Author: webuiltitblog

I am a retired financial services executive who worked on Wall Street for 42 years. I established this blog to publish commentary on politics and business as I still follow these areas closely. My hobbies include golf, reading, travel and spending time with my grandchildren.

75 YEARS OF TELEVISION

What are your favorite types of television programs? Do you like comedies, cop shows, movies, reality shows, news shows, sports, or a combination of the above? We all have our own opinions. Although the technology for sending and receiving tv signals had been around for several years, April 30, 1939 is the date that is generally cited as the birth of tv viewing as we know it. Why that date so precisely? Well, that was the opening date of the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY, and on that date President Franklyn D. Roosevelt opened the Fair with a speech that was carried on tv. To be sure, the speech could only be viewed by a very limited number of people – essentially, fairgoers who could view the speech at the Westinghouse and RCA Pavilions and a few thousand people in the NYC area who had tv sets and were within the very limited signal range, but it was a start.

In 1939 a tv set cost up to $10,000 in today’s dollars, not very affordable. But, before long, advances in technology and manufacturing efficiency reduced the price of a tv to within the range of the middle class. People bought more and more tv sets, tv stations multiplied, radio shows shifted to tv, and tv as we know it evolved into what it is today. For better or worse, tv has been an essential part of our lives – entertainer, news provider, and baby sitter, to name a few. It remains such even with the development of the internet and social media.

So, what have been your favorite tv shows? Which ones stand out in your memory from your childhood and/or young adulthood? Everyone has his or her own list. Mine includes seven that I not only enjoyed tremendously, but also that I consider to have been significant milestones. I could name many more, but I am limited by time and space. Therefore, below please find my list in alphabetical order.

1. ALL IN THE FAMILY

The show ran on CBS from 1971 to 1979. It was the first series to lead the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years (1971-1976). The main stars were Carroll O’Connor as Archie, Jean Stapelton as Edith, Sally Struthers as Gloria, their daughter, and Rob Reiner as Michael aka “Meathead.” It was considered to be a big risk as it was the first tv show to deal with controversial issues such as racism, homosexuality, women’s liberation, rape and the Viet Nam War, which had been considered taboo on tv. The rousing success of the show paved the way for other shows to follow suit. In those pre-DVR days, many people stayed home on Saturday nights just to watch the show. Archie was seen as a “lovable bigot” and the good-natured butt of the jokes. His debates with Michael, the hippie son-in-law, were seen as allegories for debates taking place in the country as a whole. Audiences understood the humor, and did not take offense. It is difficult to imagine such a show being as successful in this day and age of political correctness.

2. CBS EVENING NEWS WITH WALTER CRONKITE

Cronkite was the anchor for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962-1981). During this pre-internet era the evening news was the critical vehicle to provide most Americans with up-to-date news, and, therefore, shape public opinion. Cronkite’s seminal moment came when he “scooped” the rest of the news media to report that President Kennedy had been assassinated. His around-the-clock coverage of this critical event in an era of relatively primitive communications was extraordinary. I vividly remember the moment he told the nation that JFK had died. He stopped speaking, put on his glasses and read from a bulletin that had just been handed to him: “President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time (glancing up at the clock on the wall) 2 o’clock Eastern Standard Time, some 38 minutes ago.” He was also a strong supporter of the NASA space program, covering it extensively. He reminded people of their grandfather. At least one public opinion poll named him “the most trusted man in America.” When he began to express doubts about the Viet Nam War he helped turn public opinion against it.

3. ESPN

ESPN launched on September 7, 1979 as the first all-sports network. At the time there were significant doubts that it would last. Critics asked, how could they expect to fill 24 hours a day solely with sports talk? Well, 43 years later ESPN has not only succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, but it has spawned a plethora of imitators all over the country. At last count, approximately 98 million households (86% of cable customers) receive ESPN. It has also provided a second career for hundreds of former athletes as announcers, hosts and commentators.

4. I LOVE LUCY

I Love Lucy starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who were married to each other in real life, with William Frawley and Vivian Vance as Fred and Ethel Mertz, their landlords and friends. The show ran on CBS from 1951-1957 and was the most watched show during four of those six seasons. The show was a groundbreaker in several ways. For example, tv producers, in their infinite non-wisdom were reluctant to cast Desi Arnaz in the lead role because he was Cuban. Depicting an interracial marriage on tv was thought to be too risque, but, in the end Desi and Lucy prevailed. It was the first scripted show to be shot in front of a live audience. In addition, Lucy’s pregnancy with Desi Jr. became part of the show, which was a very controversial subject matter in the stodgy 1950s. They couldn’t even mention the word “pregnant” despite the fact that in several epicodes leading up to the birth Lucy is clearly shown to be pregnant. They even showed the real-life birth on tv with an audience of 44 million. In later years, when standards and mores became more permissive, Lucy recounted how controversial it was, saying that censors were loath even to mention the word “pregnant.” They tip-toed around the word in several ways, even calling one epicode “Lucy is Enceinte,” which is French for pregnant. Now, she reportedly said, “you can not only mention it but also show how the woman got that way.”

5. SESAME STREET

Sesame Street premiered in 1969. It is an educational television series aimed at children, which entertains and teaches primarily through the use of “muppets” developed by Jim Henson. It has and still does play a substantial role in educating young children. According to a recent survey approximately 77 million Americans had watched the show as children.

