tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61141977036571487212024-03-05T21:59:15.971-05:00Minding What MattersWelcome! I hope you find these reflections on faith and life interesting, useful, and perhaps at times challenging. I use both prose and poetry to cover a wide variety of topics, including political and other contemporary issues. Your constructive comments are appreciated, and if you like a particular article or poem, I'd be immensely grateful if you'd let me know by clicking on "Like."
Richard Stoll Armstrongrsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.comBlogger370125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-73136957759044589102019-02-21T13:54:00.000-05:002019-02-21T13:54:16.456-05:00A NIGHT IN EAST BROOKFIELD (revisited)This is Dick Armstrong's son, Andy, writing on his behalf as Dad is now under hospice care and unable to make any blog entries himself (I also posted the two most recent entries, writing in the first person the words Dad wanted to say about the Paul Lukas interview and Bob Golon article).<br />
<br />
For those who saw Dad's 9/22/12 post, "A Night in East Brookfield," about his opportunity to speak at the town's event celebrating Connie Mack's 150th birthday -- and wished they could have seen and heard his presentation, well now you can! To see the video, please click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n9LcNRp5lY" target="_blank">here.</a>rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-6582766968573919002019-02-12T19:09:00.000-05:002019-02-12T19:09:08.875-05:00SABR Biography Project ProfileMy good friend Bob Golon, a recently retired member of the Princeton Theological Seminary library staff, has written an article about me for the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Biography Project, wherein SABR members research and write biographical profiles of not only players but also executives and those "famous outside the game." What an honor that Bob wanted to profile me -- my family and I are deeply grateful for the many hours he spent researching my life and writing the article, which you can read in its entirety <a href="https://sabr.org/node/51049" target="_blank">here</a>. I hope you enjoy it!rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-9400785806640175042019-01-21T14:23:00.000-05:002019-01-21T19:24:19.458-05:00ESPN article<b><u>From Connie Mack to Mr. Oriole -- a Conversation with Dick Armstron</u>g</b><br />
<br />
I was pleased to recently be interviewed by Paul Lukas of ESPN.com about my days with the Philadelphia Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. Paul has a particular interest in writing about sports teams' uniforms, logos, and mascots, and so wanted to learn more about my involvement in creating the Orioles' first logo and mascot, "Mr. Oriole." Click <a href="https://uni-watch.com/2019/01/15/from-connie-mack-to-mr-oriole-a-conversation-with-dick-armstrong/">here</a> to read the interview.rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-31138746935737320542017-05-09T15:30:00.001-04:002017-05-09T15:38:00.455-04:00THE MCDONOGH UNIFORM When McDonogh was a military school, all of us boys had to memorize a poem entitled "The McDonogh Uniform," written by Eustace S. Glascock, Class of 1879. I hadn't recited it for many, many years, but having just been back for my 75th class reunion, I decided, on a nostalgic whim, to see if I could recall the words to all seven stanzas. To my pleasant surpise I was able to do so, before looking at the framed copy of the poem I was given for being the oldest returning alum. Here's the poem as I remembered it:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBl1Rhoco-prtB6YctzlZi_CLwpvTBj7gLDi8EoRDnxNZ3LujLSyWQ1u7-hCgLXt7DwAFgsYSguYCgLUiIsh_6o9-DH3U_BQgAGZB14fLitG-SKQTYZpxP7NO-oln5NZo-sAdryCAL-7r/s1600/RSA+Yearbook+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBl1Rhoco-prtB6YctzlZi_CLwpvTBj7gLDi8EoRDnxNZ3LujLSyWQ1u7-hCgLXt7DwAFgsYSguYCgLUiIsh_6o9-DH3U_BQgAGZB14fLitG-SKQTYZpxP7NO-oln5NZo-sAdryCAL-7r/s320/RSA+Yearbook+photo.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My graduation picture, copied from<br /> <i>The McDonoogh Legacy </i>of 1942</span><br />
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<br />
THE MCDONOGH UNIFORM . ,<br />
A McDonogh suit for your son to wear?<br />
Ah, Madam, they’re not for sale.<br />
And he who dons must never doff—<br />
as a Nun who takes the veil.<br />
<br />
‘Tis a matter of years to make the fit;<br />
and the cloth is rich and rare,<br />
with “Lyle thread” running through warp and woof,<br />
and woven with scrupulous care.<br />
<br />
With labor and patience, with wisdom and love,<br />
every thread is drawn to its place.<br />
‘Tis dyed in the colors of honor and truth,<br />
with industry’s infinite grace.<br />
<br />
The dirt and grime of strife and of toil<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Allan_Building_McDonogh_School.jpg/220px-Allan_Building_McDonogh_School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for mcdonogh school PHOTOS" border="0" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Allan_Building_McDonogh_School.jpg/220px-Allan_Building_McDonogh_School.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Allan Building, built in 1929, was named for </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">McDonogh's first Headmaster, Col. William Allan.</span><br />
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only brighten its marvelous hue;<br />
But the shiftless shame of an idle life<br />
will rot it through and through,<br />
<br />
Measures we take, but not with the tape,<br />
for we tailor to fit a man’s soul<br />
with a garment to wear thro’ life’s arduous race,<br />
and bring him in safe and the goal<br />
<br />
Our trademark is woven into every suit.<br />
‘Tis a vow that each wearer must make<br />
how low or how high in the world he may be:<br />
“We give something more than we take.”<br />
<br />
Yet we have no weaver of magical skill.<br />
Our tailor’s no fairyland elf.<br />
We’ve merely discovered that to wear such a suit<br />
the wearer must make it himself.<br />
<br />
Eustace S. Glascock, 1879rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-48444230465426399442017-05-05T01:34:00.003-04:002017-05-09T00:54:41.576-04:00MY 75TH REUNION<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/gamepostpictures/teamPic115327-19802-vg4ylp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for mcdonogh school" border="0" height="166" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/gamepostpictures/teamPic115327-19802-vg4ylp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Part of the beautiful McDonogh campus. This is the Finney Building, named<br /> after a former Board Chairmen, whose grandson John was my roommate my<br />freshman year at Princeton.,before I joined thr Navy and John the Marines in<br />World War II.</span></td></tr>
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I had an idyllic boyhood, growing up on the beautiful campus of <a href="https://www.mcdonogh.org/c/admissions/welcome">McDonogh School,</a> where my father was athletic director, head of the math department, and coach of the varsity football, hockey, and baseball teams. It was an all-boys, semi-military school at the time, spread over 1000 acres in the rolling countryside about fifteen miles northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My prize for being the oldest returning <br />alum was a framed copy of "The<br />McDonogh Uniform," which in the<br />olden days every student had to<br /> memorize. Standing behind me is<br />Headmaster Charles Britton. </span></td></tr>
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I returned to the campus this past weekend to attend my 75th class reunion. As it turned out, I was the only representative of the class of 1942 and, to my surprise, the oldest alumnus present for the event. After being so recognized at an early gathering, I was treated as something of a” phenom” (that’s a kinder word than “relic”) by the younger alums and current faculty and staff, who could not have been more attentive and helpful.<br />
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Having entered McDonogh as a second grader in 1931, I was asked many questions about the way things were way back then, and although I loved my eleven years as a cadet, I could honestly and enthusiastically assure everyone I talked with that McDonogh has come a long way since then. McDonogh ended its military program in 1971 and became coeducational in 1975. It is an amazing school of close to 1400 students , with an outstanding full-time faculty of about 180 extremely dedicated teachers, an expansive and beautifully landscaped campus with sprawling athletic fields and superb facilities. Having been founded originally as a school for poor boys, McDonogh continues to maintain a need-based scholarship program of several million dollars annually for worthy boys and girls.<br />
What is most impressive and heart-warming to older alums like me is that the school has maintained its commitment to the ideals of its founder, John McDonogh. Students, faculty, and staff are imbued with the core of its mission, which is, in the founder’s words, "to do the greatest possible amount of good.” Every aspect of their educational experience is geared to prepare the students for life and to make a positive difference in the world. What a refreshing atmosphere that shared purpose creates for the entire McDonogh family; the McDonogh spirit is palpable.<br />
