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If Ron DeSantis Has His Way, My Granddaughters Won’t Be Educated Enough to Get Into College

If Ron DeSantis Has His Way, My Granddaughters Won’t Be Educated Enough to Get Into College

by | Jun 17, 2023 | Extremist

Is reading such a bad thing that we
actually have to ban books?

Education is taking a big hit in Ron DeSantis’ Florida. In January of this year, the Governor appointed six new people to the board of trustees of New College of Florida to free the students and faculty from an ideological “hostage situation.” Heavens to Betsy, let us not burden the kiddies with thoughts they can’t handle or make them think at all!

When I was in the fifth grade, while everyone was dreading moving on to Mrs. P’s class because it was well-known that we had to write 50 book reports a year for her, I was excited. On average, I read about a book every day anyhow and relished the challenge ahead. I read books about Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickock, and Calamity Jane. Then pressed on to books like Animal Farm, 1984, Peter Pan,  Hawaii, Moby Dick, the Sherlock Holmes series, and the entire Burroughs Tarzan series. I think I wear glasses today because of all those nights reading by flashlight under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping. If you don’t think someone would find something to ban in those books today, you’re not paying attention. Think about: fairies, child molesters with hooks for hands, bare-breasted native women, drug addiction, and blatant racism.

A small public liberal arts college, New College of Florida ranks as the #5 Public liberal arts college in the nation. I’m afraid all that will end with DeSantis and Company. In about ten years, when my oldest Floridian granddaughter starts looking for a college to attend, I don’t think there will even be a public college in Florida worth attending.

Under the guise of Parent’s Rights, our Florida legislature is considering a bill that would ban any book in schools statewide if even only one parent objects to the book.

Unfortunately, the point at which the government tells us what we can read and bans that which we cannot read is only the beginning. The Nazis burned books in Germany in 1933, and the signs are in place that this cycle of intolerance is starting again.

DeSantis won his last election by more than 20 points and has a rubber-stamp legislature, so who can blame him for his blatant rule-by-fiat approach to governance? The “Stop W.O.K.E” Act was passed last year. It prohibits teaching or having classroom discussions where “he or she (a student) must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress for actions, in which he or she played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”

During his second inaugural address this past January, he decried wokeness this way: “We will never surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where Woke goes to die.”

So, what exactly does “woke”  mean? At a recent dinner, my daughter-in-law asked me that very question, and I tentatively replied, “Enlightened?”

As it happens, it was originally used as a call to action for Black people dating back to the early 20th century. Today, it’s accepted as a compliment by the left but used as an insult by the right. A USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll recently found that fifty-six percent of the people asked defined woke as “being informed, educated on, and aware of social injustices.”

How do we counter social injustice, bullying, and disinformation?

We do it with knowledge and a worldview that is based on curiosity rewarded. Imagine the thrill of a little high-five after being excitedly told something (s)he learned in school today. Or being read to and watching the progression of words getting more difficult, yet mastered, week after week. With a lifetime of knowledge gained by reading, watching integrated classrooms, and knowing that racism is taught, not inherent, wondering if these kids will become suspicious of each other because the sins of the past are being swept under the rug.

Reading gave me knowledge and perspective and stirred my curiosity. Curiosity forces us to question the knowledge we have been given. If it doesn’t seem reasonable, continue reading, questioning, and searching until the truth is found.

Interestingly, the “truth” can, and has, changed if critical thinking is fostered and nurtured. Yesterday’s truth is only as good as the informed minds that found it. More informed minds refine the truth.

Can you imagine where the world would be if people simply accepted the “facts” that were given to them? Would we know the truths about the past? Would the great thinkers of yesterday be able to
build on the ideas of past generations to create new and improved medicines or machines?

Please. Ignore the politicians who would keep you rooted in the past. They are afraid you won’t vote for them if you know the truth because they. only. want. power. The more you know, the more you see they don’t work for your best interests.

Read. Anything and everything. Then vote them out so your kids and my granddaughters can get a decent education in Florida.

Why Do I Wear My Mask?

Why Do I Wear My Mask?

by | Aug 16, 2021 | Conspiracies, Coronavirus

To Protect You, the Unvaccinated.

Whatever your reasons for not wearing a COVID-19 mask outside your home, I wear my mask to protect those who are unvaccinated.

That’s right, I’m looking out for you, even though I am fully vaccinated. While not the ultimate sacrifice, I am sacrificing my personal freedom so you don’t have to sacrifice your life. At the risk of sounding pompous, everyone knows — to quote TFG (The Former Guy, for those of us who cannot bear to say his name or hear his voice) — vaccinated people can, on rare occasion, become infected again. How rare?

