Tag: history

VETERANS DAY

This year, Veterans Day will be celebrated tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11.  VD is one of 11 federal holidays. Can you name the others? See below.

The holiday is always celebrated on the same date unless it falls on a Sunday, in which case it is celebrated on Monday, November 12.  This is a day on which we celebrate our living veterans as opposed to Memorial Day, which is reserved for those who gave their lives for our country.

The US Postal Service, schools, banks and most government entities, such as the DMV and local libraries will be closed. Financial markets will be open. Most retailers and other businesses will be open. Traditionally, many restaurants and golf courses offer discounts or freebies for veterans.

Many cities will hold parades. Who doesn’t love a parade? The largest parade will be in NYC (where else?), which will be returning for its 107th iteration. Parade organizers estimate that some 20,000 service members will be marching up Fifth Avenue from 26th Street to 48th Street accompanied by approximately 150 vehicles and in excess of 25 floats. Additionally, some 400,000 spectators are expected.

The festivities will commence with a wreath-laying ceremony starting at 10:55 a.m. at Madison Square Park (Eternal Light Flagstaff). The parade is scheduled to commence at approximately 12:30 and end at about 3:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed digitally on ABC7NY.com.

Many of you have requested a quiz.  So, here it is, and in honor of Veterans Day it has a military theme. Good luck and no peeking at the internet. No consulting “Alexa” or “Siri.”

1. Who was the US president during the first war against the Barbary Pirates? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d James Monroe

2. The WWI battle that inspired the poem “In Flanders Field” took place in (a) Ardennes, (b) Charleroi, (c) Gallipoli, (d) Ypres

3. Each of the following presidents had been renowned generals, EXCEPT: a) Teddy Roosevelt, (b) Andrew Jackson, (c) Zachary Taylor, (d) Franklyn Pierce

4. “Pickett’s Charge” was the turning point of what Civil War battle? (a) Bull Run, (b) Manassas, (c) Gettysburg, (d) Fredericksburg

5. The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” refers to which Revolutionary War battle? (a) Boston, (b) Lexington, (c) Concord, (d) NY

6. Tripoli, the stronghold of the Barbary Pirates, was located in what present-day country? (a) Libya, (b) Algeria, (c) Tunisia, (d) Egypt

7. The Alamo is located in which city? (a) Houston, (b) San Antonio, (c) Austin, (d) Galveston

8. The US fought the Gulf War against (a) Iran, (b) Syria, (c) Kuwait, (d) Iraq

9. Who said “Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead.” (a) David Farragut, (b) John Paul Jones, (c) Ethan Allen, (d) Jonathan Eli

10. Which war resulted in the highest number of US casualties? (a) WWI, (b) WWII, (c) Korean War, (d) Civil War

11. Fort Sumter is located in which state? (a) North Carolina, (b) South Carolina, (c) Georgia, (d) Alabama? Bonus for all you Yankees savants. What famous Yankee player was born in Sumter? (If any of you know this I will be really impressed.

12. Custer’s Last Stand took place in which modern-day state? (a) North Dakota, (b) South Dakota, (c) Montana, (d) Idaho. Bonus question for all you Yankee fans –

13. Each of the following was a WWII battle in the Pacific theatre, EXCEPT (a) El Alamein, (b) Guadalcanal, (c) Okinawa, (d) Midway

14. Who was the US President during WWI? (a) Teddy Roosevelt, (b) Woodrow Wilson, (c) William Howard Taft, (d) Warren Harding

15. When General Douglas MacArthur said “I shall return,” to which country was he referring? (a) Australia, (b) New Guinea, (c) Guam, (d) Philippines

16. The Korean War began in (1) 1949, (b) 1950, (c) 1951, (d) 1952

17. Who was president during the Spanish-American War? (a) Grover Cleveland, (b) James Garfield, (c) Rutherford B. Hayes, (d) William McKinley

18. Where is Mt. Suribachi? (a) Iwo Jima, (b) Okinawa, (c) Tarawa, (d) Japan

19. Where is Vicksburg? (a) Alabama, (b) Louisiana, (c) Missouri, (d) Mississippi

20. When was the Veterans Administration founded? (a) 1870, (b) 1930, (c) 1950, (d) 1972

21. Which of the following was NOT a landing site on D-Day? (a) Silver, (b) Omaha, (c) Juno, (d) Sword.

22. Which British general surrendered at Yorktown ending the Revolutionary War? (a) Howe, (b) Clinton, (c) Cornwallis, (d) Burgoyne.

