4th of July thought ...
What is a Nation? Is it not a people's pursuit of justice? Think about it. Whether founded in search for a better life, or fought for through revolution, a country is born from the passionate pursuit of our inalienable rights. Rights that we are born with. Rights that in America are protected, not given, by our Founding Fathers.
In Deuteronomy 16:20 it says, "Justice, justice shall you pursue!"
According to one Midrash the Torah begins and ends with an act of loving kindness. According to another the whole Torah rests on justice; and with justice it will end: Not until just judgment has come, on the one hand, for the poor and the meek, and on the other, for the wicked, will it be possible for the wolf to dwell with the lamb. (Isa. 11:4-6)"
"All need love in justice since justice alone would destroy them."
The following verse, from the Rabbinical text Pirkei Avot, the Teachings of the Sages, encapsulates Judaism’s attitude toward pursuing social justice and change in our world.
Lo alecha hamlachah ligmor, v’lo ata ben chorin l’hibateil mimenah.
You are not obliged to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it.
While we are not expected to single-handedly solve the problems of society, we are responsible for contributing in some way. Our Torah, Talmud and other Jewish texts provide a litany of exact instructions relating to prayer, food preparation and other tasks that are core to the Jewish tradition. Yet we have very few directives on social justice, other than that we should pursue it. How, then, do we respond to our "task"?
The answer, in my opinion, is embodied in the text from Deuteronomy, that is the basis for this post -- by the never-ending pursuit of justice, with love. But this begs the question, what is love? Is a judge to love the defendant? Is a victim to love their assailant?
YES, I say. Love is the ability to empathize, to understand, to be compassionate. I do not want to live in a world that decides on justice without love. When I think of America, I think of Nation with a giant loving heart BORN out of the passionate pursuit of Justice. SO, happy birthday America ... and have a Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Friday, June 30, 2017
Could Trump Have Saved The Press?
COULD PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE SAVED THE NATION FROM THE PRESS AND THE PRESS FROM ITSELF?
Let me make a general statement which is not universally true, in order to highlight a serious problem for our Nation...
We live in a Nation in which the media cares less about the facts than they do about getting the perfect sound byte to get clicks. That's because the press is not "free" -- it is paid for by advertising. The media is in competition for eyeballs. Which raises the stakes on the value of a "sound byte" and lowers the importance of the facts. And since the dominance of the Left biased news (CNN, NYT, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NPR,) is 10x the Right biased news (Fox), the pressure within Left biased news rooms is most fierce, which in turn results in organizations that sacrifice journalistic standards, Ala CNN.
The larger problem is that the media doesn't just "report the news." They make the news. They decide what will be the news. As well as how to tell the story. In the process, they are shaping the narrative.
It becomes particularly worrisome and dangerous for our country when you start to think about who this power matters most too. The obvious example is marketers - businesses. They have long been open in their attempt to co-opt the visibility and audience that the media has. We accept that and it is called advertising. But there are darker, hidden forces that seek to exploit the power and influence that the media has to shape opinion. The establishment - the deep state - including the military industrial complex. The people in power in Washington. It is naive not to think that there are efforts by these forces to use sophisticated propaganda methods. It is naive not to believe that the Clinton political machine and the last eight years under Obama political operatives, cronies, and those whose living depends on his policies, have not infiltrated the media at all levels.
Trump deserves credit for starting the expression "Fake news." He has exposed the issue like no other President has ever managed to do. The characteristics that make Trump the most unlikable individual, his thin-skin, narcissism, reflex to punch back in nasty ways, his incessant use of Tweeter to speak directly in an unfiltered and unedited manner to his audience, are the very same ones that made him the first one to stand up to the media the way he has. We can hate him for it. Most do! But there is a flip side. He may just be saving the Nation by exposing just how UN-FREE the press truly is. In the process, maybe we all will start to THINK more. And as a result, maybe the professional journalists and editors who truly care about the important role that the press has will stand-up for greater integrity and standards and objective and balanced reporting.
Let me make a general statement which is not universally true, in order to highlight a serious problem for our Nation...
We live in a Nation in which the media cares less about the facts than they do about getting the perfect sound byte to get clicks. That's because the press is not "free" -- it is paid for by advertising. The media is in competition for eyeballs. Which raises the stakes on the value of a "sound byte" and lowers the importance of the facts. And since the dominance of the Left biased news (CNN, NYT, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NPR,) is 10x the Right biased news (Fox), the pressure within Left biased news rooms is most fierce, which in turn results in organizations that sacrifice journalistic standards, Ala CNN.
