What Is In Store For Christmas?

It is nearly "that time of year," but first you need to know this . . . 

"Under the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, Congress explicitly named Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and demanded that the U.S. embassy be relocated there or risk losing State Department funding. But the law includes an important caveat — the president can waive the requirement for a six-month period in the name of national security interests. All administrations have opted to waive the requirement every six months, citing security concerns and advice from experts, as well as opposition to Congressional efforts to direct executive control over foreign policy."

As we know, Trump campaigned with a repeated promise to move the USA's embassy back to Jerusalem - in simple terms - to NOT sign the extension.  It is a promise I believe he totally intends to keep. Frankly, I expected that he wasn't going to sign the last 6 month extension, which came up for the first time during his presidency back in June.  

Trump's excuse for extending the move another 6 months as all Presidents have done for over two decades was "to give the peace process a chance" was reasonable.  By the same token, it seems to me that there are more likely underlying reasons. (There always are.)

It is practically inevitable that a large portion of the middle east, and Muslims around the world are going to go apoplectic over the embassy move.  As far as Israel is concerned, the most likely ways are outbreaks of violence and terror at "The Mount," from rockets fired out of Gaza and from Lebanon, and with attacks on civilians in the West Bank and Israeli cities.   

We know that Israel will use crushing force in a "measured" response to such violence. We also know that no matter how measured Israel's handling is, UNESCO and even certain allies will condemn her.  What I wonder most about is how Israel will address threats of and actual aggression coming from Hezbollah in Lebanon.  Israel appears to be readying for a major thrust into Lebanon to deal a big blow to Iranian backed Hezbollah forces and bases. 

I suspect that the last embassy move extension was less about "giving peace a chance" and more about giving war a better chance.  The last extension provided Israel and the USA with important time to plan, arm and train.  This was time needed to deploy the new F-35 strike fighter and other new modern systems. Simply put, knowing full well the peace process had virtually no chance, the last six month extension provided crucial time to prepare for war.

What is quite interesting to me is the possibility of a partial connection to what is happening in Saudi Arabia, as far back as the Arab Summit in Riyadh. Israel, the USA, and Saudi Arabia have a common enemy - Iran.  I believe the USA and Israel have been working intensely to ensure that should there be an action by Israel in Lebanon, which may also include or draw in its ally Iran, that S.A. stands down, and may even covertly support Israel. 

We can't forget about Syria, which is also an ally to both Lebanon and Iran. Without going into details, suffice to say that Syria has for all intents and purposes been neutered by their own internal matters coupled with Israeli strikes against Hezbollah's supply chain from Iran within Syria, and the USA's missile strike against a key Syrian airfield at the beginning of Trump's term. 

When you boil this down, a trap is being set for Hamas in Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and potentially for the ultimate target, Iran.  We are closing in on the next deadline for it to be sprung - the need for Trump to sign the next extension in December.

Is Trump about to deliver a Christmas gift to both those who elected Trump and Israel, by reaffirming that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel and moving our embassy back?  Is this part of what Trump has in mind when he says we will be saying "Merry Christmas" this year.  If so, and the gift is delivered by virtue of Trump rejecting to sign the extension, will Israel get what it wished for?

What do you think? 

The Price Of Freedom

The Las Vegas tragedy is as much about enforcement as gun laws and here is my personal experience why I believe so.

Several years ago my wife, a dance teacher, purchased costume straight jackets from a Halloween store online to use in a dance recital.  As result of that purchase, our home was searched without a warrant and an FBI agent and 2 police officers showed up at our place of business to question my wife in the evening.  If that single innocent purchase could trigger such an investigation, how is it that the shooter was not personally investigated at his home?

The police or FBI had every right to probe the Vegas shooter and keep him on a highly suspicious watch.  You will see ... there will be loads of red flags by the time this investigation is through.  I am confident clues were overlooked and balls were dropped. Just as we found with the 9/11 perpetrators who came from Saudi Arabia who wanted to takeoff but not land, and many of the other mass murderers.

Maybe it is too much to ask, and it is unreasonable to expect authorities to foil every crazy evil person's murderous scheme. But for sure there will be lessons from Vegas that will lead to new training, new procedures and practises to help keep us safe.

Unfortunately we are paying a higher and higher price for the freedoms we enjoy!  Evil is exacting a toll on society and our psyche.  This includes the relentless verbal assaults on one another by one another via social media and the mainstream media. Even the exercise of free speech is brutalizing us, regardless of one's party affiliation.  The other side is quick to dehumanize us with insults, accusations, and just plain contempt.

All of this wears us down.  The price of our freedom is diminishing the things that bind our society.  A high price indeed.  And for some, the cost is too high.  For those, the result is fear & anxiety, depression, emptiness, and loneliness.  Sometimes, the consequence manifests as rage.  When this happens, the response can be suicide, or worse - an act of violence - rage against the machine.

