And yet, with all the things trump blatantly did to undermine and destroy this country for 4 heinous years (including an attempted coup and ignoring a deadly virus) he continues to be a free man along with the criminal minions that he pardoned. IMO, that is beyond infuriating.
Yesterday, I read an email and article so extreme in their support for Trump and accusations of Biden that I’m still shocked twenty-four hours later. This was a friend of a friend who, among other ideas, believes the anti-gun-violence movement is anti-Semitic, without further explanation of her reasoning.
This is happening because of fear, hate, gaslighting, an inability or refusal to research or fact check, and a propensity to aggression. These people use their gut reactions to dictate their words and actions.
No. It is happening because the top priority of 60% of white Americans is to preserve the advantages they have always held over people with non-European ancestors. They know their prorities and pursue them deliberately and relentlessly, regardless of other consequences, many of which are disadvantageous to most if them.
Rex and Ben, there is no contradiction in your explanations. Whether or not it is a fully independent force, evil is real and white supremacy is one of its means. As a monotheist, I choose to regard the existence of evil as an unexplained paradox. Theologies vary. If there is one thing that’s become clear to me since 2016, it’s that evil exists.
Cultural depictions aside, the force of Evil is real. I can't explain its existence. Yet, like countless others, I've encountered it, felt its presence, and seen it in action. The force itself is invisible, but the tools, fools and results it manipulates is often hideously apparent. You know it when you've met it and seen how it operates. Trump is a historic tool of Evil. He was raised and mentored to fulfill that role. Trump is like a hammer, and his fools are like nails in their own coffins and ours.
In my experience, Evil is a force with or without light, love, or peace. Evil is attracted to existences of Good, seeks to destroy it. Darkness, hatred, and conflict are created by Evil as it manipulates people.
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
And those who haven't been bamboozled must watch the destruction of the charlatan, and feel the pain and know the truth, but be unable to repair that damage.
He’s less free than he was before his 2016 presidency. Too many eyes are on him and his cohorts now so he can’t party with people like Epstein, make sneaky/shady real estate deals, or finagle Deutsche Bank of huge loans, without drawing a lot of attention.
Oh, the wheels of justice turn slowly but turning they are!! Despite the snow here on April 16, I needed to have a morning feeling something just and good is happening to identify and prove the 2016 election was manipulated and STOLEN. The projection of Big Lie, the Big Steal mirrored back to the true criminals who have began thwarted and dismantled our democracy. My plea that, should we find that T***p & Comrades did not win the election fair and square, that his presidency should be annulled and rethugs dismantled and charged completely for crimes against America and humanity. That T***p & Comrades' brainwashing, lies, trolls and Fox manipulated and controlled vulnerable people, and still do today. That this coup on our country would be undone. That illegitimately appointed judges and Supreme Court appointees and everything that the rethugs have committed across our land could be undone. That we allow this new administration, that is actually FOR THE PEOPLE, to work for righting this Titanic and steering her clear of the dangerous Republican authoritarian coup on all our branches of government. That their blows that almost dissolved our voting system and USPS during a pandemic be reversed. That reversing all pardons of every single one of the rethugs be done forthwith. That would include all the anti-democracy actions, or non-actions taken which bring me to McComrade and his egregious lies and leadership to stop our government from being functional. Corporate oligarchs, both domestic and foreign, have committed crimes against us and placed us in this Constitutional crisis. That would subject every rethug in our government who signed the document to overthrow our fair election to sedition along with their beloved insurrection. They owe us so much, and we need to squeeze every dime they have made off our country and good people. They need to pay for their incarcerations and court costs that The People are funding.
Okay, perhaps I am lucid dreaming this morning, but before I wake up, I would like to add to the reparations and indictments above, that Derek Chauvin will be charged as guilty for the murder of George Floyd. And this will begin to change the course of how our police systems operate and how we need to dismantle infrastructure of our American Caste system for all our people. .
Not sure I want my country to go through that much disruption (again), but you've got some good points there. Don't think we can annul the presidency, but this would be grounds for a successful post-presidential impeachment that would remove ALL of his benefits AND possibly (joyfully) ALL his assetts in repayment for his scams and the costs to the US. Yep, I think this has some real promise. But first I want to give Biden and the citizens of this country a chance to rebuild the foundations of a healthy democracy and economy. And healthy citizens.