“Two studies suggest that the chance of getting breakthrough COVID-19 is about 0.05%. In both studies, researchers noted that infection happened while COVID-19 cases were surging in the regions where the research took place.”

If your math is a little rusty, that means about 500 in every 1,000,000 fully vaccinated people could become re-infected.

If I am one of those unfortunate few, with the Delta variant making up most of the patients in the US today, I probably won’t be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. My symptoms would be mild or non-existent (asymptomatic). But, my viral load would be 1,000 times heavier than the original virus. Hanging out with me without a mask if you are unvaccinated, would be like Superman throwing buckets of gasoline on a monstrous forest fire and asking you to pick up a bucket and help.

Myths and Lies About the Coronavirus

We have all seen or heard disinformation campaigns that have spread around the world. Some of us have fallen prey to the myths lies because they are designed to deceive and look like research. The link in the paragraph below is from Business Insider, a more than reputable source of information. It also describes how to spot disinformation.

“While misinformation is false information that is created and spread regardless of an intent to harm or deceive, disinformation is a type of misinformation that is created to be deliberately deceptive. Both forms may be shared widely, regardless of whether or not the sharer knows the information is wrong.”

Sadly, I am aware of too many friends and family members, intelligent people who feel they have “done their research” and adamantly decline the mask and the vaccine.

If you positively want accurate information, I strongly encourage people to read the three-page PDF at this link from Sarasota Memorial Hospital in an attempt to debunk all the disinformation in circulation. Coincidentally, it answers many of the same questions I’ve heard from friends and family.

If you want information about vaccination also, refer to the CDC website FAQ page.

My Personal Choice, My Butt

Have you ever been caught driving under the influence (a DUI)? There goes your license — state-regulated permission to drive because you are a menace to society.

Do you want to fly a 737? You’ll need a license to prove you’re capable and not a menace to society. Same thing for driving a train or ship.

Want to practice medicine or law? Study hard and get a license to show you’re not a menace to society.

Are you licensed to hunt or fish during a particular season? Why? The state regulates conservation efforts to ensure wildlife does not become depleted by over-hunting or over-fishing.

When you start school, guess what? You must be vaccinated for several issues. These vary by state, but here in Florida, the list looks like this to start:

  • Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP)
  • Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
  • Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
  • Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
  • Hepatitis B (Hep B)

Let’s put it this way. The State has the right, and will, regulate anything it considers going against the Public Good. Not masking or vaccinating in a pandemic goes against the Public Good. The blatant disregard for proper medical guidelines to protect yourself and others has led to a resurgence in the COVID-19 population in the US. The more infections, the more likely the virus will mutate again. When it mutates, the current vaccines simply may not protect against it. 

Speaking of vaccines —

here are the latest facts on that subject.

“Hospitalizations Spike In States With Low Vaccination Rates As Unvaccinated Covid Patients Fill ICUs.”

“Breakthrough COVID infections show ‘the unvaccinated are now putting the vaccinated at risk’”

Unfortunately, more and more people seem to be feeling like this guy (harsh language) with 20.6K Retweets and 49.9K Likes at this moment.

Not a point of view I share because it’s never too late for forgiveness. However, a lot of people on Twitter seem to like it, for what that’s worth.

But I digress. I believe you were saying something about your personal choice about wearing a mask or getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

The End of an Era?

The End of an Era?

by | Jan 24, 2021 | Conspiracies, Trumpism

I doubt it. The Trumpster fire smolders all across the country, just waiting for the right opportunity to burst into flame again. While El Presidente slinks off to Florida, let us remember that as we watched and listened to him for over five years, 74 million of our neighbors drank his Kool-Aid. He told us to our faces what he was doing. Labeling the free press the “Enemy of the People” and calling their reporting “Fake News,” he gathered an army so drunk with the power he lavished on them, they stormed the Capitol in a coup attempt intent on arresting Members of Congress who opposed him.

“We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan,” co-defendant Jessica Watkins, 38, a U.S. Army veteran, said while the breach was underway … “You are executing citizen’s arrest. Arrest this assembly, we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud,” a man replied, according to communications recovered from her phone, the FBI alleged.

After all this, one hundred and ninety-seven members of the House of Representatives failed to see the need to impeach the Mad King Donald. One hundred and forty-seven members of the House and Senate voted to overturn the election results.

Oh yes, Trumpism is alive and well. The author of the feast is gone, but not forgotten. Not by a long shot.

