Author: webuiltitblog

As always, the following blog is strictly my opinion. You may agree or disagree. After all, despite recent events and despite the attitudes and the prejudices of the small but vocal numbers of wokers among us this is still America. We are still able to exercise the right of freedom of speech.

The subject of this particular blog will be focused on the reaction of people in the US to the Israel-Hamas War. As I watch the news daily I have been shocked by the virulent anti-Semitism both worldwide, in general, and the US, in particular.  As a student of history and Jewish history I cannot help but draw parallels between current events and 1930s Nazi Germany.  Perhaps, I am being overly dramatic. Perhaps, the characterization of “holocaust” is a bit extreme. Perhaps, those who say it can’t happen here in the US are right. But, read on as I make my case. Then, you decide.

As I have delineated in my two previous blogs during the past 2 weeks the current war between Israel and Hamas is most disturbing on several levels. Incidentally, for the past 11 years some 950 of my blogs have been published in the Times of Israel. Although The TOI retains the right of pre-review it had never refused to publish any of my blogs- until now. For some undisclosed reason it has declined to publish my last two blogs on this subject, and it will not tell me why. Curious.

In any event, my observations and opinions regarding the current matter are as follows:

1. Many people are failing to see Hamas’ attack of October 7 for what it really was. This was not a run-of- the-mill attack on Israelis akin to others throughout Israel’s history. No. It was an attempt of extermination of a race. I am not making this up. It has been an oft-stated goal of of Hamas to annihilate the Jews. This view has been echoed by other terrorist groups in the M E as well as their chief sponsor, Iran.

2. Most of the demonstrators in the US and elsewhere have failed see or chosen to overlook this fact.  They have chosen to overlook or ignore that Hamas slaughtered innocent civilians- women, children, babies, the elderly, the infirmed, and the disabled. They slaughtered people in their sleep. They disemboweled pregnant women and cut out their fetuses.  This is purely and simply barbaric. It is unheard of in modern warfare. As I have said the perpetrators of this are subhuman troglodytes and should be treated as such.

3. Clearly the goal of this attack was nothing less than an extermination. Hamas is not looking to negotiate a peace or even a cease fire. I ask where is the outrage?  Where is the shock? Where is the condemnation? Where are the demands for immediate and decisive justice?  Why hasn’t the rest of the world made pariahs of Hamas and their sponsors? 

4. Israel has the right, no, the obligation to retaliate in strength. No namby-pamby response will suffice. Israel is embroiled in all-out war. It must ensure that there will not be any further such attacks prospectively. It should have the support of the whole world.

5. There have been many similar occurrences in history. For example, did the world blame Great Britain for causing the German blitz during WWII? Did it pressure Britain into a “measured” response? Similarly, did the world blame the US for the Japanese sneak attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Did it demand a “measured” response? The answers are no and no. Why should Israel have to do so in this case. Israel is entitled to defend itself the same as any other country.

6. Instead, we have been witnessing demonstrations blaming Israel and its policies and treatment of the Palestinians. The demonstrators claim it is all Israel’s own fault. They conveniently ignore the heinous nature of the attack as described above. I say how would they react if the victims were their families, friends and neighbors? If Mexican cartels were lobbing rockets into Texas and murdering innocent civilians, how would we react? We all know the answer.

7. Most disturbing to me is that many of these people are not ones we can dismiss as fringe elements or crackpots. Some appear to be, but many others are people who should be more edified, who should know better. They are not acting out of ignorance.  They are acting out of bias and hatred. They are college administrators, professors and students, even members of Congress, even Biden’s chief negotiator with Iran.

The latent anti-Semitism in the US and the world as a whole is bubbling to the surface. We are observing a transformation from covert to overt anti-Semitism. The bigots have been encouraged and emboldened.  They are emerging from under whatever emotional rocks they have been living under out into the open 

The issue has broadened. Now, we are seeing Jews attacked in the streets and bomb threats of synagogues.

Now is the time when the US which is Israel’s only dependable ally, needs a strong leader. It needs a leader who can be more forceful and decisive, who can tell these demonstrators to tone down the irresponsible rhetoric, who can rally our allies and warn our enemies. Instead, we have the weak cognitively deficient Joe Biden.  Now, we will see that elections truly do have consequences.

Biden has been paying lip service to Israel and the Jews. By the way we should all realize that in the minds of many, if not most, Israel and Jews are synonymous terms. Anti-Israel is code for anti-Semitism.

Biden has been saying all the right things like we stand with Israel. But, he has stopped short of condemning Hamas.  He has steadfastly claimed there is no conclusive proof of Iran’s involvement.  We all know that is BS. We all know that if Biden were to acknowledge Iran’s culpability it would expose the failure of his entire policy vis-a-vis Iran. When Biden took office Iran had been virtually bankrupted by Trump’s strict economic embargoes. Simply put, he has enabled Iran to resurrect its economy, which in turn, has enabled it to fund the terrorism of its proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Much of aid money he’s now requesting from Congress would go to Ukraine and even be stolen by Hamas.

By all indications Biden is incapable of dealing with the various enemies of Israel and the US. Our enemies do not fear him. They do not respect him. Probably, they privately mock him as a feckless fool. They have seen what many of us have seen, at least those of us who do not get their news from the fake news outlets. I even question his ability to rescue the remaining 10 or so US hostages. Do you remember how he abandoned hundreds of Americans in Afghanistan?

Conclusion

So, in summary, cognizant of Jewish history, I view the October 7 attack as the opening salvo of an escalation of anti-Semitism that has the potential to morph into a catastrophic situation for Jews. (I hesitate to characterize it as a “Holocaust,” because that would dilute the meaning of the real Holocaust.)

In any case, I fear for the future of Judaism. I fear for the future of America. I fear for our children and grandchildren and for generations of Jews yet unborn. We all should.

The Jewish people are well-acquainted with anti-Semitism. They have been subjected to it in one form or another for some 5,000 years. Sometimes it has been overt, such as the violence and torture that characterized the Spanish Inquisition and the wanton, horrific and indiscriminate murders of the Holocaust, and sometimes it has been covert in the form of harassment, snide remarks and crude jokes, and/or restrictions in daily life. Many times, Jews lived peacefully in a particular country for hundreds of years before being evicted usually for no good reason other than the whims of the country’s ruler. For example, Jews had enjoyed a largely peaceful co-existence in Germany for some 500 years before the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.

With no homeland, oftentimes, it was a struggle to find another place that would welcome them. For thousands of years Jews had longed for a homeland of their own, a Jewish State where they would always be welcome and from which they would never be evicted. Finally, in 1948 they got one, although it was a small spot of land in an area surrounded by hostile enemies who hated Jews and did not want them there on land that they viewed as theirs. Thus, the Jewish State of Israel was victimized by anti-Semitism and embroiled in war before it was even an official country.

Some religious scholars and historians have suggested that rulers permitted Jews to live in their country because they were handy whipping-boys if problems caused unrest among their subjects. If crops failed and the people were starving, or if there was a plague, or an enemy invasion or the people were frustrated with their everyday life the ruling class claimed it was not at fault; blame the Jews.

In my view, historically, anti-Semitism has been and is a constant. It has always existed. As I said above, it can be overt, such as the pogroms in 19th century Europe or covert in the form of restrictions on daily life, quotas and snide jokes and remarks. Sometimes it has been dormant, bubbling just below the surface almost like an inactive volcano. It surfaces in times of stress, such as in times of economic hardship or a war.