6. TEXACO STAR THEATRE

The Texaco Star Theatre ran from 1948 – 1956. TST was the first really popular tv show. It was hugely popular, and its star, Milton Berle, became known as “Mr. Television.” In fact, it was so popular that it was largely credited with driving the sales of tv sets. Tv ownership increased from 500,000 in 1948 to over 30 million in 1956. Many of those purchasing tv sets did so to watch “Uncle Miltie.”

7. TONIGHT SHOW

“Heeeeere’s Johnny!” The Tonight Show debuted in 1954 on NBC. It demonstrated that late night tv could be a ratings and money making bonanza for the networks. The best acknowledgment of this is the many imitators that have been launched through the years by all the networks. Imitation is the strongest form of flattery. Through it all, however, “Tonight” has remained #1.

It has had many hosts (How many of them can you name? See the list below.), but the best, most influential and most famous was Johnny Carson, who hosted from 1962-1992. For 30 years people would tune in, many of them undressed and in bed, to hear that famous cry and be entertained. How influential was Carson? Countless entertainers who made their debut on the show have gone on to be big stars. Furthermore, it is said that Carson singlehandedly created a run on toilet paper in the US after he commented, in jest, about a looming shortage. (Note: there have been ten permanent hosts of the Tonight Show, not counting the many guest hosts. They are Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs, Jack Lescoulie, Al “Jazzbo” Collins, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno – twice, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon.)

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Well, that’s my list. As I said my selections are based on both the quality of the show and the show’s significance in influencing later tv shows and American culture. What’s your list. I’d like to know.

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JEWS IN EASTERN UKRAINE

Apparently, for Jews living in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, it is “deja vu all over again,” as Yogi Berra would say. The other day, as reported by both Ynet News, Israel’s largest news website, and Donbass, a Ukrainian news agency, Jews were handed a leaflet as they left Passover services, which instructed them to (1) register themselves and all family members with the pro-Russian militants who have taken control the city, (2) provide a list of any and all property they own, and (3) pay a $50 “registration fee.” Failure to do so would result in confiscation of said property, revocation of citizenship, and deportation. The leaflets were distributed by the militants. The leaflets required Jews to produce identification, such as a passport, as well as proof of ownership of all property.

As we know, throughout history rulers have sought to blame Jews for any economic, social or political problems in their country in order to deflect responsibility. Jews, not despotic rulers, would then become the common enemy of the populace. Unfortunately, generally, this strategy has worked. It worked in the Middle Ages; it worked in Nazi Germany and Europe before and during WWII; and it is working now.

Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned the action calling it “beyond unacceptable.” Michael Salberg, Director of International Affairs of the Anti-Defamation League called it yet another example of despots using Jews as the “default scapegoat.” These protests are all well and good. Any sane person would agree that these actions are outrageous, but realistically, I don’t see what the US can do about the situation. The US and NATO have ruled out military intervention. Whether or not you agree with that decision be advised that all the polls indicate that the overwhelming majority of Americans are not in favor of military action. In any event, it is doubtful that we have sufficient forces in the area to intercede in any meaningful way even we wanted. Even the half-baked sanctions we have applied have been ineffective. Basically, Putin and pro-Russian elements in the Ukraine know that they can pretty much proceed as they want without interference from the rest of the world.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Let this be a history lesson to Jews and their sympathizers, including all fair-minded individuals regardless of their race or religion. Anti-Semitism is alive and well in the world. It is both overt (e. g. Middle East and Ukraine) and covert (most of the rest of the world). It is not just being reborn now; it never died out in the first place. It has been there all the time, simmering just below the surface, like a volcano, just waiting for some provocation. It is a fact that history does repeat itself. Anyone who studies history will find innumerable examples of that.

So, what can we, as Jews, do? With respect to the Jews in eastern Ukraine, unfortunately, not much. Apparently, the world does not have the will or the means. However, American Jews should be increasingly vigilant. I know that we are busy with our own lives. Many of us are just trying to get by, especially in these tough economic times. But, American Jews are a powerful and influential political and economic force. We should not hesitate to use that power and influence. Furthermore, let us not lose sight of the lessons of history. To paraphrase George Santayana, a famous Spanish philosopher, poet, novelist and essayist, those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.

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JACKIE ROOSEVELT ROBINSON

Quickly, what is the significance of today’s date, April 15? No, I’m not referring to Income Tax Day. It was on this date, April 15, 1947, 67 years ago, that Jackie Roosevelt Robinson made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. What, you may ask was the significance of that event? Well, Jackie was the first black man to play in a regular season Major League game since the 1880s! Before Jackie, blacks, if they played professional baseball at all, were forced to play in a separate league known as the Negro Leagues. Often, they barnstormed with major leaguers after the regular season; occasionally, they played exhibition games against them. But, they were never permitted to play in the Major Leagues, not openly, anyway, although it was rumored that a few light-skinned blacks managed to “pass” as whites. It was an extremely frustrating situation as it was apparent to many observers that a large number of the black players were as good as their major league counterparts and could have been successful if they had been given a chance. But, there was an unofficial “color barrier” that kept blacks segregated (consistent with the segregation practiced in all other areas of life in the country during that period). Jackie Robinson changed that, with an assist from Branch Rickey, the Dodgers executive who signed him and orchestrated the process of ending the color barrier.

Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, GA. He was the youngest of five children. He was given his middle name in honor of former President Theodore Roosevelt. Jackie was an all-around athlete, excelling in baseball, basketball, football and track, at Pasadena High School, Pasadena Junior College and UCLA. At UCLA he played football with another famous person, the actor Woody Strode. (For those of you who are not movie aficionados, Strode appeared as a “heavy” in several John Ford westerns and played the gladiator who fought Kirk Douglas in “Spartacus.”) Interestingly, he was not the only star athlete in the family. His older brother, Mack was a silver medalist in the 200 meter dash in the 1936 Olympics, the one in which Jesse Owens, another black athlete, won four gold medals, embarrassing Adolph Hitler. During WWII Jackie took a break from athletics, serving in the Army. Afterwards, he played baseball for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues.

In the mid-1940s Branch Rickey, GM and part owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers and a man with a great deal of foresight, was looking to end the color barrier in Major League Baseball. He had been around the game his entire adult life as a player, manager, executive and part-owner. He was one of the most brilliant baseball minds of his time. He recognized that there was a plethora of talent in the Negro Leagues and that the time was ripe. After all, America had just won a war in which blacks had fought with much distinction and bravery, President Truman had integrated the armed forces, and life, in general, was changing. (A cynic might say that by signing the first black player Rickey was hoping to tap into a large share of this talent for the Dodgers. In fact, this is exactly what happened.)

He was looking for the right person, one who possessed not only the talent to play, but also the temperament to handle the copious abuse, which was sure to come. He realized that if the first one failed, it might be many years before the next one got a chance. (Talk about pressure! Jackie would not only be playing for himself and his team, but, to an extent, for all blacks everywhere.) Rickey saw that Jackie was not only a superior player, but also the right age (mid 20s), highly intelligent, well-educated and an ex-army officer. Baseball observers knew that Jackie was not the best player in the Negro Leagues at that time. Players such as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, had better resumes, were more famous, and more experienced. In fact, Paige, a pitcher, and Gibson, a catcher, were arguably the best at their positions at that time, white or black. But, Rickey knew that with the combination of ability, maturity, age, intelligence and temperament, Jackie was the right choice. If Jackie was the right player at the right time, then Rickey was right executive at the right time. Together, they made history.

Sometimes, Jackie exhibited a short fuse, but if he could control it, he could succeed. In a famous meeting between the two men Rickey was warning Jackie of the abuse he was sure to face. Jackie reportedly challenged Rickey “are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?” Rickey’s response: “I’m looking for a Negro with the guts NOT to fight back.”

Rickey, liking what he saw, signed Jackie. After a stint at the Dodgers’ AAA affiliate in Montreal in 1946, he made his Dodger debut. Jackie did, in fact, suffer major abuse, from teammates, opposing players and fans. His teammates came around after management threatened to cut or trade any “troublemakers.” In those pre-agent, pre-guaranteed contracts days, management had the upper hand over the players and could get away with this aggressive approach. Opponents were another issue. Jackie was called the “N” word as well as any other derogatory name you could imagine. After all, a majority of the players at that time were not college educated and came from Southern or rural areas where segregation was a way of life. One of the worst venues was Cincinnati, which was basically a city with Southern attitudes towards race. Before one game some fans were giving Jackie a particularly hard time when Peewee Reese, the Dodgers captain and a Kentuckian, went over to him and put his arm around him in a show of solidarity. Peewee was so well-respected that his action carried great weight and gave a significant boost to Jackie.

Jackie’s baseball statistics belied his abilities and significance to his team’s success. His lifetime batting average was .311 with only 137 home runs, 734 RBI and 197 stolen bases. But, he did win the Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, the NL MVP award in 1949, was named an all-star from 1949 through 1954 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962. He was also one of the best base runners of his time. He would drive opponents to distraction on the base paths. He even stole home during the World Series. One had to actually see him play to appreciate his abilities. He was a leader and a winner. In his ten-year career his teams won six pennants and one World Series. As Rickey had foreseen, Jackie’s success led to a flood of other black players. Most of them have acknowledged that Jackie blazed the trail for them.

Jackie retired as a player in October 1956. (The impetus for his retirement was that the Dodgers traded him to the NY Giants. Rather than report to the hated Giants, he retired.) After retirement, Jackie dabbled in many jobs, such as television analyst, corporate executive and actor. But, his primary focus was in civil rights. He became a strong spokesman and advocate, using his notoriety for the benefit of minorities. Unfortunately, he was not a healthy man, suffering from diabetes and heart disease. Most likely, all the stress he endured did not help. He died in 1972 at the age of 53.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

One cannot overestimate the considerable impact Jackie had not only on black people, but also on whites as well. With respect to baseball, he demonstrated that blacks, could, in fact, compete with whites. Strange as it sounds, there was doubt of that in some quarters at the time. Outside of baseball he used his stature to advance the quality of life for blacks socially and economically. He was a vociferous spokesman for civil rights. Martin Luther King called Jackie “a legend and a symbol in his own time” who “challenged the dark skies of intolerance and frustration.” His stature was such that in 1947 a survey identified him as the second most popular man in the US behind Bing Crosby. Picture that for a black man in 1947! In 1999 “Time” Magazine called him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Also in 1999 “The Sporting News” included him on its list of the 100 greatest baseball players. In addition, there are countless buildings, schools, plaques, roads and statues that bear his name. Finally, in 1997 in the ultimate tribute, Major League Baseball permanently retired his number, 42, and each year on April 15 players pay the ultimate homage to Jackie. On that day, every player on all teams wears #42. Yes, Jackie was truly a great man, a transcendent figure.