But, he can still "inspire" chaos and demand his minions in Congress and state governments "kiss the ring". Even with all the historical context Heather has tied together, it still is very difficult to get one's head around the fact so many people in this country actually "worship" this narcissistic, dictator-wanna-be.
While I share your fury, I have full confidence that the wheels of this justice must turn slowly, methodically and thoroughly to assure not only that trump's guilty charges stick, but the rest of his criminal associates (and family?) go down with him. Like Al Capone.
I agree! I thought the SDNY was poised and ready to pounce the moment he was no longer President of the United States. It will be a true travesty of justice if he and his family get away with his crimes.
On April 15th two years ago, fire ravaged the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, collapsing Viollet-Le-Duc's tower into the nave of the church........the near destruction of a symbol for the whole world.
On April 15th, 2021 the retired General running the reconstruction project announced that all was now in place and secure for rebuilding to begin.....to replicate exactly the original. Oaks are being sourced in French forests for the roof structure and specialized "companions" hired to do the work from wherever they be found......just like the original Cathedral construction teams in the 12thC
Happily there are still some amongst us who recognize the power of symbols linked to significant acts to change the world, the way we look at it and how we live it.
Desperately hoping that Mr Biden and his cohort will continue to emulate the French architects and engineers in debriding, undergirding and strengthening the framework of our democracy..
TPJ. Thanks for highlighting these uncommon words and our need to actually know their meaning; so we can speak and write “mo better”. (A little “Africanized” English grammatical structure.)
Thanks Bill, or rather "sho nuff"! Keep the comments coming.
All credit to others; I just appreciate the new words shared by our friends here. My UMB history courses always feature language, often with a section on Black English. After spending a couple of years in Zambia, no accents sound better than Africans speaking English. It has the same vigor as did Elizabethan English.
I am French and it was excruciatingly painful to watch Notre-Dame engulfed in flames. Reconstruction is going on, slowly, and carefully, but it is moving along. A friend of mine lives fairly close to Notre-Dame and posts regular photos. I was in Paris in the late spring/early summer of 2019, and it was a rough sight to see. It was kind of miraculous tgat I had been in the Cathedral the previous summer! I may never be able to go inside if it again in my lifetime.
Not quite as they have only now got to the point of being able to start. It has taken 2 years to make sure what wasn't destroyed is sufficiently secure to support the future work.
Sounds like the kind of work being done in this country as Biden makes sure we are strong enough to move forward with his plans for rebuilding a nation!
In observing Biden's performance, I've come to believe that just because there is little public discussion of issues like DeJoy's directive to "get over it - I'm not going anywhere," it's a work in progress, and DeJoy will be ousted, the legislators who supported and enabled the Capitol insurrection, and many other travesties of the last five years, will be punished. We'll know the results when they hit the news networks.
I watched a good segment on PBS last night about the restoration of Notre Dame. I love how they are mixing the traditional materials and modern technology to bring back the iconic religious and architectural treasure, now that they have stabilised the structure. Fascinating. The French are very good at this kind of painstaking work, having seen Ankor Wat and the restoration of other temples in Cambodia.
I believe that Biden is working with the best of the traditional in addition to modern techniques towards the future of our democracy.
Let's pray that the reconstruction goes well and is realized, unlike the fulfillment of Lincoln's Southern Reconstruction and plan for social integration of the freed slaves. We're still witnessing the destruction caused by those betrayals.
That fire was devastating to witness. Even here in USA. Watched a TV program last year on how the French 3-D mapped Notre Dame recently which enables an accurate reconstruction. Hooray for computers. 🇫🇷❤️🤍💙🍾
Thank you Stuart. I had a great deal going on yesterday, and missed that wonderful news. Let us all hope that mighty Notre Dame's reconstruction might be symbolic of our country coming back from the brink of destruction as well.
For the day that anyone can return to the refurbished Notre Dame of Paris, I highly recommend reading (or recalling ) Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Hugo's vivid descriptions take you into the nooks and crannies of the cathedral. And while those are not accessible to a tourist, even walking up the worn steps of the bell towers, looking at the structure supporting the bells, peering out the little windows, sharing the perspective of the gruesome gargoyles looking out upon the plaza below and the cityscape beyond--puts you in the shoes of Quasimodo.
If that's not enough, Hugo's riffs on architecture and its role in messaging for the illiterate masses of the time are illuminating--messaging for the purposes of social control and funds for the church. Gazing at all the sculptures, art work, and stained glass windows has you looking through the eyes of the peasants wondering what inspirations and terrors they were experiencing as they, too, gazed, and maybe quivered in fear with the pillory in view behind them and the sermons of eternal damnation in hell echoing in their heads.