I attended every key event, walked all over the campus, visited with teachers and students, and inwardly reminisced about the days when I was climbing some of those same trees and playing on those same fields. I cannot adequately express what I was feeling throughout the reunion – so many long buried experiences vividly recalled, the faces of so many beloved teachers and friends appearing clearly to my mind’s eye, so many memorable moments.<br />
One of those unforgettable moments was the morning of December 8, 1941, when Major Louis E. Lamborn, our awe-inspiring Headmaster, at a specially called assembly of the Upper School, interpreted the instantly life-changing significance of the attack on Pearl Harbor. With trembling voice and tear filled eyes he expressed his assurance that we McDonogh boys would serve our country well in the war from which he knew some of us would not return alive. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tagart Chapel, where I attended vespers as a seven-year-old</td></tr>
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All of the reunion events were well planned, expertly conducted, and meaningful. Perhaps the most moving for me was the memorial service in the lovely stone chapel, when the roll of all the alumni who had died in the past year was solemnly read. The student choir sang beautifully, and I was vividly recalling the times I had lead services there, including the memorial service for my older brother Herb, who graduated from McDonogh in 1936. My thoughts ranged all the way back to my earliest days at the school, when as a seven-year old boarder I sat in those same pews at the Sunday vespers. Many years later I came to realize that for me the seeds of faith were sown in Tagart Chapel, which is now the oldest building on campus.<br />
On the drive home I had time to process my three-day experience at McDonogh. I was so happy and grateful that I could be there for what was a most amazing reunion. There was really no one for me to “reune” with, but I mingled with many wonderful fellow alumni and alumnae, whom I had never met, and a handful with whom I had overlapped a few years but didn’t really know well, since they were several years younger than I. Even so we had things about which we could reminisce a bit. Indeed, I felt connected with everyone there, for we all had McDonogh in common, and we celebrated each other’s unique experiences. <br />
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It was, of course, a nostalgic, sentimental, wistful time for me, as I thought of the days long gone by. But it was also an exciting, encouraging, and extremely positive experience, as I listened to the hopes and dreams of the students and faculty, and marveled at the commitment and enthusiasm of every member of the staff. They were all immensely happy and grateful to be part of the McDonald family.<br />
Overall it was what I would call a sad-happy time for me – happy because of the sheer joy of experiencing the McDonogh of today, sad because I was missing the wistful days of long ago and all my long lost friends. Sad, too, because I was all the more aware of my own mortality and wondering how many more reunions I’ll be able to attend.rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-38644468475582451552017-03-03T00:59:00.000-05:002022-01-05T08:29:06.341-05:00DECENCY IN POLITICAL DISCOURSEDECENCY IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE<br />
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Means<br />
<br />
Always telling the truth <br />
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Not misrepresenting your opponent’s position ( not attacking a straw man)<br />
<br />
Not impugning your opponent’s motives<br />
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Not questioning your opponent’s patriotism<br />
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Not indulging in personal attacks but dealing with issues.<br />
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Not always attacking your opponent and never stating your proprosals, not with platitudes but with specifics.<br />
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Constructive criticism is okay rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-84953554422512798422017-03-03T00:04:00.002-05:002017-03-03T11:46:05.228-05:00A DAY OF ACTION<a href="https://i0.wp.com/dayofaction.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/464/2017/01/DOA_Instagram_2.jpg?resize=300%2C300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/dayofaction.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/464/2017/01/DOA_Instagram_2.jpg?resize=300%2C300" width="320" /></a> Here is something you may not have heard about. On Monday, March 6, Princeton University is taking a day off from their regularly scheduled classes to observe a Day of Action.<br />
A group of graduate students and post-docs calling themselves Princeton Citizen Scientists obtained more than a thousand signatures to petition the University officials not only to allow the day off but to support and encourage the amazing program that has been planned. More than fifty "teach-ins" led by a host of renowned professors, authorities, and activists and covering a wide range of pressing national and world issues have been scheduled. The day-long program is free and open to all.<br />
My grandson Seth Olsen, who is a graduate student in physics at the University, is one of the organizers and heads their Outreach Committee. He tells me that a similar day is scheduled at M.I.T, with other universities currently planning to follow suit. I predict that as the word gets around, the idea will catch hold and spread throughout many more if not most of the academic communities across the nation. The time is right for such a movement and judging from the immediate response, it should spread like wildfire.<br />
I urge my readers to check out the web site, where one can read the group's mission statement and peruse the impressive range of topics that will be addressed on March 6 (click on <a href="https://dayofaction.princeton.edu/">DAY OF ACTION</a>).<br />
I am planning to be there on Monday. My one frustration is that there are so many of the teach-ins I'd like to attend, it is going to be very difficult to choose! The good news, however, is that every one of the discussions will be videotaped and available on-line. That will be a prodigious undertaking, but what a resource it will be when it is finally available!<br />
There are, however, two sessions I am already looking forward eagerly to attending. One will be led by my grandson Seth on <a href="http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/child-welfare.aspx">Child Welfare Policy</a>, a topic about which he has been passionate for many years. The other will be led my daughter, the Rev. Elsie Armstrong Rhodes, who will share her experience at <a href="http://standwithstandingrock.net/">Standing Rock</a> and discuss the future of that continuing pipe line issue. <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-75434388087884966732017-02-18T01:52:00.002-05:002017-02-18T01:52:39.733-05:00DOING THE RIGHT THING <div class="ox-50c4a3d299-MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline and Andy Armstrong</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span>I'm proud of my politically active family members. They are doing the right thing! Several are </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">involved in the Indivisible movement. Others are busily engaged, in all sorts of useful ways. For example, my son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Caroline, as part of Indivisible have been attending meetings and rallies, tweeting daily, making strategic calls, and writing letters. Yesterday they shared a letter they had addressed to Congressman Leonard Lance, who represents New Jersey's 7th District. Below</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> is the letter with their covering note. It could serve as a model for others to use in their efforts to hold their local representatives accountable:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Thought you might appreciate this letter, which went out in today’s mail. Our latest catharsis. </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">We borrowed some language and the basic format of a brilliant letter written by our friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pete.jaques.7" rel="noopener" style="color: purple; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Pete Jaques</span></a> to Lance, and took off from there.</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">...