Feeling so Low….

I have been feeling so low about our future state of affairs here in our "Unreal Reality" show about to begin.

I have never in all of my years on this earth felt as strongly or frightened and angry at what transpired from this 2016 election. The seeds were definitely planted, first by Mitch Mc Connell, when Obama was elected, then the Birther Movement by President-Elect, Trump, leading into the appearance of, I am embarrassed to say, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is hard to believe that the election of our first African-American President brought out the very worst in people, including our very own "Jewish Leader" in Israel. It all sounds crazy, but this is really how I see it. Racism and Anti-Semitism, as far as I can see, are the same!! When you lose your values and hate takes over, you believe anything. It is a real pity that Jews are a part of this charade. When high profile people in our very own community praise the likes of Steve Bannon, a known advocate for white supremacy, I know our immediate future is fading into the sunset. Being an optimist, I still feel that people reach their Peter Principle* ...let's hope that Trump and his many supporters do just that before we have irreparable damage to our perfect, not so perfect society that took over 100 years to accomplish!  

However, I feel that fuel was added to their fire by the Abstention decision at the UN. It really was not necessary to evoke more of the same feelings and certainly not a political victory for the Democratic Party at this moment in time. Being right does not translate well these days. Besides, no one can actually say that the route to a two-state decision can come from removing the settlements. Until the Palestinians and the world recognize Israel as a Jewish State it will never happen. This, I must say, is very complicated, and to be “right” was not the answer. As far as I am concerned, it just gave my Republican friends the path to saying, "I told you so"....!!

* The principle that members of a hierarchy are promoted until they reach the level at which they are no longer competent

A friend sent the link below to me and it inspired my need to write once again…an important article written by a professor at Hebrew University…read it and pass it along.

http://bit.ly/2iUihxz 

Kudos to Barbra Streisand!

Last night in Ft Lauderdale, I was lucky enough to see Barbra Streisand entertain a full house once again. The last time I saw her there was in 2006, where politics became a talk issue and a substantial amount of booing took place. Well…this time, she immediately brought it up by referring to the unusual things that were happening today and immediately said she would stay away from our political arena.

Her performance was fabulous, proving that a 74 year old singing icon could still deliver, not all of the high notes, but a beautiful rendition of her life’s musical journey. She was still able to wear her politics and social values on her sleeve by subliminally talking the issues through her music. The videos orchestrated throughout her singing were clearly making a statement. Our world has to take notice of what is happening! From her talking about young girls striving to be anything, including President, to her thoughts about caring for all people, climate change, the values our children learn from what they hear, to her finale before the real finale, of “Happy Days are Here Again”, hoping for a better future after all. Even her interjection of the fact that 99% or more of people’s DNA, meaning all of people in the world, are exactly the same! A strong comment with an equally strong message….how good is that!!

Barbra, you are still on top of the world! Your music will endure for many years to come, long after we are gone, the words to People…People who need people…will be listened to and hopefully others will use them for the same political and social innuendos that you cleverly managed to accomplish. Keep going as long as you can…hopefully, I will return to your next visit to Ft. Lauderdale.

Just a note from a close friend in Italy...her view of our Election results in a simple "Nutshell"....

"From the political front, what can one say!  I never loved Hillary but in a million years, could we have believed what happened.  Since Trump never reads in detail I cannot  imagine that he will ever read a briefing book on a complicated foreign affair  issue. We have to hope and pray that he does decide that  Mitt Romney will be the next Secretary of State and that his son-in-law will protect Jews from the Anti-Semites that keep popping out every day."

 

Written by Carol Ross....American living in Italy

 

Can you imagine what the rest of the world is thinking....

 

Wishing someone succeeds is just not enough...people do have to speak out when it is concerning our

future and just plain old Democracy, with all its flaws! When the news media calls out the truth they should not be considered "left wing"...it is just not acceptable...and it is dangerous.

Trump's Rally in Cincinnati yesterday was abhorring....it was painful listening to him rant and rave about his success...like a little brat who maneuvered his parents into letting him out of the "Time-Out" corner! So ungracious...winning should have made him humble....Just 4 More Years!

Yes...let's hope he picks Romney!