23. Each of the following cities was the site of fighting in the Iraq War battle EXCEPT: (a) Mosul, (b) Fallujah, (c) Baghdad, (d) Kamaleshwar.

24. Approximately, how many veterans are there living in the US? (a) 9.5 million, (b) 12.5 million, (c) 16 million, (d) 19.5 million?

25. Who was president during the War of 1812? (a) Thomas Jefferson, (b) John Adams, (c) James Monroe, (d) James Madison

ANSWERS: 1. c; 2. d; 3. a; 4. c; 5. c; 6. a; 7. b; 8. d; 9. a; 10. d; (more than all the other wars combined. 11. b; 12. c; 13. a; 14. b; 15. d; 16. b; 17. d. 18. a; 19. d; 20. b.; 21. a; 22. c; 23. d; 24. c. (According to the US Census Bureau 15.8 million, 1.7 million of which are female).; 25. d.

Federal holidays: New Year’s Day; MLK’s Birthday; G. Washington’s BD; Memorial Day; Juneteenth National Independence Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans’ Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas.

Bobby Richardson

Well, there you have it. Tell me how you did, well or (as my grandson used to say) “not so good.”

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HALLOWEEN

Today, October 31, many of us will celebrate Halloween. We will dress up in costumes and attend parties. Children will go door-to-door “trick or treating.” Of course, some will use the holiday as an excuse to create mischief or even mayhem, but for most of us it will be a day of fun and games and an opportunity to gorge ourselves on candy. But few, if any, of us will bother to stop and think about the origins of the holiday. When and where did it begin? How did it evolve? Why do we dress up in costumes? Why do we go “trick or treating?” Glad you asked. Read on for the answers.

The origin of Halloween is a Celtic holiday dedicated to the dead. Although the Celts were interspersed in many areas of Europe, they were concentrated in what is now, England, Ireland and Scotland. The Celts divided the year into four sections, each of which was marked by a major holiday. The beginning of the winter season was November 1, which was celebrated by a festival called “Samhein,” pronounced “Sah-ween,” which means “end of summer” in old Irish.

The word “Halloween” can be traced back as far as 1745. It means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening.” It is derived from a Scottish term for “All Hallows Eve,” the evening before “All Hallows Day,” aka “All Saints Day.” Over time, the word “evening” was contracted to “e’en,” thus Halloween.

The Celts were a pagan people and very superstitious. They believed that the ghosts of those who had died during the year had not yet completed their journey to the “otherworld,” and at Samhein they were able to mingle with the living. Accordingly, to placate these ghosts and other spirits the Celts offered sacrifices and lit bonfires to aid them on their journey. It has been suggested that the origin of wearing costumes was to disguise oneself from any lost soul that might be seeking vengeance on the living before moving on the next world. Some, believing that the souls of those who had died recently were still wandering in a sort of purgatory, set a place for them at dinner. Many of these ancient traditions have persisted to this day in some locales.

In 601 Pope Gregory I issued an edict, the gist of which was that missionaries were to combine Christian holidays and festivals with existing pagan holidays and festivals and, hopefully, eventually supersede them. The ultimate objective was to foster the conversion of pagans to Christianity. As a result, All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, was moved to November 1 to coincide with Samhein.

By the end of the 12th century other Halloween traditions had developed. For example, the clergy would ring church bells for the souls stuck in purgatory; and “criers,” dressed in black, would parade through towns reminding the citizens to remember these poor souls. In about the 15th century people began to bake “soul cakes,” which are small round cakes, a practice called “souling,” which is believed to be a forerunner of “trick or treating.” Poor people would go door-to-door and collect these cakes in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. Interestingly, Shakespeare mentioned “souling” in “The Two Gentlemen of Varona” in 1593. Over time, celebrations of All Hallows Day began to include additional customs, such as “trick or treating,” lighting bonfires, attending costume parties, carving “jack-o’-lanterns, apple “bobbing,” and attending church services.