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WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND FREE SPEECH

Chances are, until last week most of you had never heard of Ayaan Hirsi Ali and what she stands for. Now, thanks to the bullying and intimidation tactics of a radical Muslim organization called Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) and the cowardice of the administration of Brandeis University, Ms. Ali and her views have become quite well known indeed. Briefly, what happened was that Brandeis University had invited Ms. Ali to speak at its commencement ceremonies next month at which time she was to receive an honorary degree. These honorariums are not unusual. Indeed, dignitaries representing the entire spectrum of political and social viewpoints have been so honored by universities. However, CAIR pressured Brandeis into “disinviting” Ms. Ali. It seems that CAIR had strenuously objected to what they perceived as Ms. Ali’s extremely anti-Muslim statements and attitudes.

Hirsi Ali was born on November 13, 1969 in Somalia. She was raised as a Muslim, although presently, she is an atheist. She has lived in many countries, including, among others, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and the US. In 2005 “Time” Magazine named her as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. She is married with one child, a son. She became a naturalized citizen of the US in 2013 and currently is affiliated with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

She has been a very harsh critic of the Muslim religion, in general, and its treatment of women, in particular. She has spoken out against the practice of gender mutilation of which she was a victim as a 5 year old, violence and general intolerance of women, which are routine in the Muslim world. She has characterized it as a “backward religion” and “the new fascism.” All this has brought her to the attention of radical Muslim groups, such as CAIR, which vigorously oppose any criticism of Islam. CAIR was able to pressure Brandeis University’s administration into withdrawing her speaking invitation.

This is outrageous. Whatever happened to free speech? I always thought that in this country everyone was entitled to express his or her views. Do we now only allow certain viewpoints to be heard and not others? Where are the women’s groups who claim there is a “war on women” in the US? They protest every perceived wrong against women regardless of how minor it might be. What about this one? This is a real issue. Free speech and women’s rights all rolled into one. The harsh treatment of women in the Muslim world has been well and thoroughly documented. Ms. Ali can provide a firsthand account. Let’s hear what she has to say. Those who disagree can give their own speeches. Furthermore, how about the prominent politicians and Hollywood celebrities? Their silence has been deafening.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Traditionally, colleges have invited a diverse group of dignitaries to speak at commencement ceremonies and other occasions. Many of them were very controversial and divisive. For example, Mamoud Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University in 2012.

There are many losers here. The biggest ones are Brandeis University and CAIR, not Ms. Ali. This situation has backfired on them big-time. Most people had never heard of the school before. Now, their first impression is of a school led by a cowardly administration afraid of its own shadow, which has embarrassed itself publicly by knuckling under to CAIR. As we know, first impressions are usually the ones that endure. CAIR comes across as a bully afraid to let any opposing views see the light of day. How about an honest debate on the issue?

The hypocrisy of women’s groups, celebrity activists and politicians has become evident. Much of their credibility has been destroyed. If one is going to be an activist and advocate for a cause, e.g., women’s rights and free speech, be consistent. Don’t pick and choose when to get involved. If you believe that there is a “war on women” in the US, speak up in this case. This is a really serious issue. Unfortunately, I predict they will remain silent on this issue for fear of offending anyone.

As for Ms. Ali, she and her views have gotten more publicity from this matter than she could have ever received had she been permitted to speak as scheduled. Good for her, and kudos to the journalists who have reported the story.

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MARTIN LUTHER KING

There are highly significant moments, both good and bad, in every person’s life, i.e. marriage, birth of a child, death of a cherished relative or friend. These personal significant moments stay with us forever. However, there are also moments in time, historic events, that affect all of us profoundly, even people who were not even born when they occurred. For example, people of a certain age still remember where they were on December 7, 1941 when they heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. At the time, FDR called it “a date that will live in infamy,” and it has. In addition, anyone who was alive in 1963 remembers where he was on November 22 when he heard JFK had been shot. Well, a similar event occurred 46 years ago this week, April 4, 1968. I’m referring, of course, to the assassination of Martin Luther King in Memphis, Tennessee. To this day, many believe that James Earl Ray, who was convicted of the crime, did not act alone but was part of a broader conspiracy. An FBI investigation did not disclose any such conspiracy, but that has not resolved the issue. Many of the records of the investigation remain classified to this day, which adds to the mystery. Americans do love their conspiracies.