The larger problem is that the media doesn't just "report the news." They make the news. They decide what will be the news. As well as how to tell the story. In the process, they are shaping the narrative.
It becomes particularly worrisome and dangerous for our country when you start to think about who this power matters most too. The obvious example is marketers - businesses. They have long been open in their attempt to co-opt the visibility and audience that the media has. We accept that and it is called advertising. But there are darker, hidden forces that seek to exploit the power and influence that the media has to shape opinion. The establishment - the deep state - including the military industrial complex. The people in power in Washington. It is naive not to think that there are efforts by these forces to use sophisticated propaganda methods. It is naive not to believe that the Clinton political machine and the last eight years under Obama political operatives, cronies, and those whose living depends on his policies, have not infiltrated the media at all levels.
Trump deserves credit for starting the expression "Fake news." He has exposed the issue like no other President has ever managed to do. The characteristics that make Trump the most unlikable individual, his thin-skin, narcissism, reflex to punch back in nasty ways, his incessant use of Tweeter to speak directly in an unfiltered and unedited manner to his audience, are the very same ones that made him the first one to stand up to the media the way he has. We can hate him for it. Most do! But there is a flip side. He may just be saving the Nation by exposing just how UN-FREE the press truly is. In the process, maybe we all will start to THINK more. And as a result, maybe the professional journalists and editors who truly care about the important role that the press has will stand-up for greater integrity and standards and objective and balanced reporting.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
FOR A SO CALLED IDIOT, HE IS A GENIUS
Have you noticed how often Trump uses the phrase "love my . . ." , or "love our . . . " or some other variation on the expression of love? Without explaining why, I think that is a brilliant aspect of Trump's style and communication technique.
The haters just love to make fun of him. From his skin color, his hands, his hair, and the way he speaks. How many 70+ yr old folks do you know who get up before crowds of tens of thousands of people in stadiums, time and again, and thrill the audience with their vision for leading and changing America?
Straight off the last "White House Tech Meeting" there is another with 25 business leaders to discuss the potential impact of emerging technologies on industrial workers in the U.S.. This time it is featuring firms specializing in 5G wireless and drone-related technologies. Do you have any idea how transformative 5G is and how far ahead of the world 5G will put America and what it can mean for innovation and our lives??
The OLDEST ever elected President has been going non-stop speaking to the people, expressing himself to his social media audience, calling together business leaders, visiting businesses and factories, meeting with Veterans, and police, and labor, and traveling all over the country to get his vision out and lift the confidence of Americans and businesses. He conferred an unprecedented group of Arab nations to condemn terror and isolate Iran. He has gotten China to put real pressure on North Korea. And much more!! In just 6 months!! How can anyone not see the unique leadership talents and energy this person has???
In just six months, Trump had rocked the United States and the World! He has gotten everyone thinking how to grow, compete, operate more efficiently, invest and do better! He has put the attention on security, pro-business, tearing down bloated government, red tape and people living off taxpayers. And he has gotten other countries leaders, some pro and some con on Trump, to rethink the consequences of losing their national identity and values. Everyone is stepping up their game because of Trump. Even the anti-Trump leaders are doing things that positive for the world because of Trump!
I can just here what the Trump haters think about that. To those I say, you just don't get it!
FOR A SO CALLED IDIOT, HE IS A GENIUS.
The haters just love to make fun of him. From his skin color, his hands, his hair, and the way he speaks. How many 70+ yr old folks do you know who get up before crowds of tens of thousands of people in stadiums, time and again, and thrill the audience with their vision for leading and changing America?
Straight off the last "White House Tech Meeting" there is another with 25 business leaders to discuss the potential impact of emerging technologies on industrial workers in the U.S.. This time it is featuring firms specializing in 5G wireless and drone-related technologies. Do you have any idea how transformative 5G is and how far ahead of the world 5G will put America and what it can mean for innovation and our lives??
The OLDEST ever elected President has been going non-stop speaking to the people, expressing himself to his social media audience, calling together business leaders, visiting businesses and factories, meeting with Veterans, and police, and labor, and traveling all over the country to get his vision out and lift the confidence of Americans and businesses. He conferred an unprecedented group of Arab nations to condemn terror and isolate Iran. He has gotten China to put real pressure on North Korea. And much more!! In just 6 months!! How can anyone not see the unique leadership talents and energy this person has???
