Month: June 2020

What is the silent majority?  Does it exist in the US in 2020?  If so, will it turn out for President Trump and win the election for him like it did in 2016?  These are all intriguing questions.

I think the answers to these questions are very clear.  The answers are “I don’t know, and neither does anyone else.”  Why?  Because, if it exists, its members, by definition, are silent.  They do not make their opinions known, except at the ballot box on Election Day.  Some analysts maintain it does and it will; others scoff at the idea as wishful thinking.  Read on, and I provide my opinion with which you may feel free to disagree.

Wikipedia defines the silent majority as “an unspecified group of people… who do not express their opinions publicly.”  The existence of a silent majority is not a new concept.  I found references to it as early as 1831 when NYS representative Churchill Cambreleng blamed it for the defeat of a bill he had sponsored.

In the run-up to the 1920 presidential election Calvin Coolidge’s campaign staff portrayed him as the champion of the silent majority.  Coolidge took this designation most seriously.  He was commonly known, mockingly, by the nickname “Silent Cal” for his habit of speaking as little as possible.

More recently, the term was employed by the Nixon-Agnew Campaign in the run-up to the 1972 election.  Like now, that was a very turbulent time characterized by violent protests.  The primary target was the Vietnam War, which was growing very unpopular.  It seemed that the country was moving quickly and decisively to the “left.”  The GOPers maintained that there was a silent majority that would vote for President Nixon, and they were proven correct when he won in a landslide.

Likewise, 2020 has been a topsy-turvy year and not just politically.  Up until March it seemed that President Trump would be re-elected handily.  The Dems’ ill-advised attempt to convict him of impeachment had failed decisively.  He had defeated ISIS.  His energy policies had enabled us to become energy-independent for the first time since the mid-20th century.  The economy was the strongest ever.  Unemployment was at or near record lows for all demographic groups.  The stock market was flying making the middle class feel richer than ever.  He had even gotten Congress to pass a crime bill favorable to AAs and other minorities.

Then, out of nowhere, we were hit with the ultimate gamechanger – the COVID-19 virus from China.  The virus necessitated an unprecedented virtual shutdown of the economy.  Overnight, the economy deteriorated from the best ever to a virtual depression.  Unemployment levels rose to levels not seen since the Great Depression.  Many people were scared and confused.  This was followed by the brutal police killing of George Floyd, which has sparked violent protests, looting and destruction in city after city.

Now, in the space of three months, Mr. Trump’s re-election prospects have gone from very good to very poor.  He is down in all the polls by as much as 14 points, both nationally and in the swing states.   At the moment, although the political landscape can and often has changed quickly, it seems like his only chance to win depends on the strong support of the silent majority, which may not even exist.

The poster child for the current violence, looting and wanton destruction of private and public property is the Black Lives Matter movement.  In my view, this moniker is misleading as the above lawlessness has gone far beyond a proportionate response to the killing of George Floyd and occasionally other AAs by policemen.  The mob is being egged on by a biased media, clueless celebrities, “tweeters,” and far left politicians who have hijacked the Dem Party.  They don’t realize that their opinions do not reflect those of the majority of Americans who don’t live on twitter and who prefer peaceful protest and law and order to violence and disorder.

As an aside, has anyone noticed that virtually all of the aforementioned destruction has been occurring in cities that are and have been controlled 100% by Dems, in some cases, for decades such as NYC, Minneapolis, Chicago, LA, Seattle, Atlanta, and Washington, DC?  Hmmm.  Food for thought.   Makes one wonder what the ramifications would be if the Dems won the upcoming election and controlled the entire country, doesn’t it?

Quiz question:  With all of NYC’s current problems what is one of mayor De Blasio’s foremost priorities?  See answer below.

As often happens, the movement has been hijacked by ultra-violent fringe elements.  They could care less about Floyd, black lives, and the minorities and immigrants whose businesses they destroyed.  They know nothing about the history behind the statues and monuments they are destroying.  Founding fathers, former presidents, Civil War heroes, abolitionists, Francis Scott Key, and even George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are fair game.  They don’t care.  It’s all about power and control.  Their sole goal is to create enough anarchy and destruction so that Mr. Trump loses the election in November.  In the words of one BLM anarchist they want to “burn down the [American] system” and rebuild [it]  How and what are they planning to rebuild?  They probably haven’t even thought that far ahead.  Anyone who challenges them or their methods is branded a “racist” and faces the loss of their livelihood and their reputation without due process.

History tells us that eventually these radical movements go too far, reach a tipping point and self destruct.  Eventually, the majority will turn on them and declare, “enough already!”

For example, that is what happened to McCarthyism in the 1950s.  Many of us are familiar with the story.  Senator Joseph McCarthy had become very powerful and feared by claiming the country and its institutions, such as various government agencies and the entertainment industry, were riddled with communists.  Most of the claims were without foundation, but that did not seem to matter.  Everyone was afraid to challenge him lest they be branded a communist, lose their job, be blacklisted and/or be imprisoned.  (Sound familiar?)  Finally, at a Senate hearing investigating possible communists in the Army, Joseph Welch, the Army’s special counsel, had had enough of these wild, baseless accusations.  He famously admonished McCarthy: “Have you no sense of decency?”

That moment proved to be the beginning of the end for McCarthy and his movement.  I say, enough of the baseless “racist” accusations.  America may have some racists, both black and white, but by no means is it systemically racist as some claim.  Maybe it was prior to the 1960s, but not now.  Anyone who thinks it is should compare it to other countries.  What the country needs now is another “Welch moment.”

I believe that the majority of voters are horrified over what is happening to their country.  They are decent, reasonable people who are just trying to get by in these difficult times. They work hard to provide for their families. They have neither the time, the energy,  nor the inclination to riot or march in a protest. But, they also realize that there is no justification for the current level of violence and destruction.  They hate it and are embarrassed by it.  However, they are afraid to do or say anything lest they be accused of racism.  Heck, even most of our elected leaders, whose main job is to provide security and law and order for their constituents, members of the media (except for Fox News), and high-profile, well-respected celebrities are afraid.

Even many AAs are opposed to the destruction being caused under the name of BLM.  This opinion was put forth recently by Black Entertainment TV founder Robert Johnson who opined that most AAs he knows actually mock the white anarchists who are destroying landmark monuments.  He labeled them “borderline anarchists” who know “absolutely nothing” [about the struggles of AAs].   I’m sure these AAs to whom he is referring agree that black lives do matter.  Even most white people do.  I do as well, but I go further.  I agree with Dr. Ben Carson who recently intoned on Fox News that “ALL lives matter” – white, black, Asian, women, young, old, yours and mine.  Our life is the most precious commodity we have.  We only get one, and this is not a “dress rehearsal.”

CONCLUSION

I believe and fervently hope that most of these silent majority voters secretly support Mr. Trump and would vote for him. They may not like him on a personal level; they may think he is arrogant, self-centered, narcissistic, and boorish.  I don’t disagree with that assessment.  However, I have learned to focus on what he does, not what he says.

I think they would prefer his policies of capitalism, self-determination and law and order to the socialism, government control, disorder and chaos that a Biden presidency would bring.  There is no doubt that Biden is firmly under the thumb of the far left wing of the Dem Party nor that it would control his presidency.  Mr. Trump needs to do a better job of explaining those differences to the voters.  If he does he will have a good chance to win.

Many members of the silent majority won’t admit it to their friends, relatives, co-workers or even to pollsters. They are afraid of being mocked or worse. But, they can express their opinions at the one time and place it matters – on Election Day, at the ballot box.  That is what they did in 2016.  Let’s hope for a reprise.