Beautifully said. Watching Notre Dame burn was one of the saddest things I have ever watched. The beauty, the craftsmanship and history destroyed in such a short time. I'm so happy they are doing what they can to replicate and rebuild. I just hope my children will be able to see it finished, as I was so devastated they had not had a chance to visit this magnificent Cathedral.
The worst loss was what they call the "forest" ...the 12thC oak structure under the roof. Fortunately the other sacred works and artifacts were saved by the firemen and priests.
I'm still pinching myself we're so fortunate to have the Biden Administration, and now I'm pinching myself we're so fortunate to have your daily letters. Context matters.
I feel the same. It is like we finally are seeing the emperor had no clothes on. What a nightmare the last 5 years have been. Thank you for the context Heather. Thank you President Biden in appointing a competent team that may pull us out of the quagmire we have been drowning in. Finally we are ending fighting the last 20 years of wars and intervening in a much more effective way. Russian influence and Trump’s collusion is chilling.
My sense about Georgia is that a massive turnout of Dems AND Independents won the day, and the future, without the support of a measurable number of Republicans. That vote was too evenly split to have seen many conservatives come to their senses.
I totally agree. And the massive turnout has frightened the Republicans so much that they went from defending the validity of the election to trying to suppress the next one. I'm guessing that the Democrats and Independents, now awakened, will respond to the attempts at voter suppression in even larger numbers. Shotgun can't be allowed to win, and Stacey Abrams needs to claim the office that she was cheated out of in 2018.
Clyburn, who spearheaded Biden winning the election and Stacy Abrams who got the votes out in Georgia deserve our gratitude for saving us from the brink of having our Democracy destroyed. They may have totally changed the course of history. Think of the possibilities if we could work together and honor we are all created equal.
As a former Republican and early member of the Lincoln Project I don't know any Republican here in Georgia that voted for the insipid clown that we had for a president or either of his senate supporters.
Yes, she did. I watched a lot of coverage on these revelations last night but no one explained it better than Heather did in her column this morning. And, this is what needs to get out to the majority of the people! It is BIG news and needs to be plastered on every media website and TV show. However, there is so much going on with mass shootings every day (another one in Indianapolis) and police brutality and murder of black people that I fear this will be overlooked for the bombshell it is.
And as HCR has explained, Ike's original warning was "Beware the Congressional Military Industrial Complex." We have a voice via our elected officials to stop this madness.
Beth--I totally agree. And the destruction of generations in order to assuage the egos of the old white men who are more concerned about their manhood than about their country.
I am an old white man that fought for my country and I couldn’t disagree more with your statement about being more concerned with my manhood than my country. I knowingly walked into hell for my brother’s in arms and in so doing saved the lives of some that surely would have died. I have no regrets for my actions and knowing all of the pain that I have lived with for the last 50 years would willingly do it again in a heartbeat. You only have to look 👀 at what Europe looked like at the end of WWII, to realize that for the last 70 years, the strength and dedication to service of our armed forces, which included an oath to the constitution, has given us the prosperity we have enjoyed. We are a work in progress, and I believe are moving in the right direction but I also believe that the strength of our armed forces has given us that opportunity. The fact that we have not had WWIII in spite of the many bad actors is due to those who have selflessly served. I was a part of that and a witness to it.
I was a 40+ year Republican in the John McCain mold and couldn’t be more proud of our current president and all of his efforts to help us build a better nation, he has my full and unwavering support. I like his idea of a pivot with a view to the threats of the next 20 years and it’s play to our strength, thank god we have a leader again.
When I read Linda’s comment, I immediately thought of old white men politicians, not the soldiers who served. There were early warning signs about Hitler which were ignored, Viet Nam hawks who later said it was a mistake, George Bush who was awol through most of his reserve duty. They have sent soldiers off to the most trying conditions without enough support while fighting and after returning. Denial of Agent Orange and PTSD medical care is just one example. Both my parents were veterans. I am sick over the current misuse of the word Patriots by brainwashed politicians and rioters. I have great respect for you as a veteran and supporter of Joe Biden.
Well put, Gigi and I fully agree about the word the current degradation of the word "Patriot." Actually, that downward spiral began with the the W's "Patriot Act" for me.