In just six months, Trump had rocked the United States and the World! He has gotten everyone thinking how to grow, compete, operate more efficiently, invest and do better! He has put the attention on security, pro-business, tearing down bloated government, red tape and people living off taxpayers. And he has gotten other countries leaders, some pro and some con on Trump, to rethink the consequences of losing their national identity and values. Everyone is stepping up their game because of Trump. Even the anti-Trump leaders are doing things that positive for the world because of Trump!
I can just here what the Trump haters think about that. To those I say, you just don't get it!
FOR A SO CALLED IDIOT, HE IS A GENIUS.
Friday, June 16, 2017
The World Is Upside Down
Let me get this straight...
Democrats believe that Trump obstructed an investigation he was not under for something the Democrats believe Trump did based on no evidence despite over six months of searching. The Democrats primary premise for claiming Trump obstructed justice is that he fired the man Democrats blame for costing them the election by mishandling an investigation into their candidate, after his deputy highly criticized him for how he handled that investigation. The same man who was responsible for maintaining the secrecy of confidential actions of his department, including the news that they say should never have been released that he reopened the investigation of their candidate; the move that they claim cost them the election. And this same man who is responsible for maintaining highly confidential information regarding investigations was also in fact himself leaking private privileged conversations with the President in order to trigger an investigation about why he was fired for the investigation he said he was not conducting.
.
Oh yeah, another thing. Trump fired Flynn, for lying about conflicts which he should have divulged to the Vice President. Conflicts that would have cost him the position for which he was being investigated. In other words, the President acted swiftly and properly in firing Flynn, even before the final results of the investigation into him.
Have I got it straight? Yup, the world is upside down!
Democrats believe that Trump obstructed an investigation he was not under for something the Democrats believe Trump did based on no evidence despite over six months of searching. The Democrats primary premise for claiming Trump obstructed justice is that he fired the man Democrats blame for costing them the election by mishandling an investigation into their candidate, after his deputy highly criticized him for how he handled that investigation. The same man who was responsible for maintaining the secrecy of confidential actions of his department, including the news that they say should never have been released that he reopened the investigation of their candidate; the move that they claim cost them the election. And this same man who is responsible for maintaining highly confidential information regarding investigations was also in fact himself leaking private privileged conversations with the President in order to trigger an investigation about why he was fired for the investigation he said he was not conducting.
.
Oh yeah, another thing. Trump fired Flynn, for lying about conflicts which he should have divulged to the Vice President. Conflicts that would have cost him the position for which he was being investigated. In other words, the President acted swiftly and properly in firing Flynn, even before the final results of the investigation into him.
Have I got it straight? Yup, the world is upside down!
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Terrorism ... What Problem?
You know the first step in solving a problem. Identifying the problem. That is what President Trump attempted to start with his recent overseas trip - getting Muslims to acknowledge and own the problem. Unfortunately, all he could get was the Sunni to blame Iran. Shocker. The recent cut of Qatar being one outcome.
Putting pressure on Iran and their Islamic sect is not even half the problem. The fundamental Whabbi Muslim clerics that pull the puppet strings in Saudi Arabia are behind terror and violent jihad in the Middle East, Europe, the USA, and Africa just as much as Iran, their enemy.
The only ones who can solve the problem of terror is Muslim's themselves. All the West can do is try to either imprison or kill the terrorists before they kill us. That may stave off a terrorist incident, but it does not alter the source of the ideology. And until that happens it will take the lives of many more Muslims in the middle east than anyone.
But at least now we have a President who gets it. The "Liberal" in the cartoon below could just as well been Barack Hussein Obama. His apple there never fell far from the tree, or his original preacher. And we all know how well his "apology tour" worked!
Putting pressure on Iran and their Islamic sect is not even half the problem. The fundamental Whabbi Muslim clerics that pull the puppet strings in Saudi Arabia are behind terror and violent jihad in the Middle East, Europe, the USA, and Africa just as much as Iran, their enemy.
The only ones who can solve the problem of terror is Muslim's themselves. All the West can do is try to either imprison or kill the terrorists before they kill us. That may stave off a terrorist incident, but it does not alter the source of the ideology. And until that happens it will take the lives of many more Muslims in the middle east than anyone.