Quiz answer:  Painting “Black Lives Matter” on the street in front of Trump Tower.

 

Quiz answer: Painting BLM slogans on the street in front of Trump Tower.  For real!

Joe Biden’s campaign staff has devised a very wise campaign strategy for him.  It is one that is perfectly suited for him.  Say and do as little as possible.  Meet with as few people as possible and only those who have been vetted carefully.  And, so far, aided by the support of a predominantly favorable media, it is working.  Kudos to campaign manager, Greg Schultz and his team.  If they manage to pull this off they would belong in the campaign manager’s Hall of Fame.

Currently, various national polls show Biden leading President Trump by anywhere from eight to 14 points.  Furthermore, he is leading in most of the “swing” states.  If the polls are accurate, a big “if,” he stands to win the election handily.

This is not a new campaign strategy.  It was popular from the late 19th through early 20th centuries.  It was employed by various candidates such as James A. Garfield (1880), Benjamin Harrison (1896), and Warren G. Harding (1920), all of whom won.  It was commonly known as “front porch politics,” because the candidate would remain at home and interact with only a few selected people often on his front porch.  He would engage in little or no traditional campaigning.

Biden has adopted and refined this strategy in the style of the 21st century.  He is holed up, or perhaps, hiding, in his basement.  He has limited his campaigning to virtual appearances and issuing carefully worded statements written by members of his campaign staff.  He has not conducted any press conferences in nearly three months.  He has only met with friendly members of the media who have lobbed him softball questions.  He has rarely ventured out to interact with real people where he might have to answer uncomfortable questions and speak extemporaneously.   He is still committing the occasional gaffe for which he is known, but as of yet, they have not hurt him.  The prevailing attitude seems to be, “aw, it’s just good ole Joe being Joe.”

His handlers are very pleased with the results so far and likely will continue this strategy as long as they are able, maybe even through the convention.  They might even be able to avoid any debates with President Trump.

Why?  We know why.  I have blogged about Biden’s apparently diminished capacity many times.  It is obvious whenever he does speak in public.  There is no need to belabor the matter.  Obviously, a majority of the public is willing to overlook it.

How does he get away with this?  Why is this working?  How can he campaign in this manner and be up in the polls?  Simple.  As I said, (1) he is being aided and abetted by a friendly, some would say complicit, media; and (2) half the country hates President Trump so much they would probably vote for anyone else instead, including, apparently,  a nondescript, impaired Joe Biden.

As I said, Biden has been in politics for over 50 years.  He served in the Senate from 1973 – 2008.  Then, he served as VP from 2008 – 2016.  He has had a long career in public service.  Was it distinguished?  It depends on one’s point of view.  In my opinion, it has not been.

In reality, what has he accomplished?  His main accomplishment was sponsoring the comprehensive crime bill in 1994, and even that is now under so much criticism he has been trying to disavow it.  Basically, he has been a bystander, watching events unfold without influencing them.  He has portrayed himself as a big defender of the disadvantaged, primarily AAs, but his actions have been at odds with his words.  Generally, he has studiously avoided speaking up, taking a stand.  Read on, and I will demonstrate.

Biden likes to criticize the current situation and spout off how he would fix everything as president.  All candidates do this, but in Joe’s case it rings hollow.  He has had his chance over the last 50+ years, and he has failed.  What makes one think he could do so now?

To illustrate my point, let’s play a little game, a version of that child’s game, “Where’s Waldo.”  I’ll call it “where is/was Joe?”  Joe portrays himself as a strong protector/supporter of African Americans.  Recently, in one of his rare interviews he told the interviewer that if an AA didn’t vote for him “you ain’t black.”

1. He professes to be a big supporter of AAs. He talks a good game. Why hasn’t he spoken out?  Why, in all these years, hasn’t he introduced legislation to curb the violence in AA neighborhoods?  To improve the schools?  To create jobs?  In the last 50+ years where was Joe?
2. For several years AAs have been the victims of wanton shootings.  On occasion, the shootings have been controversial and involved police leading to public outrage, rioting, and violence.  Most of the time, the crimes have been “black on black” and drug or gang-related crimes in predominantly black neighborhoods and have drawn little traction in the media, which only seems interested in situations involving a police officer and an AA.  Where was Joe?
3. The overwhelming percentage of AAs are law abiding.  They have been living in fear for themselves and their loved ones.  They have been begging for law and order in their communities.  This past weekend the deaths included two three year-old black children slain by other AAs.  Unfortunately, crimes against children have not been uncommon.  Where was Joe?
4.  Regarding the recent police-involved deaths of AAs in Ferguson, MO, Baltimore, MD, NYC, and other locales, which have sparked much controversy and violence, where was Joe?
5. Regarding the recent police-involved murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, where was Joe?
6. Regarding the eleven additional shootings in Minneapolis this past weekend, including one death, where is Joe?
7. Regarding the 72 shootings in NYC from June 15 through Sunday, mostly AAs.  Where is Joe?
8. Regarding the continued violence in Atlanta, Baltimore, LA and many other cities, all of which have been and are run by Dems, where is Joe?
9. Regarding the ongoing violence in Chicago including one hundred shootings over this past weekend, mostly AAs, where is Joe?
10. Black Lives Matter takes over a six square block area of Seattle and declares it to be their separate country.  Local politicians, all Dems, do nothing to stop it. Where was Joe?
11. Unending violence against innocent AAs in various other cities across America, continue unabated.  Where is Joe?
12. Regarding the defacing and destruction of historic statues and monuments in various locales, including not just former Confederates but also four of our most beloved presidents – Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt – and heroes of the republic such as Francis Scott Key, where is Joe?
13. For years, China has systematically taken advantage of the US, economically, flooding our markets with cheap goods, undercutting certain of our industries, ensnaring us in one-sided trade deals, and paying off US officials, including Hunter Biden.  Hunter is rumored to have been paid $1.5 billion by the Chinese government for no legitimate purpose.  Where was Joe?
14. A Ukraine oil company was rumored to have paid Hunter several hundred thousand dollars a year despite his lack of expertise in the area.  This arrangement was obviously a bribe based on his father being vp.  We know where Joe for that one.  He was busy threatening government officials that he would arrange to withhold foreign aide to the government of Ukraine unless it dropped an ongoing investigation into the matter and then bragging about it.
15. Regarding the recent rioting in many US cities resulting in wanton destruction of property, many of them small businesses owned by minorities and immigrants, the very groups Joe professes to support, where was Joe?
16. For years veterans have suffered from inadequate healthcare.  Where was Joe?
17. As the coronavirus was rampaging through the US in early 2020, and President Trump was instituting travel bans to protect us, where was Joe?
18. Regarding members of Black Lives Matter hijacking peaceful protests and transforming them into rioting and violence, where is Joe?
19. Regarding rioters threatening to establish a Seattle-style separate zone in the very shadow of the White House, where is Joe?

Where, indeed.  Nowhere to be found.  Hiding in his basement.  That’s where.

CONCLUSION

After spending over 50 years in politics, no one really knows what Joe stands for, because it keeps changing.  For years, he was a moderate Dem, but in 2020 he has changed his positions seemingly daily.  It appears he is merely repeating the words that have been put in front of him.  He has allowed himself to be pulled far to the left by the radical elements in his party.  He has supported outlandish, unrealistic policies such as the Green New Deal, free healthcare for all, and unfettered immigration.  Anyone with a brain can see that these socialist policies would bankrupt the country.  He panders to the audience he is addressing at the time.  Once again, the media does not challenge him.  This is the candidate the majority wants to be president?  Unbelievable!

