Letter to the Leftists

Dear Leftists, Communists, Marxists, Terrorists, and Anarchists who are currently roiling American life and culture:

Why don't all of you sit down for about five minutes and take a deep breath? More importantly, why don't you just shut up for a few minutes? All of you could benefit from listening, for a change.

You seem to have so many grievances against the United States. Well, it's still supposedly a free country. If life is so unbearable here, why don't you try leaving and going to a different country? Just a thought.

To the "university" protestors--how many of you are professional agitators? How many are faculty? You know, I'm from the 1960s. I understand protests. I even participated in a few in 1970. My issue was the vote; 18-year-olds were being shipped off to Vietnam, but the voting age was twenty-one. Not fair. I carried a candle, sang "We Shall Overcome," and marched down the center of the street with my classmates. We didn't break anything, throw trash everywhere, trespass on private property, scream hateful slogans at bystanders, threaten minority groups, invoke the destruction of the nation, make demands, or wave terrorist flags.

As at colleges across the nation in that era, we walked and sang, then we went back to our dorms and did our homework. Then, in 1971, the 26th Amendment was passed giving the vote to 18-year-olds. Go figure.

"From the river to the sea!" Do you even know which river and which sea you are screeching about? Do you care? It's doubtful. You are apparently focused on societal destruction, not specific problems.

A religious Catholic sports figure gave a talk at a private Catholic college commencement ceremony, endorsing traditional family values that have been proven positive for thousands of years. He is now under scathing attack from multiple left-wing sources, including nuns (yes, nuns can be lefties), and is facing petitions and calls for his firing. And you are supposedly the "tolerant" group? Give me a break. You cannot stand the thought of any challenge to your radical ideology. Your overreaction proves the flimsiness of your convictions. If you were secure in your philosophy, a commencement speaker with different beliefs would be just one more opinion in the national mix.

But you can't allow that, can you? You can't take the chance that there is solid validity to his views. Anyone recognizing a grain of truth in his remarks would threaten your cultural power. He's got to be taken down. This once again demonstrates your weakness.

A former US president is facing multiple indictments at the behest of our current president. We are told that, if elected, this former president will be "a dictator" and "a threat to our democracy." Please be reminded that our 45th president has already spent four years as our chief executive. During that term, he did not direct his Department of Justice to indict any of his political opponents; he followed federal law at our borders; he respected the Supreme Court decisions; he eased regulations on business; he kept the peace on the world stage.

News flash--we are living under a dictatorship right now. The current president dismisses the authority of the Judicial and Legislative branches of our three co-equal branches of constitutional government. Supreme Court decisions limiting the president's power on "forgiving" (read "transferring to taxpayers") student loans are ignored; the current president does what he pleases. By his inaction, he endorses the destruction of our national borders, in violation of both federal law and his presidential Oath of Office. Citizens exercising free speech he finds distasteful are arrested in their homes, usually at dawn and in front of their families, and dragged off in handcuffs. Josef Stalin would approve! The president micromanages the average citizen by dictating what cars we should drive and which cooking appliances we should use. He does all this damage to our liberties, and much more, with impunity. Welcome to authoritarian America.

So, to all the Lefties and fellow travelers who hate the United States and would rejoice in its downfall, ask yourselves--which other country would give you this much freedom to spew hatred toward our government and our traditional way of life? You know the answer. That's why you're here.

Sit down, shut up, and try to learn.

Signed,

A Loyal American Citizen

Attempted SAVE

There's a movement in Congress to pass legislation that would protect the right of US citizens to vote in a federal election. Aptly named the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility), it would require proof of citizenship to vote.

Regardless of the fact that it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote, the sudden appearance of the SAVE Act raises an unavoidable question: What took you so long, Congress?

With uncounted masses of illegal aliens invading the United States freely and continuously for the past three-plus years, wouldn't a thinking American voter wonder why our "representatives" in Washington DC lagged for such a length of time before starting to address this lawless and dangerous national crisis?