As mentioned above, it is believed that the practice of “trick-or-treating” was derived from “souling” or “mumming,” which is going house-to-house in disguise singing songs in exchange for food. This was believed to have originated in Scotland and Wales in the 16th century. Sometimes people would paint their faces and threaten mischief if they were not welcomed. This evolved into the customs of wearing costumes and playing pranks. Nocturnal pranksters needed illumination, hence the development of jack-o-lanterns. In England, people would fashion them out of turnips or mangel wurzels, which are large, thick roots suitable for carving. In America, pumpkins were used, because they were plentiful and better suited for carving anyway. Jack-o-lanterns are believed to frighten evil spirits. In France, people believed that the dead buried in cemeteries would rise up and participate in a wild carnival-like celebration known as the “Danse Macabre,” or “Dance of Death.”

“Trick or treating,” as such, is a relatively modern development. As I said, it is believed to have evolved from “souling” or “mumming.” The earliest mention of it in print was in 1927, and it did not become widespread until the 1930s in the US. Also, costuming has evolved. Popular fictional characters have been added to the traditional skeletons, ghosts and ghouls. Basically, now, anything goes. As I said celebrating the day is no longer exclusively limited to children. Many adults also wear costumes and attend Halloween parties.

CONCLUSION

At the present time, Halloween, like other holidays, has become highly commercialized. Selling costumes and other related paraphernalia has become big business. Several movie franchises, such as Halloween and Friday the 13th have become very popular, especially at this time of the year. The actress, Jamie Lee Curtis has made a career of starring in seven Halloween movies over the years beginning in 1978.

The original religious significance of the holiday has been eclipsed and forgotten by most people. Yes, some people still attend church, but many more attend parties. Many if not most people, especially children, know Halloween merely as a day to dress in costumes and go “trick or treating.” We do love our candy. Speaking of which, special kudos to my grandkids who, aware of my fondness for Snickers, remember to save a bar for me every year.

In recent years, the “PC Police” inserted themselves into the holiday. Some of them maintained that certain costumes are “racist” and should be avoided. I think we can all agree that a Caucasian should not dress up in “blackface.” But, the PC Police went much further. They also disapproved of any costumes that could be perceived by anyone as mocking or derogatory. Some examples would likely include Disney’s Moana, Aztec Indians, Tom Thumb, or Pancho Villa, which, in their minds, could be objectionable to Polynesians, Indigenous People, short people (or should I say “vertically challenged?” I have trouble keeping up with all the PC buzzwords.), or Hispanics, respectively. I say, if your five-year-old loves Moana and wants to dress up like her, go for it. Is that really being insensitive or racist? Really? Do the people who are marketing Moana costumes really expect to sell them only to Polynesians? I think not! To me, these objections are just another example of some people who want to dictate to others how to act and live. Thankfully, at the present time the “PC Police” are not as influential.

In recent years, due to the excessive violence and crime in many areas, safety has been a big concern. Undoubtedly, some parents are apprehensive about their children trick or treating in the traditional manner, particularly the younger ones. In addition, some children may be fearful. We don’t want to deprive the children from enjoying the holiday. So, some parents have been accompanying their children. Others have been meeting in a designated area as part of a group and trick or treating as a group in that area.

Hopefully, after reading this blog you will have gained some knowledge of and perspective as to the origin and meaning of the holiday. Enjoy, and stay safe!

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TALARICO AND EL-SAYED

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion as indicated.

As most of you know James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed are candidates for the US Senate in Texas and Michigan, respectively, nominated by the far left, neo-communist wing of the Dem Party. As I write this, polls report that both are in a virtual ties with their Repub opponents. Both races are crucial in the battle for control of the Senate. Their statements, policies and beliefs, as well as those of the DSA wing, are so radical that if the voting public were cognizant of them, they would never get elected. They advocated these policies in the past before they became well-known. Now, like most of the DSA extreme candidates, they are trying to disguise their true policies in order to appeal to mainstream voters.

James Talarico previously served in the Texas State Legislature. Some of his significate past statements, policies and beliefs are as follows:

  1. Supports a two-state solution in Palestine.
  2. Has condemned what he terms Israel’s “atrocities and war crimes” in Palestine and blames it for the famine in Gaza.
  3. Suppports banning the sale of offensive weapons to Israel.
  4. Criticized Dems for supporting the wars in Gaza and Iran.
  5. After the initial strikes against Iran, he wrote, “No more “forever wars.”
  6. Has advocated for a state income tax.
  7. Opposed theTrump tax cuts.
  8. Supports eliminating bail for those arrested.
  9. Favors electric cars over gas cars.
  10. Characterized the cattle industry as bad for the environment
  11. Claimed he was a vegan.
  12. Supported transgender rights and boys participating in girls’ sports.
  13. Characterized capitalism as “oppressive” and a symbol of “white supremacy.”
  14. Claims there are six genders.
  15. During a floor debate in the TX legislature described God as “non-binary. Subsequently, doubled down during an interview with ABC News Live.
  16. Supports universal childcare, paid family leave, and down payment assistance for firsr-time homebuyers.