So, it should not be surprising that it has reared its ugly head now in the wake of the Hamas invasion of Israel. It has been omnipresent on social media platforms, in public demonstrations, in newspapers and on tv. People have been brandishing swastikas and spewing vile, hateful language, such as “gas the Jews.” Some civil rights organizations have called out the techies that control social media for being incapable or unwilling to quell the hateful language displayed on their platforms. A few examples just from the past week:

• In Times Square a demonstrator brandished an image of a Nazi swastika.
• Other demonstrators called Jews “Zionists,” “fascists,” “colonizers,” “bigots” and worse.
• In Irvine CA a man was seen waiving a large swastika flag on a freeway overpass.
• Also in CA various cities have reported they were forced to cancel remote public forums due to a plethora of anti-Semitic comments.

Incredibly, out of ignorance, misinformation or blind prejudice many people are blaming Israel and the Jews for Hamas’ attack. They refuse to acknowledge the truth. They refuse to acknowledge Hamas’ extreme, wanton brutality. A Fox News reporter was taken aback when one demonstrator emphatically refused to accept the veracity of what we all are seeing on tv, and insisted Israel was to blame, not the terrorists. It’s like “my mind’s made up; don’t confuse me with the facts.”

The US is supposed to be a haven where people are free to practice whatever religion they choose. Freedom of religion is an integral part of the Bill of Rights. However, anti-Semitism is flourishing in the US. According to a report released by CNN anti-Semitic incidents in the US have nearly tripled in the last six years and are at their highest levels in the last 50 years. This includes instances of harassment, vandalism, assault, and other similar crimes against Jews, which are now at record highs. As reported by USA Today and various other media outlets anti-Semitism was surging in the past week even before Hamas’ attack.

The Anti-Defamation League has reported that crimes against “visibly identifiable” Orthodox Jews increased 69% in 2022 compared to the previous year. It added that “every fourth American Jewish adult” had been the target of an antisemitic incident “either physically or online.” In the view of Oren Segal, VP of the ADL Center on Extremism, “the brazenness of these attacks, sometimes in broad daylight,” seemingly without fear of consequences, represents a dangerous escalation and is a “huge concern.” In addition, ADL records indicate that the actual number of hate crimes countrywide is more than three times what the FBI’s records show. Furthermore, historian Robert Williams opines that there is a significant disconnect with respect to the mindset of Jews and the general public regarding antisemitism. Whereas some 80% of Jews think it has increased over the past few years less than half of the general public think so.

Most disturbing is the trend on college campuses, for example:

1. According to Wikipedia there is a general trend toward enforcing quotas and higher admission standards with respect to Jewish applicants, increased violence and ostracism toward Jewish students, slanted course material, and discrimination with respect to the hiring, promotion, treatment and retention of Jewish professors. These are widespread and well-entrenched despite existing anti-discrimination laws, hard to prove, and have been a staple at many colleges for a long time. In 2021 Dr. Charles Petersen published “letters and documents” that detailed Stanford University’s “Jewish quota” policies as far back as the 1950s.

2. In September The Hill published a survey that reported 57% of Jewish college students had witnessed or experienced anti-Semitism.

3. According to CNN last October a student murdered a University of Arizona professor he thought was Jewish.

4. Earlier this month Stanford University commenced a formal hate crime investigation after antisemitic drawings, including a likeness of Hitler were found in a student’s dorm.

5. In recent years administration bias and pro-Palestinian campus activism have become more blatant and have fostered an atmosphere of hatred and violence. The Israel-Hamas war has exasperated the situation.

6. The anti-Jewish bias has even been permeating secondary and elementary schools with the effect of influencing the opinions of young kids. For example, in NYC the DOE is offering students programs that downplay or even justify Hamas’ terror attacks.

7. The foregoing are just the tip of the iceberg. My research disclosed many more examples, too many to list them all.

CONCLUSION

Recently, it has been revealed that Robert Malley, the Biden Administration’s chief envoy to Iran and head of the US negotiating team, is a strong supporter of that regime and has been for many years. He and his family have deep ties to Palestinians. It has been reported that Malley is Arafat’s godson and has characterized Hamas’ [actions and goals] as “logical.” Worse, he is suspected of aiding and abetting Iran and Hamas by providing them with classified information. His actions may even rise to the level of espionage. He has been removed and is under FBI investigation. Better late than never. Some of us are not surprised that such a person would have been appointed to such a sensitive position by the Biden Administration.

Finally, we are seeing some pushback from fair and sensible people against some universities and students, most notably the Ivy League, which, in my view, has long been a major source of far left, anti-US, and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Some donors have expressed their displeasure and have threatened to reassess their donation policies. In addition, CEOs of various prospective employers, rightfully appalled by the overt antisemitism noted above, have threatened to withdraw offers of employment to the students who have engaged in vile, antisemitic rhetoric. Evidently, even if one possesses a degree from Harvard defending rape, murder, and beheadings and advocating another Holocaust are not viewed as acceptable character traits in the real world. These students need to vacate their protective bubble and face reality.

By the way, I would like to denote that I am not suggesting that all Palestinians and Muslims are terrorists like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other similar groups. On the contrary, I believe 90% or more of them are peaceful, tolerant and would like to be left alone to live their lives just like you and me. In point of fact, there have been and are many examples of Jews and Muslims co-existing peacefully.

Those who know their history are very familiar with the current situation detailed above, and it is frightening. The current events that I have outlined above have given “cover” to the bigots and antisemites among us. Make no mistake, those who criticize Israel are also criticizing Jews. In their view, it is morally and socially “acceptable” to express their feelings both verbally and physically. They manage to justify the disgusting and wanton slaughter and even beheadings of women, children, the elderly and the infirmed. In my opinion, they should be made to watch the raw news footage of Hamas’ atrocities over and over. They are hateful, ignorant, subhuman, bigoted troglodytes, and they need to crawl back into the sewer from whence they came.

Israel has been in a continuous fight for survival since even before it formally became a nation on May 14, 1948. Briefly, some of the highlights, (or lowlights):

1. It was at war with its Arab neighbors in Palestine who adamantly opposed any Jewish nation and wanted to annihilate all the Jews living in the region.

2. Various Fedayeen insurgencies during the 1950s and 1960s.

3. The Suez Canal crisis in 1956.

4. The Six Days’ War in June 1967.

5. The so-called “Wars of Attrition” from 1967 – 1970.

6. The terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

7. Insurgencies in Lebanon 1971 – 1982.

8. The Yom Kippur War in October 1973.

9. On and off wars/skirmishes in Gaza beginning in 2008.

10. Hamas War in October 2023.

Moreover, even during the periods in which it was not at war it was living under the constant threat of war. I know of no other nation past or present in that situation, no other nation whose neighbors have stated publicly that their goal is to annihilate them.

Fortunately, the Israelis are a resilient and hardy group. One might say that it is in their DNA. Many of them are the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Additionally, Jews have been fighting for their survival for some 5,000 years.

In my opinion, the current war with Hamas is one of the most dangerous. It has the potential to morph into a regional, or even worldwide, war. A nuclear war is not out of the question. Strong, sage leadership will be essential on all sides to avoid it. More on that later.

