Turtles All the Way Down ... Respect Them All

So don't waste your mind on nursery rhymes
Or fairy tales of blood and wine
It's turtles all the way down the line
So to each their own 'til we go home
To other realms our souls must roam
To and through the myth that we all call space and time

From “Turtles All the Way Down,” Sturgill Simpson

Country singer/songwriter Sturgill Simpson invokes the Turtle in connection to his own quest for meaning. The thoughtful Kentucky lyricist explains: "'Turtles' is about giving your heart to love and treating everyone with compassion and respect no matter what you do or don't believe.”

Heady stuff for a country song, huh? If you've never heard of the saying “turtles all the way down,” you probably aren't alone. The expression concerns the logic of infinite regress – a sequence of reasoning or justification which can never come to an end. Or, allow me to put it like this: An infinite regress in a series of propositions arises if the truth of proposition P₁ requires the support of proposition P₂, the truth of proposition P₂ requires the support of proposition P₃, and so on, ad infinitum.

Infinite regress arguments tacitly rely on a principle of non-contradiction to generate the infinite sequence. On the one hand, they are often quickly brushed aside as being unreasonable and even preposterous. On the other hand, the alleged absurdity of infinite regresses has been a source of inspiration and the ground for far-reaching conclusions.

The saying about turtles alludes to the mythological idea of a World Turtle that supports the earth on its back. It suggests that this turtle rests on the back of an even larger turtle, which itself is part of a column of increasingly large turtles that continues indefinitely (i.e., "turtles all the way down").

The exact origin of the phrase is uncertain. A similar saying – "rocks all the way down" – appears as early as 1838. References to the saying's mythological antecedents, the World Turtle and its counterpart the World Elephant, were made by a number of authors in the 17th and 18th centuries. This mythology is frequently assumed to have originated in ancient India and in other Hinduist beliefs.

Of course, it makes sense that any proposition requires justification. And, it follows that any justification requires support. A regress argument proposes that any proposition whatsoever can be endlessly (infinitely) questioned.

“A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russell) once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the center of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy.

“At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: 'What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant tortoise.'

“The scientist gave a superior smile before replying, 'What is the tortoise standing on?'

"'You're very clever, young man, very clever," said the old lady. 'But it's turtles all the way down!'”

• from R.A. Wilson. Prometheus Rising. 1983

Whether it's turtles or elephants or country music songs “all the way down,” infinite regress is pertinent to the current state of tolerance in America. Sturgill Simpson wrote in his song: “So to each their own 'til we go home to other realms our souls must roam.” Beliefs are just that – tenets or things that are accepted and held as OPINIONS. And, lord knows, opinions differ. Accepting diversity with understanding fuels necessary tolerance, something sorely lacking now as America suffers through the reign of a leader who is both bigoted and xenophobic.

The “turtles” that support your belief system are not necessarily the same slow-moving reptiles that underpin the trust of your neighbors. To even comprehend the complex problems and obstacles others face requires some suspension of your own slippery reality.

“All the way down” requires contemplation of infinity, and that mental activity is particularly enigmatic. Paradoxes that characterize the concept of infinity deal with astrophysical data and complex opinions such as the continuum hypothesis. Try as they might, most intelligent minds struggle with any morsel of reality in infinity and end up with a question mark. I believe the notion of infinity is fundamentally beyond the human ability to comprehend, so I can leave you with an affirmation – Turtles all the way down sounds about right to me. Testudines, how low can you go?

Click it for Sturgill Simpson and “Turtles...": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gBV-Nzq7Pg

Rock and Roll Love Affair

“Singing I love rock and roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock and roll
So come and take the time
And dance with me”

“I love rock and roll” – so the hit song by Joan Jett goes. That “love” for the music permeates nearly every facet of American society. Since the 1950s, the music has influenced family lives, teenage behavior, and social movements such as civil rights and anti-war protests. Rock music continues to influence the culture and reflect its changes.

Yet, from the beginning, rock had strong opposition. Because rock and roll originated among the lower classes and a segregated ethnic group, many middle-class whites thought it was tasteless. Rock and roll records were banned from many radio stations and hundreds of schools.

Associate professor of economic and author, David George Surdam, relates ...