MLK was born on January 15, 1929. He was the most prominent civil rights leader of his time, maybe ever. He believed that more could be achieved by civil disobedience than by violence. Unlike any African American before or since, he had the ability to unite, rather than divide. He was respected by all African Americans and many whites as well. In that regard, he was similar to Nelson Mandela. After his death, despite the urgings of some civil rights leaders who wanted to continue MLK’s philosophy, more militant African American leaders, such as Stokely Carmichael and Malcom X, came into prominence. There was rioting in over 100 US cities, and a slew of violent incidents at the Democratic Convention in Chicago in front of the national press and millions of Americans. The Civil Rights movement was changed forever.

MLK came into prominence in 1955 when he led a bus boycott, peacefully, in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott had been fueled by the famous Rosa Parks incident when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. Later, he became the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and remained so until his death. He applied his non-violence philosophy to protests in Selma, Ala., St. Augustine, FL, and the March on Washington, D. C., among others.

Some little-known facts about MLK:

1. His birth name was Michael King, Jr., after his father. In 1931 his father changed his own name to Martin Luther King, after the German theologian, Martin Luther, whom he admired. At the same time, he changed his son’s name.

2. In 1958 MLK was stabbed in the chest after a speech by a woman who had been stalking him and nearly died.

3. MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at the age of 35, the youngest age ever at the time.

4. MLK won a Grammy Award in 1971, posthumously. It should be denoted that he won it, not because he displayed a great singing voice, but for a “Spoken Word Album,” “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam.”

5. Even though MLK was one of the great public speakers of his time, inexplicably, he got a “C” in a public speaking course at the seminary. (Kind of like a baseball scout saying Willie Mays can hit “a little bit.”)

6. MLK is one of three individuals and the only native-born American to have a holiday named after him. In case you’re wondering, the others are George Washington (born in the COLONY of Virginia), and Christopher Columbus.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Today, there is much division among African Americans as well as their leaders. Some are moderate and want to work within the system; others are more militant. They have their own agendas and look for any excuse to foment distrust and discord. I believe that these leaders, and we all know who they are, do more harm than good, but that is a subject for another blog.

One can speculate whether and to what extent MLK’s assassination changed the course of history. In my opinion, had MLK lived, the Civil Rights Movement would have been considerably different over the last 46 years, more peaceful and less divisive, with better results. Furthermore, his assassination had a significant impact, not only on the history of the civil rights movement, but also on the overall history of the country, itself.

I hope and believe that eventually a moderate leader will emerge and bridge the gap as MLK did half a century ago.

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APRIL FOOLS DAY

This is NOT an April Fools joke. It is a legitimate blog.

As you know, today is April 1, also known as “April Fools Day.” I like a good joke as much as anyone, but I am not a big fan of pranking people on this date. Maybe when I was 10, but not now. But, I am curious about the origins of the holiday, and how it is celebrated around the world.

AFD is not a official holiday in the US, or in any other country, for that matter, but it is widely recognized and celebrated around the world unofficially. Some people love to play jokes and perpetrate hoaxes. So, if you hear that Obamacare has been repealed or China as “forgiven” the US’s debt, don’t believe it. Those would, most certainly, be AFD jokes.

Even the media can be a willing participant. One of my favorite AFD pranks occurred on April 1, 1985. The Sports Illustrated cover story that day was about a baseball pitching phenom named Sidd Finch. At first, the story appeared to have credibility, as it was written by George Plimpton and published in SI. Finch was presented as an unknown rookie pitching prospect in the NY Mets training camp. So far, so good. But, as one read the details of the story, particularly about his 160 MPH fastball, it became apparent that it was an AFD joke.

Surprisingly, there are records of continuous AFD celebrations back as far as 536 BC in present day Iran. They celebrate the Persian holiday of Sizdah Bedar, which falls on the 13th day of the Persian New Year, (April 1). In addition, the Romans celebrated festivals called “Hilaria” on March 25 and the “Medieval Feast of Fools” on December 28. In certain Spanish-speaking countries, the latter is still a date on which pranks are played on people. Finally, there is a reference to the holiday in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”

Nowadays, the holiday is celebrated differently around the world. Some examples are as follows:

1. UK – The April Fool joke is disclosed when the perpetrator shouts “April fool” at the recipient. Traditionally, April fool jokes are to cease at midday. After that time, anyone trying to prank someone becomes the “April fool” himself. These AFD customs are similar in other countries whose traditions were influenced by the UK,such as the US.

2. Scotland – AFD is called “Hunt the Gowk day.” “Gowk” is Scots for a foolish person.

3. Ireland – A common tradition is to give the “prankee” an important letter in an envelope to give to a certain person. That person would ask the “prankee” to give it to another person, and so on and so on. Eventually, someone would open the envelope. The letter inside would say “send the fool further.”

4. Poland – Traditionally, April 1 is a day to play jokes and hoaxes. The media participates as well. Serious matters are to be avoided. For example, supposedly, a treaty signed on April 1, 1683 was later backdated to March 31.

5. France/Italy/Belgium – The holiday is called “April fish,” for some reason. One common prank is to attach a paper fish to the victim’s back without being detected. (Along these lines, in high school we used to put a “kick me” sign on a victim’s back, although not just on AFD. Movie buffs may recall that this joke was played on McFly Senior in the movie Back to the Future.)