</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>February 16, 2017</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Dear Representative Lance,</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Over the course of the past few months following Mr. Trump’s election, we had been cautiously optimistic that you would be among those in your party who would place reason above ideological extremism; the health, safety and welfare of your constituents above self-serving interests (aka re-election); and stand firm in the protection of our fragile democracy. Sadly, in recent weeks and months your and your party’s actions have been shockingly callous, down-right dangerous, and truly disheartening. They make it perfectly clear that you and the majority of your House colleagues and Republican Senators, as well as the President and his Cabinet appointees, are opposed to the well-being of almost all of the American people and willing to sacrifice our democracy for self-serving interests. To wit:</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(1) Your party’s tacit acceptance of Russian ties to and influence on the Trump administration is disturbing, to say the least. To our knowledge, no one in the Republican Party supports a House investigation – one that, incidentally, should be handled by an independent, bipartisan commission. Yet, you and your colleagues supported the FBI’s reopening of Hillary Clinton’s email investigation to ascertain whether any classified information was compromised on her private server. Your silence on this current matter is tacit support for ignoring a far more dangerous and insidious situation than Clinton’s emails.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(2) You and your party have been silent thus far on the Trump family conflicts of interest which are readily apparent both in the U.S. and abroad, and which appear to be in violation of both the Foreign Emoluments and Domestic Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution (for updated list of U.S. and foreign conflicts, see: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/tracking-trumps-web-of-conflicts/#foreign_properties" rel="noopener" style="color: purple; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration: none;">https://www.bloomberg.com/…/tracking-trumps-web-of-confli…/…</span></a> ). Congressman Jerrold Nadler recently introduced a Resolution of Inquiry directing the Department of Justice to provide the House of Representatives with any and all information relevant to an inquiry into President Trump and his associates’ conflicts of interest, ethical violations and Russia ties. Your silence, thus far, is troubling to say the least.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(3) You voted more than 50 times in support of a repeal of the Affordable Care Act during the Obama administration. Today, you call for “repeal and replace” (see attached flyer recently distributed to Hunterdon County households) or for “repeal and repair” (whatever that means), and now some members of the Republican caucus are advocating for repeal without a replacement plan. Where are you on this, Congressman? The best case scenario your party has put forward would provide health benefits basically to the wealthy and the healthy. Those of us with pre-existing conditions – nearly 30% of the U.S. population – will be out of luck. You say that there are too many constituents who can’t afford the premiums under the ACA. Why won’t you break from your ideological perch and accept that higher taxes on the wealthy and more generous tax subsidies for the middle and working class could help to address this problem? Does ideology eclipse human lives?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(4) Your support for the repeal of the stream protection rule and rule to require energy companies to reduce waste and emissions, along with the GOP’s intention to diminish the authority of – if not completely eliminate (see H.R.861) – the Environmental Protection Agency, can only mean that you intend to stop protecting the American people from proven unhealthy or downright dangerous effects of industrial practices of various kinds. By the way, you can imagine the impact that dirtying our environment will have on public health, only reinforcing the need for a health care solution that is if not the ACA itself, something that provides equivalent or better protection. We’re all going to need it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(5) You have readily acquiesced on the appointment of Cabinet and White House staff members who have exhibited unambiguous racist, bigoted and/or anti-Semitic leanings, including Jeff Sessions and Trump Administration staffers Steve Bannon and Steve Miller. This you have done, in spite of your past voting record against racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism which you shared with us previously. But here’s the thing – the past is meaningless if the present demonstrates actions and positions to the contrary.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(6) Your response to the President’s “Muslim ban,” in which it seemed your only complaint was that the Executive Order “appear[ed] rushed and poorly implemented,” was muted in its condemnation and didn’t address how the order has alienated many of our trusted allies and served ISIS (which has called the order “blessed”) in its recruiting efforts.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(7) Recently, your party’s intention to emasculate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was leaked. In other words, they intend to remove the people’s shield against financial predators so that the latter can reap even greater profit. Again, this benefits the wealthiest Americans and hurts the rest of us.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(8) Your party’s intention to roll back Dodd-Frank can only mean that they intend to give predatory financial institutions permission to prey upon the little guy once again and to gamble with almost everyone else’s hard-earned money. A great many people have still never recovered from the Great Recession of 2008, caused in large part by the removal of regulation.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I urge you and your Republican colleagues to resist the forces of big money and the reckless erosion of our democracy and American values.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sincerely,</i></span></div>
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<i style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Caroline and Andrew Armstrong</span></i></div>
rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-28073409250344266852017-01-16T19:32:00.000-05:002017-01-17T09:55:24.572-05:00REMEMBERING THE DEATH OF DR. KING On the morning of April 5, 1968, the residents of Oak Lane and neighboring communities in North Philadelphia gathered in the schoolyard of the local Ellwood Elementary School with the children and their teachers for an interracial public memorial service, the morning following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. <br />
People were processing a range of emotions, from utter grief to bitter anger. Fearing the possibility of a violent backlash resulting in severe property damage and possible loss of life, local officials had called for this public gathering to diffuse the tension, calm people’s fears, grieve the tragic loss of, and pay tribute to this much admired and beloved civil rights leader.<br />
As the pastor of the one integrated local congregation in what was at the time a highly charged, racially changing the area, I was asked by the organizers of the event to give a brief keynote address. I had had very little time to prepare my remarks, but I did save my highly marked up typewritten manuscript, and to my joy and great surprise I have found the original draft of my brief talk. I thought it might be interesting to some of you to read the reaction of someone who had spoken publicly about the assassination of Dr. King less than 24 hours after it happened, almost 49 years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The power of "we": Martin Luther King, the March on Washington, and the birth of Moral Mondays" src="http://media.salon.com/2016/01/mlk_washington2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The power of "we": Martin Luther King, the March on Washington, and the birth of Moral Mondays" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="caption">Dr. King at the March on Washington, Aug. 28, 1963 <span class="photoCredit">( AP photo)</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Martin Luther King, Jr., is dead – like the late president Kennedy, a victim of an assassin’s bullet. This, too, was a shot heard round the world, a shot that ricocheted into the hearts of decent folks in every land.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The meaning of this tragedy has been and will be expressed by far more eloquent tongues than mine. The shock, the injustice, the terrible cruelty of such an utterly senseless murder has shrouded our nation with a sorrow that is deep and difficult to bear. The capture of the assassin can hardly compensate for the pain and anguish that we feel, nor fill the void that is in the hearts of four grief-stricken children who have lost their father, and a wife who has lost her husband.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The untimely death of this man whose courage, whose wisdom, whose creative ability and dynamic leadership have been an inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere, is a stunning loss to the entire world. His life has been snuffed out at the very peak of its usefulness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Yet already he has been acclaimed for his contributions to humanity. Winner of the esteemed Nobel Peace Prize, he had received the plaudits of those in high places as well as the praise of those of humble estate. Although it is not for us to assess his greatness, I am confident that history will record his name among the moral and spiritual giants of our age.