In my view, Biden’s support is wide and shallow.  Most of his supporters do not do so vigorously.  Many of them are only supporting him because he is not Mr. Trump.  I will concede that the president is not well liked.  In fact, many voters dislike him intensely.  It doesn’t bother me.  I look at what he does, not what he says.

Here’s an analogy to the election.  Suppose you needed an operation to save your life.  You have to choose between two surgeons.  One is nice, personable, and easy to get along with, but his skills are mediocre and, perhaps, deteriorating.  The other is a nasty, arrogant, SOB, but his surgical skills are outstanding.  Which one would you choose?  I would pick the SOB and do my best to ignore his disagreeable personality.  Probably, most of you would also.  That is how I view the election choices.  President Trump has a disagreeable personality, but he delivers results.  Biden may be a nicer person, but his skills are lacking and deteriorating further.   There is a reason why his handlers have him hiding in his basement, and it’s not because of the coronavirus.

I fear that a President Biden would be dominated by his unelected advisors and the vice president.  That is a very scary scenario.  If he wins, I fear the republic we know and love would be in grave danger.

Tomorrow, June 21, the third Sunday of June, many of us will celebrate Father’s Day.   According to the British Broadcasting Corporation FD is celebrated in some 70 countries around the world.

In the US, FD is commonly viewed as an opportunity to gather with family for barbecues, picnics, sporting activities (e.g. baseball, golf or fishing), eat at a favorite restaurant, or attend a Broadway show.  Generally, it is a fun day with family and friends.  Of course, this year FD celebrations will be somewhat restricted.  Due to the Coronavirus there will be no baseball, no Broadway shows, and limited family gatherings.

The idea of an annual day to recognize fathers was first proposed by Sonora Dodd a resident of Spokane, WA, in 1909. She wanted to honor her own father who had raised her and five siblings as a single parent.  In her opinion, mothers had their “day,” so why shouldn’t fathers.  At first, she approached her pastor about organizing a special service on her father’s birthday, June 5, but for some reason, perhaps, time constraints, the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.  The initial celebration was held in 1910.

For many years the idea of a “day” for fathers did not catch on with the general public. The major reason was the fear that it would become overly commercialized like Mother’s Day and Christmas.   In addition, the media was not behind the concept.  Rather than support the idea, they attacked it with sarcastic and cynical articles and cartoons.

FD did, however, have its supporters.  Congress debated a bill as early as 1913, but it did not pass.  Presidents such as Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge spoke out in favor of it.

Some years later, Margaret Chase Smith, a longtime influential Senator from Maine, criticized the inequity of Congress’ ignoring fathers while honoring mothers.  Finally, in 1966 LBJ issued a Presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as FD.  It became a permanent holiday in 1972.

FD is celebrated differently in other countries around the world depending on seasons and various traditions and cultures, as follows:

1. United Kingdom – It is also celebrated on the third Sunday of June.  It is recognized as a day to honor not only fathers, but also other father figures, such as grandfathers and fathers-in-law.  As in the US, typically, people pay a visit and give cards and gifts.  Other activities might include male-only outings [golf, football (soccer), or cricket], or trips.  One significant difference is that the day is not considered to be a holiday, just a normal Sunday.
2. Canada – Very similar to the UK.  Popular activities would include going to the park, the zoo, or eating out in a restaurant.
3.  Russia – The holiday, celebrated on February 23, is called Defender of the Fatherland Day.  All men are honored, not just fathers.  It began as a military celebration and is still marked by military parades.
4. Mexico – Celebrated on the third Sunday of June.  It is marked with parties and gifts for dads and a 21 kilometer Father’s Day race.
5. Brazil – It is celebrated on August 2 in honor of St. Joachim, patron saint of fathers and grandfathers.
6. Bulgaria celebrates the day in December.
7. According to The Sun various countries in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia and New Zealand, celebrate the holiday in September.
8. Northern European countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Finland, celebrate the day in November.

CONCLUSION

The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will spend in excess of $100 per person on FD gifts in 2020.  The BBC puts the amount at about $135.)   The estimated overall total is $16 billion, which would be a new record, just ahead of the previous record of  $15.5 billion.

As you might expect, according to the NRF this total pales next to the $26 billion we spent on mothers last month.  Why do we spend so much more money on our mothers than on our fathers?  There are many theories, but no one knows for sure?

What are the most popular FD gifts?  According to the NRF #1 is a greeting card.   No surprise there, but it is normally accompanied by another gift.  #2 is a special outing, such as a sporting event, a trip, a movie, or a show.  #3 is clothing.  However, as I mentioned above due to the CV 2020 is a special year, so attending, the theatre, a movie or a sporting event or even watching on tv is out.

Even so, Dads, it is your day.  Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it.

What is the summer solstice?  What does it mean?  When does it occur?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

As many of you know, the ss is the date with the longest period of daylight, and when the sun’s shadow is its shortest. Furthermore, in most of the US it is the date on which the sun appears to be at its highest point in the sky. In extreme northern locales the sun will be “out” the entire day.  In the NY area, where I live, we will get about 15 hours of sun.

The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin “sol,” meaning “sun” and “sistere,” meaning “to stand still.” As the seasons progress from winter to summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun appears to move north in the sky. On the date of the ss it has progressed as far north as it will get, and it momentarily “stands still” before it appears to begin to slide southward toward the point of its winter solstice.

Depending on the particular year, in the northern hemisphere the summer solstice can occur anytime between June 20 and June 22.  According to the Weather Channel in 2020 it will occur precisely at 5:44 pm on Saturday, June 20, which will be when the sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude).

In most cultures and countries the summer and winter solstices are intertwined with the seasons.  For example, in the US and many other countries the ss marks the commencement of summer.  On the other hand, in extreme northern and southern locations the solstices mark the midpoint of summer or winter.

For many ancient cultures the ss was a festive time. Most of them were sun worshippers anyway, and the longest day of the year was a reason to celebrate the renewal of life. The recurrent themes, in various forms, were life, light, femininity, marriage and fertility. (Perhaps, this concept was the derivation of the custom of having weddings in June.)

For example:

1. The pagan holiday, Litha, which is a celebration of light and life, was celebrated on that date.
2. Many archaeologists maintain that the ancient culture that constructed Stonehenge intended it to be a crude calendar used to mark the summer and winter solstices and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The stones do seem to have been placed to align with the sunrise on the dates of those events.
3. The ancient Chinese marked the date with celebrations of the femininity, the “Yin” forces, and the Earth, itself. This served as a counterpoint to the winter solstice, which was a celebration of the heavens, masculinity, and the “Yang” forces.
4. Typically, Native Americans held festivals featuring body paint and ritualistic dances.
5. In ancient Gaul (modern-day France) the celebration was called the Feast of Epona after a mare goddess that protected horses and personified fertility.
6. Slavic and Germanic cultures celebrated with huge bonfires.

CONCLUSION

In modern times the ss is a time to celebrate the arrival of summer.  In many extreme northern areas, where the people may not see the sun at all for certain parts of the year, such as northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, people spend the entire day outside. Many of them decorate their homes, light bonfires, and dance around Maypoles.

I have always enjoyed a warm summer day as much as the next guy.  But, truthfully, to me June 21 is just another day.  Depending on the weather I will play golf, play outside with the kids (or grandkids), go to the beach, or, if it’s inclement, just stay inside.  Whatever you do, enjoy the day.

One final thought on the date, it has always seemed contradictive to me that the beginning of summer also marked the time when the days started to get shorter, and I view shorter days as a harbinger of winter.