And yet, with all the things trump blatantly did to undermine and destroy this country for 4 heinous years (including an attempted coup and ignoring a deadly virus) he continues to be a free man along with the criminal minions that he pardoned. IMO, that is beyond infuriating.
Also, the fact that ~40% of Americans still support the epically evil psychopathic criminal is beyond frightening.
Yesterday, I read an email and article so extreme in their support for Trump and accusations of Biden that I’m still shocked twenty-four hours later. This was a friend of a friend who, among other ideas, believes the anti-gun-violence movement is anti-Semitic, without further explanation of her reasoning.
This is happening because of fear, hate, gaslighting, an inability or refusal to research or fact check, and a propensity to aggression. These people use their gut reactions to dictate their words and actions.
No. It is happening because the top priority of 60% of white Americans is to preserve the advantages they have always held over people with non-European ancestors. They know their prorities and pursue them deliberately and relentlessly, regardless of other consequences, many of which are disadvantageous to most if them.
Rex and Ben, there is no contradiction in your explanations. Whether or not it is a fully independent force, evil is real and white supremacy is one of its means. As a monotheist, I choose to regard the existence of evil as an unexplained paradox. Theologies vary. If there is one thing that’s become clear to me since 2016, it’s that evil exists.
From your experience, does Good also exist?
Yes
It's happening because Evil is real. See my comment above.
BenMjust now
Cultural depictions aside, the force of Evil is real. I can't explain its existence. Yet, like countless others, I've encountered it, felt its presence, and seen it in action. The force itself is invisible, but the tools, fools and results it manipulates is often hideously apparent. You know it when you've met it and seen how it operates. Trump is a historic tool of Evil. He was raised and mentored to fulfill that role. Trump is like a hammer, and his fools are like nails in their own coffins and ours.
Love is at the root of everything . . . love or the lack of it.
--Fred Rogers
Yep, I think Evil is the absence of Light...or Love. And Fred Rogers is a great philosopher!
In my experience, Evil is a force with or without light, love, or peace. Evil is attracted to existences of Good, seeks to destroy it. Darkness, hatred, and conflict are created by Evil as it manipulates people.
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
And those who haven't been bamboozled must watch the destruction of the charlatan, and feel the pain and know the truth, but be unable to repair that damage.
Thanks for the wise quote.
That certainly fills the description of the past 4 years and NOW! And the former bamboozler in chief is standing in line with the rest of the crooks.
Yes, he couldn't have "accomplished" this destruction without his acolytes and litter-bearers.
Does my having a cat make me a litter-bearer?
No. Your cat, and my two cats, bear no blame in all of this. In fact, they have no doubt been instrumental in keeping us sane.
He’s less free than he was before his 2016 presidency. Too many eyes are on him and his cohorts now so he can’t party with people like Epstein, make sneaky/shady real estate deals, or finagle Deutsche Bank of huge loans, without drawing a lot of attention.
Oh, the wheels of justice turn slowly but turning they are!! Despite the snow here on April 16, I needed to have a morning feeling something just and good is happening to identify and prove the 2016 election was manipulated and STOLEN. The projection of Big Lie, the Big Steal mirrored back to the true criminals who have began thwarted and dismantled our democracy. My plea that, should we find that T***p & Comrades did not win the election fair and square, that his presidency should be annulled and rethugs dismantled and charged completely for crimes against America and humanity. That T***p & Comrades' brainwashing, lies, trolls and Fox manipulated and controlled vulnerable people, and still do today. That this coup on our country would be undone. That illegitimately appointed judges and Supreme Court appointees and everything that the rethugs have committed across our land could be undone. That we allow this new administration, that is actually FOR THE PEOPLE, to work for righting this Titanic and steering her clear of the dangerous Republican authoritarian coup on all our branches of government. That their blows that almost dissolved our voting system and USPS during a pandemic be reversed. That reversing all pardons of every single one of the rethugs be done forthwith. That would include all the anti-democracy actions, or non-actions taken which bring me to McComrade and his egregious lies and leadership to stop our government from being functional. Corporate oligarchs, both domestic and foreign, have committed crimes against us and placed us in this Constitutional crisis. That would subject every rethug in our government who signed the document to overthrow our fair election to sedition along with their beloved insurrection. They owe us so much, and we need to squeeze every dime they have made off our country and good people. They need to pay for their incarcerations and court costs that The People are funding.