“Commentators ranted indignantly about the new music. Frank Sinatra complained that rock’n’roll featured: 'cretinous goons' who used 'almost imbecilic reiteration and sly, lewd, . . . dirty, lyrics' to become the 'martial music of every side-burned delinquent on the face of the earth.' The New York Times quoted psychiatrist Francis Braceland, who called rock’n’roll, 'a cannibalistic and tribalistic form of music.'

“Rock’n’roll’s destructive and subversive force knew no bounds. A Florida minister claimed that 'more than 98% of surveyed unwed mothers got into their predicament while under the influence of rock’n’roll.' New Jersey Senator, Robert Henrickson claimed, 'Not even the Communist conspiracy could devise a more effective way to demoralize, confuse, and destroy the United States.'”

Despite the resistance, the subversive, brutish beat captured the hearts of young America. Rock was not only “cool,” but also exciting. And, it stimulated much more than the minds of the youth. The term “rock and roll,” once a sexual code word in blues songs, became a recognizable euphemism for all the physical rhythms set in motion by the beat.

Most could not verbalize their passion for the music, but instead instinctively “moved with the groove.” What rock dinosaur can forget Dick Clark's American Bandstand with its "Rate-a-Record" segment justifying potential hit songs with the phrase "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it"?

Indeed, teens loved the rebellious music in part because its recognizable beat drove the soundtracks of their lives while celebrating the joys of being young and occasionally expressing the frustrations of youth. They totally identified with the lyrics as the music gave them a base of shared ideals distinguishing them from their parents' generation. Rock and roll reflected society like no other musical form.

“Until I realized that rock music was my connection to the rest of the human race,

I felt like I was dying, for some reason, and I didn't know why.”

– Bruce Springsteen

Rock and roll began to be commonly accepted as popular American music. As it did, it helped create a new generation. Simply put, it changed things … almost everything followed the beat. America, in its traditionalist state after World War II, was ripe for a diverse transition. The music influenced daily life, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equaled.

Over the years, rock and roll exploded in a technicolor transition of its many forms. Rockabilly, blues rock, psychedelic rock, British rock, country rock, southern rock, progressive rock, metal rock – all of these structures flourished and added their own individual styles to the music. Now rock, in general, colonizes other musical genres while blurring musical boundaries.

The music traveled everywhere with the people. Rock became ubiquitous – a constant companion in public places and with every sort of activity. Sound devices like transistor radios, car radios and tape players, jam boxes, Walkmans, and eventually smart phones delivered the music to the masses. Listening to music no longer referred to an activity in to a special place or on an important occasion but, rather, these machines caused rock and roll to a staple of recreation, and even a background at work. It remains instantly access able for public consumption.

“There's always something magic
There's always something new
And when you really really need it the most
That's when rock and roll dreams come through
The beat is yours forever
The beat is always true
And when you really need it the most
That's when rock and roll dreams come through....for you”

From “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through,” Meatloaf (Jim Steinman)

But, any true lover of rock will profess to the music's greatest appeal. More than any other form of art, rock and roll creates dreams. It is the Mystery Train, the conveyance of the imagination. 

As the music casts its spell on the listener, the drums, the guitars, the vocals, and the keyboards push the imagination and fuel personal desire. Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, the Beatles – all of the greats employed their own magic to uplift the masses to greater levels of euphoric emotion. People took from the music what they needed to fuel their own fantasies and aspirations.

“Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll can never die
There's more to the picture
Than meets the eye.
Hey hey, my my.”

“Hey Hey, My My,” Neil Young

Now, rock and roll has matured, and during its many years of existence, it has suffered its share of scars and bruises. Drug abuse, payola scandals, racial prejudice, commercialism, government censorship – all hurt the music. In retrospect, one can make a case that MTV, the Internet, and corporate radio effectively suppressed the form. Yet, rock and roll is not dead. The music still inspires young artists and listeners.

You see, the “more to the picture than meets the eye” is just one more mysterious rock allusion that comprises the dreamscape of rock and roll music. No amount of analytical examination of lyrics, of melodies, of context, or of history can demarcate the ethereal presence of the music. It is there waiting on the next generation. As it continues to drift through the airwaves, rock and roll creeps into every crevice of America. Long live the music … and, of course, the beat.