Below please find a list of the significant historical events that have occurred during the month of June.

6/2/1937 – The Duke of Windsor, who, as Edward VII, had abdicated the throne of England, married Wallis Warfield Simpson, a commoner and a divorcee.
6/3/1972 – Sally Jan Priesand became the first female ordained rabbi in the US.
6/3/1989 – The Ayatollah Khomeini, notorious leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, died.
6/4/1989 – Chinese government troops fired on unarmed demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Upwards of 3,000 were killed, an additional 1,600 were imprisoned and 27 were later executed.
6/5/1968 – Following a campaign speech Robert Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
6/6/1944 – D-Day, one of the most significant battles in WWII. (Please see my previous blog for details.)
6/8/1874 – Cochise, one of the most notorious of Apache Indian leaders, died while living on the Chiricahua Reservation in AZ.
6/9/1898 – Great Britain signed a 99-year lease for Hong Kong. Control of the colony reverted to China at midnight, June 30, 1997.
6/12/1898 – The Philippine Islands declared their independence from Spain leading to the US’s invasion and occupation.
6/12/1963 – Civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated in Jackson, MS, sparking widespread outrage and providing the impetus for comprehensive civil rights laws.
6/13/1966 – In “Miranda v. AZ,” the Supreme Court ruled that the police are required to apprise a suspect of his right to remain silent prior to being questioned.
6/14/1777 – John Adams introduced a resolution to establish an official flag for the 13 colonies. We celebrate this date as “Flag Day.”
6/15/1215 – England’s King John agreed to a charter, known as the Magna Carter, which granted certain rights and liberties to English nobles, and which has served as the basis for all democracies since.
6/17/1972 – Five GOP operatives were caught breaking into the DNC offices in the Watergate Hotel. Eventually, this precipitated a chain of events, which culminated in the resignation of President Nixon.
6/18/1812 – Congress declared war on Great Britain, commencing the War of 1812.
6/18/1815 – England and its allies defeated France decisively in the Battle of Waterloo, which effectively ended Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of France and precipitated his exile.
6/18/1983 – Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.
6/19/1953 – Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for the crime of selling information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. They were not only the first married couple to be executed together in the US, but also the first US citizens to be executed for espionage.
6/24/1948 – The Soviet Union commenced its blockade of West Berlin. Eventually, the US and its allies broke the blockade with a massive airlift.
6/25/1876 – General George Custer and all soldiers under his command were slaughtered at the Little Bighorn by thousands of Sioux in what became known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”
6/25/1950 – North Korea attacked South Korea beginning the Korean Conflict, which lasted three years.
6/26/1945 – The UN Charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco.
6/28/1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Crown Price of Austria and his wife, were assassinated in Sarajevo, by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, which set off a chain of events that culminated in WWI.
6/28/1919 – The Treaty of Versailles was signed, which marked the official end of WWI.
6/30/1971 – The 26th Amendment to the Constitution was enacted, which extended the right to vote to all US citizens age 18 and older.

Birthdays – Brigham Young, patriarch of the Mormon church and founder of the state of Utah, 6/1/1801 in Whittingham, VT; Norma Jean Mortensen, aka Marilyn Monroe, 6/1/1926 in Los Angeles; Marquis de Sade, his name is the origin of the word, sadism, due to his penchant for extreme cruelty and violence, 6/2/1740 in Paris; Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, 6/3/1808 in Todd County, KY; King George III, ruler of England during the Revolutionary War, 6/4/1738; Adam Smith, renowned philosopher and economist, 6/5/1723 in Scotland; John Maynard Keynes, renowned British economist, 6/5/1883 in Cambridge, England; Nathan Hale, Revolutionary War patriot hung by Brits as a spy (“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”), 6/6/1755 in Coventry, CT; Frank Lloyd Wright, renowned architect, 6/8/1867 in Richland Center, WI; Cole Porter, renowned lyricist and composer (“Kiss Me Kate,” “Can Can”), 6/9/1893 in Peru, IN; Hattie McDaniel, actress (‘Mammy’ in “Gone with the Wind”), 6/10/1889 in Wichita, KS; Frances Gumm, aka Judy Garland, renowned singer and actress “Wizard of Oz,” 6/10/1922 in Grand Rapids, MN; Jeanette Rankin, first woman to be elected to Congress, 6/11/1880 in Missoula MT; Jacques Cousteau, undersea explorer, 6/11/1910 in France; Vince Lombardi, renowned football coach 6/11/1913 in Brooklyn, NY; George H. W. Bush, 41st president, 6/12/1924, in Milton, MA; Anne Frank, Holocaust victim, 6/12/1929 in Frankfurt, Germany; Harriet Beecher Stowe, author (“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” origin of phrases “Uncle Tom” and “Simon Legree”),6/14/1811 in Litchfield, CT; Alois Alzheimer, psychologist and pathologist who discovered degenerative disease named for him, 6/14/1864 in Germany; Stan Laurel, half of renowned comedy team, Laurel and Hardy, 6/16/1890 in England; Lou Gehrig, Hall of Fame baseball player, died from ALS, which is commonly called “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” 6/19/1903 in NYC; Audie Murphy, Medal of Honor WWII American war hero, 6/20/1924 in Kingston, TX; Jack Dempsey, heavyweight boxing champion, aka the “Manassa Mauler,” 6/24/1895 in Manassa, CO; Eric Arthur Blair, aka George Orwell, British satirist and author (“1984”) 6/25/1903 in India; Mildred “Babe” Didrikson, renowned female athlete, in Port Arthur TX; Mildred Hill, composed song that is sung most frequently; do you know the name? See below.), 6/27/1859 in Louisville, KY; William Mayo, surgeon (Mayo Clinic), 6/29/1861 in LeSeuer, MN.

Quiz answer – “Happy Birthday”

Warning, this blog will not be popular with some people.  However, after watching the news for the past few weeks I can no longer be silent about my grave concerns.   So, I am exercising my rights under the first amendment to the Constitution, aka Freedom of Speech.

In a previous blog I expressed grave concerns about the growing influence of the group, Black Lives Matter.  Wikipedia characterizes BLM as an “organized movement dedicated to nonviolent civil disobedience in protest to police brutality.”  In my opinion, that is a misrepresentation.  To paraphrase Groucho Marx, are you going to believe what the media tells you or what you can see with your own eyes?   As its exposure has grown it has become more and more apparent that BLM is a radical, divisive, violent group that represents the views of a small, but well-organized, segment of the population.

It began as a small group that organized street protests and published opinions on social media following the acquittal of George Zimmerman, a white man, in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a young black man, in 2013.  Its activism continued following other deaths of blacks, such as Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in NYC, at the hands of police.  In my view, its provocative chants “What do we want?  Dead cops.  When do we want it, now,” and “pigs in a blanket, fry ’em like bacon” belie any claims the group is nonviolent.  Moreover, some BLM members have made anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments regarding the treatment of Palestinians, which have been largely ignored by the American media.

Currently, its influence has metastasized out of all proportion to the size of its membership.  It is morphing before our very eyes from a fringe protest group into a powerful force.  Its organization is decentralized with no discernable hierarchy.  Its political influence, both in the US and internationally, is astounding.  According to the latest Rasmussen poll it has a 63% approval rating, which is one of the highest of any institution in the poll.

Furthermore, it is being fueled by a largely far-left-leaning media that is mainly interested in generating violence, controversy, and conflict, rather than coming up with peaceful solutions to our current problems.  Instead of condemning BLM’s violent actions it has been romanticizing them, and ignoring the violence.  “Rioters” are called “protestors.”  Looting, mayhem, and other criminal acts are being downplayed or ignored.