6. Sweden/Denmark – They celebrate on May 1 in addition to April 1. Many Danish and Swedish news outlets will intentionally publish one false story on April 1.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

April Fools Day can be fun, especially for kids. A little harmless fun never hurt anyone. For example, earlier today my son told me that he had told my grandson, who is 6 and a huge Mets fan, that David Wright had been traded to the hated Yankees. To his credit, my grandson, merely shrugged his shoulders and asked “who for?” I can remember being the perpetrator and butt of April fool jokes in grade school and middle school. All in good fun.

I predict that some of you will be victimized today. Maybe you have been already.

Please tell me some of your favorite April fools moments. Were you the perpetrator or the victim? I promise you I won’t put it on Facebook.

Now, THAT was an April fool joke.

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WAR ON WOMEN

Those who believe that there is war on women are absolutely correct. There is a war on women. It is widespread, all-encompassing and relentless. In many cases, it begins before the woman is even born and continues her entire life. However, this war is not being fought in the US against American women, but, rather, against women in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and virtually every other country EXCEPT the US. Women, if you think are discriminated against in America, read on. See how it is in the rest of the world. I have selected a couple of the more egregious examples.

1. China –

a. Infanticide has always been practiced in certain parts of the world, most prevalently in backward or poor areas, for various reasons. In China, however, female infants and even fetuses, have accounted for a disproportionate number of the deaths. Chinese officials refuse to acknowledge that this practice still exists, and they deny any correlation with the country’s “one-child policy,” but statistics don’t lie. Since 2005 there have been a significant excess of male births compared to females (over 1 million), and it is estimated that males under 20 now outnumber females under 20 by 32 million. We all know that the male-female birth odds are virtually 50%, so the only logical conclusion for this sizeable difference is female infanticide and/or abortions. Recently, while vacationing in China I was told that even though the “one-child policy” provides some exceptions, many couples are reluctant to have more than one child for economic reasons. Furthermore, even though disclosing the gender of the fetus before birth is supposed to be prohibited, many couples manage to find out anyway. This provides further incentives for the infanticide of females fetuses and infants.

b. It is well-documented that the female sex trade is rampant throughout Asia (and in many other third-world countries as well). In China the practice of families selling their female children to sex traffickers is not uncommon, particularly in rural and poorer areas. In addition, young girls are often kidnapped from their homes and sold to sex traffickers. In recent years sex trafficking and prostitution have become more prevalent and more visible as well.

c. Women have virtually no meaningful representation as political leaders. No woman has ever become a member of the Politburo, and, according to the latest information available, there are only three female government ministers out of 27.

d. In some of the poorer areas of the country polygamy has been gaining in popularity. In my opinion, this re-enforces the notion of viewing women as property, which is a notion right out of the Middle Ages.

2. Women in Muslim Countries

a. Virtually every aspect of a woman’s life is governed by Islamic laws and cultural customs. This includes, but is not limited to, education, employment, sex crimes, marriage and legal standing.

b. Education opportunities are severely restricted. According to a study by the World Economic Forum in 2012, 17 of the 18 nations with the largest education gender gap were Muslim.

c. Islamic law permits polygamy. Additionally, in some countries, such as Iran, Muslim men are also allowed to enter into “temporary” marriages.

d. Women’s legal rights are inferior to that of men. For example, a women’s right to inherit property is secondary to that of a male sibling. Furthermore, in cases of rape a woman is required to find four male witnesses to support her claim (unless the rapist has confessed). Otherwise, she could be convicted of a false accusation, which is a crime in and of itself punishable by flogging. We all know about the custom of “honor” killings.

e. Generally, employment opportunities are no where nearly equal to those of men. Women require their husband’s approval to work at all. In addition, they are expected to give first preference to caring for their home and family, rather than their job. The notion of a fulfilling career is virtually non-existent.

f. Women are expected to dress “modestly” in public. In most cases, that means covering their extremities and wearing a burqa.

g. Abortion is banned in every country in which Islam is the state religion, except for Tunisia. In addition, most Muslim nations forbid birth control, and contraceptives are often not even available.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

I could have cited many other countries, but I believe I have made my point.

There is no doubt that, in some instances, American women have been and still are treated in an inferior manner compared to men. But, the gender gap has been closing rapidly, particularly in employment, education, politics and legal rights to name a few. We may even have a female president in two years.

Consider, a generation or two ago few married women worked outside the home. Married women were expected to stay home, care for the house and raise the children. If a wife had a job it was assumed that the husband was unable to support her. Divorce was rare and an anathema. If you were divorced you were considered a failure. The mantra was “find a good husband who could support you.” Men were blatantly afforded preference over women in the job market. I still remember one of my high school teachers admonishing a college-bound female classmate that she would be majoring in “Mrs.”

Women did not play organized sports. They were considered to be too strenuous. They played half court basketball. Marathons and other long distance races were another “no-no.” There were no college athletic scholarships or varsity teams, much less professional leagues.

There were few female doctors, lawyers, financial gurus, scientists or opportunities for other lucrative careers. For the most part, the career opportunities for a female college graduate were limited to becoming a teacher, nurse or secretary.

So, when some women characterize every minor inconvenience or impediment in their lives as a major affront and claim there is a “war on women,” my advice is get some perspective. But for the grace of god, you could have been born 50 years ago or in present-day China, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Eastern Europe, etal.