“Just, let me hear some of that rock 'n' roll music
Any old way you choose it
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it
Any old time you use it
It's gotta be rock 'n' roll music
If you wanna dance with me”

“Rock and Roll Music,” Chuck Berry

The Trump Effect -- The Bleaching of America in the 21st Century

“As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, 
that white man is trash.” 

― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Donald Trump is racist. His racism and intolerance are evident in his biased nationalist temperament. Instances of his bigotry span more than four decades, and his presidential campaign was fueled by native-born sentiment directed at nonwhite immigrants. In fact, the very first time that Trump appeared in the pages of the New York Times, back in the 1970s, was when the US Department of Justice sued him for racial discrimination

In 2017, Trump displayed his unabashedly prejudice when he didn't directly condemn the racists who took over Charlottesville because he didn't want to lose his loyal supporters who think they have been "left out" and now “overcome” by minorities.

Even ex-House Speaker Paul Ryan (Rep.) has disavowed Trump's rhetoric and said his words are "the textbook definition of a racist comments." When you add all of Trump’s actions and comments together, a clear pattern emerges – his bigotry is a real element of his personality, character, and career.

Most of the Trump faithful see whites atop a hierarchy of social distinction, and they strive to keep ethnic minorities such as Muslims, African-Americans, and Mexicans at the bottom of the ladder of opportunity and under their control Many of his followers belief the “Make America Great Again” campaign is their license to take complete ownership of American identity at the expense of others they deem inferior.

Trump makes his people feel comfortable to say whatever they want and do whatever they want. He actually enables supremacists with his own unapologetic, narcissistic behavior. In Trump, the partisans find a voice of reckless abandon they believe boldly defends their own isolationism. As he focuses on self-aggrandizement and nationalism, Trump holds rally after rally to energize his base.

“'Make America Great Again' is backward- looking, a 1950s image of America before we had waves of immigration, before gay marriage, before the civil rights movement. It’s that appeal that has really rallied people around Trump more than any arguments around religion.”

– Robert Jones, Public Religion Research Institute

Former President Barack Obama – who fostered a sense of equality for all genders, identities, sexual orientations, races, religions, and belief systems – welcomed protests and opinions with grace, even when they were against him. Not so with Trump. He actually promotes division with a self-centered bully pulpit. He uses executive power in defiance of equitably and constitutional liberties. In reality, his presidency is defined by his shady character, his incompetence, and his lack of leadership skills.

Trump's flagrant actions fly in the face of reason. Who could forget his initial executive order on immigration – a temporary ban on entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries that were not obvious sources of terrorist activity inside the United States? This was widely seen as Trump's first step toward authoritarianism. Many other footfalls have followed. 

“Trump is a Frankenstein’s monster of past presidents’ worst attributes: Andrew Jackson’s rage; Millard Fillmore’s bigotry; James Buchanan’s incompetence and spite; Theodore Roosevelt’s self-aggrandizement; Richard Nixon’s paranoia, insecurity, and indifference to law; and Bill Clinton’s lack of self-control and reflexive dishonesty.”

– Jack Goldsmith, former attorney general in the George W. Buch administration and professor at Harvard Law School

Of course, Trump was elected by those who no longer trust the government, its institutions, and, quite frankly, each other. Increasingly, Americans do not tolerate people who do not stay in identifiable political and even geographical lanes. This breakdown in institutions mirrors the breakdown in social cohesion among diverse groups.

Trump delights in undoing and destroying things. He especially loves wrecking anything with President Obama's name on it. Instead of writing new legislation or working with Congress, he has pledged to reverse Obama’s immigration policies, repeal Obamacare, and, in the words of running mate Mike Pence, undo “every single Obama executive order.”

New York Times columnist Charles Blow wrote in December 2018 ...

“Trump is obsessed with Obama. Much of what Trump has accomplished – and it hasn’t been much – has been to undo Obama’s accomplishments, like pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris climate agreement and reversing an Obama-era rule that helped prevent guns from being purchased by certain mentally ill people. For Trump, the mark of being a successful president is the degree to which he can expunge Obama’s presidency.”

Trump uses deceit to accomplish his erasure of Obama's legacy. For the longest time, he refused to accept Obama was native-born. In March 2017 Trump accused Obama of “wire tapping” Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign. And, in 2019, he repeated a false claim to reporters wrongly blaming the Obama administration for instituting a policy in which children were separated from their parents at the Southern border.