Like most of you, I have been observing developments since the advent of the war, and I am increasingly horrified at what I have seen. Some random thoughts, observations and opinions:

1. The failure of both US and Israeli intelligence is surprising and most disturbing. Apparently, Hamas went “old school,” and we were caught flatfooted.
2. I strongly object to describing these terrorists as “fighters,” gunmen,” or “militants” as some news outlets have done. They have no regard for human life. Their goal is to inflict maximum terror. They are terrorists, pure and simple. In fact, they are worse than terrorists. If I knew a stronger, more vile characterization I would use it.
3. Some media outlets, like the NY Times couldn’t decide what to call them even though it should have been obvious. It labeled them as “terrorists” in the early editions. Then, it changed to “gunmen,” probably at the direction of some spineless “woker.” Other media outlets, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, have instructed their employees to refrain from use of the word “terrorists.”
4. Initially, the Chicago chapter of BLM posted an inflammatory, celebratory video of a terrorist paragliding to attack with a Palestinian flag attached to his parachute saying “I stand with Palestine.” Later, it took the video down.
5. The clueless editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar characterized Israel’s cutting power to Gaza “the most inhuman thing” she’s ever seen. How about wanton murder, rape and beheading?
6. As we know, anti-Israel sentiments and anti-Semitism have been on the rise, particularly on college campuses. What makes this especially scary is these are the leaders of tomorrow. In the last few days, some universities, notably Harvard and Penn, embarrassed themselves. A group of Harvard students published a letter that held Israel “entirely responsible” for the “unfolding violence.” (Later, another group of students issued a letter attacking the first letter as “completely wrong and deeply offensive.”) As a result of the foregoing several CEOs have demanded the names of those students and have stated they will not hire them upon graduation. If only.
7. One of the masterminds of the attacks is reputed to be a shadowy, one-legged, wheelchair-bound bombmaker who has continually evaded the Israelis for years. His real name is unknown. He goes by the pseudonyms “Mohammed Deif” or “the cat.”
8. Of course, Israel will fight back with a vengeance. It always does, and it will ultimately prevail as it always has. Aerial bombardment has already begun with a massive ground invasion to follow. Food, fuel, and other supplies to Gaza will be cut off. Netanyahu called Hamas “savages” and has vowed to unleash a retaliation that will “echo for generations.” Gaza residents were warned to “get out or die.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said “we are fighting animals, and we will act accordingly.” The NY Post quoted a senior Israeli defense official as warning that Gaza will be “wiped out and reduced to a ‘city of tents.’ “
9. There is a risk that Hezbollah, located off Israel’s northern border in Lebanon could open a second front, which would be a dangerous escalation. .
10. It is obvious that Iran has been complicit. There is strong evidence that it has provided training, financing, expertise and perhaps encouragement to the terrorists. There may not be” proof” that would stand up in a court of law, but the inferences are pretty strong. Nevertheless, Biden and his staff have refused to admit it and address it.
11. Biden’s actions have been lukewarm. First, he waited two days to speak out. It seemed he had a barbeque to host. When he finally surfaced, he got a failing grade. Yes, he did say “we stand with Israel” and “the US has Israel’s back.” But, he failed to go further and acknowledge Iran’s complicity. Also, he failed to resume sanctions and re-freeze the $6 billion. Finally, he failed to address and condemn the anti-Semitic sentiments recently expressed by many people, even some in his own party. Based on Biden’s past actions it is fair to wonder if he will back up those assurances of support should the time come.
12. What will Biden do about the American hostages. Will he negotiate their return, or will he abandon them as he did the Americans left behind in Afghanistan? And, what will his response be regarding the Americans that were slain?
13. After two days of silence former presidents Clinton and Obama finally condemned the terrorists’ attacks. Better late than never, I suppose.
14. Few celebrities and no women’s groups that I am aware of have commented. Their silence is deafening.
15. Biden has been placating Iran since he took office. For instance, he resurrected the ill-advised nuclear deal, relaxed sanctions which had been very effective in controlling Iran, and unfroze some $6 billion of its oil revenues. His actions have exuded weakness and indecisiveness, have emboldened Iran, made it rich and therefore have enabled the latest terrorist attacks. Everyone else, from the public, the media, and even politicians in his own party seem to realize this and have begged him to re-freeze the $6 billion (although five Dem senators who have done so are, coincidentally, up for re-election in 2024). So far, he has refused to do so. He and his advisors have insisted that the money will only be spent for “humanitarian” purposes. Apparently, they don’t realize, or think we don’t realize that money, is fungible. Moreover, in his wishy-washy comments the other day he failed to condemn Iran or even acknowledge its responsibility.
16. Rob Malley, Biden’s special envoy to Iran, is under FBI investigation for various permissive actions and appeasements toward Iran.
17. Another Biden legacy is that many of the weapons we abandoned in the botched Afghanistan pull-out have resurfaced with Hamas and other terrorist groups.
18. CNN has reported that US intelligence has indicated that Iran’s leadership was “caught by surprise” by the attacks. Yeah, right.
19. The barbaric and horrific nature of the attacks is unprecedented in modern warfare. Women, children, babies, the infirmed and the elderly were wantonly slaughtered and beheaded. The exact number is unknown. Hundreds of hostages were taken to endure God knows what. Even hardened soldiers and journalists, who have seen war’s brutality have been horrified beyond words. Some did not have the words to describe what they saw. Mor Radmi, an Israeli reality star, broke down into tears over a terrorist who murdered a man and sent a video of it to his mother. During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby got so emotional he was actually fighting back tears
20. There have been some acts of kindness and compassion. For example, so far Israel has mobilized some 360,000 reservists with more likely to come. Some Israeli reservists domiciled in the US are voluntarily returning to Israel to fight. The airlines are charging $900 per ticket, which, by the way, I find unconscionable. In any event, it has been reported that one man went to JFK hung out near the ticket counter and purchased some 250 plane tickets for those reservists. That’s in excess of $200,000 folks.
21. The NY Post reported that Israeli air strikes killed three senior members of Hamas.
22. So far, the war has resulted in some 1,200 Israelis and eleven Americans dead.
23. Hamas is holding some 150 hostages. Qatari mediators are trying to negotiate their release, perhaps in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons.
24. Hospitals in the war zone have been overwhelmed. Most of the wounded were sent to the Soroka Medical Center, located some 25 miles west of Gaza. CEO Dr. Shlomi Codish has characterized the injuries he has seen as “unprecedented.” He added that in the first 18 hours they saw 700 people and treated them literally “under fire.” Workers have been working 36-hour shifts. Many of them have not received any news regarding their own families. Due to overcrowding some surgeries had to be performed right in the emergency room. Some wounded actually walked to the hospital on their own. With all that, out of 700 patients only 18 died. Those people are truly heroes.
25. There have been several pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel rallies both in the US and abroad. In addition, several US politicians have come out in support of the Palestinians or have refrained from criticizing their actions. For example, Rep. Rashida Tlaib has found it necessary to display a large Palestinian flag outside her office. Rep. Ilhan Omar characterized Israel’s planned retaliation as a “war crime.” In response to those comments Rep. Mike Lawler retorted “you are out of your mind and unfit to serve in the House of Representatives.” Good for him. In Sydney protesters chanted offensive slogans such as “Allah Akbar” and “gas the Jews.”
26. Amid all the horror there were some instances of heroism. For example, retired ex-IDF major general Noam Tibon travelled ten hours through the war zone to rescue his family, which was trapped in their home. He told them “trust me. I will come [to rescue you],” and he did. Inbal Lieberman, the security coordinator for Kibbutz Nir Am, organized resistance to repel some two dozen terrorists who were attacking.

CONCLUSION

So, where do we go from here? That is the $64,000 question to which I have no answer. I don’t think anyone does for certain. I see two issues. With respect to the war unless cooler heads prevail among world leaders there is a real risk of an expanded conflict either regionwide or worldwide. Also, some maniac may opt to use nuclear weapons.

The sticky point is the hostages. As I said, Israel will retaliate. They always have. Israel must retaliate to deter future attacks. In that event Hammas has vowed to murder the hostages. They always do in the most brutal manner. It will be very difficult to rescue the hostages. We don’t know their precise location or even if they are still in the tunnels. As I said, that is the sticky point.

Perhaps equally frightening is the rise of anti-Semitism both in the US and the world at large. Those who know history are aware that it has been extant for some 5,000 years. Most of the time it has been bubbling just below the surface only to break out into the open in times of crisis. This war has given “cover” for antisemites to express their hidden feelings. Make no mistake. Anti-Israel sentiments are code for anti-Semitism. Once again, bigots want to blame the Jews for events. I believe that issue may be impossible to resolve fully.