Thinking American voters know better than to expect much from our "leaders" these days. Go ahead, guys, give it a go. But probably most of us citizens are not optimistic about the election being SAVEd.

St. Joseph the Worker

It's been a while since I gave a shout-out to my favorite saint, Joseph of the Holy Family. Today, May 1, is one of his feast days; the other is celebrated on March 19. While May 1 is a recent addition, the March 19 feast day dates to the 10th century.

Two dedicated feast days in the Catholic calendar is a rare honor afforded to only four saints. Besides St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter, and St. Paul are the only others so lauded. Unlike those three saints, St. Joseph has no spoken words recorded in the New Testament. Two feast days for such a humble soul may seem striking. But considering the fact that Joseph accepted the divine, lifelong charge of protecting, supporting, and caring for Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother, two feast days hardly seems sufficient.

St. Joseph died at an unknown time before Good Friday. There is a theory I've heard and read that God permitted his death before Christ's suffering because Joseph would not have been able to stop himself from trying to protect Jesus. It's interesting to imagine how differently the story of the Lord's Passion might have unfolded if St. Joseph had been alive. There would have been a few unexpected twists, I'm willing to wager.

But Good Friday had to happen as it did, so God made sure Joseph was safely home before then. After working so hard his whole life, both in physical labor and under such awesome responsibility, St. Joseph had definitely earned his rest.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Indecent Indifference

Until this month, it had been more than 30 years since a Syracuse police officer was killed in the line of duty.

Ten days ago, on April 14, two of the city's officers were killed: Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga Sheriff Lt. Michael Hoosock.

As one might imagine, the law enforcement community has been grappling with shock and grief. The officer funerals were held in the past few days; Officer Jensen's was on Saturday, and Lt. Hoosock's was on Monday--two days ago.

Joe Biden is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Syracuse on Thursday--tomorrow. Due to the enormous burden a presidential visit places on local law enforcement, the Syracuse police chief and the mayor expressed their concern to the White House about managing this event in the midst of such stress upon their officers. They did not request a postponement, yet it's painfully obvious that basic decency demands one should be offered.

But we're talking about Joe Biden. He's the cold-blooded candidate who recently held a campaign fundraiser in New York City and ignored another murdered officer, Jonathan Diller, who was being mourned the same day in a New York suburb. It would have been an easy limo ride away, especially for a president. After all, there was a former president who made a special trip to pay his respects to Diller. But not Biden. His show must go on. Especially, it appears, if it includes murdered officers.

If you think Biden might delay his hurrah speech in Syracuse for a couple more days, just to be respectful to law enforcement officers, you'd be wrong. He's coming to Syracuse tomorrow as scheduled. The cops will just have to cope.

There are many things I could say about the current occupant of the White House. Most of them I wouldn't want to appear on my pages. But there's one thing I will say with certainty--Joe Biden is not a nice man.

Sadly Symbolic

Today's devastating fire at the Copenhagen Old Stock Exchange is, similar to the destruction at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, in 2019, symbolic of the deterioration, dismantling, and outright destruction of Western civilization. 

Do you recognize our country? I, for one, do not. In the past few years, it has become a hostile, alien place filled with danger and uncertainty. There is no reliable system of justice. Crime is rampant and without consequence. The economy has been crushed by inflation, with prices rising at every turn. The middle class is ever shrinking, leaving us with a feudal-like system of the mega-rich in their safe enclaves surrounded by always increasing impoverished masses. The southern border is non-existent, and the unknown throngs of foreign entries is reminiscent of barbarians overwhelming the Roman Empire.

To add to the mounting national dismay, young children are encouraged to explore and affirm a different "gender," with parents rendered largely powerless to protect them. Those same parents are subject to unfettered surveillance by Federal agencies if they speak out for their children at school board meetings, pray outside an abortion clinic, or attend a government-disapproved church. 

