles and inlaws, show old pictures, lay the whole thing out. Scottish people are clannish. I mean, we invented it.

Apparently it's bad form to even bring up the subject in scotland if you're talking about this particular clan and this particular individual.

"Nooobody says a word aboot him," this guy said to me.   "If you ask they just look the other way." 

Mary Anne Trump (née MacLeod, Scottish Gaelic: Màiri Anna NicLeòid; May 10, 1912 – August 7, 2000) was the mother of Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, and the wife of real estate developer Fred Trump.

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Mike B.

Hillary was robbed of the election.

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Bob's father's obituary was in this morning's paper.  Our sympathy and support to you, Bob. 
 

Frank Ganley

Mary Ann how was mrs clinton robbed of the the election. She only won a few of the west coast states and new york. Yes she did win the total amount of votes thanks mainly to new york and mostly california who have more votes in those states than the rest of the country combined. If you are advocating the abolishment of the electorial college that would amount to accepting the fact that your vote ifnot cast in california washington, oregon, and  new york  you might as well stay home! Your vote is useless, unheard, and did not matter. The founding fathers figured out if you won new york and pennsyvania no matter what the other states did it mattered not. Abandoning the electorial college would be devasting. So now MaryAnn how was it stolen from her. Perhaps people were tired of crimes committed by her and her husband bill. Perhaps she thought the fix was in and she didn’t have to campaign in some states like much snd wisc.  Perhaps they thought Trump was better. Regardless of any of your argument hillary lost and trump won. Get over it. I know all you libbers think trump is this ,that, and everything else to make him evil but get over it. Stop all these witch hunts which hold less liquid than a bounty towel. Your reps are quite similar to my dad who though he found i did nothing wrong i would still get a whack or two because even though he found i did  nothing i was punished for what he missed. Of all the president who have been impeached both were democrats , nixon quit begore he could be impeached and all the repubs who were being investigated were found not being able to pass. Dems trying to fix. It would be great if congress started to take on immagration, taxes, etc than continue to investigate trump for what they don’t know but sure if they look hard enough they will find a needle in that haystack

Michael Boulware

Frank, ( history lesson).   The Electoral College was a compromise between Jeffersonians and Hamiltonians.I hope this does not bore people!!!! We could not decide how to elect a president and the creators of the Constitution compromised when they could not solve a problem. We even compromised the slavery issue (3/5 compromise).

Hamilton wanted the president elected by wealthy, male land owners. He felt that only the educated , elite could make the proper choice.

Jefferson felt that the more democracy; the better off we were. He wanted the president elected by a popular vote.

The compromise was- Electors from each state would be elected by a popular vote. The amount of electors would equal the number od members in the house and the senate. The Electors would then elect the president

This compromise came about because most  voters  were uneducated and votes could be possibly purcchased with some moonshine, promise of a job, or a couple of bucks. The common person's vote was not trusted.

Currently, we have an educated populous. Many of us feel that The Electoral College is an outdated means to elect the president.  

David Barbour

I do believe we need a little more MIKE!!!  Thank you, sir.

DB

Mark Schweickart

As a follow up to Mike B's history lesson, I would add that I think Frank is totally misunderstanding the intentions of those who are in favor of eliminating the electoral college. It would do the exact opposite of what he is worried about. If we went to a simple whoever has the over-all majority of votes wins, then it does not matter in the least whether you live in California or Montana or Rhode Island, it's the overall count that counts.

Oh, and need I say, that if this had been the case in 2016, Hillary would be President. However, no matter who wins in 2020, I doubt we will see any electoral college reform addressed. Unfortunately, we have far more pressing issues at hand. First and foremost of course is removing our wannabe-Vito-Corleone from the White House. Then we can tackle the issues of climate-change, healthcare, properly taxing the extremely wealthy, eliminating the burdens of student debt, physical infrastructure repair, and speaking of repair, how about repairing our relations abroad? The list goes on and on. But job one is getting out from beneath the horrible dystopian cloud that grows larger by the day under our current administration.

Michael McLeod

Frank:

I don't think your father whacked you enough.

David Mitchell

Thanks Clare,

I never knew Bob's father. To be honest, I barely knew Bob back in the day. But over the last year and a half, we have gotten to know one another and have enjoyed one of the most interesting (email) conversations I've ever had. A lot of our conversation revolves around who we were back then, and how we all gravitated to our own "circles" of friends, based on teenagers perceptions of our own social backgrounds. Bob and I are polar oppsoites on several deep issues, but it's been a really rewarding journey towards a new friendship.   

Bob had been telling me that his father was on short time. I hope the family finds peace. 

David Mitchell

Mike B,

Welcome back!  

I concur with you and Mark that it's time we let the Electoral College go.

But to your point about Jefferson and Hamilton's intentions - it is my understanding that it was Jefferson who preferred that the power rest with with a "landed aristocrocy", much like himslef, and that the economy be an agricultural one. I was under teh impresssion that Hamilton wanted to create a "business" economy, where merchants, shop keepers, and small businessmen would flourish. It was to that end he created our banking system. I seem to recall reading this specific point a few years back in Smithsonian Magazine. Perhaps I mis-read it?  

That same article also brought attention to a large cache of letters and writings, previousy unknown that shed more light on Jefferson's treatment of his slaves. He has long been considred a more benevolent slavemaster, but the article cast a very different light on that subject. It clearly showed that his use of whippings was much more the rule than the exception.

An example: Among the many business ventures he ran from Monticello, was his "nail foundery" -  a small, (for profit) nail making factory if you will. One of the daily chores was to have a group of young slave boys go into the foundary early each morning and light the fires for the forges. On cold mornings, the boys would often want to stay in the warmth of their beds, and would be late to light the fires. For this there were many frequent whippings - of small boys! 

And he had a dumbwaiter that brougt the food up from the kitchen to the dinning room, where the food trays could be served by white servants, so that they would not have to suffer the indignation of Africans in the diining room. 

Of course his fathering of two families - six free white children, and six black slave children, casts quite a blight on his moral character.

For a man who called slavery "moral depravity", he profitted handsomely from his "use" of slaves.   

* And It is a bizarrre twist that he hired "professional slanderers" to ruin the re-election chances of his own president (and once best frend) John Adams, so that the could be elected in 1801. John Adams had loved him like a son. They reconciled years later and died within hours of each other on the day before the 4th of July 1826. It has been speculated that the courier riders, carying the news to one another's homes may have passed each other at some point, going in opposite directions from Virginia to Massachusetts. 

-------------------

p.s.

Not sure how long you've been "away" from the Forum. Hope you enjoyed my post a few months back - the huge  "mega headlines" from the Clintonville Booster about two young athletes from Watterson High School. (one on skis, the other on the gridiron)  LOL.