On Monday, October 11, we will celebrate Columbus Day, which is a holiday to honor the man who “discovered” America. But, did he? More on that later.

Federal offices and most banks will be closed, so there will be no mail delivery (although national parks will be open). On the other hand, financial markets and most schools will be open. Many cities and towns will hold their traditional Columbus Day parade, including NYC for the 79th year.

CD has been celebrated in the US since 1792. Originally, it was celebrated on October 12, the date on which Columbus made landfall. FDR proclaimed CD a national holiday in 1937. In 1971 pursuant to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act the date was changed to the second Monday in October where it has remained ever since.

In recent years Columbus and CD have become controversial. Many Native American and other activist groups have denoted his brutality toward the indigenous peoples he encountered, particularly in the West Indies. Some states, such as Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota, have authorized alternate holidays, such as Fraternal Day and Indigenous Peoples Day in protest. Others don’t celebrate it at all. According to Pew Research presently, only 16 states plus the territory of American Samoa still celebrate the holiday exclusively as Columbus Day.

For hundreds of years the conventional wisdom was that Columbus discovered America in 1492. Most of us know the basics of the story. Columbus was born in Genoa, which is now part of Italy, in 1451. According to Wikipedia the precise date is not known. He went to sea at around the age of ten and travelled extensively from the British Isles to the West African coast.

By the late 1400s the spice trade between Asia and Europe had become extremely lucrative. The problem was it took too long to travel between the two locations. Either ships had to sail around the “horn” of Africa or caravans had to travel overland through central Asia. Both routes were arduous and dangerous. Columbus became convinced he could find a quicker route. Time meant money, even in the 15th century. He was seeking a “Northwest Passage” to Asia, which would enhance the spice trade between Europe and Asia. His idea that he could find it by traveling west was generally considered radical and unrealistic.

At the time, most people believed the world was flat, and that if one sailed too far west the ship would simply fall off the edge of the earth. It was not until the 16th century, thanks primarily to the research of Copernicus and Galileo that the scientific community generally accepted the notion that the earth was spherical, not flat, and that it revolved around the sun, not the other way around. Columbus “pitched” his idea all over Europe seeking a sponsor. He was subjected to laughter and ridicule until King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain decided to take a chance on him. He set sail in August of 1492 with three ships – the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

On October 12 he made landfall in the current-day Bahama Islands. He named the indigenous people “Indians,” as he thought he was in India. Of course, he was wrong, but the term Indians to identify Native Americans has “stuck.” As colonial Governor of the area he became known for his extreme brutality toward the indigenous people. It was so bad that eventually he was removed from his post.

Eventually, Columbus would make three subsequent voyages to Central and South America. He never set foot in any part of North America. And he never did find the elusive Northwest Passage.

Based on new evidence, it is now generally accepted that Columbus did not “discover” America as we were taught in school. He did not “discover” anything. He was not the first person to set foot in America. Not even close as you will see below. What he did accomplish was to make Europeans aware of the existence of a “New World” which was chock full of unimaginable riches. His successful voyages ushered in a new era of exploration, conquest, colonization and war that would last for centuries. He was not the first, but one can argue that he was the most significant.

CONCLUSION

So, who did “discover” America?

1. According to historian Michael Bawaya, editor of the magazine, American Archaeology, the original settlers of the NW arrived about 15,000 years ago. At that time the Bering Sea, which separates modern-day Siberia from North America, was more shallow than it is now. In some areas, there was an actual land-bridge. According to the US National Parks Service the land-bridge “played a vital role” in the spread of flora and fauna between the two continents. Animals such as mastodons, wooly mammoths, Arctic camels, horses and various species of fish and birds moved freely over the land-bridge establishing migration patterns that persist to this day. Of course, humans followed as they went where the food was.
2. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of settlements in and around Clovis, NM that are some 11,000 years old. DNA evidence suggests that these inhabitants were the direct ancestors of some 80% of ALL indigenous peoples in the Americas.
3. According to voanews there is ample evidence that the Vikings inhabited Newfoundland and other parts of eastern Canada as early as circa 1100. Two leaders of these intrepid Viking explorers were Leif Erickson and his son, Eric “the Red.” They did not establish any permanent colonies, but there is ample evidence that they used the area as a winter settlement to make repairs to their boats and “ride out” bad weather.
4. There is evidence that Chinese and/or Polynesian explorers made their way to parts of South America well before Columbus.

In summary, I believe Columbus deserves credit (and blame) for introducing the New World to Europeans and all that followed, but it cannot be said that he “discovered” it. As indicated by his harsh treatment of the natives he was not perfect; none of us is. But, I am not a proponent of “revisionist history” as advocated by many on the “left.” Therefore, I do not believe CD should be “canceled.” In my view, Columbus deserves to continue to be recognized with a holiday in his memory.

You cannot make this up.

For those of you who have been hibernating for the past seven or so years or have been getting their news from MSNBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, or other fake news outlets, let’s test your knowledge with a quick review of the border wall issue. Who said the following?

1. In 2006, the US needs a “tightening” of the border “with fences” (to deal with illegal immigration).
2. In 2007, “no great nation can be in a position where they can’t control their borders.”
3. In 2020, “a wall will do little to deter criminals and cartels seeking to exploit our borders.” Moreover, “there will not be another foot of wall constructed by my administration.”
4. In 2021, he characterized building a border wall as a “waste of money” and advocated “pausing” border wall construction even though Congress had already approved funds for its construction and materials had been purchased. (This was “rich” coming from a president who has wasted more money on various projects than any other president.)
5. A few days ago, declaring the US will resume border wall construction.

The answers are Joe Biden, Joe Biden, Joe Biden, Joe Biden, and Joe Biden.

It gets even better. A few days ago, even as he reiterated his belief that the wall was “ineffective,” his administration announced the abovementioned resumption of construction. So, let me get this straight, because I didn’t attend “Hahvid.” Biden still thinks the wall is ineffective, but he has authorized further construction anyway. Huh? Like I said, you can’t make this up.

Biden has long been a political chameleon. He has frequently changed positions when politically expedient. Some examples, other than the border wall, include school busing, crime, foreign policy, and oil drilling. Perhaps, this is because he forgets his former positions on issues; or maybe, he thinks the public forgets; or maybe, he is unaware that we live in an age where everything is recorded and retained forever; or maybe, he expects his allies in the media to “cover” for him; or maybe, he just doesn’t care; or maybe, it’s some combination of the above. Take your pick.

Of course, I am using sarcasm to highlight the danger of the situation and the serious, perhaps irreparable, economic, political, military and social damage, it has done to this country. I have published many blogs on this issue, and there is no need to rehash them here. Suffice to say, there were reasons why the Vatican constructed its walls in the 800s, the Chinese built the Great Wall over 20 centuries (from the 3rd BC to the 17th), every castle ever constructed had a wall, often supplemented by a moat, and wealthy people often choose to live in condominiums surrounded by walls and security guards. With a mere modicum of research one can easily ascertain those reasons and results. It’s just common sense (which, as we all know, is not “common.”)

We all know why Biden has flip-flopped at this time. Clearly, his current immigration policy has been a disaster. Many of our cities are being inundated with migrants; they are going bankrupt trying to provide for them; Dem mayors, other politicians, and many Dem voters are in an uproar. Even many of Biden’s allies in the media have joined in. Even the clueless and incompetent Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has conceded that there is an “immediate need” to construct an additional border wall. And, most significantly, there is an election in one year.

CONCLUSION

The Dems may not know how to run a country, but they are very savvy regarding elections. My opinion is that they sense the immigration issue is hurting them, and they will at least pay lip service to reform until after the election. Stubbornly, they won’t admit that Trump and the GOP were right on this issue all along, even though events have shown conclusively that they were.

