It is our duty as Americans to resist the "push" towards autocratic rule in our country. Trump as President is not the ultimate power in America; we the people are. Trump is not the smartest man in the room; we are. Trump is not the best businessman in the world; we the people are.
If you need proof -- look at our history, as opposed to Trump's. We have not "deserted" multiple wives. We have not lied to our children and our grandparents. We have not demeaned our enemies or exalted our enemies so that we can use them as our friends.
Stay vigilant! Resist the temptation to be nice to this boorish and un-American President.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
What Can "the Donald" Do For You?
You say you want the loud Christian-music loving neighbors to turn off their music no later than 7:00 PM ? Call "the Donald" (and contribute $5,000. to Trump Ties International, a 501c3 registered charity)!
The teenage girls next door (twins, I think) are changing clothes with the shades up again? Call "the Donald" -- (and sign that $25,000 check over to Donald's Daily Devotion, a Christian Sentient Movement -- affiliated with Young Christians Dress Like Pageant Winners)!
How about clearing out the neighborhood of all skin colors that don't turn "blotchy red" after a nice steak and martini lunch? Send that stipend to Donald Trump's Light-free Church of Money, or just send it directly to: The Donald, The White House, Winning is My Way, USA! For "the Donald" is the "Way, the Truth, the Light, and the Winner"!
The teenage girls next door (twins, I think) are changing clothes with the shades up again? Call "the Donald" -- (and sign that $25,000 check over to Donald's Daily Devotion, a Christian Sentient Movement -- affiliated with Young Christians Dress Like Pageant Winners)!
How about clearing out the neighborhood of all skin colors that don't turn "blotchy red" after a nice steak and martini lunch? Send that stipend to Donald Trump's Light-free Church of Money, or just send it directly to: The Donald, The White House, Winning is My Way, USA! For "the Donald" is the "Way, the Truth, the Light, and the Winner"!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
America Hurrah !
A long, long time ago --- while I was living in Rome, Italy; I was cast in a "professional" production of the play America Hurrah, by Jean-Claude van Itallie. This play is composed of three shorter plays or acts, all of which, in their own way depict some of the foibles of American society. The play also targets the Catholic Church, the societal hypocrisy of Americans generally, and the mores of the times (the infamous 1960's).
Nowadays, that play (and the texts of Brave New World and 1984 and the movie Network, for that matter) are being played out in the political machinations of Washington D.C., the American press, and American television. We are rapidly becoming, at least in America, the worst internal views of ourselves. We are our own worst selves!
Nowadays, that play (and the texts of Brave New World and 1984 and the movie Network, for that matter) are being played out in the political machinations of Washington D.C., the American press, and American television. We are rapidly becoming, at least in America, the worst internal views of ourselves. We are our own worst selves!
Monday, January 30, 2017
Neither Liberal Nor Conservative
I am not the typical "liberal Eastern American University Professor." I am old enough to have added many conservative values to my "coloring book" over the years, while still preserving the ingenuous quality of integrity and kindness that underlies American youthful patriotism. I believe in America.
I do not believe in Donald Trump. He is a "capitalist"-- not a Democrat nor a Republican. He doesn't believe in "less government"; he believes "he IS the government."
The Executive branch of the government is not the only branch of the government -- it is held in "check" by the judicial and legislative branches. Since the Republican majority in both houses of Congress has apparently abrogated control of the government and its policies to President Trump, in favor of finally sneaking by their own hyper-conservative agenda. Weasels like Paul Ryan are complicit in Trump's fiats, and therefore are partially responsible for them
America is in trouble; America has a cryptofascist as a President.
I do not believe in Donald Trump. He is a "capitalist"-- not a Democrat nor a Republican. He doesn't believe in "less government"; he believes "he IS the government."