Okay, perhaps I am lucid dreaming this morning, but before I wake up, I would like to add to the reparations and indictments above, that Derek Chauvin will be charged as guilty for the murder of George Floyd. And this will begin to change the course of how our police systems operate and how we need to dismantle infrastructure of our American Caste system for all our people. .
I got lost in your lucid dream, and felt momentary hope and joy. But, alas, time to wake ip and get some coffee.
Your beautifully articulated response delighted me. I'm having my coffee right now.
*up
Oh, I don't want to wake up...or ip! ;-)
I LIKE your lucid dream!
I want to live in the world that Penelope envisions.
Me too. I think I've had that same dream. More than once!
I dreamed I was eating a giant marshmallow, and when I woke up, my pillow was gone!
The My Pillow guy steals them from Non Believers.
Oh, you tickled my funnybone again this morning, TPJ! What it must be like wandering around in your cerebellum? Thanks for these little tours!
Not sure I want my country to go through that much disruption (again), but you've got some good points there. Don't think we can annul the presidency, but this would be grounds for a successful post-presidential impeachment that would remove ALL of his benefits AND possibly (joyfully) ALL his assetts in repayment for his scams and the costs to the US. Yep, I think this has some real promise. But first I want to give Biden and the citizens of this country a chance to rebuild the foundations of a healthy democracy and economy. And healthy citizens.
From your lucid dream to God's ear...please!
YES!
Lock him up !!!
But, he can still "inspire" chaos and demand his minions in Congress and state governments "kiss the ring". Even with all the historical context Heather has tied together, it still is very difficult to get one's head around the fact so many people in this country actually "worship" this narcissistic, dictator-wanna-be.
While I share your fury, I have full confidence that the wheels of this justice must turn slowly, methodically and thoroughly to assure not only that trump's guilty charges stick, but the rest of his criminal associates (and family?) go down with him. Like Al Capone.
Yummy thought, MaryPat, I will wake up now!
I agree! I thought the SDNY was poised and ready to pounce the moment he was no longer President of the United States. It will be a true travesty of justice if he and his family get away with his crimes.
Leopards crouch before springing on their prey. Rattlesnakes coil before they strike.
!!!
On April 15th two years ago, fire ravaged the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, collapsing Viollet-Le-Duc's tower into the nave of the church........the near destruction of a symbol for the whole world.
On April 15th, 2021 the retired General running the reconstruction project announced that all was now in place and secure for rebuilding to begin.....to replicate exactly the original. Oaks are being sourced in French forests for the roof structure and specialized "companions" hired to do the work from wherever they be found......just like the original Cathedral construction teams in the 12thC
Happily there are still some amongst us who recognize the power of symbols linked to significant acts to change the world, the way we look at it and how we live it.
Desperately hoping that Mr Biden and his cohort will continue to emulate the French architects and engineers in debriding, undergirding and strengthening the framework of our democracy..
We get to look up debriding. Yay!
From a family with 3.5 generations of doctors, "debriding" is part of the vocabulary one grows up with
Half a generation? Is someone in medical school?
"When you grow up with frogs, you learn how to jump." Said by a doc from a doc family.
Yes. Deductive powers abound.... I like that (don't know what to call it, but it's apt)
TPJ. Thanks for highlighting these uncommon words and our need to actually know their meaning; so we can speak and write “mo better”. (A little “Africanized” English grammatical structure.)
Thanks Bill, or rather "sho nuff"! Keep the comments coming.
All credit to others; I just appreciate the new words shared by our friends here. My UMB history courses always feature language, often with a section on Black English. After spending a couple of years in Zambia, no accents sound better than Africans speaking English. It has the same vigor as did Elizabethan English.
Thankfully, the architects were not listened to as they were largely suggesting a "moderist" conversion to show how intelligent they think they are.
Oh-- yes, I remember hearing that
Trump understood the power of symbols linked to significant nonexistent acts.
And thus eventually he too will be "nonexistent" as without the significant act nothing changes.
I am French and it was excruciatingly painful to watch Notre-Dame engulfed in flames. Reconstruction is going on, slowly, and carefully, but it is moving along. A friend of mine lives fairly close to Notre-Dame and posts regular photos. I was in Paris in the late spring/early summer of 2019, and it was a rough sight to see. It was kind of miraculous tgat I had been in the Cathedral the previous summer! I may never be able to go inside if it again in my lifetime.
Thanks for this comment, Stuart.