My advice to voters – don’t be fooled. Building a wall, though important, is only a first step. Additionally, to be successful we must demonstrate the political will to enforce our immigration laws and ignore the naysayers’ false and exaggerated claims of racism. I am not convinced that we, as a country, have the “stomach” to do that, but time will tell.

The following historically-significant events occurred during the month of September:

9/1/1939 – The Germans invaded Poland marking the beginning of WWII.
9/1/1983 – A Russian fighter jet shot down a Korean civilian airliner that had supposedly strayed off course during a scheduled flight from NY to Seoul.
9/2/1666 – The Great Fire of London began. It destroyed over 13,000 houses, although it is believed that only six lives were lost.
9/2/1789 – Congress established the Department of the Treasury as the third cabinet department.
9/2/1864 – General Sherman captured Atlanta.
9/2/1945 – President Truman declared VJ Day.
9/2/1963 – Alabama Governor George Wallace dispatched state troopers to prevent the integration of Tuskegee High School.
9/3/1783 – Representatives of England and the American colonies signed the Treaty of Paris bringing a formal ending to the Revolutionary War.
9/3/1833 – The “New York Sun” debuted, as the first newspaper to be “hawked” by boys on the sidewalk.
9/4/1609 – Henry Hudson discovered the island of Manhattan. (Do you know the derivation of the name, “Manhattan”)? See below.
9/4/1781 – Felipe de Neve founded El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles (in English, The Town of the Queen of the Angels), or as it is more commonly known, the City of Los Angeles.
9/4/1886 – Geronimo, the last and, perhaps, the most famous, Indian chief, was captured.
9/5/1774 – The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia.
9/5-6/1972 – Terrorists belonging to the Black September faction of the PLA murdered eleven members of the Israeli Olympic Team in Munich.
9/5/1997 – “Mother Teresa” died at age 87.
9/8/1565 – Spain founded the first settlement in America in St. Augustine, FL.
9/9/1776 – The Continental Congress officially changed the name of the “United Colonies” to the “United States.”
9/9/1976 – Chairman Mao Zedong, Communist China’s longtime leader, died.
9/11/2001 – The worst terrorist attack in US history ushered in the War on Terror, which is ongoing. Terrorists hijacked four jumbo jets. Two were flown into the WTC, causing both towers to collapse; one crashed into the Pentagon; and the 4th missed its target (the White House or the Capitol) due to the heroism of some of the passengers on board. Nearly 2,800, mostly civilians, were killed and thousands of first responders have since died or suffered health problems directly related to the attack.
9/12/1953 – Future US President John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, RI.
9/13/1788 – The US Congress chose NY as the capital.
9/13/1814 – Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner while observing the Battle of Fort McHenry from a British prisoner ship in Baltimore harbor.
9/14/1901 – President William McKinley died from gunshot wounds suffered during an assassination attempt eight days previously.
9/15/1935 – The Nazi Germany government enacted the Nuremburg Laws, which deprived German Jews of their citizenship.
9/16/1620 – The Mayflower, with only 102 passengers and a few crew members, departed England for its famous voyage to the New World.
9/16/1908 – William Durant founded General Motors in Flint, MI.
9/17/1789 – The Constitutional Convention approved the US constitution.
9/17/1862 – The Union Army defeated the Confederate Army at Antietam in the bloodiest battle in US military history as approximately 26,000 soldiers died on both sides.
9/18/1947 – The air force was established as a separate branch of the military.
9/19/1893 – New Zealand became the first country to approve women’s suffrage.
9/20/1873 – The NYSE closed for the first time due to the Panic of 1873.
9/20/1973 – Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the much-ballyhooed “Battle of the Sexes.”
9/22/1776 – The British executed Nathan Hale as a spy for the colonials who famously intoned “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
9/22/1862 – President Abraham Lincoln issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation.
9/23/1952 – Vice Presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivered the famous “Checkers” Speech before a national tv and radio audience.
9/24/1957 – President Eisenhower deployed the National Guard to enforce racial integration in Little Rock, AK.
9/25/1513 – Spanish explorer Vasco de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean.
9/25/1789 – Congress proposed 12 amendments to the US constitution of which ten were eventually ratified as the Bill of Rights.
9/26/1960 – Senator Kennedy and Vice President Nixon participated in the first televised presidential election debate.
9/27/1964 – The Warren commission issued its report that concluded a lone gunman had assassinated President Kennedy.
9/28/1542 – Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo discovered California.
9/28/1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chief Yasser Arafat signed an agreement granting Palestinian self-rule of the West Bank.
9/29/1789 – Congress created the US Army, which consisted of 1,000 soldiers.
9/29/1829 – Britain’s Parliament authorized London’s Metropolitan Police Force. They were nicknamed “Bobbies” after Home Secretary Robert Peel, who was the driving force behind the idea.
9/29-30/1941 – Nazi soldiers perpetrated the infamous Babi Yar massacre at which in excess of 33,000 Jews were murdered.
9/30/1938 – British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned to England brandishing an agreement with Nazi Germany that he asserted guaranteed “peace in our time.”
9/30/1949 – The Berlin airlift concluded after it had successfully thwarted Soviet attempts to blockade West Berlin.

BIRTHDAYS – Rocky Marciano, undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, 9/1/1923; Christa McAuliffe (the first “ordinary” citizen in space), 9/2/1948; Jesse James, celebrated outlaw, 9/5/1847; Darryl Zanuck, movie mogul, 9/5/1902; Marquis de Lafayette, Revolutionary War hero, 9/6/1757; Queen Elizabeth I, 9/7/1533; Ferdinand Marcos, 9/11/1917; James Cleveland (“Jesse”) Owens, winner of four gold medals in 1936 Olympics, 9/12/1913; Walter Reed, 9/13/1851; General John J. Pershing, WWI commanding general, 9/13/1860; James Fenimore Cooper, authored “Last of the Mohicans,” 9/15/1789; William Howard Taft (27th US President), 9/15/1857; Agatha Christie, renowned mystery writer, 9/15/1890; John Marshall, first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 9/24/1755; F. Scott Fitzgerald, author, 9/24/1896; George Gershwin, composer, 9/26/1898; Samuel Adams, Revolutionary War leader, 9/27/1722; Enrico Fermi, nuclear physicist, 9/29/1901; Truman Capote, authored “In Cold Blood,” 9/30/1924.

Quiz answer – It is derived from the Indian name, “Mannahatta,” which translates to “the hilly island.”

The following historically-significant events occurred during the month of September:

9/1/1939 – The Germans invaded Poland marking the beginning of WWII.
9/1/1983 – A Russian fighter jet shot down a Korean civilian airliner that had supposedly strayed off course during a scheduled flight from NY to Seoul.
9/2/1666 – The Great Fire of London began. It destroyed over 13,000 houses, although it is believed that only six lives were lost.
9/2/1789 – Congress established the Department of the Treasury as the third cabinet department.
9/2/1864 – General Sherman captured Atlanta.
9/2/1945 – President Truman declared VJ Day.
9/2/1963 – Alabama Governor George Wallace dispatched state troopers to prevent the integration of Tuskegee High School.
9/3/1783 – Representatives of England and the American colonies signed the Treaty of Paris bringing a formal ending to the Revolutionary War.
9/3/1833 – The “New York Sun” debuted, as the first newspaper to be “hawked” by boys on the sidewalk.
9/4/1609 – Henry Hudson discovered the island of Manhattan. (Do you know the derivation of the name, “Manhattan”)? See below.
9/4/1781 – Felipe de Neve founded El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles (in English, The Town of the Queen of the Angels), or as it is more commonly known, the City of Los Angeles.
9/4/1886 – Geronimo, the last and, perhaps, the most famous, Indian chief, was captured.
9/5/1774 – The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia.
9/5-6/1972 – Terrorists belonging to the Black September faction of the PLA murdered eleven members of the Israeli Olympic Team in Munich.
9/5/1997 – “Mother Teresa” died at age 87.
9/8/1565 – Spain founded the first settlement in America in St. Augustine, FL.
9/9/1776 – The Continental Congress officially changed the name of the “United Colonies” to the “United States.”
9/9/1976 – Chairman Mao Zedong, Communist China’s longtime leader, died.
9/11/2001 – The worst terrorist attack in US history ushered in the War on Terror, which is ongoing. Terrorists hijacked four jumbo jets. Two were flown into the WTC, causing both towers to collapse; one crashed into the Pentagon; and the 4th missed its target (the White House or the Capitol) due to the heroism of some of the passengers on board. Nearly 2,800, mostly civilians, were killed and thousands of first responders have since died or suffered health problems directly related to the attack.
9/12/1953 – Future US President John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, RI.
9/13/1788 – The US Congress chose NY as the capital.
9/13/1814 – Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner while observing the Battle of Fort McHenry from a British prisoner ship in Baltimore harbor.
9/14/1901 – President William McKinley died from gunshot wounds suffered during an assassination attempt eight days previously.
9/15/1935 – The Nazi Germany government enacted the Nuremburg Laws, which deprived German Jews of their citizenship.
9/16/1620 – The Mayflower, with only 102 passengers and a few crew members, departed England for its famous voyage to the New World.
9/16/1908 – William Durant founded General Motors in Flint, MI.
9/17/1789 – The Constitutional Convention approved the US constitution.
9/17/1862 – The Union Army defeated the Confederate Army at Antietam in the bloodiest battle in US military history as approximately 26,000 soldiers died on both sides.
9/18/1947 – The air force was established as a separate branch of the military.
9/19/1893 – New Zealand became the first country to approve women’s suffrage.
9/20/1873 – The NYSE closed for the first time due to the Panic of 1873.
9/20/1973 – Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the much-ballyhooed “Battle of the Sexes.”
9/22/1776 – The British executed Nathan Hale as a spy for the colonials who famously intoned “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
9/22/1862 – President Abraham Lincoln issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation.
9/23/1952 – Vice Presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivered the famous “Checkers” Speech before a national tv and radio audience.
9/24/1957 – President Eisenhower deployed the National Guard to enforce racial integration in Little Rock, AK.
9/25/1513 – Spanish explorer Vasco de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean.
9/25/1789 – Congress proposed 12 amendments to the US constitution of which ten were eventually ratified as the Bill of Rights.
9/26/1960 – Senator Kennedy and Vice President Nixon participated in the first televised presidential election debate.
9/27/1964 – The Warren commission issued its report that concluded a lone gunman had assassinated President Kennedy.
9/28/1542 – Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo discovered California.
9/28/1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chief Yasser Arafat signed an agreement granting Palestinian self-rule of the West Bank.
9/29/1789 – Congress created the US Army, which consisted of 1,000 soldiers.
9/29/1829 – Britain’s Parliament authorized London’s Metropolitan Police Force. They were nicknamed “Bobbies” after Home Secretary Robert Peel, who was the driving force behind the idea.
9/29-30/1941 – Nazi soldiers perpetrated the infamous Babi Yar massacre at which in excess of 33,000 Jews were murdered.
9/30/1938 – British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned to England brandishing an agreement with Nazi Germany that he asserted guaranteed “peace in our time.”
9/30/1949 – The Berlin airlift concluded after it had successfully thwarted Soviet attempts to blockade West Berlin.

BIRTHDAYS – Rocky Marciano, undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, 9/1/1923; Christa McAuliffe (the first “ordinary” citizen in space), 9/2/1948; Jesse James, celebrated outlaw, 9/5/1847; Darryl Zanuck, movie mogul, 9/5/1902; Marquis de Lafayette, Revolutionary War hero, 9/6/1757; Queen Elizabeth I, 9/7/1533; Ferdinand Marcos, 9/11/1917; James Cleveland (“Jesse”) Owens, winner of four gold medals in 1936 Olympics, 9/12/1913; Walter Reed, 9/13/1851; General John J. Pershing, WWI commanding general, 9/13/1860; James Fenimore Cooper, authored “Last of the Mohicans,” 9/15/1789; William Howard Taft (27th US President), 9/15/1857; Agatha Christie, renowned mystery writer, 9/15/1890; John Marshall, first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 9/24/1755; F. Scott Fitzgerald, author, 9/24/1896; George Gershwin, composer, 9/26/1898; Samuel Adams, Revolutionary War leader, 9/27/1722; Enrico Fermi, nuclear physicist, 9/29/1901; Truman Capote, authored “In Cold Blood,” 9/30/1924.

Quiz answer – It is derived from the Indian name, “Mannahatta,” which translates to “the hilly island.”

Today, Monday, is September 11, a date that will always have special meaning for all Americans, indeed for all decent people worldwide. Like December 7 and November 22, September 11 is a date that will, in the words of former president FDR, “live in infamy.”

Tuesday, September 11, 2001 began as a beautiful late summer day in NYC, pleasant temperatures and a brilliant blue sky. That would soon change. At 8:46 a.m. ET, Americans’ safe and secure lives changed forever. Like Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and the JFK assassination, undoubtedly, most everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they first heard of the attack. At that moment, the first hijackers’ plane crashed into the north tower of the WTC. This was followed quickly by a second plane crashing into the south tower, and, later, a third one crashing into the Pentagon. Incredibly and inexplicably, by 10:28 both towers had collapsed.

Later in the day, a fourth plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA. It is believed that this fourth plane was bound for a target in Washington, D.C., perhaps, the White House or the Capitol, and it would have succeeded but for the heroism of some of the passengers on board. The true story of the passengers on that flight is told in the compelling, dramatic and true tv movie The Flight That Fought Back, which is shown periodically. I strongly recommend it.

This year will mark the 22nd anniversary of those horrific attacks. They resulted in just under 3,000 deaths. Most of those were workers who were trapped in their offices and consumed by fire or smoke/chemical inhalation. They could not escape because most of the stairwells were blocked.  Many victims have only been identified due to their DNA, in some cases many years later.

Compounding the tragedy was the fact that NYC’s 911 operators were not as well informed as they should have been. Thus, they were advising callers from inside the towers not to descend the stairs on their own. Some of them proceeded to the roof hoping to be rescued by helicopter. Unfortunately, helicopters could not land on the roofs due to the heat and thick smoke. Many of us who were watching on tv witnessed the awful sight of people jumping to their deaths (in some cases, actually holding hands with others for support) rather than awaiting their fates from the fire.

The horror of the attacks, themselves, was amplified by the fact that the victims were not soldiers but innocent civilians who were merely working at their jobs.  In addition to the thousands of civilians, police officers, firemen and EMS workers that were killed in the attacks, themselves, thousands more volunteer workers and even people who lived or worked in the vicinity ended up contracting various illnesses from inhaling the many carcinogens in the air and dying subsequently, in some cases many years later. 

Many of us know or know of someone, such as Jamie Testa, a close family friend, who suffered this fate.  These people were heroes. They didn’t have to be at ground zero. They volunteered to help rescue people who were trapped under the rubble, because that is what Americans do. Tragically, they paid with their lives. Even today, 22 years later, people are still contracting diseases and dying.  Horrifying as it may seem, some doctors have predicted that eventually these victims will exceed the 3,000 killed on 9/11. 