My wife has given me one answer -- turn it off.  I expect that will be the next big trend.  People need to escape. I know I do.

Fire the Sons of Bitches

O.K. JERKS who are kneeling ... we get it, there is still prejudice in America and there are some bad cops.

• Surely there are others on the team who are disturbed by prejudice and bad cops, so why are your concerns any more special?
• Does signaling that you are bothered resolve this issue?
• Is anything associated with your team, it's owners, fans, or even your industry, let alone the military and those who served, at fault and therefore deserving of your protest?
• Does hurting your industry's revenue and fan support, along with all those who depend on a living from it, fix the problem?
• Does embarrassing your employer, and annoying a huge percentage of your fans and even many of your fellow teammates and coaches accomplish any resolution to your grievances?

The answer to each of these questions is NO -- Of course not!!

Bottom Line - You are just a self-absorbed spoiled jerk looking for an easy way to call attention to yourself with the foolish notion that your protest does one bit of good.  Rather than solving any problems in America, your are creating them.  And, your protest is demonstrating your obvious disregard for everyone and everything you are hurting, including ALL those who provide you the incredible opportunity to play professional sports.

You Are Idiots - There are numerous other better ways to use your celebrity time and money to truly make a positive difference.  But you chose the one way to damage your reputation, your livelihood, and everyone associated with you and your profession. And thus, your future ability to actually do something positive with your God given talents.

The NFL ALREADY has a rule that players stand for the National Anthem and put their hand over their heart.  The NFL should pass a simple rule:  Stand OR don't play and NO PAY.  Employers have the right to do so.  The NFL can fine players for dancing after a touchdown, and they certainly can fine them for disrespecting our country and the armed forces.  It is perfectly normal for players to get fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.  Standing for the National Athem is about as sportsmanlike as it gets.  Heck, there is an entire ceremony with a singer, color gaurd and everyone in the stadium standing and taking off their hats.

Last but not least ...

THE COMMANDER AND CHIEF OF THE MILITARY, TOWARDS WHICH THESE JERKS ARE SHOWING DISRESPECT, HAS EVERY RIGHT TO CALL OUT THESE JERKS BEHAVIOR AND SAY WHAT MOST AMERICANS ARE THINKING!

And love him or hate him for it ... but Trump says it exactly the way we would say it.  "Fire the sons of bitches" who disrespect our nation on public television.

Furthermore ....

Hard to imagine to a worse time for blacks in America than in the 1800's.  And yet black  soldiers fought and died valiantly to raise the flag!

No body, even the President, is denying anyone's RIGHT to protest. But there are consequences for bad judgment.  For and against BOTH sides.  The question is what do we learn?

When you boil it down, I find it hard to imagine that in the final conclusion we do not mostly agree that the National Anthem is one aspect of and moment in America that deserves us pausing to respect our Nation.  And, that there are other better times and means of protest.

If one is unhappy with America it is time to HOLD THE FLAG EVEN HIGHER FOR WHAT AMERICA IS MEANT TO BE!

Trump Signaled To The World

For all those who thought President Trump's speech last Tuesday before the United Nations General Assembly was a disgrace, I've got news for you. It earned much praise from former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and others, who unlike the media and critics, actually understand foreign policy.

Bolton was especially impressed by the much-needed paradigm shift in foreign policy proposed by the president. Referring to Trump’s fierce criticism of Venezuela, North Korea and Iran, Bolton stated, “I think it’s safe to say in the entire history of the United Nations, there has never been a more straightforward criticism of the behavior, the unacceptable behavior, of member states."

He also said, “I think these are about as clear an indication as a president can make that he’s not going to live with the kinds of half measures and compromises that frankly for 25 years have marked American policy and led us to the present desperate situation."

Trump's speech signaled that the days of appeasing our enemies and letting them walk all over us are over. Unlike past White House Administration, Trump's is not going to cater to terrible regimes such as Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela like a despondent child who only needs some kind words and a treat to be set straight.

This applies to failed ideologies like socialism as well. Trump delivered the cold and direct truth about the devastation of Venezuela’s once-wealthy nation by the implementation of socialism. Trump nailed it with this line to be remembered, “The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented but that socialism has been faithfully implemented."

Bolton loved that statement: “I tell you, there are a lot of people in the U.N. who have never heard anything like that from an American president." Russian diplomats seized on Trump's speech as possible turning point for relations.

Said one conservative Journalist writing about this historic watershed moment at the United Nations, "Trump set a new tone — one of strength in the face of both evil men and evil ideologies."