El-Sayed is a charismatic political newcomer who, if he were to win would be the first Muslim senator in US history. His opponent is Mike Rogers, a 63-year-old former FBI agent and congressman who has the strong support of President Trump. The latest polls report the race to be even. He continually avoids giving straight answers to questions, especially those pertaining to Jews, Israel and Hasan Piker, even more so than most politicians. Some of his signficant past statements, policies and beliefs include:

  1. Has expressed hatred of America and the American way of life. Favors tearing it down and remaking it.
  2. Advocated for Medicare for all, even illegals.
  3. Wants to abolish ICE.
  4. Won’t say whether Israel or Iran is a bigger threat to the US.
  5. Openly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. Opposes any further military aid to Israel.
  6. Suspected of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and other radical Muslim groups through family members. The Trump Administration has designated several overseas chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, including those in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. He and his campaign have denied any connection to these groups. However, his mother, Fatten Elkomy, worked for the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA) as a nurse. The Treasury Department and Justice Department shut it down for violating sanctions and providing aid to Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. An expert witness in the case told The New York Times last week that the nonprofit was so small, with only 14 employees, that all of them likely knew what was going on at the charity.
  7. His Party’s platform, to which he subscribes, supports eliminating the Senate, the Presidency, and the electoral college and sharply curtaining the powers of the Supreme Court.
  8. Opposes voter ID laws.
  9. Supports a wealth tax.
  10. Opposes internal combustion engines.
  11. Has close ties with Hasan Piker, a radically far-left anti-American and anti-Semite. Some of Piker’s past controversal statements were “America deserved 9/11,” the U.S. has caused more terror than Al Qaeda, and Jewish people are “singularly invested in Israel” (which critics argued could incite antisemitic violence). Piker has been the target of substantial backlash for these and other comments. He is toxic to El-Sayed’s campaign, and El-Sayed has tried to distance himself from him. Few believe him, especially since Piker, himself, has insisted that he is a close friend, confidant, advisor and advocate.

Conclusion

It is inexplicable to me that these races and others are virtually even, and that the radical leftists are projected to win some of them. In my view, it’s mainly because many of the voters are unaware of the Dems’ radical positions. They have succeeded in portraying themselves as moderates or progressives, whereas in reality, they are extreme socialists or even communists.

Many commentators and observers, me included, view this election as the most significant one in our lifetimes. The American way of life is at stake. Will we remain a nation based on capitalism, free enterprise and freedom of choice, or we will begin the inexorable slide into socialism and communism? History has shown that once the far left or communists get control they are extremely difficult to dislodge. As I wrote in one of my recent blogs all one has to do is look at the destruction and chaos in Europe presently. Do we want that here? I think not.

Voter turnout is always significant, but in this election cycle it will be the deciding factor. Every vote counts. Please vote as if yours will be the deciding vote. Remember, you get the government you deserve.

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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – OCTOBER

October has had more than its share of significant historical events. Please see below:

10/1/1908 – The first Model T cars, designed by Henry Ford, went on sale.
10/1/1938 – German troops occupied the Sudetenland section of Czechoslovakia.
10/1/1949 – The Peoples’ Republic of China was founded with Mao Zedong as its leader.
10/1/1979 – The US formally turned the Canal Zone over to Panama.
10/2/1967 – Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the Supreme Court.
10/3/1863 – President Abraham Lincoln promulgated a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving (later changed to the fourth Thursday).
10/3/1929 – The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was officially renamed Yugoslavia.
10/3/1932 – Iraq gained its independence from Great Britain.
10/3/1974 – Hall of Famer Frank Robinson became the first African American to manage a major league baseball club (the Cleveland Indians). Later, he also became the first AA manager to be fired.
10/3/1990 – East and West Germany were united as the Federal Republic of Germany ending 45 years of separation.
10/4/1830 – Belgium gained its independence from the Netherlands.
10/4/1957 – Russia ushered in the Space Age as it launched the first satellite, named Sputnik.
10/5/1908 – Bulgaria proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire.
10/6/1927 – “The Jazz Singer,” the first “talkie,” opened in NYC.
10/6/1928 – Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek became the president of the Republic of China.
10/6/1973 – The “Yom Kippur War” commenced as Egypt and Syria launched surprise attacks against Israel, which was busy celebrating the most sacred of Jewish holidays.
10/6/1981 – Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated.
10/7/1985 – Palestinian terrorists seized the cruise ship, “Achille Lauro,” and threatened to blow it up if their demands were not met. They infamously murdered an elderly wheelchair-bound passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, by pushing his wheelchair off the deck into the sea.