Donald Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric is known as the “Trump Effect.” The term was originally defined as an increase in bullying in schools caused by the rhetoric Trump used during his presidential campaign. One survey reported 90 percent of teachers saw negative effects during this time and 40 percent said they witnessed derogatory language being used against marginalized students, including students of color, Muslims, and immigrants.

Now, years into his presidency, the definition of the Trump Effect has expanded to include religious and racial bullying by adults as well as: misogyny, sexual assault, and other socially unacceptable behaviors. Trump, his supporters, and his staff have harassed or attacked Latinos, immigrants, Muslim-Americans, African-Americans, and other minorities and marginalized groups.

The hatred and the new energy of the white nationalist movement were results of Trump's campaign and presidency. He continues to make incendiary racial statements while stoking white racial resentment and attacking so-called “political correctness.” His legacy is sure to be laced with violence and division.

One study recent study (2018) evaluated the relationship between Donald Trump’s rise to power and the recent increase in reported hate crimes. From the data used in this study, the authors offered “a novel theory that builds on the existing literature on the causes of hate crimes” …

“We hypothesize that it was not just Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric throughout the political campaign that caused hate crimes to increase. Rather, we argue that it was Trump’s subsequent election as President of the United States that validated this rhetoric in the eyes of perpetrators and fueled the hate crime surge.”

(Griffin Sims Edwards and Stephen Rushin. “The Effect of President Trump's Election on Hate Crimes.” University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Marketing, Industrial Distribution & Economics; Loyola University Chicago School of Law. January 14, 2018.)

To me, all of the debate over the support and idolatry of Donald Trump can be encapsulated by answering one simple question: “Can I support a power-driven president who continually exhibits bigoted histrionic behavior, narcissism, lack of empathy and impulsiveness?” In other words, can I respect the man? The answer is “no.” I, like many, believe his personality constitutes a serious danger for every living being on the planet.

Sources

Jack Goldsmith. “Will Donald Trump Destroy the Presidency?” The Atlantic. October 2017.

Casey Montana. “U.S. Moving Backwards, Blame Trump Odyssey. Mercyhurst University. August 15, 2017.

David Usborne. www.independent.co.uk. June 3, 2017.

Trump -- A Big Hunka, Hunka Mortality Salient Hatred

"You know, they have a word – it’s sort of became old-fashioned – it’s called a nationalist. And I say, really, we’re not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I’m a nationalist, okay? I’m a nationalist. Nationalist. Nothing wrong. Use that word. Use that word."

-- Donald Trump, 2018

We Americans hear every day about the threat of socialism. The opposition often blames liberal Democrats for supporting a socialistic agenda. And, in fact, many support a swing toward a political system which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange owned or regulated by the community as a whole. A recent Gallup survey (2019) found that more than four in 10 Americans believe that socialism would be good for the country.

Of course, statistics vary. The Gallup findings stand in stark contrast to another survey published earlier that same month by Monmouth University which found that 57 percent of the population believed that socialism was not compatible with American values. It also revealed that 42 percent of Americans had a negative opinion of socialism, while 10 percent viewed it positively.

The far right abhors Democratic Socialism and policies associated with it, such as the Green New Deal, "Medicare for All," and federal government-guaranteed jobs for all Americans, among others. The right believes it is akin to historic socialism in other countries in which government has control over all or most of the economy leading to poverty and oppression on an enormous scale.

Is Democratic Socialism the real, present threat to the welfare of Americans? I do not believe so. The obvious threat to democracy is Donald Trump, a narcissistic president who incites violence to get his way. Trump advocates division through his hate speech and xenophobic policies. He is the true enemy of diverse and liberal democracy. He is a self-professed nationalist … a nationalist lily white in his deepest being.

A study of Donald Trump’s rise to power and the recent increase in reported hate crimes revealed a so-called “Trump Effect.” Building on existing literature on the causes of hate crimes, the study found Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric throughout the political campaign and his subsequent election as President of the United States caused hate crimes to increase. The research also discovered that Trump's actions validated this rhetoric in the eyes of perpetrators and fueled a hate crime surge.