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THE COWARDS OF EUROPE

President Obama has been coming under much criticism for his weak response to Russia’s aggression in the Crimea. I agree that his response has been weak. There are many additional sanctions he could have imposed on Russia, for example, various trade sanctions or currency sanctions. His ineffectual, if not laughable, response so far is, however, consistent with his strategy with respect to the recent situations with Iran and Syria. Rather than taking decisive action, he has preferred to build a consensus of allies and lead from behind. That said, the main theme of this blog is not President Obama, but rather the cowardly response of our European allies so far.

Consider:

1. Germany has the most powerful economy in Europe. Its Chancellor, Angela Merkle, is, according to “Forbes,” one of the most powerful persons in the word (ranked #2 behind the Pope in 2012 and #5 in 2013). As a leader, she has been compared to both Margaret Thatcher, probably the strongest female leader of the 20th Century, and Otto von Bismarck the greatest German Chancellor ever. Indeed, she has been nicknamed the “Iron Frau” and the “Iron Chancellor.” She is the most influential person and the de facto head of the EU. Germany is a strong trade partner of Russia’s. But, has she weighed in on the Crimea situation? Has she backed any meaningful trade or currency sanctions? Noooo! Why not? Could it possibly be because Russia is a big supplier of natural gas to Germany?

2. David Cameron, the PM of the UK, is another coward. To paraphrase Lloyd Benson, he is no Margaret Thatcher. One of Ms. Thatcher’s many shining moments was her classic response to Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Rather than getting bogged down in “wishy-washy” negotiations or diplomatic “protests,” she simply sent a fleet to the area to retake the Islands. No leading from behind for her. Just like that; “easy-peasy,” the problem was resolved. In addition, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, and President George H. W. Bush was hesitant about taking action, it was Ms. Thatcher who counseled “Don’t get all wobbly on me now, George.” In this instance, what has Mr. Cameron done? Nothing. Why not? Most likely, he is afraid of damaging the UK’s strong trading ties with Russia.

3. As far as France is concerned, the less said the better. The French think they are superior to everyone else. They look down their noses at the rest of the world. The truth is the French are an inconsequential power both militarily and economically. They only won WWI and WWII because they were allied with the US and England. They have not won a war on their own since the time of Charlemagne. Their socialist-style economy is choking the country. Nevertheless, their silence has also been deafening.

4. The other countries with a stake in this situation, e.g. Poland, the Ukraine, and the Baltics, are concerned, but they are too weak to do anything meaningful.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Does anyone really think that Russia will be satisfied with just the Crimea, especially given the world’s weak and ineffectual response? If you do, you are both delusional and devoid of any knowledge of world history. Appeasing aggressors, like Putin, has never worked, EVER. It only encourages them. For example, are you cognizant of the Munich Agreement in 1938? Hitler had just seized the Sudetenland. He convinced the Allies that that was all he wanted. He was now satisfied. The Allies bought it due to either fear or delusion. Remember the famous scene of Neville Chamberlain waiving the treaty proclaiming “Peace in our time?” We all know how that worked out.

The cowards of Europe are not thinking globally. They are more interested in their own internal situations. They figure that their economies need the continued trade with Russia. They hope and expect that the US will handle the situation, both economically and, if necessary, militarily as it has done for the past 70 years. Well, I say “Don’t count on it.” Not with this President, and not with the growing isolationist attitude among the American people.

Meanwhile, the other bad boys of the world, Iran, Syria, North Korea and China, are watching.

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FAVORITE MOVIES

What are your favorite movies? I don’t mean the “best” movies as ranked by “experts.” Nor do I mean the highest grossers (if that is even a word). I mean, which movies did you enjoy the most. Everyone has his or her own list. Some people favor critically acclaimed movies; others favor ones that tell a story or are well acted. I prefer ones that entertain me. I also gravitate toward ones with big stars. I’m the reason why certain actors get paid $20 million or more for a picture. In any event, below, in alphabetical order, is my list of favorite movies. I listed them in alphabetical order because it was too difficult to rank them. You may not agree, but to paraphrase Lesley Gore “Its my blog, and I can do what I want to.”

“A League of Their Own” (1992) – “There’s no crying in baseball.”

“Casablanca” (1942) – Many oft-quoted lines, but Bogie never said “Play it again Sam.”

“Crash” (2004) – Debunked stereotypes. No one is what they seem to be.

“Godfather” (1972) – I had to include this one. Someone made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

“Godfather 2” (1974) – One of the best sequels.

“Gone with the Wind” (1939) – The first “spectacular.”

“High Noon” (1952) – In the gunfight, Coop is actually shown reloading.

“Hoosiers” (1986) – A “feel-good” story; well done.

“Jaws” 1975 – Made many kids scared of the water. Put Spielberg on the map.

“Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) – An all-star cast.

“Psycho” (1960) – Who can forget the shower scene?

“Raiders of the Lost Arc” (1981) – Wouldn’t let my son see it because of the gruesome ending.

“Rocky” (1976) – The ultimate “feel-good” story. Stunning fight scenes.

“Schindler’s List” (1993) – Powerful story. Superb acting.

“School Ties” (1992) – Anti-Semitism in the early 1950s. An early view of Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brendan Frazier and Chris O’Donnell.