The Executive branch of the government is not the only branch of the government -- it is held in "check" by the judicial and legislative branches. Since the Republican majority in both houses of Congress has apparently abrogated control of the government and its policies to President Trump, in favor of finally sneaking by their own hyper-conservative agenda. Weasels like Paul Ryan are complicit in Trump's fiats, and therefore are partially responsible for them
America is in trouble; America has a cryptofascist as a President.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Trump the Demagogue
Of all of the ridiculous "executive orders" and "executive decrees" ordered by Donald Trump, the immigration "ban" versus Muslims from selected countries is the cruelest, stupidest, and most unAmerican of all. There are now protests at our largest International airports -- there should be! Republicans are rethinking the strategy of letting Trump do what he wants in trade for their own ridiculous and short-sighted agenda, especially as regards the Affordable Health Care Act.
When this kind of duplicitous "leadership" holds sway -- the world need watch out. We may have our own homegrown version of Hitler, or Mussolini. And he is a wouldbe playboy and underhanded "dealer" named Donald. And his henchmen in the House of Representatives now espouse and promote their own brand(s) of anti-Obama, anti-Democratic, anti-Liberal, and anti-human prescriptions.
I feel sorry for us all! Please someone help us.
When this kind of duplicitous "leadership" holds sway -- the world need watch out. We may have our own homegrown version of Hitler, or Mussolini. And he is a wouldbe playboy and underhanded "dealer" named Donald. And his henchmen in the House of Representatives now espouse and promote their own brand(s) of anti-Obama, anti-Democratic, anti-Liberal, and anti-human prescriptions.
I feel sorry for us all! Please someone help us.
Friday, January 27, 2017
On Trump ...Degrading America
Articles in all the free presses of the world have now turned to trying to analyze Donald Trump. First remember that he is "doing what he said he would do" during the campaign, as distasteful and stupid as many of those tweeted proposals were.
Now the world press, on all levels, is dropping headlines such as "Is Trump Mentally Ill?" or "Trump Can Be Removed From Office Without Formal Impeachment!" and one of my favorites, "Trump Is Ruining America." "Yes" perhaps to many of the thoughts expressed within those articles and exposes, but "no" to the concept that we couldn't have expected all this. We knew what a soulless wretch Donald Trump was, attractive children or not; and yet we presumed he would nor could not be as bad as his twisted and cynical rhetoric. Guess what? He is as bad as advertised; and he did the advertising himself.
Now the world press, on all levels, is dropping headlines such as "Is Trump Mentally Ill?" or "Trump Can Be Removed From Office Without Formal Impeachment!" and one of my favorites, "Trump Is Ruining America." "Yes" perhaps to many of the thoughts expressed within those articles and exposes, but "no" to the concept that we couldn't have expected all this. We knew what a soulless wretch Donald Trump was, attractive children or not; and yet we presumed he would nor could not be as bad as his twisted and cynical rhetoric. Guess what? He is as bad as advertised; and he did the advertising himself.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
More Reflections on my ECCA and LCCA Students
Being young I think means at times "being distracted"; being young also means being smart (and unspoiled) but also maybe a bit lazy about what one knows or what one doesn't know. As I reflect on teaching 14-year-old's, I realize I prefer them to the typical 18-year-old's. Why?
The older students have had several more years to be "ruined by education" -- to be stifled by "time honored methods"-- which I am just as guilty of relying on as all the other teachers I know. How does an aging teacher keep from being a bore? Or a jerk? Or someone whose only response to youthful energy is a "tsk, tsk!" I don't want to be that guy, that dull teacher -- but my ECCA students are already deluged by knowledge (as was last term's). I want all my students to greet knowledge with "fresh eyes" and "open minds." But even at 14, for many, that is too late to really be "all in" for knowledge.
The definition of an "intellectual" is: a person who can live their life with an open mind. I am still struggling to keep my mind open -- to youth, and process, and growth.
The older students have had several more years to be "ruined by education" -- to be stifled by "time honored methods"-- which I am just as guilty of relying on as all the other teachers I know. How does an aging teacher keep from being a bore? Or a jerk? Or someone whose only response to youthful energy is a "tsk, tsk!" I don't want to be that guy, that dull teacher -- but my ECCA students are already deluged by knowledge (as was last term's). I want all my students to greet knowledge with "fresh eyes" and "open minds." But even at 14, for many, that is too late to really be "all in" for knowledge.
The definition of an "intellectual" is: a person who can live their life with an open mind. I am still struggling to keep my mind open -- to youth, and process, and growth.
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