General Discussion

I've been around for over seven decades. I've done some things I'm not very proud of, but far more that I am proud of.
One of them is being at the forefront against tyranny. I believe that once Civics was taken out of the classroom, the country began to fail. There are other reasons for failure as well, all of them correctable, ignorance, laziness, fear, greed (not just of the wealthy), and others. Ignorance is by far the most straightforward of all. Ignorance is, far too often, self-imposed. When an individual looks squarely in the face of falsehoods and still accepts them as truths, the outcome is nothing but a lowering of standards and a failure in integrity, and dignity.

If we look at human life in general, we all wish to survive and be happy. Happiness is not in what we acquire in goods, it is what we acquire in wisdom, friendships, family. More often than not, I've quelled arguments with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll (always my treat). People find it hard to argue during even a simple meal (Thanksgiving is an exception, then again, it is hardly a simple meal).

I've lived through the assassination of a president, it was the only day I can recall that NYC fell silent. I didn't even hear the bus pull up, nor drop my younger brother and me off a block from our home. That day was the only time, in my entire life I saw tears in my father's eyes.

A man of peace was gunned down trying to lift others up, we share the same birthday, although not the same year, Jan 15. I saw a glimmer of hope gunned down in an LA kitchen.

When far younger, I went to a war of no consequence other than to see my fellow man fall for no purpose other than enriching those who did not have to fight. We thought Nixon's "Secret Plan" would get us out of there, the secret was so tight, even he didn't know it. I held the bullet-torn head of a soldier who got out three last words, "Mom, mom, mom", and I answered, "I'm here" as his eyes glazed over. I know rage, and I know peace. I know chaos, and I know order.

I know love, and still think of my first girlfriend. I know how to protect. I know how to learn, I know how to lead by example, and never surrender to fear or ignorance. I will fight the fight against tyranny. I will stand up to ignorance and protect those I love. In this, I've already lost a few acquaintances, but friends and family are a little different. Family is not chosen, there will always be differences, but through it all, family sticks it out. Friends, any of us can be considered lucky if we claim three true friends. A friend will be there with you, no matter what the course may be, they are an extension of family, often more reliable than family. I have a son and a grandson, today, I live for them.

This cloud coming signals a storm. Like all storms, it will pass, but I dread the cleanup. It will be long and costly. The deep division will remain, quelled for a bit, but like the underbelly of the nation, it will rise from time to time as it does in every society. I will not tolerate the hate-mongers, nor the fear-mongers, and will never tolerate ignorance as justification for a failed man who takes the highest office in the land.

For all that may happen, we here at DU, more than virtually anywhere else, understand what we must do to resist the nature of the lowest level humanity can reach. It will make the cleanup easier for all.

Stay safe, and RESIST.