Steve Bannon….A Zionist? Hardly

I wrote this response to the RJC after a friend received a letter from one of their board members endorsing Bannon:
"First and foremost, I appreciate receiving any information that gives different views concerning controversial figures appearing more frequently in our news today. However, when people start claiming that the news media is wrong and not to be taken seriously because it might be saying something one disagrees with, it is the beginning of the end of our Democracy as we know it today. After reading an endorsement of Steve Bannon, a known leader of the Alt-Right Movement in the US, I was actually surprised. It was sent to me via email by the RJC (Republican Jewish Coalition). Without mentioning names, I read the statement made about Steve Bannon and his commitment to Israel. He proclaimed that Bannon is a Zionist. Well, if Zionist is the Code Word for Alt-Right, then I personally want no part of him, or what he stands for. People make themselves fit in for convenience.
"I am a supporter of Israel as a United States Citizen, not a citizen of Israel. If America does not come first, along with all of its diversity, then Israel will subsequently not exist. It is not just one party but all of America that has to work together, then our differences can be solved. Support of Israel has to be a Universal Commitment based on the fact that Israel is a Government formed as a Democracy in the Middle East. Israel itself is a more diverse place today, and people who reject that will be left on the sidelines. Instead of Politics, Education would be more apropos to our needs. I also read Jared Kushner’s article about his support of his father in law, President Elect, Donald Trump, proclaiming that he is not Anti-Semitic. Actions speak louder than words. Only time will tell! He not only has to apologize to the nation and world for his outrageous rhetoric, which he started during the Primaries, long before the election, but come to grips as to how important his new “Job” really is. He has to appreciate the fact that he won an election that could have gone in any direction.

"As it is, he still finds it difficult to admit that he did not win the Popular Vote or a so-called Mandate. Instead, he is still boasting about his win. He should kiss the ground he walks on, and not just in Trumpland, but throughout our incredible diverse land, The United States of America. That is why it is called “United”. Be humble, fill yourself with humility and come to grips that it is important to win over the “other side” with words that heal. People like me are here to listen. Let me be surprised, but happy. Learn to take a joke and laugh at yourself, as it has been discovered that laughing is healthy. Of course, these are just easy ways of handling things and I know that road is rarely taken


"From a political view, I still feel that appointing Steve Bannon as his Chief Strategist does not fly with me, as well as many others who see him as a negative influence with ideas that are over the edge. Trump is afraid to go out of his insulated box to bring this nation together. It could be the road to his success or his failure. We, the USA will be the recipients of these decisions.

"My personal answer to the endorsement of Steve Bannon is the following; 'Zionism has nothing to do with a person being Anti Semitic or not. There are many people who support the existence of Israel who have no feelings about Jews on any level. They want Israel to exist for their own religious reasons, or for Jews to go back “where they belong”. And, in my opinion, it is a shame that Bannon was chosen to represent and be Chief Strategist in the Trump Administration.' "

The Beginning of the End?

One week later…

After a week of total devastation and depression, and that is very light for the feelings I have towards the outcome of our 2016 Presidential Election, I still can’t accept the fact that our nation, filled with such diversity and promise, has gone in such a backward direction. I guess Trump reached a core of America that believed his promises and did not want what they believed was “More of the same.” It is so ironic, that a candidate like Trump, who rarely associated with people he would refer to as losers, would have empathy for those disenfranchised members of society. Democrats, throughout history, have been the ones always fighting for those in need, basic human rights, such as Healthcare, Jobs, Woman’s Rights, Gay Rights, on and on. He hit every chord including pulling the worst possible feelings of people out into the open concerning Immigration and World Policies and just let the S..T hit the fan and went with it. Well… it worked! It has been said recently that, “Stronger and Wrong” beats “Weaker and Right.” I guess I can agree with that now seeing the dismal results. In my last writing I said and called for everyone to vote because I truly felt that if that were so, the best candidate would win. Well, everyone did not vote, sad to say, but certainly enough to show that “Different” was in the cards for America. And so it is!

Already, Trump’s pick for his Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon, hits a controversial note throughout the world. He is known for his blatant feelings about minorities, especially Jews. Being Jewish myself, I cringe when I think that Jews could have voted for Trump. Bannon was the lifeline to Trumps winning this election. He is obviously a brilliant media strategist and does his best by stirring up the most negative feelings people could have, and they went for it, hook, line and sinker. But, of course, the average voter, never really reads into the important stuff, they just want results no matter what happens. I asked many friends who were Trump supporters if they knew who Steve Bannon was, and they not only did not know anything about him, but also did not know he was running the campaign. Shame on them! This pick is probably the most dangerous he will make, being that

Steve Bannon

Trump needs an adviser to help him make the major decisions during his four-year term as President of the United States of America, soon to be known as The United States of Trump. Don’t forget, he was the most ill-informed candidate in history. The campaign reached the lowest levels of divisiveness both in lies and conspiracy theories. Donald Trump will need help, but not the help from a Steve Bannon, a known Racist and White Supremacist as depicted on Breitbart News, his baby, promoting such unconscionable ideas. His voice will be heard throughout the World because of Trumps decision to make him Chief Strategist.