10/7/2023 – Hamas terrorists perpetrated the worst attack on Israeli civilians since the Holocaust murdering, raping and terrorizing thousands of innocent women, children and elderly people.

10/8/1871 – The Great Fire of Chicago destroyed much of the city. Legend has it that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow started it by kicking over a lantern in her barn.
10/8/1918 – Sergeant Alvin York, arguably the US’s greatest war hero, single-handedly took out a German machine-gun battalion, killing and capturing nearly 150 enemy soldiers. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the French equivalent, the Croix de Guerre.
10/8/1998 – The House of Representatives voted to launch a formal impeachment inquiry of President Bill Clinton.
10/9/1962 – Uganda gained its independence from Great Britain.
10/10/1973 – Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned amid allegations of income tax evasion stemming from his tenure as Governor of Maryland.
10/11/1939 – Scientist Albert Einstein issued a warning to President FDR that Germany was seeking to develop an atomic weapon. His warning led the US to marshal its resources to develop its own atomic weapon (the Manhattan Project).
10/12/1492 – Christopher Columbus landed in present-day El Salvador, erroneously thinking he had found the elusive northwest passage to India.
10/12/1811 – Paraguay declared its independence from Spain.
10/12/1822 – Brazil declared its independence from Portugal.
10/13/1792 – George Washington laid the cornerstone of the White House.
10/13/1884 – Greenwich, England was established as the basic time zone from which all time is calculated.
10/14/1066 – The Normans defeated the English at the decisive Battle of Hastings, which resulted in the Normans’ conquest of England.
10/14/1912 – Former president Theodore Roosevelt was shot while campaigning for re-election, but he survived.
10/14/1947 – Test pilot Chuck Yeager became the first to break the sound barrier.
10/14/1964 – Martin Luther King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
10/15/1991 – Following several days of contentious hearings regarding allegations of sexual harassment against a former aide, Anita Hill, the Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
10/16/1701 – Yale University was founded in Killingworth, CT as the Collegiate School of Connecticut.
10/16/1793 – French Queen Marie Antoinette, known for her extravagance and contempt for her subjects (“Let them eat cake.”), was beheaded.
10/16/1853 – The Crimean War (Russia, England and France vs. the Ottoman Empire and parts of present-day Italy) began.
10/16/1995 – Louis Farrakhan led the Million Man March on Washington.
10/17/1777 – The Colonial Army defeated the British at Saratoga in what many historians believe was the turning point of the Revolutionary War.
10/17-25/1944 – The US succeeded in decimating the Japanese Navy at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which was the largest naval battle in history.
10/18/1945 – The Nuremberg War Crimes Trial commenced with indictments against 24 former Nazi leaders.
10/19/1781 – English General Cornwallis surrendered to the Colonial Army at Yorktown, VA. marking the end of the Revolutionary War.
10/19/1987 – This day was dubbed “Black Monday” on Wall Street as stocks plunged 508 points or 22.6%, at the time the largest one-day decline ever.
10/20/1818 – The US and Great Britain agreed to establish the US-Canadian border at the 49th parallel. The 5,525-mile border is the longest in the world between any two countries.
10/20/1944 – General Douglas MacArthur, who upon fleeing the Philippines in 1942 to escape the Japanese Army boldly asserted “I shall return,” returned as promised.
10/20/1968 – Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of President John Kennedy, married Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.
10/21/1805 – The British Navy defeated the combined naval forces of France and Spain at the Battle of Trafalgar, obviating the threat of their invasion of England.
10/21/1879 – Thomas Edison successfully tested an incandescent lamp.
10/21/1915 – AT&T transmitted the first successful transatlantic radio voice message (Virginia to Paris).
10/22/1962 – President Kennedy warned Americans of the existence of Russian missiles in Cuba. The so-called “Cuban Missile Crisis” was probably the biggest threat of nuclear war during the Cold War.
10/23/1942 – The British Army led by General Bernard Montgomery launched a major offensive against the German Afrika Corps, led by General Erwin Rommel, at El Alamein, Egypt. Montgomery’s victory marked a major turning point in WWII.
10/24/1931 – Notorious Chicago gangster, Al Capone, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for income tax evasion.
10/24/1945 – The UN was founded.
10/25/1854 – 673 British cavalrymen took on a Russian force in the Battle of Balaclava. This famous Crimean War battle was immortalized in a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson entitled “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”
10/26/1881 – In the infamous shoot-out at the OK Corral the Earp brothers and “Doc” Holliday defeated the Clanton Gang.
10/26/1825 – The Erie Canal, the first man-made waterway in America, opened for business.
10/27/1904 – The NYC subway system opened with a run from City Hall to West 145th Street as the first underground and underwater system in the world.
10/27/1978 – Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
10/28/1636 – Harvard University, the oldest university in America, was founded in Cambridge, MA, funded by donations provided by John Harvard.
10/28/1846 – The ill-fated Donner Party departed Illinois for California.
10/28/1918 – The Republic of Czechoslovakia was founded by combining three provinces that were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – Moravia, Slovakia, and Bohemia.
10/28/1919 – Prohibition commenced as Congress enacted the Volstead Act.
10/28/1962 – Russia agreed to halt the construction of offensive missile bases in Cuba and dismantle existing bases, thus ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.
10/29/1929 – The stock market “crashed” ushering in the Great Depression.
10/30/1938 – A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” without commercial interruption caused widespread panic, as many people thought that Martians had actually invaded Earth.