At the moment BLM is virtually impervious to any criticism or questioning of its motives and actions.  Anyone who does so is immediately branded a racist.  It’s not a coincidence that no leaders have exhibited the courage to criticize BLM for its wanton violence and provocative language.  I can assure you it’s not because they all agree with the group.  They’re afraid of losing an election, having the twitter mob turn on them, losing their jobs, their movies blackballed, or their businesses burned down.

Examples abound.  NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who has been an upstanding leader and supporter of the disadvantaged in his community throughout his long career was vilified for expressing his opinion on those who kneel for the anthem.  His opinion wasn’t radical.  Indeed, it is shared by more than half the country.  He said, “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag….”  Apparently, BLM and the twitter mob no longer believe in the Bill of Rights.  The mob vilified Brees and forced him to, in football parlance, “reverse field.”  Personally, I think he should have told his critics to “stuff it,” but, instead, he succumbed.  Not surprisingly, his critics were not placated.  Others reluctant to stand up and step up include Minnesota governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Washington governor Jay Inslee, and Seattle mayor Jenny Durkin, to name a few.  Incredibly, the latter two have stood by while BLM seized control of part of Seattle.

Why?  I view it as a misguided attempt at appeasement.  “If we give them what they want now, maybe they will be satisfied and not demand more.”  Well, history tells us that appeasement never works.  The British and the French tried to appease Hitler in the 1930s.  How did that work out?  Inslee and Durkin are guilty of gross dereliction of duty.  They should resign.

Labeling someone a racist is one of the cheapest and easiest criticisms one can make.  It is hard to defend without appearing defensive.  Often, those accused have been vilified in the press, terminated from their jobs, and ostracized by their friends, all without the opportunity to defend themselves.  I’m sure there are some racists in the US, but I would not characterize racism as “systemic,” not in the least.  Personally, I do not know any racists.  Do you?

In my experience, when someone uses the “R” word it is a last resort when they have no logical argument to put forth.  Furthermore, normally, the “R” word ends all rational discussion of an issue.  It tends to harden the resolve of both sides, and nothing of substance gets accomplished.

To be clear:

1. I am as appalled as everyone else of the brutal murder of George Floyd.
2. I agree that we have some racial issues in this country, but I do not agree that there is systemic racism.  Maybe, there was historically in some regions, but not now.  In fact, for the past 50 or so years the US has been one of the least racist countries in the world.
3. How can the country be systemically racist when we elected a black president twice and have thousands of black leaders in politics, business, entertainment, and sports.
4. Does anyone seriously believe that the typical policeman leaves his home for work intending to kill a black man?  That is ludicrous on its face.  What we need is not no cops, but better trained cops and to identify and weed out the few bad cops.  Instead of arguing among ourselves, how about we do something to improve relations between the cops and those they “serve and protect.”
5. President Trump is trying to do that.  The Executive Order he promulgated yesterday is a step in the right direction, but it needs to be fortified by law.  Congress must act.
6.  According to Fox News the data with respect to cops killing blacks does not support the accepted narrative.  As I stated in my previous BLM blog the data shows that blacks are not disproportionally more likely to be shot [or] killed by cops.  Fox added that of the 50 million or so encounters between cops and citizens in the most recent year surveyed only 50 or so resulted in a death, and most of those killed were white.  So, yes, any murder is unacceptable and reforms are needed, but we are only talking about an infinitesimally small amount.  Those few instances are just well publicized.

CONCLUSION

I agree with Dr. Ben Carson that “all lives matter” – black, white, Hispanic, Asian, young, old, men, women, children, yours and mine.  The truth of the matter is I believe most people share that opinion.  That’s an opinion that needs to be expressed more often, but most people are too cowed to say it, at least in public. I say it now. Every life is precious. All lives matter. We only get one apiece, and as my good friend, Marvin, says, “this ain’t a ‘dress rehearsal.’ ”

The majority, which, I believe, opposes BLM’s ideas, is nonetheless remaining silent, hoping, no doubt that the group will simply go away.  Well, I’m not so sure that they will, and therein lies my fear.  As I pointed out in my previous log about BLM in my view, this group is extremely dangerous.  It reminds me of similar small, aggressive, vicious minorities that started out as insignificant, were ignored by the majority and metastasized until they controlled the country.  History gives us many examples, but I will cite just a few: (1) the Bolsheviks of Russia in the 1920s under Lenin, (2) the Chinese communists of post-WWII under Mao, (3) the Nazis in 1930s Germany under Hitler. and (4) the McCarthy movement of the 1950s in the US.

BLM is growing increasingly powerful and influential for the reasons I discussed above.  Their radical ideas are frightening.  They must be stopped now before a “tipping point” is reached.

Some of you who are students of history may know that as the Nazis rose to power they could have been thwarted on several occasions before they took control of Germany, but they were not.  They were appeased and ignored.  The following famous quote from Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran pastor in Germany at the time, is instructive, and I paraphrase:  “First, they came for the socialists, but I was not a socialist, so I didn’t speak out.  Then, they came for the communists, but I was not a communist, so I didn’t speak out.  Then, they came for the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist, so I didn’t speak out.  Then, they came for the Jews, but I was not Jewish, so I didn’t speak out.  Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

On the positive side, Joseph McCarthy was thwarted when someone did have the courage to speak out.  After having accused several individuals and groups of being communist McCarthy had attacked the US Army.  At the subsequent Senate hearings the Army’s special council, Joseph Welch stood up to McCarthy on national tv saying “Have you no sense of decency?”   That stopped the movement right in its tracks.  We need a Joseph Welch now, before it is too late.

Today, June 14, is Flag Day.  The week June 14-20 is designated as “National Flag Week.” This year the American Flag, aka “Old Glory,” is 243 years old.  The purpose of FD is to commemorate the adoption of the flag as the official flag of the Thirteen Colonies by the Second Continental Congress by resolution on June 14, 1777.  So, the flag is several years older than the United States, itself.  FD is not an official federal holiday.

Below please find some points of information with respect to FD and the flag, itself:

1. The evolution of the design is murky and in dispute.  According to one account the traditional design of the flag was the brainchild of Francis Hopkinson, a Continental Congressman from New Jersey.  Hopkinson was also a consultant to the creation of the Great Seal of the US.  Popular legend has held that several of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, commissioned Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia upholsterer and flag-maker, to design the first official flag.  This version has been defended and perpetuated throughout the years by various of her descendants.  However, currently, it is not generally supported by most historians for various reasons.   Based on my research the likelihood is that several persons had a hand in the design.  For instance, at the time of the Revolution there were well over a dozen flag-makers in Philadelphia alone.  Apparently, Ross was involved to some degree.  She is generally credited with replacing the original six-point star with the five-point star.
2. There are various theories of the origin and meaning of the design and meaning of the stars and stripes.  The likelihood is the ideas for them were derived from a combination of other flags, such as the Sons of Liberty flag and those of various European nations.  More certain is the notion that the 13 stars and stripes represent the original 13 colonies.  As most of us know, over the years, an additional star has been added representing each additional state, for a current total of 50, and their shape on the flag has changed from a circle to columns and rows.  Other than Alaska and Hawaii, can you name the last state added and the date?  See answer below.
3.  June 14 is also the US Army’s birthday.  It was on this date in 1775 that the Continental Congress established the “American Continental Army.”
4.  FD has always been a day exhibiting great patriotism and pride, although from time to time there have been some dissenters.  (See below).
5.  Traditionally, most towns and cities have held parades to honor the flag, although this year due to fears of the Coronavirus, there may be fewer celebrations.
6.  Several locales, such as Fairfield, CT, Appleton, WI, and Quincy, MA, have claimed to have the “longest running” or “oldest continuous” FD parades.  There is not universal agreement as to which claim is accurate.
7.  According to Wikipedia the earliest suggestion of a FD to honor the flag was by one George Morris of CT in 1861.  The idea spread quickly.
8. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson was the first president to issue a proclamation designating June 14 as FD.
9.  As we know, it is customary to honor the flag by singing the National Anthem before sporting events.  According to UShistory.org., this custom began in the 19th century, albeit sporadically, as the Star Spangled Banner became increasingly popular.  In 1918 and then during WWII it was sung to honor our troops in combat.  Then, after WWII the tradition remained and also spread to other sporting events as we see today.
10.  We have all observed the ceremonious folding of the flag, for example, at funerals.  The flag is folded 13 times.  Each fold has a meaning, but is not universal among the various branches of the Armed Services.
11. In 1937 Pennsylvania became first state to designate FD as a state holiday.
12.  In 1942 President FDR proclaimed a “United Flag Day” or “United Nations Day” to express solidarity among the Allies fighting in WWII.
13.  In 1949 Congress designated FD as a National Holiday.