To add to this, Trump now wants his family to have top secret clearance. Also, they will be handling his so called Blind Trust of business dealings. Sounds dubious to me! The question is; can that be something he could actually get approved? I have now been inundated with news about this, over and over again. It is like the campaign just rolled into a new segment of this unusual reality show. It is really a reality show, heading into its first season of “The New West Wing”, or The New Right Wing”.  Either way, hopefully, there is a light beyond this dark tunnel.

VOTING...A MUST!

PLEASE….JUST GET OUT AND VOTE!!

Voting is not a Gift! It was once a cause, and still is in some countries, fought for by brave people who are long gone but hopefully not forgotten.
I am trying to think of what to say to those who are tired, confused and angry about this unusual Presidential Election filled with all sorts of hate, on both sides, Democrat or Republican. Reality is settling in. On Tuesday, November 8th, a candidate will be chosen as the next President of the United States of America and we as the voters will be held responsible for this decision. Thanks to our Democracy, our votes really do mean something. By not voting, you are really accomplishing nothing other than giving someone you may not care for or “hate”, a word I have heard all too often during this campaign season, an edge.
I guess, what I am trying to say is, pick one great happening that the World will look up to us for and take a shot at it. Electing the First Woman President of the United States of America is the most positive message we can be giving the World today. Think about that only, and Draw That Line in the voting booth to make history happen.

Winston Churchill once referenced this, “Hire a man for a great speech” and “Hire a woman when you want to get something done”! This is truly the time to make that decision and break the “Glass Ceiling” once and for all.
I guess this message is for those of you who just can't decide, or Millennia’s, too young to realize that your vote can really count. Just look back to the year 2000, Bush v Gore. Only a handful of votes made the difference! We can only contemplate what our world would have been if that Election turned to a different decision.

I am taking a chance asking for a vote that might not be my decision, but, simple as this sounds, I truly believe that if everyone voted, the right person will be elected, keeping our Democracy safe and sound! Leave no stones un-turned, have no regrets, just Get Out and Vote!!

Trump’s Last Stand...I Hope!

The past week has been so surreal in the face of our 2016 Presidential Election. It gets worse every day with Donald Trump now saying that our entire Democratic System is rigged, all the way down to the FBI having so called secret relationship with the Clintons. He claims that the media is one sided, leaning towards electing Hillary Clinton. Well, why should they not want him to win? It’s clear enough to me that if Hitler was not elected we would not have had the Holocaust. Yes, I am entitled to feel that he is demonstrating the kind of social behavior that has reminiscence of such a despicable figure as Adolph Hitler. From the very beginning of his campaign he lowered the bar for the Republican Party and caused complete chaos among its members. To me, they are wimps, just like Trump wants them. He really expects his opponents to have to beg him to take them back. His aspiring to be “KING” is scary as hell. When the means, any means, is used to justify the end, one has to search their soul before they enter that voting both on November 8th.

When all of our major media comes out against the ideals of a candidate and his ultimate credibility, one has to take notice.  It’s okay to tell the truth about someone, anyone, who is just plain not capable of running this country in a fair and equitable manner, upholding the Constitution and all the good that it has brought to America. It has been a hard road since it’s signing. Many strides ahead for social injustice as well as laws to protect the rights of everyone, not just a few, took the lives of those who fought for them. It’s okay not allowing an impostor, Trump, to usurp the most powerful job in the world, with the least amount of credentials and certainly not the temperament to boot. Sometimes, it is said, when something looks too good it is probably not! In this case, we can say, when it looks that bad, it probably is! Aside from his key platform issue to answer the immigration policy, building a wall, which is absurd and really against American values, his tone, rhetoric, smear tactics and lies fill his audiences with fear and anger towards his opponents. I use that word in plural, because not only is he opposing Hillary Clinton, but anyone in America or the World who disagrees with him on any issue at all.

The only person who is really hurting Donald Trump is Donald Trump! His own words, through tweets and rallies, have been his biggest enemy. All the negative ads are mirror images of his behavior, even Saturday Night Live, which mocked both candidates, made him crazy. I guess Trump really is self-destructive if he doesn't like looking at himself, because that is really who he is seeing.  Self reflection is not his forte. Everyone is wrong, except him! We, as voters, and the decision makers of our own lives, have an opportunity to have our voices heard with our one single vote. Again, a non vote, or a third party vote is just like voting for Trump. So, take some time, and read about Hillary Clinton and her achievements throughout the 30 years she has been around. Forget the smears and conspiracy theories provoked, and do some good for yourself and the country you and your families want to keep, a country where the Democratic Process will prevail.