10/31/41- The sculptures of four US presidents on Mt. Rushmore was completed. Can you name them? (See below).

10/31/50 – Earl Lloyd became the first AA to play in the NBA (Washington Capitols).

10/31/84 – Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandhi was assassinated.

BIRTHDAYS – Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi – 10/2/1869; Rutherford B. Hayes (19th President) – 10/4/1822; Frederic Remington (artist)- 10/4/1861; Chester A. Arthur (21st President) – 10/5/1830; Robert Goddard (“Father of the Space Age”) – 10/5/1882; George Westinghouse (engineer and inventor) – 10/6/1846; John Lennon – 10/9/1940; Eleanor Roosevelt – 10/11/1884; Mary Ludwig (aka Molly Pitcher (Revolutionary War heroine of the Battle of Monmouth, NJ) – 10/13/1754; William Penn (founded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which bears his name) – 10/14/1644; Dwight (Ike) Eisenhower (WWII commanding general and 34th President) – 10/14/1890; Lido Anthony (Lee) Iacocca (auto industry executive) – 10/15/1924; Noah Webster (teacher and journalist who compiled the first dictionaries) – 10/16/1758; Oscar Wilde (Irish playwright and poet) – 10/16/1854; David Ben Gurion (“Father” of Israel) – 10/16/1888; Eugene O’Neill (playwright – “The Iceman Cometh”) – 10/16/1888; William O. Douglas (associate justice of the Supreme Court) – 10/16/1898; John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie (jazz musician) – 10/21/1917; Pablo Picasso (artist) – 10/25/1881; Hillary Rodham Clinton – 10/26/1947; James Cook (English explorer) – 10/27/1728; Theodore Roosevelt (26th President) – 10/27/1858; Dr. Jonas Salk (polio vaccine) – 10/28/1914; Bill Gates (Microsoft) – 10/28/1955; John Adams (2nd President) – 10/30/1735; Emily Post (arbiter of etiquette) – 10/30/1872; Admiral Will (“Bull”) Halsey (WWII fleet commander) – 10/30/1882.

Quiz answer: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

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THE DEMISE OF WESTERN EUROPE

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

What has happened to the once solid, stable, pro-Western and powerful Western European countries? In this blog I will be focusing on England and France, but much of what follows could also pertain to the other countries in the region. Incidentally, what is generally referred to as Western Europe includes Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. I’m not just focusing on the current rioting and lawlessness plaguing these countries. That is most disturbing, but in my opinion the seeds for this violence were sown decades ago. It’s just now reaching critical mass, and I fear for the future of those countries and their law-abiding citizens.