(Griffin Sims Edwards and Stephen Rushin. “The Effect of President Trump's Election on Hate Crimes.” University of Alabama Department of Marketing and Loyola University School of Law. January 14, 2018.)

Another study reported by The Washington Post and using data from the Anti-Defamation League found counties that hosted political rallies with Donald Trump as the headliner in 2016 saw a 226 percent increase in hate crimes over comparable counties that did not host such a rally in subsequent months. The authors suggest that this effect can be explained through a plethora of faux hate crimes are at best unrealistic. In fact, this charge is frequently used as a political tool to dismiss concerns about hate crimes. Research shows it is far more likely that hate crime statistics are considerably lower because of underreporting.

The study concludes it is hard to discount a “Trump effect” when a considerable number of these reported hate crimes reference Trump. According to the ADL's 2016 data, these incidents included vandalism, intimidation and assault.

(Valerie Martinez-Ebers and Ayal Feinber. University of North Texas. 

Anti-Defamation League. 2019.)

Some contend the media ensures that prominent members of the left never have to account for what they say, and maybe this explains why many of Trump’s supporters continue to back him so strongly. Still, the Republican party has done little to curb Trump’s tendencies.

The Southern Poverty Law Center reports it is the fourth straight year of hate group growth – a 30 percent increase coinciding with Trump's campaign and presidency. That follows three consecutive years of decline near the end of President Obama's administration. The number of hate groups operating across America rose to a record high – 1,020 – in 2018 as President Trump continued to fan the flames of white resentment over immigration and the country’s changing demographics.

Trump has energized black nationalist hate groups — typically antisemitic and anti-LGBT organizations. the great majority of hate groups are those that despise racial, ethnic or religious minorities and they, unlike black nationalist groups, have a firm foothold in the mainstream.

“This increasing racial polarization is an important element of America’s growing partisan divide, House Republicans elected in 2018 represent districts that are more white, less affluent and less well-educated than the national average, as well as more evangelical, rural and blue-collar. The Democratic coalition centers on minorities, young people and college-educated white voters – a growing demographic alliance that is seen as pushing the multicultural worldview that enrages white supremacists and roils their fears of 'white genocide.'”

(Heidi Beirich, Southern Poverty Law Center. February 20, 2019.)

Despite statistics that report crime rates among undocumented workers are lower than those among American citizens, Trump and his group rail against crime committed by illegal aliens. Sociologist Rene Flores says, "There's a clear implication that the Trump administration's rhetoric on immigrant criminality is driving these beliefs – which, again, are not based on reality."

Flores reports another stereotype – that undocumented residents are taking advantage of such programs as welfare, Medicaid, or food stamps – is largely confined to Republicans. "Among Democrats, receiving government benefits reduces perceived illegality," she writes. "(This) is indeed accurate, as undocumented immigrants are excluded from receiving most government benefits."

Denial of the Trump Effect is spurred by claims of “fake news,” yet reports of Trump's bigotry go back to at least decades to 1973. He has a “long record of negative comments on issues involving African Americans as well as Mexicans, Hispanics more broadly, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, women, and people with disabilities.”

(David A. Graham, Adrienne Green, et al. “ An Oral History of Trump’s Bigotry.” 

The Atlantic. June 2019.)

As an incurable narcissist, Trump believes his hatred enhances his self esteem and makes him a more opponent formidable. His fear mongering and fiery rhetoric is designed to heighten emotions, alter beliefs, and strengthen partisan support. His followers see this denigration as fearless conduct; however, his unrestrained and aggressive behavior makes him a dangerous commander-in-chief.

Psychologists understand Trump's mortality salience (the awareness by an individual that his or her death is inevitable) derives from the terror management theory, which proposes that mortality salience causes existential anxiety that may be buffered by an individual's cultural worldview and/or sense of self-esteem. Thus, mortality salience increases tribalism and aggression toward out-group members.

An revealing recent study, presented in 2016 at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association showed that when individuals were made to think about death, their support for Donald Trump increased, regardless of their party affiliation and whether or not they had an overall negative attitude towards Trump. This awareness of mortality has the potential to create existential terror and anxiety that can be debilitating. Not only do death reminders increase nationalism, they influence actual voting habits in favor of more conservative presidential candidates. Fear and loathing – Trump tactics.