CONCLUSION

Unfortunately, this year’s holiday celebration will likely be marred by protests as some groups have been using the flag as a symbol of what they believe is wrong with America.  The flag has been used as a means of protest before, most notably during the Vietnam War when some protestors burned or otherwise desecrated the flag as a means of expressing displeasure with that war.

For the most part, although by tradition most Americans show respect for the flag and what it represents by standing and removing hats when the National Anthem is played there are some who have chosen to air their grievances by kneeling.  This began in 2016 when some National Football League players chose to kneel instead of standing during the playing of the National Anthem in order to, in their words, “raise awareness of racism and police brutality” in America.   If and when professional sports return from the COVID-19 lockdown we are likely to see further protests.

This has been a very controversial issue, and I don’t want to get bogged down in the details in this blog.  Suffice to say, there are several pros and cons.  Polls have been inconsistent.  A recent Washington Post poll disclosed that a slight majority of Americans are opposed to kneeling, but it also disclosed that the gap has narrowed.   In the current climate support for kneeling is likely to grow.

Personally, I am opposed to kneeling.  I understand the reasons for it, but, to me, the overriding factor is that it disrespects the flag and all the people who have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms.  It tends to harden positions on both sides to the point that sensible, rational discussion of the issues becomes very difficult.  I think the protesters would be well advised to find other ways to express their grievances.

Quiz answer:  Arizona 2/10/1912, about one month after New Mexico.

 

I am frightened. Truly frightened. And you should be too. I am not frightened for me, necessarily, personally, but for where I fear America is heading. I will explain below.
Like most of you I have been watching and reading the media’s reporting of the demonstrations and the rioting. Additionally, I watched some of the coverage of Floyd’s funeral today. Not to diminish the grisly manner in which he was killed, but I thought the event was a bit excessive. It was as if a Head of State had died.

Like everyone else, I think the brutal murder of George Floyd was horrific, and I hope and expect that the criminal justice system will mete out the appropriate punishment to the four policemen for their crime. But, I have to say that, at this point, the rioting and demonstrations have gone far beyond honoring George Floyd. It has even gone beyond addressing police brutality and racism, real or perceived, in a calm, rational manner. If the protesters really want meaningful changes they need to tone down the violence and the rhetoric a little.

I will stipulate that people are within their constitutional rights to demonstrate peacefully, and many have done so. In this blog, however, I am referring to the rioters, who have been far from peaceful.

To wit:

1.  Like most people, I was surprised at how quickly the rioting spread to dozens of other cities.
2.  I was shocked and dismayed by the fact that the rioters have been allowed to destroy property and attack police and innocent law abiding citizens. In many cases, the police just stood by and let it happen. In other cases, perpetrators were arrested, but, due to no-bail laws, they were released immediately and returned to the streets where they reprised their rioting.
3.  Many police officers and innocent bystanders, some of whom were trying to protect their businesses, and many of whom were minorities or immigrants, have been assaulted, beaten, shot and/or murdered. These crimes have been underreported by the media, because they do not fit its narrative.
4.  Now, the rioters, no doubt emboldened by their success, have radicalized their demands. No longer satisfied with railing against perceived police racism and violence toward minorities, they are advocating defunding the police. In some cases, defunding means cutting funds allocated to policing. That is bad enough, but in other cases they are demanding to eliminate the police entirely. As I explained in a previous blog this idea is simply insane. All citizens, white and black, rich and poor, young and old, healthy or infirmed, rely on the police to protect them, to maintain law and order. Law abiding people living in poor neighborhoods, which consist, disproportionally, of minorities need (and want) them most of all.
5.  I believe that, at times, AAs have been singled out and treated disrespectfully by some police and that needs to be addressed and rectified.  I also believe these instances have decreased in number as more minorities and women have joined the police.  On the other hand, there is substantial data that indicates systemic police racism is a false narrative, created and perpetuated by radical groups and the media. Yes, there are some bad apples, but I don’t view it as systemic as some have claimed. Peter Kirsanow, an AA member of the US Commission on Civil Rights, supports this conclusion. In his opinion, the data shows that AAs are “not disproportionally more likely to be shot [or] killed by cops.”
6.  I know that data can be twisted every which-way, but the reality is very few unarmed minorities are killed by policemen. It’s just that when an incident does occur it is front-page news, because it “sells.” For instance, we all know about the murder of George Floyd, but how many of you know about the murder of David Dorn. Dorn, a retired police captain, was murdered a few days later by a vandal who was breaking into a pawn shop that he was guarding. He was shot and left to bleed to death on the sidewalk while callous bystanders recorded his last moments on their cell phones. That was just as tragic, but because he was shot by a black looter, not a policeman, it has been underreported.
7.  A small, but aggressive, vicious and vociferous minority has been pushing the insane defunding idea. “Black Lives Matter” has emerged as the driving force. BLM has even suggested substituting a private police force (consisting of BLM members) to replace the police. Yikes!
8.  Even though recent polls show that only 16% of the public is in favor of defunding police at the moment, BLM, with a big assist from the progressive media and some far left Dems, has succeeded in intimidating the rest of the populace into silence. I believe few mainstream lawmakers, Dems or GOP, are in favor of this but so far none has been willing to speak out.
9.  Elected officials in various cities, such as NYC and LA, are now advocating reducing funds for their respective police forces to the point where their effectiveness will likely be degraded seriously. It has been suggested that unarmed social workers, rather than cops, should be sent to deal with domestic disputes. That is a terrible idea. Any cop will tell you that domestic disputes are the most dangerous and dreaded calls. Unarmed social workers are not remotely equipped to deal with them.
10.  Minneapolis, however, “takes the cake.” Its city council claims to have “veto proof” support for eliminating its police force entirely. With what would it be replaced? Not clear. Apparently, the geniuses on the council haven’t thought it through yet. When a CNN reporter asked City Council President Lisa Bender, whom she would contact if someone were to break into her home her disdainful reply was that calling the police was a sign of “privilege.” Huh? I guess in her mind, living is also a sign of privilege. As the lyrics from the song, Bad Boys go, “what ya gonna do when they come for you?”
11.  Mayor Jacob Frey attempted to have a rational discussion with one group of demonstrators regarding this issue. Big mistake. They drowned him out with hoots and boos and told him to “get the f**k out,” which he did.