We’ve all seen the grotesque news footage. Widespread and violent anti-government riots have erupted across France. The devastation has been massive, and it is not over yet. The spark was protests over the high cost of living, inflation, fuel prices, and underfunded public services and education. Much of the French media has characterized the rioting as “mostly peaceful,” but that is not the impression I have gotten from the news footage. Some of you may recall the similarly inaccurate reporting of the riots in the US a few years ago. I still remember the image of a CNN reporter claiming they were peaceful protests while in the background one could see buildings burning.

As I write this it is estimated that as many as 800,000 rioters have been involved in excess of 100 separate riots. According to authorities nearly 2,500 have been arrested, some 1,000 police officers have been injured, and about 3,000 businesses, shops and historic buildings have been looted, vandalized, or destroyed. During the riots police fired tear gas into crowds and fought running battles with black-clad, hooded rioters. CNN has characterized this as “the worst rioting in years.”

Initially, there were mild protests over education and cost of living issues. The objective was to force the government to enact policies to reduce the cost of living and higher education, increase teachers’ compensation and protect pensions against reductions due to budget reductions. These are reasonable concerns to negotiate peacefully. However, as often happens, the protests quickly metastisized into a tidal wave of deadly, country-wide violence, including looting, destroying property, and burning businesses and buildings, that could expand into other countries. Some examples included (1) a mob standing by and laughing at a fireman engulfed in flames, (2) no one coming to the aid of a teacher engulfed in flames as her school burns behind her, and (3) a goon with a flamethrower attacking a woman. These are not “protests.” They are scenes one would expect to see on the set of a dystopian movie, not on the streets of Paris.

Some agitators found it necessary to exacerbate the violence even further by egging the mob on to do further damage. The media has characterized the level of violence and destruction as “the worst seen in years,” and it has “shaken the nation and prompted forceful condemnations from leaders and the public alike.” As in the US, anyone who accurately ascribed the violence to immigrants from third world countries or Muslims was instantly branded as a racist.

According to CNN at the suggestion of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu some areas of certain cities have imposed “partial curfews” to protect people, property and businesses. Also, some cities, notably Marseille have banned all gatherings and demonstrations from midday until 8 p.m. local time. Others, such as Nice, have imposed curfews for minors. So far, major tourist attractions like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower are remaining open and operating normally. The NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints scheduled for October 25 at the Stade de France, is still on but with enhanced security.

A national election is scheduled in six months, and the finger-pointing has already begun. The government is being accused of having failed to adequately anticipate the scale of the conditions that gave rise to the riots, and various politicians are blaming those from other parties..

European governments have begun to respond to the threat of radical Islam across the continent. For example, an overwhelming majority of the members of The European Parliament, which is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union, passed a resolution that condemned the Muslim Brotherhood and its role in the riots. Several left-leaning members voted against it. The press release stated, in part, that “Islamist entryism targets democratic institutions, the rule of law, equality between women and men and fundamental freedoms.” That said, the release is probably mostly symbolic anyway.

In response, ENAR, a pan-European anti-racism network issued its own statement, which “condemn[ed] in the strongest possible terms the “racist and Islamophobic” resolution “on the need for an EU strategy to counter Islamist entryism and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood network” proposed by the European People’s Party (EPP) and passed by the European Parliament. Blah, blah, blah. Nothing meaningful will be accomplished.

In my view, this has been a long time coming. The reckoning has just now arrived. The seeds for it were sown decades ago. After World War II, European nations invited foreign workers to emigrate to help rebuild their economies. According to the Brookings Institution these “temporary” worker programs eventually led to permanence. Many of the descendants of those workers are among the unassilimated and disaffected.

Then, the EU inacted an open border policy. The major effect was that millions of personsfrom third-world countries poured in. Once in, they were able to emigrate to any other country within the EU. Many of them emigrated from impoverished, war-torn or autocratically-governed countries and were merely seeking a better life. Others emigrated to European countries due to past colonial connections, such as South Asians moving to the United Kingdom or North Africans moving to France. Most of these people have assimilated peacefully. Others, were radicals and did not. Many, if not most, of these persons were Muslims who had no interest in assimilating and becoming productive members of society. They are prone to use violence to get what they want. We have seen this in various other European countries as well as in the US.

As I said, England has been having its own problems with radical Muslims. Politicians are unable to cope. Where are the strong, decisive prime ministers like Margaret Thatcher when we neeed them? The “Muslim problem” in England centers on a dual crisis of rising Islamist extremism and entryism alongside a historic surge in Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hate crime, and societal polarization. According to the Economist, MI5 reported that roughly 75% of its counter-terrorism workload involves Islamists.

