Trump -- Stopped

Trump has to be stopped! Before he completely undoes American values; before he completely corrupts the moral/legal/ethical values inherent in American society; he has to be stopped.

By the Republicans, hopefully. By the many, many citizens of all parties, faiths, and ethnicities who are concerned about his craziness. By the poor voters drawn into his "plans to make America Great Again!" By all the "cabinet members" who are really concerned about the "changes" that he is causing in America. By the sane, the hopeful, the women who care, the resisters, the family of the "mad businessman," by the rightful owners of our country!  We, the people.  Resist.

Happiness and thanks to all the women of the world: our Mothers, our Sisters, our Lovers, our Friends. Thank you -- keep on resisting.

Linda

Please Linda, I need you to stay alive. I need you to live. If there is any real justice in morality and righteous living -- you need to survive this recent and painful infection. You need to survive because you mean so much to so many.

The Church and School where you work as Registrar and Bookkeeper needs you to live. Your close friends and confidants Lisa and Jan need you to live. Your brother(s) and sister need you to live. All of us who know you, love you, respect you, NEED YOU TO LIVE!

If there is a God in heaven, justice demands that you need to live. Our human lives cannot be ruled by whim and bacteria; they simply cannot. The world needs you to live. Please fight this infection. Please live. You are loved; we need you.

America's Failed President

To all you 'let's shake up Washington DC voters' who voted for Trump: you have changed our country, for the worse. You have inverted our morality to make us a near-autocracy. You have forever changed the media -- and not for the good. "Truth is lies; lies are truth." You have given us a post-apocalyptic world and a new blooming dystopia -- all in just several months.

You have allowed "cheating" and "lying" and crooked government (via our business partners) to become commonplace. You have begun to negate several hundred years of positive history into a Machiavellian nightmare. You have killed America. No thanks to you, my stupid and shortsighted fellow Americans.

A Serious and Deadly Time

My dearest sister is currently in the ICU at Aurora St.Luke's South Shore Hospital in Cudahy, Wisconsin. She is facing a return of the "bacterial infection" that caused lesions/blisters  on her legs over the past 4 years (those that would not heal). She is in the ICU because "sepsis" has set in, her blood pressure has sky-rocketed, and the infection is resisting treatment (antibiotics and steroids).

Tomorrow she will undergo a TEE (trans-esophageal echocardiography) test, to determine if damage to her heart valves has been caused by this deadly bacteria. I hope not.

At least this time they have the bacteria classified and treatment has been directed against this strain; the only question is whether the treatment will be in time. I pray so. With all my heart. With all my soul.

My younger sister has never 'deserved' the bad health breaks she has gotten. But in the past few years at least they have been frequent.  I ask anyone who reads this short piece to send out good will, and a little prayer if you believe, for my gracious and wonderful sister. Thanks.

Education Unmasked

In our fervent desire to "do more with less" and to give 14-year-olds the right to go to college early -- we have made some horrific mistakes.  We have given those youngsters their own computers, Chromebooks in one instance/Ipads in another; and told them that this "device" will make them better students. Then, to limit their "game-playing," shopping, and other instincts -- we have slapped serious controls on these devices. These same students are taking "college classes" but they cannot use their Chromebooks/Ipads to communicate with their instructors -- even to submit assignments, give teachers notice of their absences, etc.

These devices are then like "class workbooks" rather than true computer devices. Using the Internet or the World Wide Web is restricted in multiple ways. So, the upshot is these young students have "devices" that can't truly be used -- and are no more technological than a "blackboard and chalk" (current technology of that would be a "whiteboard and dry erase markers").

This is "progressive education" in Georgia -- in the "best schools" in Georgia.

In addition these students are put in 8-week classes (called min-mesters), to earn full college credit for a course, in courses that are no meant to be mini-mesters (like my Public Speaking course) -- and then are asked to "learn" or even to "excel" in this environment. The students persist -- but very, very few of them excel. They may earn a decent grade -- (a "B" say) -- where in a normal 15 class they could easily earn an "A" because they could then get the reading done, prepare for their projects, and practice their "public speaking skills."

Once again we have cheated the students from having a good educational experience, and cursed them with negative feedback when the majority of the "fault" is with the un-educational system.

Ad Lib Government

And now the Trump regime has yet another scandal to tamp down. The new Attorney General seems to have "lied to Congress" about his contacts with the Russian Government during the waning days of the recent "presidential campaign." One could see how Jeff Sessions could overlook and forget the contacts he did have, after all he was just inquiring about the best recipes for "borscht" that the Russian minister had to offer (and not about politics, or sanctions, or anything illegal).

And now the Trump "fake news" charges will start up again -- and the good will gained by Trump appearing almost recognizably human during his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday last, will be lost forever. Pity. "Pity the fool" who believes anything the Trump-up-box has to offer.

After only a month of incompetence, corruption, and inane talk of a mandate "to do horrible things to people" can we no legitimately ask: "is this the worst American Presidency ever?" Yes.

I Am Sorry to Say...

Donald J. Trump is my President. Donald J. Trump lies outright like any "carny worker" touting his midway game. Donald J. Trump is a "user" and probably a felon through many of his "business deals" before, during, and after his "Presidency."

Donald J. Trump is a "pseudo-believer" in countless unfounded conspiracy theories. Donald J. Trump is a "TV charlatan"! Donald J. Trump is a human being with a totally changeable set of human values, depending on his need to "win" at any given moment. Donald J. Trump is un-American!
Donald J. Trump represents America's worst face, the one that looks inwards and claims no moral high ground in any debate. Donald J. Trump is a cruel and unyielding huckster, trying to make "cheating and lying" the new norms in politics, government, and human discourse generally.

Donald J. Trump is unfortunately, the current President of the United States.  Resist.

Resist!