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It will be for you and me, and for our children, to decide whether or not he shall have lived and died in vain. The cause for which he gave his life was the cause of justice and freedom for all people. If we believe in that cause, then we will do all in our power to work for that cause. It is not by flowery words or impressive eulogies that we must show the genuineness of our grief for this champion of justice, but by deeds of virtue and sacrifice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> His was a sacrifice made for all people, not just for one race of humankind. His death is our common loss, by virtue of our common humanity. So let it not be used as an excuse for violence and bloodshed, nor for pillaging and plundering. This would be a denial of everything Dr. King stood for.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> As one who herself has far more reason for bitterness than most of us, Mrs. John F. Kennedy, sharing, I’m sure, the terrible grief of Mrs. King, said this morning, “Let the assassination of Dr. King make room in people’s hearts for love, not for hate.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I pray that men, women, and children of goodwill everywhere will see that Martin Luther King. Jr.’s ideals are not betrayed, that our nation will not be torn asunder by hatred and revenge, and that together we will work for justice and freedom for all humanity, until that day when neither violent nor nonviolent protest will be needed, because America will have become what she was destined to be: one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.</span>rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-82439168569412446932016-10-11T03:34:00.002-04:002016-10-11T03:34:57.359-04:00HAIL TO THE SNIFFER-IN-CHIEF! Donald Trump’s performance in the second presidential debate confirmed the impression of viewers of the first debate that of the two candidates he is the only one who is qualified to step immediately into the role of Sniffer-in-Chief. There is no argument on that point from his opponent, Hillary Clinton.<br />
He is also to be complimented for the fact that his performance exceeded all expectations.<br />
The bar was at floor level.<br />
Then, too, he didn’t glaringly self-destruct this time, as he did in the first debate; ergo, according to Fox News, he won.<br />
Surely his supporters must have been pleased with how skillfully their hero avoided answering every question he was asked, and how clever he was at talking without ever saying anything, a tactic he has developed to perfection. What is even more remarkable, he does it so easily and unconsciously that his supporters are not even aware of it! How much more exciting they find his irrelevant <br />
<a name='more'></a>rambling than Hillary Clinton’s coherent discourse.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trump the Stalker</td></tr>
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How proud they must have been, too, that their tell-it-like-it-is candidate managed to avoid reverting to his usual profane language for almost ninety minutes! And at least some of his less hard core supporters were apparently happy with his non-apologetic apology for the recent video of his sexually explicit and abusive conversation with Billy Bush.<br />
Mr. Trump also proved himself throughout the debate to be a most capable stalker. Every time Hillary approached a questioner in the audience to answer a question, there was the Donald standing right behind her, grimacing, scowling, and looking on disapprovingly. How clever to keep himself in the picture that way! Whenever she stood to speak, there he was hovering over her. I wondered why Hillary never availed herself of the opportunity to jab him in the belly with her elbow —accidentally, of course. I suppose Donald, being such a good judge of character, knew that Hillary wouldn’t do such a thing.<br />
All politicians are inclined to indulge in hyperbole, some much more than others. Donald Trump has exceeded them all in that respect. Indeed, he has blurred the distinction between hyperbole and prevarication. According to the fact checkers, he bested Hillary Clinton in that regard in the first debate and he certainly did so in the second debate. In so doing he fueled the fires of hatred in his hard core supporters, who were overjoyed with Trump’s misrepresentations of his opponent’s long record as a pubic servant and with his ill-founded and outright false attacks on her character. If anyone was worried about the crumbling of his support base, Mr. Trump put that fear to rest Sunday night.<br />
And for these folks the sound bite of the second debate was Trump’s quip to the effect that if he were president, Hillary Clinton would be in jail. The Republican candidate distinguished himself by breaking all rules of decorum with that remark.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
So for all dyed-in-the-wool Trump supporters, there is no doubt that their candidate distinguished himself in the second debate, but the rest of the millions of observers of his performance may well be wondering, as I am, was it more likely that he extinguished himself?<br />
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rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-12466545497241326152016-09-19T17:43:00.000-04:002022-01-05T08:29:06.068-05:00<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6114197703657148721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>FUTURE BLOG POSTS<br />
<br />
✔RSA=s basketball rules (six?)<br />
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The Last Time Ameasuring life by the routine things we do (shaving, showers. Visits, , whatever.<br />
Our last trip to Cooperstown, our last movie, Margie=s last visit to Peggy her long-time manicurist. Usha, her long-time hairdresser. Our last meal together The last time she cut my cut <br />
The amount of time spent doing certain everyday things like shaving and other ablutions. <br />
<br />
The ??? of Grief (evolvement, changing, ?? ) (title) ALingering Grief@ (title?) About how grief is a year later, or sixteen months later, depending upon when I write it.<br />
<br />
Sweetheart of the Nassoons No. 6 and beyond <br />
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More Kudos and Catcalls (MSNBC now showing commercials without the sound - Engineer asleep at the switch? And still cutting some short. Happens frequently) May be happening on other channel, but I haven't noticed it.<br />
<br />
✔Scott Walker for President? Commentators talking about him. Have they forgotten who he is and what he stands for and what kind of governor he was?<br />
<br />
50 Shades of Gray - Not my kind of movie. Not my understanding of sex. Not my understanding of love. What it says about American womanhood and manhood, our culture, our values, our morality, our spirituality (or about the sulture, values, etc. of those who flock to see the movie)<br />
Amaerican voyeurism (wanting to watch other people=s sexual activity). Should be intimate, private, etc. The irony of naming the leading male character AChristian@<br />
<br />
Owen Young (my article for Chicken Soup of the Soul)<br />
<br />
Quotes from books (or short passages)<br />
<br />
Violence (language, music, art, gun advocacy, etc)<br />
<br />
Racism (black and white - I=ve been the target of black racism <br />
<br />
✔The Elephant in the Room: Guns!rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-51603853580183863172016-09-17T02:57:00.001-04:002016-09-19T13:09:47.898-04:00THE EXPLOSIVE POWER OF A PREGNANT PERIOD<br />
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Mr. Trump thought he could put this issue to rest before the first presidential debate. He was wrong! He has only made matters much worse, arousing a firestorm of criticism from the news media. In reversing one lie, which was the cornerstone of his political campaign, he told two more blatant lies. He accused Hillary Clinton of starting the birther movement and he claimed credit for ending it!</div>
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Donald Trump made his big announcement yesterday morning: “President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period!” <br />
That spoken "Period" was important. It meant:<br />
<br />
“I’m not going to say anything more. Period!”<br />
“I’m not going to tell you why I am making this announcement at this time. Period!”<br />
“I’m not going to tell you why I changed my mind. Period!”<br />
“I’m not going to admit I was wrong for claiming that Barack Obama was not born in the USA and hence is not legally qualified to be President. Period!”<br />
“I’m not going to apologize to President Obama for repeating that falsehood for years. Period!”<br />
“I’m not going to apologize to the American people for lying to them about this. Period!" <br />
“I’m not going to apologize to the press for deceiving them into thinking they were coming to a press conference this morning, instead of a marketing event for my new hotel and a political rally at which I would trot out some retired service vets to sing my praises. Period!”<br />
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" 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" style="height: 176px; margin-top: 0px; width: 287px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No apology from Donald Trump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"I've never apologized for anything else I've ever said, so why should I apologize for this? Period!"<br />