CONCLUSION

So, why am I so frightened for America? Where do I fear this is headed?  As I said, I believe that BLM is a small, aggressive, vicious group of agitators that has managed to intimidate the rest of the populace. The truth of the matter is I believe most people agree with Dr. Ben Carson that ALL lives matter – black, white, Hispanic, Asian, young, old, men, women, children, yours and mine. That’s an opinion that needs to be expressed more often, but most people are too cowed to say it, at least in public. I say it now. Every life is precious. All lives matter. We only get one apiece, and as my friend , Marvin, says, “this ain’t a ‘dress rehearsal.’ ”

In the current political and social climate no one is allowed to criticize BLM and its ideas. Those who do, are likely to be ridiculed, labeled a racist, fired from their jobs, and/or attacked verbally or physically. As a result, the majority, which, as we know from polls, opposes their ideas, is nonetheless remaining silent, hoping, no doubt that the group will simply go away.

Well, I’m not so sure that they will, and therein lies the crux of my blog. In my view, this group is extremely dangerous. It reminds me of similar small, aggressive, vicious minorities that started out as insignificant, were ignored by the majority and metastasized until they controlled the country. History gives us many examples, but I will cite just a few: (1) the Bolsheviks of Russia in the 1920s under Lenin, (2) the Chinese communists of post-WWII under Mao, (3) the Nazis in 1930s Germany under Hitler. and (4) the McCarthy movement of the 1950s in the US.

I hope I am wrong, but I feel strongly that the potential is there. The 2020 presidential election will be pivotal. Dems running for election will be caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place” between the hard left who want radical, over-the-top change and the more moderate mainstream Dems who comprise the majority of the Party.

Biden, who even in highly controlled public appearances has demonstrated the inability to put a few sentences together cogently and who changes policy positions depending on his audience, is still leading in most polls. There are various reasons for this, which I have discussed in previous blogs and will again prospectively. But, suffice to say, I fear he would be incapable of standing up to BLM. I am not even sure he would want to. In that case, there is a good chance that my fear will come to fruition.

D-Day.  That’s all one has to say.  Most everyone knows what it was and what it meant. Just the very name conjures up remembrances and images of one of the bloodiest battles and one of the turning points of WWII.  The battle has been memorialized in books and movies, and who can forget the poignant image of countless crosses and Stars of David neatly lined up in military cemeteries in Normandy.

Today, Saturday, June 6 marks the 76th anniversary of this epic battle.  The Allied Forces included some 156,000 troops from various countries, including the US, UK, Free France, Canada and Norway, among others, 5,000 ships and landing craft, 11,000 planes, 50,000 land vehicles, and coordinated landings over a 50 mile stretch of beaches code-named Juno, Omaha, Utah, Sword and Gold, truly a massive undertaking.  Allied and German casualties have been estimated as high as 20,000 killed, wounded, missing and captured. If you were involved in the actual landing, whether you lived or died was largely a matter of luck and happenstance – two men would be sitting side-by-side in an LST and a German bullet would kill one and not the other.  Think about that for a minute.

In addition to the German guns the soldiers had to deal with the rough surf.  Wearing their battle gear made them heavy and unwieldy, and many of them actually drowned before reaching the beach.  The movie Saving Private Ryan depicts this grisly scene quite clearly and gruesomely.

If you were lucky enough to survive the landing, you became a “sitting duck” on the beach.  Then, if you managed to fight your way off the beach you had to charge into several thousand heavily-armed German troops, which were placed strategically in fortified bunkers.  Once you fought your way past those, you were ready to commence the real battle to liberate France.  Keep in mind, many of these soldiers were just kids as young as 17 and, no doubt, scared s***less.

Planning for the operation began as early as 1943.  Russia, one of our allies at the time (“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”), had been lobbying strongly for a second front to alleviate some of the pressure from the Russian Front.  Military leaders on both sides recognized the significance of a second front and expected the Allies to attempt to open one at some point.  The question was where and when.  The Allies were not prepared to attempt such a massive landing until early 1944, primarily because they needed time to build up levels of men and material.  Remember, the Allies were fighting in the Mediterranean and North Africa as well.  Plus, the US was involved in the Pacific War against the Japanese.  Finally, the British’s fighting capacity had been severely damaged in the debacle at Dunkirk in 1940.  Only a remarkable evacuation, aided by thousands of civilian small boats, prevented the Germans from capturing or destroying their entire army on the beach.

The Operation was code-named Operation Overlord.  The landing, itself, was code-named Operation Neptune.  General Eisenhower was in charge.  Indeed, he was in charge of the entire Atlantic Theatre.  As the story goes, when he was put in charge his orders were very simple – “Win the War.”  No confusion; no limited rules of engagement, which hampered us in Viet Nam and other future conflicts.  “Just win, baby.”

The Allies considered four possible landing sites: Brittany, Cotentin Peninsula, Pas de Calais and Normandy.  The first two were eliminated primarily because they were located on peninsulas, which would have afforded very narrow fronts that would have enabled the Germans to trap the soldiers in a counterattack.  That left Normandy and Calais.  Once the Allies decided on Normandy there were many attempts to deceive the Germans into thinking the landings would be at Calais.  Historical evidence indicates that the Germans thought Calais the most likely site anyway, possibly because it was closer to England, but both sites were heavily fortified.  Indeed, the Germans had planned to fortify the entire coast from Norway to Spain, a so-called “Atlantic Wall.”  This would have included concrete emplacements, barbed wire, booby traps, mines, the removal of ground cover, and, of course, troops and armored equipment.  Luckily for us, these fortifications were never completed.  Interestingly, although most of the German High Command viewed Calais as the most likely landing site, General Rommel, perhaps the best general on either side, surmised correctly that it would likely be at Normandy.

Accordingly, he increased fortifications in the area, but, luckily for us he was out of favor for political reasons, so some key elements of his plans for defending the area were ignored or overruled.  Most notably, some panzer divisions, which he had wanted to place in the Normandy area were, instead, retained in and around Paris.

In addition, the German Army was stretched very thinly.  Much of its manpower was committed to the Eastern Front and had been depleted by heavy casualties after five years’ of intense fighting.  Finally, it was relying, for the most part, on captured equipment, which was not of high quality.

One of the biggest unknowns, and one that the Allies could not control, was the weather. Due to the complexity of the operation conditions had to be just so, including the tides, phases of the moon and the time of day.  Only a few days of a given month satisfied all criteria.  For example, a full moon was preferred to provide maximum illumination for the pilots.  Remember, instrumentation then was primitive compared to what it is now.

Additionally, dawn, which was between low and high tide, was the preferred time of day. That way, as the high tide came in it would carry the LSTs farther in on the beach, and the men could spot obstacles, such as land mines, more easily.  High winds, heavy seas and low cloud cover were not favorable.  The planners were determined to wait for a day with ideal weather conditions so as to maximize the chances of success for a very risky and dangerous mission.  In fact, the operation was postponed several times before June 6.

As we know, the operation was a success.  Some of the major reasons for this were:

1. The aforementioned missions to deceive the Germans forced them to spread their defenses over a wide area.

2. The “Atlantic Wall” was only about 20% complete.

3. The Allies achieved air superiority quickly.

4. Much of the transportation infrastructure in France had been damaged by Allied bombings and the French resistance, which hampered the Germans’ ability to move men and material.

5. The German high command was disorganized and indecisive.

CONCLUSION

If, as many historians believe, winning WWII was one America’s greatest achievements, then it can be argued that D-Day was one of our greatest victories.  Certainly, its success shortened the war in Europe and, in the process, saved countless lives (combatants and non-combatants alike).