(MS; Rosenblatt, Greenberg, Solomon, Pyszczynski, & Lyon, 1989)

“Mentally unwell old man hugs American flag;rants about 'socialism' and 'baby killers.'"

– Description of Trump's speech at CPAC, 2018

What themes will Trump use once again to try to win the White House in 2020? No doubt they will be as follows: Death, murder, fear of "socialism," empty patriotism, superficial nationalism, and disturbing hints of violence. Simply put, he will again frighten white people into supporting the agenda. It is pure “weaponized existential terror.”

As political staff writer Chauncey Devega puts it ... 

“For Trump and the Republican Party this takes the form of manipulating their white voters' fears of the 'browning of America' as well as parallel white anxieties about 'reverse racism' and a fallacious belief that white Americans being 'oppressed' or discriminated against in 'their own country."

(Chauncey Devega. “Donald Trump's 2020 re-election strategy: Scaring white people with threats of violence.” Salon. March 07, 2019.)

“Nobody's done more for Christians or evangelicals or, frankly,religion than I have.”

– Donald Trump

Oh, and don't forget Trump's unlikely appeal to evangelicals as God's “chosen one” due largely to his views on Israel, abortion, and good old American firearms. Morality? Oh, I guess that is overlooked with a Christian eye toward forgiveness. Sixty-one percent of evangelicals say the US is headed in the right direction, according to a 2018 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). What direction? I believe the evidence shows a path of further hatred and fear.

Ozymandias

By Percy Bysshe Shelley  

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Why Celebrate the 4th of July? A Declaration

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, thatthey are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."

– From The United States Declaration of Independence, 

adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776.

America celebrates Independence Day every July 4 to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The holiday is significant to the citizens of the United States for obvious reasons, but it is also recognized by people worldwide as the annual celebration of American beliefs. Thus, the Fourth of July is steeped in meaning. The true sense of the day requires contemplation. 

The United States of America was established because its founders believed in a series of virtuous principles and ideas. Many having escaped religious persecution in Europe, the first non-native Americans were firm defenders of liberty, freedom and opportunity, concepts that continue to represent the bedrock of the country's rich history. 

Although most today would concede the nations has not always lived up to these ideals, the American spirit to strive for perfection has always prevailed. The struggle for attainment is ongoing in a land as diverse as any on the face of the planet.

Indeed, it is fitting to celebrate Independence Day; however, beyond our simple commemoration of the Founding fathers, we should also take this opportunity to pledge to work together to resolve problems and differences in order to maintain the integrity and values upon which the Declaration of Independence was founded. So, the real meaning of the holiday requires a renewed affirmation to better the nation. 

In essence, each of us must pen our own “signature” beside the likes of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and John Hancock so that inalienable rights may live on. As the course of human events brings changes, we must adjust and seek to live up to a birthright requiring active participation. Only then will the United States of America remain the freest, most creative, most productive nation.

Change? Absolutely. Democracy requires adaptation and progressive movement. Even the Founding Fathers created a very imperfect union. For so many, the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness was denied. Consider these words about independence spoken by Frederick Douglass taken from a speech given in Rochester, New York, in July 1852.

“This, for the purpose of this celebration, is the Fourth of July. It is the birth day of your National Independence, and of your political freedom. This, to you, as what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. It carries your minds back to the day, and to the act of your great deliverance; and to the signs, and to the wonders, associated with that act, and that day …

“Fellow-citizens, I will not enlarge further on your national inconsistencies. The existence of slavery in this country brands your republicanism as a sham, your humanity as a base pretense, and your Christianity as a lie. It destroys your moral power abroad: it corrupts your politicians at home. It saps the foundation of religion; it makes your name a hissing and a bye-word to a mocking earth. It is the antagonistic force in your government, the only thing that seriously disturbs and endangers your Union. it fetters your progress; it is the enemy of improvement; the deadly foe of education; it fosters pride; it breeds insolence; it promotes vice; it shelters crime; it is a curse to the earth that supports it; and yet you cling to it as if it were the sheet anchor of all your hopes.

“Oh! be warned! be warned! a horrible reptile is coiled up in your nation's bosom; the venomous creature is nursing at the tender breast of your youthful republic; for the love of God, tear away, and fling from you the hideous monster, and let the weight of twenty millions crush and destroy it forever!”