Until now Dangerous Donald has been able to get away with his lies and even parlay them into higher poll numbers among the deplorables. The media pundits seldom call him to account for his false attacks against Secretary Clinton. Each new lie, each new false attack against Hillary Clinton eclipses the previous one, and his surrogates fan the flames of hatred. Some commentators are predicting that this, too, shall pass and people will forget about it, the next time he puts his silver foot in his mouth.<br />
I’m not so sure about that. After listening to the outrage expressed by members of the Congressional Black Conference yesterday afternoon over Trump’s politically motivated concession, I seriously doubt that this issue is going away any time soon. They were passionately persuasive in calling for the defeat of Donald Trump and in urging African Americans and all Democrats and Independents to vote for Hillary Clinton in the forthcoming election. “We can’t let this man become President of the United States!” was their loud and clear message.<br />
Will all this have any impact on the polling trends? I think it will, and not in favor of Mr. Trump. He and his see-no-evil surrogates are not going to get away with this one. <br />
His explosive “Period” has backfired big time. Exclamation point!rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-52481442669539516042016-09-12T03:13:00.002-04:002016-09-12T13:11:47.601-04:00DON’T BACK DOWN, HILLARY!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/750300510264107008/G8-PA5KA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for recent pictures of hillary clinton" border="0" class="irc_mi i5t_zOLW16Tg-pQOPx8XEepE" height="320" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/750300510264107008/G8-PA5KA.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No need to apologize, Hillary!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was very gracious of you to apologize for your comment that half of Trump supporters belong in “your basket of deplorables.”<br />
I don’t think you needed to, however. In the first place, you applied that term to only half of them—a generous estimate. It was, moreover, an accurate designation, though you could have used a much stronger word. It is indeed deplorable than ANYONE could support a candidate like Donald Trump.<br />
You were not insulting their occupation, or their educational level, or their status in life, or their political party, as Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, accused you of doing. You were deploring their behavior, their vulgarity, their racism, their sexism, their homophobia, their nasty insults, their obscenities, the dangerous threats they have directed at you at every Trump rally. You have every right to deplore not just the failure of their leader and his surrogates to curb or condemn such behavior, but their actual encouragement of it. I deplore the fact that the other 50% are putting up with it if not condoning it with their enthusiastic applause or their silent acquiescence. How magnanimous of you to let them off the hook!<br />
You have every right to deplore the media’s coverage of your comment. Your opponent lies or says something outlandish every time he speaks. He insults the President of the United States and his entire administration, he insults Congress, he insults our military leaders, he insults Mexicans, Muslims, women, everyone. You make one perfectly justifiable comment, and the Trump campaign twists it to make it sound as if you insulted all Republicans, which you did not. And now some of the pundits are pondering whether it could cost you the election! That’s deplorable! <br />
So don’t back down, Hillary. The context of your remark was perfectly clear, and the commentators should have been applauding you instead of criticizing you. They reveal their own deplorable sexism. You made a distinction that you had every right to make. The behavior of most Trump supporters is deplorable. The obnoxious behavior of many of them is deplorable and the fact that many more of them can’t see through Donald Trump is also deplorable. <br />
And what is especially deplorable to me is the fact that you had to be the one to say something the media should have been pointing all out along. Why do they let Trump and his supporters keep on repeating the same old lies, the same old charges of which you have been exonerated long ago? Why do they let Trump and his spokespersons ignore the findings of the FBI investigation and keep harping on your e-mails? <br />
It’s more than deplorable. It’s despicable!rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-50912771829343239552016-09-10T16:20:00.000-04:002016-09-10T23:31:02.232-04:00THE UGLY AMERICAN<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for trump images" class="rg_ic rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdKuiMStVGzgPm9cOLt6cNEVnR3tyXDJ40CElq2HbEItZ9ELpe" data-sz="f" height="133" name="PbtXUjwXv_ToCM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdKuiMStVGzgPm9cOLt6cNEVnR3tyXDJ40CElq2HbEItZ9ELpe" style="height: 176px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; width: 264px;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sieg Heil!</td></tr>
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No wonder Donald Trump admires Vladimir Putin.<br />
Putin is a dictator, and that's how Trump views himself as President. He speaks and acts as if the United States of America is an autocracy. He speaks only in the first person: "I will fix it. . .” “I will build the wall. . . “I will bomb the (expletive) out of them!". . . "I will do . . . whatever it is." . . . “I . . . I . . . I . . ." He never mentions the Senate or the House of Representatives except to disparage them.<br />
Dangerous Donald has neither the character, nor the competence to hold that office, and he lacks the temperament to be the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces. It is time for the media to start holding him accountable for his outlandish statements and his outrageous lies aboutPresident Obama and Hillary Clinton. They need to challenge him and his surrogates, when they say things that are simply not true, and they are doing it all the time. <br />
Trump even looks like a dictator. When he strides onto a stage, with his jutting chin and haughty air, he reminds me of Benito Mussolini. I keep waiting for his subjects to give him a stiff arm salute. How can they support such an arrogant buffoon, who hasn't the least clue about what it means to be President?<br />
The cable networks also need to stop airing Trump's campaign speeches, when he has nothing substantive to say. He keeps spewing out the same old malarkey, to use Joe Biden's colorful word. With his crude language and abusive manner Donald J. Trump is the supreme example of The Ugly American.<br />
When will his more reasonable supporters, if there are any reasonable ones, wake up to reality? <br />
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rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-79837623358119029932016-09-08T03:19:00.000-04:002016-09-09T00:55:22.806-04:00DANGEROUS DONALD TRUMP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald J. Trump</td></tr>
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The Commander-in-Chief Forum tonight was no contest. Hillary Clinton hit it out of the park. She answered every question thoughtfully, thoroughly, and well. Most of Donald Trump’s answers roamed all over the place. Secretary Clinton was detailed, specific, and to the point. He was superficial and at times even incoherent. By the time Mr. Trump finished some of his answers one could easily have forgotten what the question was. She was articulate, knowledgeable, thorough. Trump revealed his ignorance, and in his case ignorance is not bliss; it is downright dangerous!<br />
Most importantly, Hillary Clinton was presidential. Donald Trump was his pompous, boastful, outrageous self. He praised Vladimir Putin and disparaged Barack Obama, saying that the President had reduced our military leaders to rubble. He most inappropriately accused those who had given him and his team the intelligence briefings of revealing their dissatisfaction with President Obama's policies. He showed he had no awareness whatsoever as to how the promotion system in the military works, acting as if he as President could appoint his own generals and admirals! He criticized our military leaders for not confiscating Iraq's oil fields at the end of the war, an action that would have been a serious breach of international law. Those are just a few of his egregious comments.<br />
Will their respective performances change their favorability polling numbers with the voting public? We'll have to wait a few days to find out. The pro-Trump hard core panelists thought their candidate won the night. Nothing “The Donald” says or does ever dampens their enthusiasm for him, and conversely nothing Hillary Clinton says or does changes their negative opinions of her.<i> </i>I<i> </i>can't help feeling, however, that more undecided voters will be leaning toward Hillary after watching tonight's forum.<br />
<a name='more'></a> It is interesting that those who know Hillary Clinton best, those who have worked closely with her, are those who like and admire her the most, whereas those who know her least are the ones who say they distrust her. Continuous negative campaigning works, and Republican spokespersons are good at it.<br />