A Republic, If We Can Keep It

A Republic, If We Can Keep It

by | Jan 24, 2021 | Conspiracies, Extremist

What’s the difference between a patriot and an insurrectionist? Until a couple of weeks ago, the answer was clear and straightforward for most of us. A patriot loves his or her country and will do anything to defend it. An insurrectionist has grievances against the government and will do anything to destroy it.

I imagine the Minutemen of colonial Boston saw themselves as patriots, while George III saw them as insurrectionists.

Like so many things in life, perspective is the key to your viewpoint. As one ages, your mindset can change based on the ability to see a larger picture and your relationship to it. Seeing things through youthful eyes can lead to rebellious attitudes, a lack of patience, and the demand for immediate change. 

Mellowing eyes have seen the pendulum’s movement and the need to take others’ rights into account. Aren’t we, the people, basically a complex life-form with the power to either improve or destroy our planet, which is only a speck of dust in an infinitesimally large universe? Will our inability to compromise lead us to be trapped like the monkey who won’t let go of the fruit in the jar, when simply unclenching his fist allows him to remove his hand and once more enjoy freedom? 

The Southern Poverty Law Center finds that:

“Generally, antigovernment groups define themselves as opposed to the ‘New World Order,’ engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines.”

On January 6th, 2021, the perspectives of many who considered themselves patriots, merged with and emerged as, insurrectionists who bought into the great lie that their country was being stolen from them.

The difference? To paraphrase Ben Franklin, in our republic, we have the means to change our government peacefully — if we can keep it.

Stealing Elections

Stealing Elections

by | Nov 12, 2020 | Uncategorized

Stealing Elections

In case you’ve just returned from your vacation on Mars, there seems to be a bit of a sticky issue over ballots, mostly in Pennsylvania. Trump has been railing for months about mail-in ballots and stealing elections. All of this commotion without any evidence whatsoever even though studies have shown no evidence of any significant fraud in any elections over the years. One of Trump’s favorite rally lines is that he could only lose this election is if it is rigged. This is clearly the case of a man reading too many of his press clippings. 

Here is the situation in Pennsylvania. The State Legislature, controlled by Republicans, stated that absentee ballots had to be received by 8 p.m. on November 3rd, Election Day. The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court ruled that an extension of three days was valid due to the coronavirus pandemic. So Pennsylvanians had until 5 p.m. on Friday, November 6th, for ballots to be delivered, as long as they were postmarked by November 3rd. 

The US Supreme Court had declined to rule on this when it came before them but expressed an interest in revisiting the ruling after Election Day. The Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, anticipating such a move, ordered any ballots that arrived after 8 p.m. on Election Day be kept separated. The US Supreme Court did not disappoint and ordered those ballots kept separate in case of further review. 

The actual legal distinction seems to rest on whether the State Legislature or the State Supreme Court has the right to determine the election process. Those who point to the Legislature also fall into the category of people who rail against “activist judges” whose decisions ultimately become law.

And yet, isn’t that the function of a Court?  In a checks and balances system, the Legislature forms a check on the Executive, and the Court forms a check on both the Executive and the Legislature. In turn, the Senate serves as a check on the Executive. The Court is charged with the need to “Advise and Consent” for Executive Judicial appointments.

If the Legislature passes defective laws, the courts are supposed to “interpret” those laws and “judge” them. In the Supreme Court case, the judges are called “Justices” because they are tasked with the ultimate authority to provide Justice.

In Pennsylvania, at first glance, it would seem that the State Legislature has the right to determine how elections are held in Pennsylvania.

“US Constitution
ARTICLE I
SECTION 4

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.”

This nonsense exists, despite the pandemic and the apparent corruption of the Postmaster-General, Louis DeJoy. A Federal court had ordered DeJoy and the Postal Service to restore the Post Office to the same state of efficiency that was in place in January of 2020. DeJoy, a major Trump contributor, was found to have deliberately slowed down postal deliveries during the pandemic to give Trump an advantage. How? Because Republican supporters tend to vote in person, while Democrats were mailing ballots to stay safe.

Furthermore, consider the Court’s potential view of the conflict between voters who were told they had extra time to vote, only to discover they may have been disenfranchised due to a power struggle between these two branches of the State government.

Even if the US Supreme Court invalidates the absentee ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day, no one expects it to affect the general election. 

But wouldn’t it be ironic if this election was decided for the second time in 20 years by the US Supreme Court rather than the will of the People? Talk about activist judges.

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