Yes, reconstructions can happen! 🇫🇷❤️🇺🇸
I wept watching the beautiful Notre Dame go up in flames. Two years and the rebuild is well underway. A symbol that reconstruction can happen.
Not quite as they have only now got to the point of being able to start. It has taken 2 years to make sure what wasn't destroyed is sufficiently secure to support the future work.
Sounds like the kind of work being done in this country as Biden makes sure we are strong enough to move forward with his plans for rebuilding a nation!
Exactly my thought. Shore up our foundations, after ensuring all the rot is out.
Waiting for that crook of a postmaster to get cut out.
In observing Biden's performance, I've come to believe that just because there is little public discussion of issues like DeJoy's directive to "get over it - I'm not going anywhere," it's a work in progress, and DeJoy will be ousted, the legislators who supported and enabled the Capitol insurrection, and many other travesties of the last five years, will be punished. We'll know the results when they hit the news networks.
I watched a good segment on PBS last night about the restoration of Notre Dame. I love how they are mixing the traditional materials and modern technology to bring back the iconic religious and architectural treasure, now that they have stabilised the structure. Fascinating. The French are very good at this kind of painstaking work, having seen Ankor Wat and the restoration of other temples in Cambodia.
I believe that Biden is working with the best of the traditional in addition to modern techniques towards the future of our democracy.
Thank you, I will look for this!
Let's pray that the reconstruction goes well and is realized, unlike the fulfillment of Lincoln's Southern Reconstruction and plan for social integration of the freed slaves. We're still witnessing the destruction caused by those betrayals.
That fire was devastating to witness. Even here in USA. Watched a TV program last year on how the French 3-D mapped Notre Dame recently which enables an accurate reconstruction. Hooray for computers. 🇫🇷❤️🤍💙🍾
And for respect for such symbols and traditions and for the traditional human expertise necessary to recreate them.
Thank you Stuart. I had a great deal going on yesterday, and missed that wonderful news. Let us all hope that mighty Notre Dame's reconstruction might be symbolic of our country coming back from the brink of destruction as well.
I’m very glad to hear this news about Norte Dame.
For the day that anyone can return to the refurbished Notre Dame of Paris, I highly recommend reading (or recalling ) Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Hugo's vivid descriptions take you into the nooks and crannies of the cathedral. And while those are not accessible to a tourist, even walking up the worn steps of the bell towers, looking at the structure supporting the bells, peering out the little windows, sharing the perspective of the gruesome gargoyles looking out upon the plaza below and the cityscape beyond--puts you in the shoes of Quasimodo.
If that's not enough, Hugo's riffs on architecture and its role in messaging for the illiterate masses of the time are illuminating--messaging for the purposes of social control and funds for the church. Gazing at all the sculptures, art work, and stained glass windows has you looking through the eyes of the peasants wondering what inspirations and terrors they were experiencing as they, too, gazed, and maybe quivered in fear with the pillory in view behind them and the sermons of eternal damnation in hell echoing in their heads.
Good catch, mon vieux, and another reason to pay attention to this date. Below is a short book review written on the evening of April 15, 2015.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3S2MPAZ3I6RYE/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0670517488
The rosas windows were saved without damage, thats the most important.
Alors, formidable!
Bien Sur!
Beautifully said. Watching Notre Dame burn was one of the saddest things I have ever watched. The beauty, the craftsmanship and history destroyed in such a short time. I'm so happy they are doing what they can to replicate and rebuild. I just hope my children will be able to see it finished, as I was so devastated they had not had a chance to visit this magnificent Cathedral.
The worst loss was what they call the "forest" ...the 12thC oak structure under the roof. Fortunately the other sacred works and artifacts were saved by the firemen and priests.
Good news, Stuart. Thanks!
I'm still pinching myself we're so fortunate to have the Biden Administration, and now I'm pinching myself we're so fortunate to have your daily letters. Context matters.
I feel the same. It is like we finally are seeing the emperor had no clothes on. What a nightmare the last 5 years have been. Thank you for the context Heather. Thank you President Biden in appointing a competent team that may pull us out of the quagmire we have been drowning in. Finally we are ending fighting the last 20 years of wars and intervening in a much more effective way. Russian influence and Trump’s collusion is chilling.
Thank you Congressman Clyburn and the people of South Carolina.
And those stalwarts - some Republican, who made it happen in Georgia
My sense about Georgia is that a massive turnout of Dems AND Independents won the day, and the future, without the support of a measurable number of Republicans. That vote was too evenly split to have seen many conservatives come to their senses.