(Frederick Douglass. “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” 1852.)

These prophetic words preceded the bloody American Civil War that tore the nation apart and the ongoing civil rights struggles that continue to this day. It is imperative we continue to refine the “self-evident truths” declared by those in 1776. Flags, fireworks, and proclamations honoring America relate our love for the history of a glorious nation. Yet, the progress of the country depends upon mending inconsistencies. 

To live in the United States of America requires commitment as well as allegiance. Those who defend the rights of some at the expense of others soil the pledge to liberty and justice “for all.” We must endeavor to achieve harmony in the face of continued division. This is the state of our union in 2019, and it has been since its inception. The Declaration remains a living document. We continue to struggle to reach the ideals on its face, and only persistent hard work will strengthen the heartbeat of the contract therein.

God speed the year of jubilee
The wide world o’er
When from their galling chains set free,
Th’ oppress’d shall vilely bend the knee,
And wear the yoke of tyranny
Like brutes no more.
That year will come, and freedom’s reign,
To man his plundered fights again
Restore.

God speed the day when human blood
Shall cease to flow!
In every clime be understood,
The claims of human brotherhood,
And each return for evil, good,
Not blow for blow;
That day will come all feuds to end.
And change into a faithful friend
Each foe.

God speed the hour, the glorious hour,
When none on earth
Shall exercise a lordly power,
Nor in a tyrant’s presence cower;
But all to manhood’s stature tower,
By equal birth!
THAT HOUR WILL, COME, to each, to all,
And from his prison-house, the thrall

Go forth.

Until that year, day, hour, arrive,
With head, and heart, and hand I’ll strive,
To break the rod, and rend the gyve,
The spoiler of his prey deprive-
So witness Heaven!
And never from my chosen post,
Whate’er the peril or the cost,
Be driven.

- William Lloyd Garrison

A Grande Dame -- Lucasville, Ohio

It began as a simple thought ...

You decided to embrace the old town. It has always been there in its faithful allegiance throughout 200 years, but perhaps you just didn't take the time to appreciate her steadfast virtues. Maybe you grew accustomed to the town's firm influence in your life and you took the village for granted. She didn't seem to mind.

But, this year was different – you decided to honor the people and the history of your hometown and commemorate all that she represents. In doing so, you made all the difference. On her 200^th birthday, you realized she deserved a little recognition. You committed your efforts to the Lucasville Bicentennial.

You see, you cared enough to draw all the area's resources together, and, in doing so, you germinated a seed of love that flowered with beautiful friendships and connections that only a small town preserves. For what lies at the core of such a wonderful community is its people and their loving support. This bedrock remains.

The year-long celebration features a dinner gathering at the barn; a time capsule ceremony; a queen pageant; a quilt show; a Scioto River Anthology; a commemoration of an honorary mayor, a parade marshal, a standard bearer, and an Ohio governor; a War of 1812 grave marking; a historic home tour; a community church service; and a founder's day celebration. Plus, the community is gracing the 200^th birthday with so much more – visible and behind the scene acts of kindness that sprouted from the celebration of the bicentennial. An overwhelming spirit of kindness emerged.

The folks in the old town smiled in anticipation of all the events. People cleaned their businesses and decorated their homes as they wished the village “Happy Birthday.” The youth absorbed history that took place in their area – events and people of which they had no prior knowledge. Even the air in the old town seemed a little sweeter.

As links grew, friendships renewed. New, strong associations were established. Lucasville, Ohio, in looking to the past, found a bright, new future. With 200 years of progress under her belt, the village proudly took its rightful place in the sun. It established its roots in a beautiful, natural valley of opportunity, and it sustains progress in that fruitful locale. The people there knew once more how fortunate they were to occupy a part of the history there. They gained a great insight into the future in doing so.

Once during the celebration, I swear I heard the grand old lady whisper, “Thank you. I didn't realize you cared so much.” And, I thought I saw a tiny drop of moisture falling from her cheek as she mouthed … “I love you, too.” Perhaps you witnessed that also.