Again, Trump has changed the equation.  Leaders in nations around the world have a new calculus to have to figure out. Gone are the days of failed predictability and elitist rhetoric. Progressive Democrats and the media elite who can only find trivial points to express their pathetic contempt and criticism, have missed the big picture and the potential for big results which are already evident from Trumps major shift in foreign policy.  But I assure you that world leaders recognized Trump's signal that the USA is back to leading boldly from the front.  And as much as Trump's critics hate to admit it, our allies are loving it.  Because the world is a safer place when we do. Especially on the terms that Trump clearly laid out.

There was plenty of criticism of Trump's speech as well.  The most fierce coming from Iran, North Korea, CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, and late night TV comedians.  They deserve each other!

My Trip To Touro Synagogue

 
This Rosh Hashanah my wife and I planned a trip to Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island.  Touro is the oldest synagogue building in North America and the only one dating back to the colonial era.

Jews started settling in Newport in the late 1600's. Issac Touro arrived later, and the Newport building was dedidcated during Chanukah in 1763.  In August of 1790, George Washington visited Newport for a public appearance to rally support for the new Bill of Rights. As part of the welcoming ceremonies for the president, the Newport temple's President Moses Mendes Seixas, was one of the community leaders honored to address George Washington. Washington's subsequent response letter to Moses Seixas and the Temple, quoting his thoughts on religious liberties and the seperation of church and state, is a remarkable example of both our first President's and our new government's support of First Amendment Rights.  Each year Touro Synagogue holds a public reading of Washington's letter as a celebration and pronouncement of religious freedom.

This bit of history provides the context for my trip to Touro Synagogue, but not the reason I chose to do my Rosh Hashanah prayers there. I went to Touro with a particular goal and a personal question. With all the partison political strife in America today, I wanted to be in this setting for the traditional prayer that is given for the United States, and the Armed Forces of the USA and Israel.  

There were other special moments.  I was touched by Rabbi Mandel's thoughts about Sarah and Issac as they relate to the meaning of a name, and how to view laughter.  I was honored to be invited to the Rabbi's home for Rosh Hashanah dinner. During Taschlich by the ocean I was delighted to meet and speak with a special individual, named Simcha, who dreams of being a rabbi. Last but not least, hearing the Shofar sounded on Rosh Hashanah at Touro Synagogue is a quintessential Jewish American experience.

Touro Synagogue is a blessing.  Our journey to and prayers at Touro was a wonderful way to start 5778.  I hope this story inspires readers to make the trip to Newport and take in Shabbat at Touro Synagogue.  Shana Tova u’metuka!

--------------------------------
Further explanation for my reasons for going to Touro. 

The Left Mocks. I Pray.

This New Year, Rosh Hashana, I am praying for President Trump and America in a VERY SPECIAL PLACE.  Here is why.

Have you noticed the pattern with Trump and the Left and elite in the media and Entertainment industry?

- Mocked for running for President .... Now even Democrats are embarrassed by Hillary.

- Mocked for warning about voter fraud ... he was right.

- Mocked for saying the IRS targeted Conservatives ... they did.

- Mocked over how he would get the economy to pick up by reducing regulation and creating a pro business climate .... we are breaking out of malaise big time.

- Mocked for wanting to saying he would bring back American manufacters, trillions in overseas profits, and attack our trade imbalances ... he is making progress.

- Mocked for criticizing NATO allies for underpaying  ... he was right and they are starting to pay up!

- Mocked for recognizing threats of refugees from certain countries ... look at the horrible problems in Europe.

- Mocked about Russia and collusion ... nearly 9 months and still no evidence.

- Mocked about claims that his Tower and campaign were wire tapped by Obama and the FBI ... it was just exposed that it happened and Clapper lied under oath about, and Comey failed to disclose.

- Mocked that he said the Democrats rigged the Primary ... they did.

- Mocked about his boasts about dealing with ISIS ... his efforts have turned the tide and taken the caliphate.

- Mocked for his position on the failures of the United Nations ... his choice for UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley is rocking their world!

- Mocked for saying there were had guys on both sides at Charlottesville ... now we are seeing Antifa for the anti-American Anarchists they are, and that Obama was warned by the FB I years ago.

- Mocked about his trip to and approach on the Middle East ... Saudi Arabia and Israel are talking!  Wow

- And yesterday, mocked for his speech criticizing the failures of the United Nations ... he couldn't be more right.

- Mocked for his handling of North Korea ... China just implemented along with the US and others the toughest sanctions on North Korea in history.  It is amazing that China was willing to cripple it's ally financially and it never would have happened if not for Trump.

I could go on. And the list will grow.  Because Trump will get needed tax reform done. He will get a better immigration plan in place and improve border security.  He will address the failure of Obama care. He will improve the quality and readiness of our national defense. He will deal with threats from North Korea and Iran which have expanded under prior presidents.