And, for the first time in US history, we have a major political candidate, a former president seeking a second term, prosecuted as a criminal under feeble and frivolous charges. Since when is a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) considered "hush money"? In my career I've drafted, typed, processed, notarized, mailed, and maintained files on hundreds of NDAs. Not one of them was ever referred to as "hush money." But that buzz term certainly makes for juicy headlines in a jaded media.

In short, we're losing our society. We are losing it through our inaction and unwillingness to face the hard reality of the threats within. We're losing principles of freedom that go back to the Magna Carta and that are enshrined in our country's founding documents. Western civilization may already be beyond rescue, and we just don't realize it yet. Perhaps the fiery end to Denmark's iconic four-centuries-old building is just one more symbol of the implacable march to our demise.

 

Copenhagen Old Stock Exchange Building

Allowing Stages

“Play is the work of the child.”

 ~ Maria Montessori

When I was about four years old, I became fascinated with large trucks and similar heavy equipment vehicles. I asked for a “dump truck” for Christmas. My parents were not worried, horrified, or intimidated by this traditionally unfeminine interest. They made sure that Santa came through for me.

I can still see the three gifts waiting for me that Christmas morning. They were all Tonka trucks, a time-honored quality brand for sturdy toys. The boxes were big and heavy for a little tyke, but I wrestled them open. I received the yearned-for dump truck; it had a yellow cab and a green bed, with a working mechanism that lifted the bed, tilted it backwards, and opened the hatch. The next box contained a bright red tractor with a steering wheel that moved the huge tires. The last box held a teal green steam shovel that swiveled left and right. It had a yellow “scoop” operated by a little switch that could move it up and down, back and forth. Oh, joy; I was in make-believe heavy construction heaven.

I remember playing with these toys for at least a year, probably closer to two years. They transported stuffed animals, checkers, ping pong balls, cookies, unshelled walnuts, and innumerable other compact items that fit into their functional parts. Eventually my well-used trucks transitioned to my younger siblings, and I moved on to play with Easy-bake ovens and Barbie dolls. But it took a long while. The point is, I never felt like a boy when I was playing with my Tonka toys. My preoccupation with trucks was what my mother accurately termed, “a stage she’s going through.”

Can you imagine if I were a four-year-old girl today expressing such interest in dump trucks and similar construction vehicles? Probably already I'd be on hormone blockers and waitlisted for my penile implant. Children aren’t allowed to go through stages these days. At the first sign of any unusual behavior, they are immediately analyzed, diagnosed, and drugged. This is a mental sickness on the adults’ part, including—perhaps especially—the physicians and therapists. The overhyped gender hysteria is warped, it’s wrong, and it’s most often irreparably damaging to the child.

If a boy wants to play with dolls, or if a girl wants to play with trucks, let them play. Childhood is brief enough, and it moves with lightning speed. There is plenty of time ahead to sort out gender identities. And, as my experience shows, given enough time such things sort themselves out. If, indeed, such sorting is even necessary—which it usually is not.

 

Small Comfort

At Officer Jonathan Diller's funeral today, the New York City police commissioner promoted him to Detective.

I've seen this done before for officers slain in the line of duty. It is a kind gesture, an honor well deserved by the murdered officer, but honestly--does it help all that much?

Stephanie Diller, the young widow left to raise a one-year-old baby alone, is bereft of her husband. His infant son will know his father only by photos, stories, and a shiny new detective's badge that bears his own birthdate. This baby boy will never benefit from his father's loving presence as he grows up. 

There is plenty of blame to go around at every level of New York leadership for this tragic circumstance, but I'll leave it at that. Rest in peace, Officer Diller. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Posthumous Detective badge for Officer Jonathan Diller

The Happiness Problem

California is widely noted for, among many other things of dubious worth, ridiculous government.

However, the Golden State may have outdone its own outlandishness. The California Assembly has created a new committee to explore ways to make people happy. Yes, I'll wait while you read that again. The Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes wants Californians to be "happy."