%$@#! Robocalls Must Be Stopped

Damn, damn, damn. Damn these telemarketers and robocallers straight to hell. I'm sick and tired of getting incessant calls from these predators. I am retired, so I am home during the day. All day … yes, I mean all day my phone rings with calls from these pesky firms seeking to sell me things like back braces, insurance, and auto warranties. I'm also bombarded by “friendly reminders” about how I need to save interest on my high-interest credit cards or how I must pay a non-existent bill.

Oh, yes … and people with voices and accents I can't even understand are telling me they are from software companies that have detected my computer has been compromised, or they tell me they represent the IRS or Social Security, and they need my money or my identify to repair an issue.

Sales calls, scams, spoofs, downright frauds – all of these calls are aggravations. Too much is too much. These people are trampling all over my right to privacy with their actions. Enough is enough! I love my landline. I pay dearly for it. Like Mick Jagger sings, “Hey, you, get off of my cloud!”

You better believe they are tricky with their craft. Robocall technology allows these marketers to target hundreds or even thousands of victims at one time. Now, “neighbor spoofing” even makes it look as if someone local or even someone you know is calling you instead of an out-of-town or toll-free area code showing up, which would make you less likely to answer the call. Shouldn't this be illegal? These clowns are trampling all over my right to privacy. The calls are beyond nuisances – they have made us victims of our own expensive services. In a recent article in Consumer Reports, one aggravated person complained ...

“Probably around 80 percent of the calls to my cell phone and landline are from bothersome idiots,” says Craig Steimling of Belleville, Illinois. “It’s gotten so that my 5-year-old grandson yells, ‘Junk call!’ every time the phone rings.”

Craig, I feel your pain. Transaction Network Services has estimated that one-third of all calls placed in the first half of 2018 were robocalls. Also, the FTC says it gets about 400,000 complaints about robocalls every single day. Autodialed spam and scam calls besiege our nation, interrupting our otherwise pleasant days and increasing our frustration.

Let me tell you some sad news – it's getting worse instead of getting better. In 2018, a record 48 billion robocalls were placed to phones in the U.S., according to YouMail, a company that blocks and tracks robocalls. That works out to 1,500 robocalls per second—which is 56.8 percent more robocalls than there were in 2017. Ring, ring, RING, RING – for God's sake, these calls make me cuss more than rapper Eminem in concert.

Robocallers stay a few steps ahead of telephone companies and government regulators working to thwart them. For example, the National Do Not Call Registry, established almost 16 years ago to stop legal telemarketers from calling people who didn’t want to be contacted, has failed to stop the many fraudsters who pay no attention to the list.

A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by John Thune, R-S.D., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., called the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act was introduced in Congress in January 2019. It would strengthen the existing Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 by making fines for intentional robocalling violations bigger and easier for the FCC to obtain.

Thune's bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last April. That legislation, backed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, would push the major telecom companies such as AT&T and Verizon to better authenticate calls so consumers know who they are coming from.

For now, legal calls include calls from political parties and candidates, calls from charities, autodialed telemarketing calls from legitimate people, and payment reminder calls.

Illegal calls include almost all autodialed or prerecorded calls to your cell phone – even those from charities and political parties – are illegal unless you have given express permission beforehand to be contacted this way or the call is for an emergency. Did you check a terms-of-service box or provide a phone number during a sign-up process? Doing either can constitute consent to be called, per FCC regulations.

(Octavio Blanco. “Mad About Robocalls?” Consumer Reports. April 02, 2019.)

Many illegal robocalls originate from overseas criminal rings and target the elderly and recent immigrants because both are deemed more receptive to come-ons. To help sort out the good calls from the bad ones, the FTC publishes a daily roster of blacklisted numbers – numbers that have received a significant volume of consumer complaints that apps may use to help update their list of numbers to block.

I long for simpler times when a landline was a benefit to communication, not an ever-ringing annoyance. I remember when businesses and corporations would employ the voice technology to call with a truer, more noble purpose in mind. I remember when there was actually another person on the line who seemed to care about the receiver and the call.

When did the control and the preferred employment of the business telephone change? Why did it change? I fear the answers are related to the same old evil that seeks to gain great advantage by constantly disrupting the lives of simple, contented people . Greed and the love of money keep our phones ringing with unwanted intrusions. Excuse my language once more, but it's time to put these sons-of-bitches back in their place and out of our lives.