With Trump, on the other hand, it is the other way around. Many if not most of his severest critics are those who have worked with or for him. Most of his supporters are either ignorant of or unconcerned about all the sordid details and shady deals of his past. Millions of Americans feel that Trump would be an embarrassment to our nation and a danger to the rest of the world. Other nations cannot understand how such a person could seriously be considered as a candidate for the presidency of the United States.<br />
As I watched Dangerous Donald’s performance tonight, I was wondering how many of the 88 generals and admirals who signed the letter yesterday endorsing him, were regretting their decision to do so after tonight. I know that military personnel are inclined to be conservative, and hence Republican, but how can they of all people believe in a man who is so unprepared, unqualified, and unfit to be the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Services? That concern was eased somewhat when the Clinton campaign responded with an even larger list of generals and admirals who support Hillary!<br />
How can anyone believe Trump knows anything about governing our nation? Every so-called policy speech he gives, such as the one he delivered to the Union League of Philadelphia earlier in the day, is written by his surrogates. He can’t speak substantively about any issue off the cuff. <br />
What a sad commentary on the intelligence not to mention the latent if not blatant bigotry, of those flag-waving Americans who scream their approval at Trump’s campaign rallies, that they could support such an arrogant, totally unprincipled, foul-mouthed, unpredictable, dishonest, bullying braggart for President of the United States.<br />
God help us if he succeeds in his quest! <br />
rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-45036750859883270912016-08-22T01:41:00.001-04:002016-08-23T16:18:27.136-04:00THE "NEW" TRUMP IS THE SAME OLD TRUMP<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ09f5PZcmJnr8GQHJ8nhxS5e6hgNGJeTJ7NOrzTZyOQasmT9hGpA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="irc_mut i_K9pH2YLCSU-HwpH6ZlgJaI" height="150" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ09f5PZcmJnr8GQHJ8nhxS5e6hgNGJeTJ7NOrzTZyOQasmT9hGpA" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same old Trump</td></tr>
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Donald Trump and his surrogates have been using what I call the <a href="http://rsarm.blogspot.com/2012/11/karl-roves-karlrovean-remark.html">Karlrovian tactic</a>: accusing their opponent of all the things of which they themselves are guilty. So we hear Trump calling Secretary Clinton mentally incompetent, a liar, unfit to be president, lacking the demeanor, knowledge, and leadership to be Commander-in-Chief, etc, etc.<br />
How can any reasonable person take anything Trump says seriously? His speech writers are trying to make him sound more "presidential," but does anyone think that Trump can ever stop being Trump? He now presents himself to his overwhelmingly white audiences as deserving of the African American vote, but most black voters are too smart to fall for Trump's platitudes. They see right through his phony claims and promises.<br />
The "new" Trump is still the same old Trump. Lord help us all, if he should ever become P.resident of the United States!<br />
rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-52776741036684030742016-08-05T03:21:00.000-04:002016-08-05T03:31:10.381-04:00HILLARY IS THE TRUTHFUl ONE!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bluenationreview.com/wp-content/authors/peter.daou-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Peter Daou" border="0" class="avatar round photo" height="200" itemprop="image" src="https://bluenationreview.com/wp-content/authors/peter.daou-1.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Daou</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have repeatedly said that Hillary Clinton did not lie about her emails and have given my <a href="http://rsarm.blogspot.com/2016/07/republican-witch-hunt-against-hillary.html">reasons</a> for believing that. How satisfying now to read an article that substantiates the rationality for that conviction.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The article, entitled <a href="http://bluenationreview.com/comey-statement-on-emails-pro"><i>Hillary Clinton Did Not Lie About Her Emails</i></a>, was written by <span itemprop="name"><a class="author-name" href="http://bluenationreview.com/author/peter-daou/" itemprop="url">Peter Daou</a></span>, with help from Melissa McEwan<i>. </i>A participant in two presidential campaigns, Daou was an adviser to Hillary Clinton and to John Kerry. He is the CEO of Blue Nation Review (<a href="http://bluenationreview.com/author/peter-daou/">BNR</a>).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Hillary did not lie. It is her accusers who are being disingenuous. </span><br />
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rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-82241343430478916722016-07-24T01:48:00.002-04:002016-07-25T01:58:17.717-04:00MORE TROUBLE FOR TRUMP<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWGDPwSeYhGylr_IhRMdRvoktenATM6h-8u7JHunBVemi6Rr-5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="irc_mi i5gaZIlvnags-pQOPx8XEepE" height="320" src="https://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWGDPwSeYhGylr_IhRMdRvoktenATM6h-8u7JHunBVemi6Rr-5" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="195" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">If you have not heard Tony Schwartz being interviewed within the last few days, you have missed a major news story. I cannot imagine why there has not been much more attention paid to it. What he has to say about Donald Trump is really scary. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Who is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Schwartz_(author)">Tony Schwartz</a>? He is the man who actually wrote <i>The</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Art of the Deal</i>, the book Donald Trump is constantly boasting about. Schwartz's name appears on the cover as the co-author with Donald Trump, but you need to hear what he has to tell about that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> After remaining silent for thirty years, Schwartz has felt compelled by his conscience to speak out, because he is horrified by the thought of Trump's becoming President of the United States. In the view of Mr. Schwartz, Donald Trump is a "pathologically impulsive and self-centered" sociopath.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> But I'll let you read about it for yourself. My son Andy has sent the following link to all his Facebook friends. Click <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all">here</a> to read Jane Mayer's devastating article in "The New Yorker" magazine. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> That are reports that Mr. Schwartz may be facing a lawsuit from the Trump organization, but he is much less concerned about being sued than he is about the danger of a Donald Trump presidency. After hearing him being interviewed at length on this whole matter, I am convinced that he would have no trouble proving who the real author of <i>The Art of the Deal</i> is!</span> <br />
<br />rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-73694046907581675122016-07-18T02:12:00.000-04:002016-07-18T02:12:53.212-04:00THE REAL HILLARY <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Hillary_Clinton_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="irc_mi isEduS4fETzk-pQOPx8XEepE" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Hillary_Clinton_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillary Rodham Clinton</td></tr>
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Why do so many people dislike and distrust Hillary Clinton, while others admire her immensely? <br />
In case you have not yet seen it, here is the most thorough answer to that question I have yet read. This article by award-winning on-line columnist and Editor-in-Chief of Vox, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Klein">Ezra Klein</a>, is one that serious voters should read, regardless of their present feelings about Mrs. Clinton, and irrespective of their current inclinations concerning the forthcoming presidential election.<br />
The author tries to understand what he calls “the gap” between Hillary’s admirers and her detractors. It is a lengthy article but well worth the reading. When you have finished it, I think you will want to pass it along to your friends. I am indebted to my son Woody for sending it to me. <br />
Mr. Klein appears often on television and I have always enjoyed his political analysis. After reading this recent article, I am even more impressed. <br />
To access the link, click here: <a href="http://www.vox.com/a/hillary-clinton-interview/the-gap-listener-leadership-quality"><i>Understanding Hillary</i></a>. rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-60528981583679781222016-07-09T16:54:00.001-04:002016-07-09T23:39:53.161-04:00REPUBLICAN WITCH HUNT AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON CONTINUES<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/news_blog/image/director-comey-testifies-before-congressional-oversight-committee" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="irc_mi i__hxaVNILiw-pQOPx8XEepE" height="234" src="https://www.fbi.gov/news/news_blog/image/director-comey-testifies-before-congressional-oversight-committee" style="margin-top: 14px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FBI Director James Comey testifies before the COC</td></tr>