This news makes me very sad. I can't think of anything I want the government to be less involved in than my happiness.

After increasing our taxes, blowing up our dams, wasting billions of tax dollars on the infamous "Train to Nowhere," destroying our iconic cities with no-consequences crime, rampant homelessness and uncontrolled illegal immigration, the pin-headed politicians are wondering why we're not turning cartwheels in our pothole-ridden streets.

You want us to be happy? Stop using our tax money to formulate nonsense committees. Give us the freedom to buy a gas stove if we want one. Lower the gasoline taxes and the electricity rates, both highest in the nation. Stop trying to force EVs and "smart" thermostats on us. Don't take photos of our trash to be sure we're not mixing the cardboard in with the carrot scrapings. 

I could go on, but it would just make me miserable. 

"Government's role is to provide for its people," one sanctimonious lobbyist intoned. No, actually, we can provide for ourselves just fine, thanks. Government's role is to keep the community infrastructure humming, which for decades has been a complete failure in California.

Another part of government's role is to stay out of our business. Nothing would make us happier.

Be happy or you'll pay an Unhappiness Tax

"Three Ringing Cheers"

Raise a glass today.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Kelly The Boy From Killane (youtube.com)

Health and Circumstances

I've had a great run with good health for more than 70 years. Aside from minor toe repairs (years ago, due to my running days), hip replacement surgery last week was my first major encounter with the operating room. It was quite the experience.

The doctors, nurses, and entire medical teams all get high marks. But the changes in our healthcare system I've noticed leading up to this "procedure" are dramatic and significant from two or three decades ago. Covid played its part in burning out medical staff from their jobs, and the Boomer generation statistics represent not only patients but also retiring nurses, physicians, and medical technicians. The health care industry is now so fraught with stresses and pressures that young people aren't drawn to enter it in the numbers they once did.

Today our once-stellar healthcare system is, quite frankly, a sorry shadow of its former self.

When my husband survived cancer in the 1990s with several ancillary conditions, he had probably half a dozen doctors in various specialties. If he had an ache, pain, or symptom of one sort or another, he'd mention to me, "I'm going to call Dr. A. on Monday and set up an appointment." I'd come home from work Monday evening and ask when his appointment was scheduled. Some variation of "Thursday at 2:00" or "Friday at 10:00" was the reliable response. He was always in, out, and treated within a few days. And he was seen by a physician.

Try to schedule that appointment today. "We have one opening on July 9" is the more likely response. And most likely, come July 9, you'll be examined by a physician assistant (PA), not a doctor. No disrespect towards PAs--most of them I've seen are excellent--but I think my monthly insurance premium is paying for doctors. Just saying.

The night before my surgery I received both an email and a phone call from the hospital's billing office. They wanted me to pay my "estimate" for the operation in advance. Excuse me, but nothing's happened yet. Do you pay the gardener before he mows the grass? No thank you. I'll wait for an itemized final bill--on paper please, sent via USPS.

It took nearly one year (May 2023) to get from my family doctor recommending a consultation with an orthopedic doctor to meeting with the surgeon (November 2023) to scheduling the surgery (January 2024). It was originally scheduled for April, but I got a phone call in mid-February saying that there was a cancellation in March and asking was I interested. Well, is the pope a communist? Since I could barely walk at that point, of course I was interested.

Now it's behind me, and all that remains is the physical therapy (PT). I've already started that, and the home health care organization is wonderful. They are skilled and responsive, which is especially impressive considering they are picking up the slack left by three other home health care companies in my city that had to close due to newly imposed Medicare and other government rules. I now have practical knowledge of just how bad things turn when government gets involved in our medical care. The government could make a hot mess out of buttering toast. 

So, if you need any kind of medical attention for any sort of condition, don't hesitate to start the long process towards treatment. Call your doctor's office today (if you can reach them). And I wish you good luck getting in to be seen before July 9.