“Shawshank Redemption” (1994) – Redemption and revenge.

“Star Wars” (1977) – Perhaps, not the best of the series but the one with the most impact.

“Terminator 2 Judgment Day” (1991) – “Hasta la vista, baby.”

“The Birds” (1963) – Hitchcock at his best. Stunning ending; no one left the theatre as the credits rolled.

“The 10 Commandments” (1956) – Who can forget the parting of the Red Sea.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

That’s my list. I’m sure I omitted some excellent movies, but I thought 20 was enough. I’m sure there will debate over some of my choices, but that’s the fun of it.

What’s your list. I’d like to know.

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MANDELA AND APARTHEID

My recent vacation included approximately two weeks in South Africa, and one of the things I learned was that the stories of Nelson Mandela and Apartheid are entwined to the extent that one cannot discuss one without the other. Most South Africans view Nelson Mandela as a cross between George Washington, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Most of us have some familiarity with Mandela’s life – anti-Apartheid activist, political prisoner, first black prime minister, architect of the dismantling of Apartheid. But, what of his early life? How did he come to be the leader of the anti-Apartheid forces? How did he come to be so revered?

First, it is necessary to understand what Apartheid was and how people existed under its laws. There had always been some degree of racial segregation in SA all the way back to Dutch colonial times. The white Dutch colonists, much like whites in other parts of the world, including America, had always viewed non-whites as inferior. In 1948, however, this attitude was taken to a new level. The National Party, which was dominated by hardliners, narrowly gained control of the government, and as the ruling party, it began legislating and enforcing the Apartheid laws with which we are all familiar.

The word “Apartheid” literally means “the state of being apart,” or “apart-hood,” in Afrikaans. Under its laws, people were classified into four separate groups according to an elaborate and arbitrary set of criteria: “white,” “black,” “colored,” and other mixed people, such as Asians and Indians. In addition, some of the groups had several subcategories to refine the separation further. Every aspect of life was strictly segregated: housing, schools, beaches, jobs, medical care. You name it. Millions of people were uprooted from their homes and forcefully relocated to the “appropriate” residential area. It was not unusual for family members to be classified differently. Thus, they would be forced to live, work and exist apart from each other. Women were discriminated against both racially and gender-wise. Asian groups were treated differently. For example, Japanese, Taiwanese and South Koreans were classified as “honorary whites,” whereas other Asians, such as Chinese and Indonesians, were classified as “colored.” People classified as “blacks” and or “colored” were subjected to curfews with strict penalties for violations, including arrest and imprisonment.

From what I could gather from first-hand accounts of people who actually lived through this period, it was the most demeaning, depressing, and emasculating situation one could imagine. It took the US “Jim Crow” laws to a new level. This way of life was what Mandela was largely responsible for ending, and that is why he so revered in SA today.

Nelson Mandela was born Rolihlahia Mandela on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, SA. One might say that his name was a portent for his life as it meant “pulling the branch of a tree” or, more commonly, “troublemaker.” After his father died when he was nine Nelson was adopted by a local chieftain and was given the same status and opportunities as if he were the chieftain’s own son. This became extremely fortuitous as Nelson was able to receive a formal education up to and including college. Indeed, it was one of his primary school teachers who arbitrarily decided to change his name to “Nelson.” Eventually, Nelson moved to Johannesburg and began to study law.

Nelson joined the African National Congress in 1942. For the next 20 years he participated in and/or directed peaceful, non-violent protests against the Apartheid government. He was arrested on a few occasions. In 1963 he was one of over 100 persons arrested for various political offenses, including sabotage, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Not surprisingly, former inmates told us that, in the eyes of the government, a political crime was the worst offense, even worse than murder. He spent 27 years in prison, including 18 on Robben Island.

It should be noted that the conditions at Robben Island were not exactly up to the level of American prisons. For example, we saw one section where 50 inmates had to share one toilet. Inadequate food and mistreatment by prison guards were commonplace. It would be easy to become bitter and resentful, but inmates who had been imprisoned with Nelson recall that he continued to preach non-violence and even forgiveness.

Finally, by early 1990 internal and external political, economic and social pressures had built up against the SA government to such a degree that Nelson was released from prison. He continued to work toward a peaceful end of Apartheid. In 1993 he and then President Frederik Willem de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize. (Incidentally, de Klerk deserves a great deal of credit for his role in the ending of Apartheid. It is not easy to cede power the way he did.) Finally, in 1994 blacks were given the right to vote in SA’s first democratic election. Fittingly, Nelson was elected the country’s first black president. The long struggle was over.

In 1999 Nelson withdrew from public office, but he continued his life’s work on behalf of his country. Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg at the age of 95.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Few people are able to make a real, meaningful difference in millions of people’s lives, to change the course of history. Nelson Mandela was such a man. Today, in SA it is hard to find anyone, white or black, who would say anything negative about the man.

That said, SA has a long way to go. Two generations of blacks and colored were raised under Apartheid. They were denied basic human rights, including education, decent jobs, etc. The disenfranchisement of these people cannot be rectified easily or, possibly, at all. In addition, during this period the country suffered a massive “brain drain,” as many professionals fled the country. I believe SA’s recovery, as a nation, will be a long, hard road, but it can be accomplished. Time will tell.

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