The primary illnesses are cancer, respiratory disorders, asthma, COPD and gastroesophageal reflux disorder. In addition, in the aftermath health workers noted a significant increase in anxiety, depression and PTSD. As I said, many of the above have manifested themselves years later. Even now, new cases are being presented. The number of documented cancer cases, alone, has tripled in the past few years. The physical, mental and emotional toll has been astounding. An estimated 18,000 people have contracted illnesses from the toxic dust. Moreover, there is speculation that 9/11 has caused health issues in babies whose mothers were pregnant at the time of the attacks, such as premature birth, respiratory problems, below average weight, and increased neo-natal requirements.

This was the deadliest attack on US soil ever. By comparison, the shocking Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which, as I said, President FDR characterized as “a date that will live in infamy” resulted in “only” 2,400 deaths, and they were mostly military personnel.

Various ceremonies, vigils, memorials, and tributes are scheduled throughout the day in various venues around the world. Some of the highlights will be:

1. Vice President Harris and various other dignitaries will speak at ground zero in NYC.
2. The “Tribute in Light” ceremony featuring two blue beams of light will last from dusk to dawn.
3. My personal highlight is the reading of the names of the victims. I find it especially poignant, particularly when some names are read by the victim’s surviving spouse or children.

In addition to the deaths there was significant damage to the economy of NYC and the US as a whole. The entire Wall Street area, including the financial markets, was closed until September 17. Air travel was disrupted. Americans’ psyche was severely damaged. The cleanup of the WTC area was not completed until May 2002. All in all, it took 3.1 million man-hours to clean up 1.8 million tons of debris at a cost of $750 million.  Internationally, countries were generally horrified and supportive, although some of the people in some Muslim countries, such as Iraq, were seen to be celebrating.

Fifteen of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, with the others having originated from Egypt, Lebanon and the UAE. The terrorist group, Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, quickly claimed responsibility. Bin Laden had declared a holy war on the US and had issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Americans. Following 9/11, bin Laden became public enemy number 1. Eventually, the US exacted revenge, hunting him down and killing him.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Americans wanted to know how our intelligence agencies had failed to anticipate them. Who had “dropped the ball?” Amid many investigations and finger-pointing it became obvious that the major factor was a failure to communicate and share intelligence and information. For example:

l. The CIA had intelligence reports that a terrorist attack was forthcoming, but it was expecting it to be in Israel, not the US.
2. The CIA knew that two known terrorists had slipped into the US.
3. The FBI had information of certain anomalies at some US flight schools.
4. The Justice Department policies advocated very limited intelligence-sharing, even with other agencies.
5. The CIA and NSA were reluctant to reveal sources of information and their methods of attaining it.
6. None of these agencies reported their information to each other or to the White House.
7. In 2004 Attorney General John Ashcroft testified to the “9/11 Commission” that the “single greatest structural cause…. was the wall that segregated or separated criminal investigators and intelligence agents.”

I hope that the coordination and information-sharing among these agencies have been enhanced since 9/11, but I have my doubts. As time has gone on, I sense that we have grown more and more complacent and the various alphabet agencies have resumed “guarding their own turf” rather than sharing intelligence and information for the greater good.

Americans’ lives have changed considerably since 9/11. Many believe that not all of these changes are good or even necessary. For instance:

1. The US created the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate and oversee intelligence activities and security. In addition, it passed the USA Patriot Act. These agencies have improved our readiness and security but at the price of certain civil liberties. There is, and should be, a balance between security and liberty, and depending on one’s political point of view the pendulum may have swung too far, or not enough, toward security.

2. Enhanced security at airports and train and bus terminals has made travel more complicated, time-consuming, and nerve-wracking. Some people have curtailed or ceased their travel entirely, particularly internationally.

3. Many parents are apprehensive, if not paranoid, about letting their children go outside to play or ride their bicycles in the neighborhood. Also, they accompany their children to the school or school bus stop and pick them up at the end of the day. The various terrorist attacks in schools in recent years have done little to assuage these fears and concerns. Schools have ramped up security protocols. Some have even hired armed guards. Some people have advocated arming teachers.

5. On the plus side, there has been a significant increase in patriotism and gratitude toward veterans.

In my opinion, parents should make a concerted effort to educate their children on the tragedy of 9/11, what happened, how it happened and what it means. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation approximately one-third of Americans are under the age of 26, and, therefore, have little or no recollection or knowledge of this event. The danger is that as time passes the populace will forget, and we should never allow that to happen. Educate your kids!

In addition, I recommend you watch some of the special memorial programming about 9/11 which will be shown on tv this weekend. I have seen a few and they are excellent.

Already, some people have been “down-playing” the 9/11 attacks. For example, Rep Ilham Omar, one of the notorious “Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse,” aka “The Squad,” who has uttered many disparaging remarks about America and Americans, has summed up 9/11 as “some people did something.” Really? Is she kidding? It’s easy to write off her and others of her ilk as “kooks,” but she does have followers who place credence in what she says.

Every anniversary has presented the heightened danger of additional terror attacks. In addition to the many obvious high value targets, such as ground zero, Times Square, and sporting venues there are a plethora of soft targets, such as churches, schools and malls.

I encourage everyone to find the time to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It is on the site of the original WTC complex in lower Manhattan. It occupies approximately one-half of the acreage of the original complex. It features two huge waterfalls and a “survivor tree,” which symbolizes resilience and strength. Take the time to stroll around this beautiful area. Take one of the many tours. You will find them most informative. Yes, it is tragic to be reminded of the horror of that day, but, on the other hand, it is uplifting to be reminded of the heroism and resilience of many first responders and even ordinary citizens and to experience the healing that has occurred. Remember, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

CONCLUSION

The sad fact is that we as a nation have grown complacent again. We have forgotten the “lessons” we learned on 9/11 and in its immediate aftermath.

There are many examples of this manifestation. The most obvious one is our failure to secure our borders. I have written several blogs on this issue. The inescapable fact is that in recent years millions of undocumented migrants have flooded across our unsecured borders without any vetting whatsoever. Worse, a goodly portion of them have snuck across and their identities are not known. Hidden among them could easily be terrorists plotting the next 9/11. Our leaders have been choosing to ignore this danger or justify it based on humanitarian concerns. Consequently, at the present time, we are at grave risk of a repetition. And, as bad as 9/11 was the next one could be worse, far worse. This situation has had and will continue to have incalculable political, economic, social and military consequences for our nation, none of them good.

Undoubtedly, many of you experienced 9/11 firsthand. Please feel free to share your experiences.

On September 4 we will celebrate Labor Day (“LD”).  As we all know, the holiday has traditionally been celebrated on the first Monday of September.  It is celebrated in various forms and at various dates in approximately 80 countries.

To most Americans LD merely symbolizes the unofficial end of summer and the impending beginning of the school year.  They enjoy the three-day weekend off from work.  They spend the day with family and/or friends. They enjoy picnics, parades, vacations, shopping, baseball games and other sports activities, and barbecues. They lament, but grudgingly accept, holiday traffic and long lines at airports. [Quiz question: According to CBS News what will be the busiest airport in the US over the LD holiday?   

Also, it is the reason why summer always seems to be so short. In our minds, we transfer the approximately three post-Labor Day weeks of the season to Autumn. But, what is the meaning and purpose of LD?  Why do we celebrate it?  How did it come about?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

As the name implies, the purpose of LD is to celebrate the accomplishments of the American Labor movement.  Whatever one’s political views and affiliations, I think it is important and appropriate to understand Labor’s contributions to the growth and development of the US.  For one thing, cheap labor was an integral component of the Industrial Revolution.  When all was said and done, someone had to build all the roads, railroads, and cars, and operate all the factories and steel mills.  In addition, the labor activism of the late 1800s and early 1900s was largely responsible for the relatively high wages and extensive benefits that are enjoyed by today’s US labor force (compared to that of other countries).