But at least now we have a President who gets it. The "Liberal" in the cartoon below could just as well been Barack Hussein Obama. His apple there never fell far from the tree, or his original preacher. And we all know how well his "apology tour" worked!
Saturday, June 3, 2017
The Madness
AN OBSERVATION ...
Trump has infected the brains of Progressives/Liberals and is driving them mad. Seriously - there must be a legitimate medical term for the damaged mental state people are in. I guarantee you that literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions of American Liberals took personal pleasure in seeing Kathy Griffen's mock photo of Trump's severed bloody head. I have NO doubt that as many view the possibility of his assassination as a positive thing, and only withdraw from the notion of it being a valid solution for removing Trump because Pence would take over. And it would not shock me whatsoever to find thousands who are like Jim Carey, and privately fantasize about killing him themselves.
There is a very large segment of America who are emotionally tormented by Trump. People who can't imagine a way forward for America with him as our President. And who pray or wish everyday that there was a way to end the nightmare they feel our country and they are living. People for whom Impeachment feels like their best hope for coping with a trauma that they can not handle for 3.5 more years. The mere thought that he could win another 4 years is literally too frightening to even imagine.
I bet there are those who know my observation is correct, and my observation fits them, and they nearly want to say so, but are afraid to admit it.
And then there is Hillary Clinton, whose life is a special kind of mental and emotional hell. Karma is serving justice on Hillary.
But KNOW THIS! The media is making a living feeding into this, from both sides. That IS their financial formula. But it is short sighted, and it is no way for a country to function. The media is NOT solving the problem, they are creating it. The media is how President Trump got elected. CNN did NOT destroy Trump, they helped him get elected, and the more biased and despicable they act toward him, the more they expand his base of support. The more they and other elites contribute to the hate, torment, and tumult in America, the more they damage their own credibility and reputation in the end. Such is the demise of Kathy Griffen.
In case you think I am taking personal satisfaction in others torment, let me tell you NO, I am NOT. Well, that is not entirely honest ... because I do when it comes to Hillary. Or, for that matter, anyone who is wishing evil and terrible things to happen to others. But for good hearted people who are troubled, I only wish for a resolution that relieves their stress. As for me, LOL, my prescription has names - Charlotte and Henry, and Mary. God bless our loved ones. And God bless America.
Trump has infected the brains of Progressives/Liberals and is driving them mad. Seriously - there must be a legitimate medical term for the damaged mental state people are in. I guarantee you that literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions of American Liberals took personal pleasure in seeing Kathy Griffen's mock photo of Trump's severed bloody head. I have NO doubt that as many view the possibility of his assassination as a positive thing, and only withdraw from the notion of it being a valid solution for removing Trump because Pence would take over. And it would not shock me whatsoever to find thousands who are like Jim Carey, and privately fantasize about killing him themselves.
There is a very large segment of America who are emotionally tormented by Trump. People who can't imagine a way forward for America with him as our President. And who pray or wish everyday that there was a way to end the nightmare they feel our country and they are living. People for whom Impeachment feels like their best hope for coping with a trauma that they can not handle for 3.5 more years. The mere thought that he could win another 4 years is literally too frightening to even imagine.
I bet there are those who know my observation is correct, and my observation fits them, and they nearly want to say so, but are afraid to admit it.
And then there is Hillary Clinton, whose life is a special kind of mental and emotional hell. Karma is serving justice on Hillary.
But KNOW THIS! The media is making a living feeding into this, from both sides. That IS their financial formula. But it is short sighted, and it is no way for a country to function. The media is NOT solving the problem, they are creating it. The media is how President Trump got elected. CNN did NOT destroy Trump, they helped him get elected, and the more biased and despicable they act toward him, the more they expand his base of support. The more they and other elites contribute to the hate, torment, and tumult in America, the more they damage their own credibility and reputation in the end. Such is the demise of Kathy Griffen.