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The Republicans are not giving up their witch hunt against Hillary Clinton.<br />
They were enraged that FBI Director James Comey, after his department’s exhaustive investigation and despite his criticism of Secretary Clinton’s and her associates’ handling of their email, did not find that any charges of criminal activity were in order. Their mistakes were “extremely careless” but unintentional.<br />
That was not good enough for the Congressional Republicans, who were hoping for if not expecting a different outcome. So they immediately turned their attack against Mr. Comey, a highly esteemed public servant with impeccable credentials. The hastily called hearing before the Republican controlled Congressional Oversight Committee backfired big time. Not only did the FBI Director refute their insinuations and outright charges that Hillary Clinton was being treated more leniently than anyone else would have been, he said in effect that to indict her would be to treat her more harshly than anyone else and totally unprecedented. <br />
Mr. Comey stated that Secretary Clinton had never lied to the FBI, nor did she intentionally do anything to jeopardize the security of the United States. Those who have followed the email story know that she admitted that setting up a private server for her convenience was a mistake for which she was sorry, even though she never thought it was improper at the time. <br />
Despite the FBI’s report, Mrs. Clinton continues to insist that she did not send or receive classified information while she was Secretary of State. How, then, do we reconcile that repeated statement with the findings of the FBI investigation? One possibility is that there could have been <br />
<a name='more'></a>human error on the part of one or more of the many agents involved in reviewing the thousands of emails turned over to them by Secretary Clinton. Indeed, subsequent to the Hearing the FBI has already admitted that three of the emails were mistakenly marked classified. How many more might there have been? Mrs. Clinton did not suggest such a possibility. Rather she praised the FBI for their hard work and professionalism. <br />
A more plausible explanation is that if there were a small number (110) of classified emails buried among the thousands of e-mails she received and sent, Secretary Clinton and her associates simply did not see them or realize they were classified. The classification was apparently not ostentatiously flagged. Mr. Comey committed that they could have missed the small “c” buried in some of the messages. <br />
There is one more logical, and for me most compelling, reason for believing that Hillary Clinton has been telling the truth all along: there is simply no reason for her to lie! As a former attorney, she is too smart to think she could lie to the FBI! On the contrary, she has been praised for being very forthcoming and cooperative. The FBI believes she is telling the truth; why shouldn’t Congress?<br />
Another important distinction must be made, one that is consistently overlooked in political discourse. It is that there is a difference between lying and being mistaken. One may be mistakenly convinced one is entirely correct about something.. That is not lying. Apparently Hillary Clinton honestly believed she neither received nor sent classified emails on her private servers while she was Secretary of State. If the FBI’s findings are correct, she was wrong, but she wasn’t lying. It is possible, moreover, that she could even be right about that, by some rationale we have not yet heard.<br />
Whether she and her associates deserved the harsh criticism they received from Mr. Comey about the handling of their emails is itself somewhat questionable. His critical assessments were, after all, opinions, not objectively measurable facts. In view of the political implications of the decision reached by his department to clear them of any criminal wrongdoing he may have felt it necessary to express himself as he did. He was well aware of how the Republicans would respond to that decision.<br />
In any case, Hillary Clinton has been cleared of having committed any criminal offense —for the time being. Not content with the findings of the FBI and the subsequent confirmation of their investigation by United States District Attorney Loretta Lynch, the Congressional Oversight Committee has already launched a new attack against Hillary Clinton, claiming that she lied about her emails during her testimony before Congress. They simply won’t give up their witch hunt.<br />
In view of their own unconscionable failure to act on gun control, or immigration reform, or campaign finance reform, or our crumbling infrastructure, or any other of the many pressing problems facing our nation, the Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. What hypocrisy! Their inaction is so much more shameful, so much more harmful to our nation’s security and welfare, than Hillary’s Clinton’s use of a private email server.<br />
And what a waste of time and tax payers’ money is their interminable and blatantly political witch hunt against the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate! Given their failure to act in the best interests of the victims of gun violence, and of our criminal justice system, and of our immigration policy, and of our crumbling infrastructure, they are the ones who ought to be on trial! <br />
And they will be, come November 8! rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-33151849529129384662016-06-24T00:56:00.001-04:002016-06-27T02:04:35.053-04:00 TRUMP IS STILL TRUMP<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Very Spotty Leopard Indeed</td></tr>
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Call it wishful thinking, call it blind loyalty, call it naivety, call it sheer stupidity, call it what you will, for anyone seriously to think that Donald Trump’s speech on Tuesday represented any kind of instant metamorphosis in the Republican nominee is utterly ridiculous.<br />
It was ludicrous to hear Joe Scarborough on his program the next morning hail the speech as a turning point for a candidate whose arrogance, vulgarity, and superficiality have been disgustingly evident from the very start of his campaign.<br />
Trump was reading from Teleprompters a speech most of which others had written for him, quoting from the usual discredited sources. He was less awkward using the Teleprompters this time, and it will be interesting to see if he uses them more often in the future. Maybe, but I have a feeling we haven’t seen the end of the real Donald Trump, who will have a hard time keeping on script. <br />
Of course the Republicans were delighted to hear their nominee launch his barrage of lies about Secretary Clinton. They have been applauding their candidate’s more “presidential” persona and predicting that this new line of attack will generate the kind of financial support he needs to compete in the general election.<br />
But the fact remains that a leopard can’t change its spots (see <a href="http://rsarm.blogspot.com/2016/05/can-leopard-change-its-spots.html"><i>Can a Leopard Change Its Spots?</i></a>leopard), and Donald Trump is still Donald Trump, a very spotty leopard indeed.<br />
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<br />rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-8421356680960567892016-06-23T02:39:00.003-04:002016-06-23T11:51:42.478-04:00SHAME ON YOU, REPUBLICANS!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The historic sit-in
of the Democrats that is continuing in the House of Representatives as this
article is being written is a powerful reminder of where the blame should be
placed for the failure of Congress to deal with gun violence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the
current campaign, political commentators and the public in general have been
speaking derogatorily but erroneously of the ineptitude of our <span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";">A</span></span>do-nothing<span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";">@</span></span>
Congress. It has been not Congress but the <i>Republicans</i> in Congress who
are to blame for the Federal Government<span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";">=</span></span>s
failure to deal with gun violence, immigration reform, our crumbling
infrastructure, and other pressing problems. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
outrageous that Speaker Paul Ryan has refused to allow a reasonable gun
legislation bill with recommendations approved by more than 90% of Americans to
be put to a vote in the House.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the wake
of the worst mass shooting in our nation<span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";">=</span></span>s
history, for any elected official to refuse to act immediately on desperately
needed measures to reduce gun violence is inexcusable. Shame on you,
Republicans! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the
ones to blame for the problems we are facing in America. How clever of you, and
how dishonest of you, to try to pass the blame to President Obama, or the
Democrats, or anyone else. You have blocked every progressive piece of