It should be noted that union membership has been declining sharply and steadily.  For example in 1950 approximately 40% of American workers were members of a union.  By contrast, in 2019 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number was approximately 11%

The history of LD began in the 1870s in Canada.  Labor Unions were illegal in Canada, and 26 members of the Toronto Typographical Union had been imprisoned for striking for a nine-hour work day.  That action led to demonstrations and rallies and raising the profile of labor unrest in both Canada and the US.  Two of the most outspoken leaders were Peter McGuire, founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and an official of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew Maguire, Secretary of the Central Labor Union in NY.

Historical accounts differ, but one or both of these men are credited with being the first to propose a holiday to celebrate labor.  In any event, the CLU planned and organized the first LD celebration in NYC on September 5, 1885.  Approximately, 20,000 workers and their families participated.  The concept spread.  In 1887 Oregon became the first state to sanction the holiday.

The Pullman Labor Strike in 1893 provided the final impetus for a national labor holiday.  The Pullman Company had been founded and was run by George Pullman.  Pullman, IL, where the company operated, was a classic company town.  All the workers lived there and paid rent to the company, which was automatically deducted from their paychecks.  Workers’ housing was segregated according to their jobs; everyone shopped at the Company Store.

Many viewed such an arrangement as a form of slavery, because workers were, in actuality, trapped due to their omnipresent debt to the Company. (Think of the song “Sixteen Tons.”)  In 1893 the country was in the midst of a recession.  The company laid off hundreds of workers and reduced the wages of many others.  Of course, living expenses remained constant.  These actions led to a strike.  President Cleveland declared the strike to be illegal and “broke” it with Federal troops.  Some striking workers were killed in the ensuing violence.

This incensed many Americans, and 1894 was an election year.  So, Congress expeditiously passed a bill establishing LD as a national holiday, and the President promptly signed it into law.  This entire process took only six days, so you can imagine the extent of the public outcry.  Incidentally, this action failed to save President Cleveland’s political career; he was defeated anyway.

Eventually, the government settled on the first Monday in September as the official date.  Many countries celebrate it on May 1 in conjunction with International Workers’ Day, but the Federal government did not want the association with that date for obvious reasons.

As mentioned above, because of the CV many people have altered their holiday travel plans.  Increasingly, Americans are being divided into two groups – the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Each group feels strongly about its choice and I will not debate the merits and demerits in this blog, which is about LD. According to ABC News approximately 47% of Americans are still unvaccinated. One’s vaccination status will likely determine the manner in which they celebrate LD (and go about life, in general, for that matter).

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has recommended that unvaccinated persons avoid travelling entirely. I don’t think that is likely to happen, but AAA has predicted that, despite rising gas prices, road trips will be more popular, and fewer people will travel by air, ship, rail or mass transit.  For example, CBS has reported AAA expects in excess of three million individual trips on the NYC area’s tunnels and bridges over the holiday period.

I believe there are two main reasons for this.  Firstly, travel by car offers the safety of an enclosed environment.  Travelers are not as exposed to other people as they would be with the other modes of travel.   Secondly, although the roads could be crowded they are preferable to the frustrations, violence, and general inconveniences one normally encounters at, for example, the airports.

Finally, any and all of the carefully planned travel arrangements will be subject to the vagaries of Mother Nature.  For instance, as I write this many areas of the South and East are still feeling the affects of Hurricane Ida, and in the far West there are wild fires to contend with.

CONCLUSION

One of the supreme ironies of LD is that because it is such a big shopping day, many workers, especially retailers, are required to work.  LD is considered to be one of the biggest retail sales days of the year.  Some people use the day as a benchmark to change over their Summer clothes to Fall clothes.  Fashion-minded people claim it the latest day when one should wear white clothes (although “winter white,” whatever that is, is still permissible.)

Like other holidays, LD should be a time for all of us to come together and reflect on what makes America, despite its flaws, the greatest country in the world.  Disaffected residents as well as some people in other countries may like to criticize us for our real and perceived flaws, yet foreigners still want to come here, in some cases, desperately.  In essence, many of them are “voting with their feet.”

Despite what you may see on tv or read in newspapers or on social media, most Americans are decent, hard-working, caring persons.  Whenever disaster or tragedy strikes we unite to help those in distress.  Many have donated their time and/or money without being asked and without expecting any payback or even recognition.  If you doubt me, just look at the outpouring of kindness and empathy shown by “average” Americans toward the victims of the catastrophic events in recent years, such as superstorm Sandy and hurricanes Katrina, Irma, Laura, Harvey and, most recently, Ida.

To me, those people, not the destructive thugs and professional agitators one sees on the tv news destroying property, attacking the police, and beating up those with whom they disagree, are the “real” Americans.  It is the proverbial “silver lining” in a very dark cloud.

I hope you all enjoy your LD holiday, however you choose to spend it.  You owe it to yourself after having endured nearly two years of lockdowns, natural disasters, and medical, financial and economic uncertainty.  Feel free to tell me how you celebrated.

President Kamala Harris. Roll that nightmare scenario around in your mind for a bit. In my opinion, it is a very real possibility, proof of the old adage that no matter how bad a situation is, it can always get worse. Presently, she is poised to replace President Biden.

Regardless of one’s political leanings I cannot conceive why any clear-thinking voter would not be frightened by the prospect of a Harris presidency. As vice president, she has not accomplished anything positive. For example, President Biden appointed her as “Border Czar” and gave her the responsibility of formulating a policy to resolve the border crisis. Has she done so? No. Has she even made a good faith effort to do so? Not that I can see. Her “show” meetings with various Latin American leaders were a complete waste of time and accomplished nothing positive. Presently, the border crisis is worse than ever, and figures to deteriorate further. Has she even been to the border? Not to the areas that really need attention.

The electorate, much of which rejoiced when she was elected, is no longer being fooled. The latest NBC News poll in June reported her positive rating at 32%. Her negative rating was 49%. Those are the worst ratings in the poll’s history. Even worse, a solid majority of Americans believes President Biden, if re-elected, will not be able to complete a second term. Moreover, a recent Associated Press/NORC poll disclosed that 77% of respondents believe he is not suitable, due to age or other reasons, to serve a second term. That means that, if re-elected, Harris, would be the most likely vp to ascend to the presidency since Harry Truman in the 1940’s. At the time, few people thought FDR would live long enough to finish a fourth term., and Truman was being seriously judged as a potential president.

She makes few public appearances, which actually is good, because whenever she does, she says something incomprehensible that leaves one shaking one’s head in disbelief. She has become the queen of the non-sequitur. I question not only her work ethic but also her intelligence. I don’t know how she ever got through law school and got elected DA and US Senator. (Actually, I have my theories, but I’d rather not open that “can of worms.”)

Progressives are trying to characterize any criticism of Harris as racial and misogynistic. As President Biden might say, that is pure malarkey. That is their standard specious claim whenever they have no viable argument or defense, and the voters are getting wise to it. The fact of the matter is that Harris is not the first vp or vp candidate to be denigrated by the electorate and the media. Just in my lifetime, I can recall Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Dan Quayle and Sarah Palin who were also victimized for various reasons.

Conclusion

I believe there is something more sinister at play here. I have long held a deep suspicion and fear that the progressive Dems who control Biden have been planning a Machiavellian plot to perpetuate their control over the government. Being cognizant of Biden’s declining cognitive health and growing unsuitability in the eyes of the public and fearful that he would not be re-elected they may be planning for Biden to resign before the 2024 election, voluntarily or not. Harris would then succeed him, complete his term, and then run as an incumbent in 2024. Talk about “going from the frying pan into the fire!”

Paranoid? Possibly, but I would not put anything past the crew that managed to perpetuate hoax after hoax over approximately one-half of the country over the past several years.