In case you think I am taking personal satisfaction in others torment, let me tell you NO, I am NOT. Well, that is not entirely honest ... because I do when it comes to Hillary. Or, for that matter, anyone who is wishing evil and terrible things to happen to others. But for good hearted people who are troubled, I only wish for a resolution that relieves their stress. As for me, LOL, my prescription has names - Charlotte and Henry, and Mary. God bless our loved ones. And God bless America.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
All For One - Praying for the President
The world is about to get a lot hotter, but it won't be because President Trump pulls out of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Climate Agreement won't change the climate in a meaningful way. (Click here for an explanation on that.) But NOT signing the Embassy Waiver will rock the world and heat up USA and Muslim tensions around the World!
To sign, or not to sign? That is the question!
Paris Climate Agreement - That's a tough one for political and business reasons, but NOT for climate reasons!
Jerusalem Embassy Waiver - That's a rough one.
It is the 6 month deadline for the required waiver to stave off the automatic move of the USA Embassy back to Jerusalem. What remarkable timing of events. Because it is also Shavuot, the religious holiday when Jews celebrate the anniversary of the gift/acceptance of the Ten Commandments/the Torah. So, on Shavuot, President Trump has a very big decision to make! To sign, or not to sign?
What would the great King David do?
King David was born and died on Shavuot. To King David there would be no question that Jerusalem is the heart center, the capital of Israel. The great Temple in question would stand in all it's glory as a testament to that historical fact. Is it just a coincidence that the decision to sign the "6 month waiver" to keep the USA Embassy from moving back to Jerusalem falls on Shavuot? Is it just a coincidence that the President's daughter and closest council, Ivanka is a convert, like Ruth? (Jews read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot.)
IT all must be Bershert!
Beshert means "inevitable" or "preordained." Is there Divine providence with the Embassy Move? It sure seems to me that there are the finger prints.
But the Rabbi's teach us that there can be more than one beshert, from the choices and actions we take. That is why we must pray for and ask for wisdom to know, and the conviction to make the right choices. That is also why I for one am praying for our President.
I am not praying for the President to sign OR not sign the waiver. I am not praying for him to stay in the Paris Agreement, or to pull out. I am praying for him to receive the wisdom of King Solomon and the courage of King David to make the right decisions. I am praying for our President to succeed! We need our President to succeed. Wishing for President Trump to fail is wishing for America to fail. NO political Party should wish for that!
There are those trying to bring down the President. They are doing it every day in every way. Many are people with an audience, in the news and entertainment. I can not support that. I did not want Obama to fail. And I prayer that Trump does not fail. Israel depends on America's strength. As does the world.
So we all need to pray for Trump! All for one, one for all.
To sign, or not to sign? That is the question!
Paris Climate Agreement - That's a tough one for political and business reasons, but NOT for climate reasons!
Jerusalem Embassy Waiver - That's a rough one.
It is the 6 month deadline for the required waiver to stave off the automatic move of the USA Embassy back to Jerusalem. What remarkable timing of events. Because it is also Shavuot, the religious holiday when Jews celebrate the anniversary of the gift/acceptance of the Ten Commandments/the Torah. So, on Shavuot, President Trump has a very big decision to make! To sign, or not to sign?
What would the great King David do?
King David was born and died on Shavuot. To King David there would be no question that Jerusalem is the heart center, the capital of Israel. The great Temple in question would stand in all it's glory as a testament to that historical fact. Is it just a coincidence that the decision to sign the "6 month waiver" to keep the USA Embassy from moving back to Jerusalem falls on Shavuot? Is it just a coincidence that the President's daughter and closest council, Ivanka is a convert, like Ruth? (Jews read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot.)
IT all must be Bershert!
Beshert means "inevitable" or "preordained." Is there Divine providence with the Embassy Move? It sure seems to me that there are the finger prints.
But the Rabbi's teach us that there can be more than one beshert, from the choices and actions we take. That is why we must pray for and ask for wisdom to know, and the conviction to make the right choices. That is also why I for one am praying for our President.
I am not praying for the President to sign OR not sign the waiver. I am not praying for him to stay in the Paris Agreement, or to pull out. I am praying for him to receive the wisdom of King Solomon and the courage of King David to make the right decisions. I am praying for our President to succeed! We need our President to succeed. Wishing for President Trump to fail is wishing for America to fail. NO political Party should wish for that!
There are those trying to bring down the President. They are doing it every day in every way. Many are people with an audience, in the news and entertainment. I can not support that. I did not want Obama to fail. And I prayer that Trump does not fail. Israel depends on America's strength. As does the world.
So we all need to pray for Trump! All for one, one for all.
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