Trump is getting things done in spite of a completely obstructionist Democratic party and the mainstream media and entertainment industry, basically the Washington establishment and the Left, thwarting his every move.

Trump beat ALL the odds and all the pundits/pollsters to get elected the 45th President. Imagine if the media and others started to take him seriously and stopped mocking him for wanting to make America greater?  Imagine what would happen if rather than wanting to undermine and impeach him, more Democrats wanted to work with him in the spirit of the common good? Imagine how much could be accomplished if we prayed for our President?

I am going to do just that. For the first time in my life I chose to make my Rosh Hashanah dedicated to praying for our President and America.  I can not stand the disgusting treatment he is receiving.  If G-d had a hand in the creation of America, which I believe, then G-d's hand is on 45.  It is a miracle he got elected, he beat ALL the odds to accomplish something no other person has - as the oldest first term president and the first without either any military or political service. He didn't even have the strong support of his political party.

So today, for erev Rosh Hashanah, Mary and I are heading to a Temple with a rich Jewish American history.  A temple I have always wanted to learn more about. The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that is the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America, and the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era, founded in 1763. (National Historic site since 1946!)

And when I pray there at this Temple with such a rich American history, I will be praying that my fellow Jews and all Americans will want their President to succeed, rather than fail. Praying that he be given greater wisdom and understanding rather than being mocked for his stupidity. Praying that he will continue to keep us safe rather than being challenged for his best intentions to keep terrorists out of America.

Touro Synagogue had a special relationship with the President of the United States. One that drew a very special and famous letter from George Washington with the following extraordinary expression,

In 1790, the synagogue's warden, Moses Seixas, wrote to George Washington, expressing his support for Washington's administration and good wishes for him. Washington sent a letter in response, which read in part:

"... the Government of the United States ... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. ... May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy."

Letter of George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island

Link to Touro website 

About my Trip

When Did Altruism Trump Self-interest?

When did altruism trump Self-interest's?  "America first," is emblematic of Trump's "winning" message because it appeals to the "self" in all of us.  Many Americans are weary of always worrying about and feeling responsible for taking care of others with our tax dollars, entitlement programs, and the lives of our soldiers.

The larger the "safety net" the democrats create, the more people they bring under their umbrella for entitlements and goodies from Uncle Sam, the more votes they believe they gain.  But Democrats are having a big problem because the message of altruism is not winning them elections like it used to. Altruism, this notion that we support our government, so our government can help all the needy people, is wearing thin.  As our government debt explodes, people are smart enough today to know that it is near impossible for government to keep all the promises and obligations it has already!  So folks are thinking about making more money themselves and keeping more of it.  In fact, as the economy picks us, the Democrat's message of altruism becomes even less appealing.

Ironically, it is Trump's "winning" message and all the benefits that come from a faster pace of economic growth, more profits, and higher wages, that will ultimately produce the greatest results in terms of creating better paying jobs, tax revenue, and opportunities for the needy.

This is the beauty of Capitalism.  Rather than taking away from others in an effort to redistribute what people have, as a socialist system does, capitalism recognizes that an economy is not a zero sum game. And that it is better to expand wealth rather than focus on sharing it! That is why Capitalism is so successful and Socialism is a flawed and often failed economic system.  The vision of success over altruism is winning hearts, minds, and elections.

Capitalism is a blessing, not a curse.  Capitalism is what made America great.  That is one reason why Trump's campaign slogan "Make AMERICA Great" is so powerful.  His short punchy slogans tap into the very essence of the American spirit.  Which turns out to also be an America that is better for EVERYONE.

Another reason for why capitalism and America is so successful and powerful is that Americans are also very generous.  Philanthropy, the likes of which no other nation on the planet has ever witnessed is going to take place in the coming decades. As BILLIONAIRES like Gates, Buffet, Jobs, and Bezos and many others pass on their wealth to family, as well as causes, they will complete the circle that is inherent in the design of Capitalism.  Because ultimately, nobody can "take it with them."

The fundamental difference between capitalism and socialism is that people know better what to do with their money than the government does.  The government takes the $1 through taxes and fees, but then it spends $3, two of them wastefully with some lost to fraud and abuse.  An entreprenuer will save or borrow a dollar, and turn that into $3, and in the process they will help untold others through job creation, wages, investment, etc.  Plus, the business person will still manage to do so despite the fact that local, state and federal government will take more than half of it away.  In the end, no matter how many billions of dollars that business person amasses, ALL of it, 100%, is passed on to future generations!  Government, on the other hand, passes on DEBT -- and we don't even have good infrastructure to show for it!

In conclusion, to the question, "When Did Altruism Trump Self-interest?"  The answer is, IT DIDN'T!  Which is one of the many reasons that Capitalism is still the best economic model human beings have ever designed. And why the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes where Capitalism is most efficient and prevalent.