legislation that has come before you, refused to cooperate with your
counterparts across the aisle, and criticized the President for taking
executive actions within his authority to deal with the problems you refused to
address.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Democrats
who are protesting your obstinate and I must say cowardly refusal to deal with
gun violence are putting you to shame. How can you live with yourselves?</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again I say, shame on you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PS <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">And with respect to gun legislation, shame on you few Democrats, too, who for fear of your pro-gun constituents have <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">sided with the Republicans on this issue.</span> </span> </span>rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-17849119663470167532016-06-16T23:25:00.000-04:002016-06-17T02:05:38.779-04:00STILL FANNING THE FLAME<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjuWjEpTE584Xxy32hjkQTtCy7yfm-YwppKSurBowhS1McZznBARXWxefOzWohhF7P0VbVUHJggGtM3Q1YG6W3M2_J9GLRAH8Me47C8zCoq8pDluy82x10x7wKTH5RY5kD0c6OEcLbmxuSYWEbUxef6TU83ybVknn4KTPFcEBu-_nFPJ6B6niNDkBfIJz4xkrVxEaisV0OL=w346-h194-p" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="ar Mc" itemprop="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjuWjEpTE584Xxy32hjkQTtCy7yfm-YwppKSurBowhS1McZznBARXWxefOzWohhF7P0VbVUHJggGtM3Q1YG6W3M2_J9GLRAH8Me47C8zCoq8pDluy82x10x7wKTH5RY5kD0c6OEcLbmxuSYWEbUxef6TU83ybVknn4KTPFcEBu-_nFPJ6B6niNDkBfIJz4xkrVxEaisV0OL=w346-h194-p" style="max-height: 194px; max-width: 346px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bernie is still fanning the flame.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In his live stream message to his followers tonight Bernie Sanders gave them no reason to want to support Hillary Clinton.<br />
If the interviews afterward with some of those who had gathered in groups to listen to the telecast are any indication of how his constituents are feeling, it is obvious that they are still enthusiastic about keeping "the revolution" alive, while some may be naively nourishing a vain hope that Senator Sanders can still somehow pull off a win at the Democratic National Convention.<br />
Regardless of whatever realistic acceptance they may be secretly harboring of the fact that their candidate was soundly defeated in the primaries, they exhibited no enthusiasm whatsoever for getting behind Secretary Clinton. Maybe it is too early to expect that of those who are still "feeling the Bern," especially when their leader is still fanning the flame. <br />
But it is not too early for Senators Sanders to change his rhetoric. His message tonight was just another campaign speech, a kind of composite of all his other speeches. We've heard it all before. Except for two or three brief reference to his recent meeting with Secretary Clinton, with whom he had to point out that he still has strong differences, and the need to defeat Donald Trump, there was nothing in his message to persuade his followers to think differently about his former Democratic opponent, of whom he had been so consistently critical.<br />
If the Senator from Vermont really does want to see Donald Trump defeated, he needs to change his tune. I was hoping it would happen tonight.<br />
It didn't.<br />
<br />rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-29635085679049225152016-06-11T02:05:00.001-04:002016-06-11T02:05:34.571-04:00MY MOST MEMORABLE MUHAMMED ALI MOMENT Muhammed Ali was buried yesterday in Louisville, Kentucky.<img alt="" class="irc_mi iKzmtNzuB3yM-pQOPx8XEepE" height="339" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/80wMMFAcweQ/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-top: 27px;" width="602" /><br />
The world has been remembering his remarkable life and mourning his death. Everyone who ever met him has a special story to tell. I never met Ali or even saw him in person, but I followed his amazing career, watched many of his fights on television, laughed at his antics, had mixed emotions about his changing his name and switching religions, was impressed by his sense of justice and principled stand against the Vietnam War, and admired his many contributions to humanitarian causes.<br />
But for me the most memorable moment of Ali's storied career was not the famous "rumble in the jungle" and his stunning knockout of George Foreman, nor any of his other victories in the ring, nor any of his quotable rhymes or defiant statements. For me it was his lighting of the Olympic flame at the start of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. <br />
His participation in the ceremony had been a carefully guarded secret, and when he appeared on the elevated stand where the light was to take place, visible to all on the huge screens, held high the torch in his trembling hands, and then lit the Olympic flame, as his entire body was shaking from his advanced Parkinson's disease, the roar of approval from the momentarily stunned spectators was deafening. I suspect that among the millions around the world who were watching the event on television, many were struggling hard to hold back the tears.<br />
I was one of them. rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114197703657148721.post-71685449978422611292016-06-06T18:48:00.002-04:002016-06-07T02:48:01.070-04:00HOW ABOUT IT, BERNIE!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.wbur.org/wordpress/1/files/2015/07/0710_sanders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="irc_mi i6ktBA7meYwI-pQOPx8XEepE" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.wbur.org/wordpress/1/files/2015/07/0710_sanders.jpg" height="220" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senator Bernie Sanders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I know you are a sincere, totally committed, genuinely concerned public servant. You have a passionate sense of justice, and you care deeply about the glaring inequalities to which you have called our nation’s attention. You have been an articulate champion and an electrifying spokesperson for the causes you believe in, and have tapped into the critical idealism and the dissatisfaction with the status quo of many Americans, including especially the younger generation. <br />
But it’s time for you to face the facts. If you really mean what you say about preventing Donald Trump from becoming the next President of the United States, why do you continue to attack the person who will be opposing him in the general election?<br />
Of course, you think that person should be you, not Hillary Clinton, notwithstanding the fact that she is leading you in pledged delegates, in total delegates (including super delegates), and in the popular vote count by some three million votes! That figure doesn’t include Secretary Clinton’s primary wins in Nebraska and more recently in Washington, a fact which you and your supporters conveniently overlook, when you boast about your big wins in those two states.<br />
Only 26,299 votes were cast in the Washington caucus, which you won by an impressive 72.7%, representing 12,019 voters. Compare that with the more than 660,000 voters who participated in the Washington Democratic primary, in which Hillary bested you by six percentage points and some 40,000 votes! Fortunately for you, the delegates had already been awarded, but you lost your bragging rights for that state, the majority of whose voters actually favor Mrs. Clinton over you! <br />
The same thing is true about Nebraska. You won the caucus by 14.2%; Mrs. Clinton won the primary, representing far more voters, by 19%! Again, fortunately for you, the delegates had already been awarded in the caucus, Maybe you shouldn’t complain so much about the “rigged system”! <br />
You keep pointing out that some polls are showing you with a bigger favorability lead than Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. That’s your main argument for thinking her super-delegates should switch over to you. Given her strong lead among voters and pledged delegates, plus the fact that you have not yet been subjected to the kinds of attacks she has had to endure from Republicans as well as from you and your surrogates, or the kind of scrutiny she has received from the media, such a transfer of loyalty would be totally unreasonable and unfair. With all due respect for your desire to be President, you haven’t yet been through the vetting mill, and for all the enthusiasm of your young supporters, you haven’t earned the right to represent the Democratic Party, of which you have been so critical.<br />
So, how about it, Senator Sanders, why not do the right thing for the country and for your adopted party, and throw your support wholeheartedly behind the person who has actually won the right to be the standard bearer of the Democratic Party and who many people feel is far more qualified for the office of the presidency than any other candidate from either party —maybe ever!<br />
<br />
[PS to my readers: For one of many lists of Hillary Clinton's qualifications click <a href="http://www.wbur.org/2015/03/19/hillary-clinton-presidential-qualifications">here </a>and of her accomplishments click <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/9/17/1422403/-Hillary-Clinton-s-Record-of-Accomplishments">here</a>.]<br />
rsarmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195992654406209765noreply@blogger.com0