It’s a shame that, with the passage of time, there are so few veterans of this battle still alive.  Even the youngest ones are in their 90s.

Each year, thousands of people visit the area to pay their respects to those who gave their lives. Special commemorative events are held not only in Normandy but also at other locations in the US, Canada and the UK, among others.

This year, however, due to the CV the commemoration will be downscaled considerably.  Currently, France is banning public gatherings in excess of ten persons.  Therefore, attendance will be limited to a very few dignitaries.  A small, limited ceremony will be streamed as will a “flypast.”  Hopefully, next year the celebrations will return to normalcy.

In WWII we had a clear-cut goal, win the war; the nation was united in support of the war, our government and our troops; we knew who the enemy was; we knew the Axis Powers were evil (Hitler, in particular, was one of the most despicable men ever to walk the face of the earth.); and there was no holding back.  Sadly, we have never had such clarity of purpose again, and, sadly, perhaps, we never will.

You have to hand it to the Far Left in one sense.  They have the capacity to come up with one wild idea after another.  As soon as one is debunked they come up with another, and another, and another.  For example, they spent three years trying to overturn the 2016 election.  They pushed a false Russian collusion narrative.  They falsified FISA warrants in order to spy on Mr. Trump and certain of his subordinates and supporters.  They subjected the president to a biased Mueller investigation.  They wasted our time and money pursuing the impeachment of President Trump.   They pushed the insane Green New Deal.  But just when you thought they’d gone as far as they could go with their craziness they have come up with the most insane idea yet.  They want to defund local police departments.

Why?  The reason given most often is that old standby, racism.  They would have us believe that the overwhelming majority of police are racist.  They would have you believe that the police go to work every day thinking “how many people of color can I abuse or murder today.”  Yes, there are some “bad apples.”  No one is denying that.  We just saw four of them in action last week.

As I have discussed in previous blogs we all agree that what they did to George Floyd was horrendous.  And, yes, I will concede that many blacks have been unfairly and inappropriately targeted for “stops” and mistreated.  This should be addressed and corrected, and many police departments are doing just that.  But, actual racists are few and far between, certainly when compared to prior years.  Modern police forces include a large percentage of minorities and women who are more understanding of the citizens they serve; it’s not a case of white male police victimizing people of color.  In my opinion, the rioting and wanton violence we are seeing every day, has changed the narrative and obscured these issues.

According to a poll published by the Washington Post police shootings and killings of both people of color and in total have declined considerably.  Despite what the media and the pols tell you, various polls have consistently reflected the public’s positive views towards the police, especially when compared to other institutions.

For example:

1. According to a recent Gallup Poll 53% of respondents had a “great deal of confidence” in the police.  That degree of confidence far exceeded that of any other institution in the poll.
2. Congress brought up the rear at 11%.
3. According to a recent Pew Poll 90% of blacks who had had recent encounters with the police believed they acted “properly.”
4. Reflecting the fact that most Americans are fed up, scared and crave law and order a recent poll reported about 70% of Americans want the National Guard to be deployed in cities asap.
5. Alternatively, 58% want the military so deployed asap.
6. That is most assuredly not the impression one gets from the media and political leaders.  Good and routine does not sell; bad and violent does.  The timeworn phrase “if it bleeds, it leads” is true.

Primarily based on the false narrative of racism, defunding, partially or totally, is gaining momentum, not among normal people, but among politicians, the elites, and the media.

For example:

1. LA mayor Eric Garcetti has proposed cutting police funding in the city by some $150,000, which is about 10%.
2.  In Minneapolis, in which over 2/3 of the city’s businesses have been destroyed by rioters, an overwhelming majority of the members of the City Council has endorsed reducing funding to the police.
3.  NYC’s Mayor De Blasio is proposing to cut police funding by $1 billion.
4.  The Atlantic has offered the following wandering generality meaningless platitude: “America needs to rethink its priorities for the whole criminal justice system.”
5.  “Black Lives Matter,” which has been a staunch advocate of defunding has proposed to replace the police with its own private police force.  That should send chills up your spine.

The defunding movement is well-organized and well-funded.  Despite the polls and the opposition among diverse groups as demonstrated above, it is gaining momentum.  It appears that many locales will likely be cutting funding.

Who is in favor of it?  Why?  Glad you asked.  Put on your “Dr. Spock” hat and think logically.  Who stands to gain?  Not the poor and working class minorities as indicated by the above polls.  They live in the high crime areas and crave police protection.  They would like to be able to walk down the street without being accosted and victimized by the corner thug.  They would like to be safe in their own home.  They would like to be able to sit on their couch or lie in their bed and not be shot by a random bullet. Not the immigrant who came to the US to escape violence.   Not the average citizen who does not live in a gated community with 24/7 security.  Not the small business owner who is trying to live the American Dream and not see his life’s work destroyed in minutes.

Who then?  Who benefits?  Think money and power.  Of course, it’s the elites, the “ruling class,” and make no mistake about it, we have one in America.  It’s the politicians who want to stay in power.  It’s the wealthy and powerful of all stripes including athletes, entertainers, business leaders, politicians, powerful corporations, and media moguls, among others, who are and would continue to be insulated from all the ensuing chaos.

They have been orchestrating this entire movement.  It is too well funded and well-organized to be random.  Who has been funding bail for rioters?  Clueless celebrities.  Who has been storing caches of bricks all over NYC and other cities?  Likely, ANTIFA and other violent, far-left groups. Do you think that thousands of people independently decided one day to riot with bricks and bottles and weapons?

Meanwhile, certain politicians and media talking heads have added fuel to the fire.

For instance:

1. CNN’s Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo continue to characterize the rioters as “frustrated” and “angry” “protestors” and “demonstrators.”  A rare voice of reason belonged to Juan Williams, co-host of The Five.  Normally, an ardent progressive, he opined “adopting calls by the far left to defund the police would have a disproportionately large impact on poor neighborhoods.”
2.  NY Senator Chuck Schumer dismissed the rioters as being in the minority, and praised the “protestors” as being part of the “tradition of NY” (whatever that means).
3. Joe Biden continues to pander and flip flop.  Long an advocate of the police and a sponsor of the Crime Bill, he now is calling for “police reforms,” whatever that means, and the establishment of a Police Oversight Commission to study the issue (a classic case of “kicking the can down the road”).  His abrupt change of attitude strikes me as opportunistic and insincere.  In any event, it has drawn the ire of Bill Johnson, the director of the 200,000 member National Association of Police Organization, a long-time supporter, who characterized his comments as “way left and off the deep end.”

Many people see something even more sinister.  There are those who see this as a means to sow so much chaos and fear that it would cost Mr. Trump the 2020 election.  Before you scoff at that notion, again, think who gains?

CONCLUSION

So what will happen to cities where defunding succeeds?  In my opinion, law and order is essential to our free society.  We have laws that must be enforced.  We have rights that must be protected.  Without law enforcement all that would break down and quickly.

If someone is attacking you, attempting to break into your house or steal your car whom would you call for help?  “Ghostbusters?   Remember most of us do not carry guns.  Many of us are elderly, children, weak, or infirmed.  We need the police to protect us.  That is their function.  That is their job.  Think Mad Max and the movie series, The Purge.  If you haven’t seen those movies do so, and you will come away terrified.

The absence of police would leave a power vacuum.  Nature abhors a vacuum.  It would be filled quickly by another power.  Who?  Whoever is the most powerful.  Whoever is capable of strong-arming everyone else.  Most likely, the strongest, most vicious criminal in the area, akin to the warlords we see in various lawless countries.  If this scenario scares you, good; it should.  If you don’t think it can happen here, think again.