I totally agree. And the massive turnout has frightened the Republicans so much that they went from defending the validity of the election to trying to suppress the next one. I'm guessing that the Democrats and Independents, now awakened, will respond to the attempts at voter suppression in even larger numbers. Shotgun can't be allowed to win, and Stacey Abrams needs to claim the office that she was cheated out of in 2018.
Clyburn, who spearheaded Biden winning the election and Stacy Abrams who got the votes out in Georgia deserve our gratitude for saving us from the brink of having our Democracy destroyed. They may have totally changed the course of history. Think of the possibilities if we could work together and honor we are all created equal.
As a former Republican and early member of the Lincoln Project I don't know any Republican here in Georgia that voted for the insipid clown that we had for a president or either of his senate supporters.
Do you know how the early tide is running there for Reverend Senator Warnock, who runs again in 2022?
Neither do I, although I avoid political conversations with known Republicans. You're too kind calling him an "insipid clown."
That is surprising to hear.
Lol!
You just took several topics that otherwise would have made no sense to me and laid them out like a map. Again, I thank you!
Yes, she did. I watched a lot of coverage on these revelations last night but no one explained it better than Heather did in her column this morning. And, this is what needs to get out to the majority of the people! It is BIG news and needs to be plastered on every media website and TV show. However, there is so much going on with mass shootings every day (another one in Indianapolis) and police brutality and murder of black people that I fear this will be overlooked for the bombshell it is.
Well said.
Exactly!
It would be terrific if we would stop wasting our greatest natural resource (our young people) on unwinnable wars that have unclear objectives.
And instead invest in the Peace Corps, National Health Service Corps, Americorps...
Civilian Climate Corps
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_606f6a7ec5b62ff28f406914?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004&fbclid=IwAR37__0urYddZc6hgNpJyLY7P3eI_FXwW5rB9AGX-0KalJZQYQbF8aP__8Y
Refurbishing the Civilian Conservation Corps acronym to meet today's challenges.
What a fabulous notion! Thank you for sharing this
and health care and education and climate, yes
‘Beware of the military industrial complex’ warned former President Eisenhower.
He understood that by permanently linking industrial strength to building and maintaining a military arsenal, ongoing warfare would be inevitable.
And as HCR has explained, Ike's original warning was "Beware the Congressional Military Industrial Complex." We have a voice via our elected officials to stop this madness.
We SHOULD have a voice via our elected officials... mine is playing the Republican manipulation game and has been for the last 8 years.
Beth--I totally agree. And the destruction of generations in order to assuage the egos of the old white men who are more concerned about their manhood than about their country.
I am an old white man that fought for my country and I couldn’t disagree more with your statement about being more concerned with my manhood than my country. I knowingly walked into hell for my brother’s in arms and in so doing saved the lives of some that surely would have died. I have no regrets for my actions and knowing all of the pain that I have lived with for the last 50 years would willingly do it again in a heartbeat. You only have to look 👀 at what Europe looked like at the end of WWII, to realize that for the last 70 years, the strength and dedication to service of our armed forces, which included an oath to the constitution, has given us the prosperity we have enjoyed. We are a work in progress, and I believe are moving in the right direction but I also believe that the strength of our armed forces has given us that opportunity. The fact that we have not had WWIII in spite of the many bad actors is due to those who have selflessly served. I was a part of that and a witness to it.
I was a 40+ year Republican in the John McCain mold and couldn’t be more proud of our current president and all of his efforts to help us build a better nation, he has my full and unwavering support. I like his idea of a pivot with a view to the threats of the next 20 years and it’s play to our strength, thank god we have a leader again.
To Dick Montagne:
When I read Linda’s comment, I immediately thought of old white men politicians, not the soldiers who served. There were early warning signs about Hitler which were ignored, Viet Nam hawks who later said it was a mistake, George Bush who was awol through most of his reserve duty. They have sent soldiers off to the most trying conditions without enough support while fighting and after returning. Denial of Agent Orange and PTSD medical care is just one example. Both my parents were veterans. I am sick over the current misuse of the word Patriots by brainwashed politicians and rioters. I have great respect for you as a veteran and supporter of Joe Biden.
Well put, Gigi and I fully agree about the word the current degradation of the word "Patriot." Actually, that downward spiral began with the the W's "Patriot Act" for me.