CONCLUSION

At the risk of being branded a racist, I must tell it like it is. The current situation in Europe is a direct result of years, if not decades, of (1) lax immigration policies, (2) immigrants, chiefly Muslims, who refuse to assimilate, (3) leaders who are loath to deal with the issues for fear of being branded as racists, and (4) government policies that provide excessive public assistance to those who decline to contribute to society.

A country can possibly survive with a somewhat permissive immigration policy OR overly generous public assistance policies, BUT NOT BOTH. Excessive government assistance programs sound good. Everyone likes “free stuff,” even thiugh we know they’re not really free. Someone, has to pay for it, somewhere, somehow, and to quote the late Margaret Thatcher “eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

The above-described situation should serve as a warning for the US. The current events in Europe are providing incontrovertible empirical evidence that we should heed. As I have denoted in previous blogs the Biden years of open borders and excessive spending had a devastating effect on the US politically, economically, socially and culturally that will linger indefinitely. President Trump’s policies have mitigated those to an extent. Unfortunately, future administrations may be tempted to return to the Biden-style policies. My advice is DON’T.

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COLUMBUS DAY

Today, Monday, October 12, we will celebrate Columbus Day, which is a holiday to honor the man who “discovered” America. CD is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States. But did Columbus really “discover” America? More on that later.

President Trump has issued an official presidential proclamation for Columbus Day. 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 82nd year. If you’re planning to drive into midtown today, don’t. There will be many street closures, and the usual heavy traffic will be especially brutal. You would be better off taking public transportation.

The parade, which is to honor those of Italian heritage, has a long tradition of hosting mayors going back decades. It is organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. It is anticipated that thousands of people will pack Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd streets to view the approximately 35,000 marchers, floats, bands, and performers that will participate in the celebration. Some years the weather has put a damper on the festivities, but this year it is a perfect Fall day.

NYC’s celebration of its Italian cultural roots is a tradition that connects those of Italian heritage to their ancestors, who emigrated there. The parade will be broadcast and streamed live on ABC To the dismay of some Italian American New Yorkers and the organizers of the parade a spokeswoman has disclosed that Comrade Zoh will not be marching in the parade. City Hall’s press office declined to explain why, but said he intended to host an Italian American heritage reception at Gracie Mansion in the coming weeks. In addition, on Saturday, Zoh released a video celebrating Italian American Heritage Month, which runs through October. This is an obvious snub, but at this point we should be used to them. As I have said many times this is the person whom NYC voters elected, and you get the government you deserve.

According to City Hall.since taking office Zoh has marched in many parades celebrating, for example, Lunar New Year, and the heritages of West Indian, Ecuadoreans, L.G.B.T.Q, Puerto Rican, Dominican and Sikh communities, That’s fine, but those are very small populaces. By comparison, there are roughly 600,000 residents of Italian descent living in NYC and in excess of 2.6 million in the metropolitan area.

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. For example, Kerri Malloy, a professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies at San José State University maintains his arrival to the Americas “triggered a mass genocide of Indigenous People throughout the Western hemisphere,” which included deadly diseases being spread among them, their land being stolen, and being forced into Christianity.

Currently, there is no uniformity with respect to the manner in which the holiday is celebrated throughout the US. According to Wikipedia several states, including Alaska, Hawaii. Vermont, South Dakota, New Mexico, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, recognize the holiday under a different name such as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Fraternal Day, Native Americans’ Day, or Discovers 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 Bahamas 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, exploitation, conquest, colonization and war that would last for centuries. He was not the first, but one can argue that he was the most significant.

So, who did “discover” America?

  1. According to historian Michael Bawaya, editor of the magazine, American Archaeology, the original settlers arrived about 15,000 years ago. At that time the Bering Sea, which separates modern-day Siberia from North America, was shallower 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.

CONCLUSION

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, regardless of his well-documented personal faults, deserves credit for his extensive and significant historical impact, and he should continue to be recognized with a holiday in his memory.

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A REFERENDUM ON THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Okay. You hate President Donald Trump. I get it. He can be overbearing, brash, abrupt, embarrasing, and offensive on a personal level. However, we should not be assessing him as a friend; we’re not going out on a date together; we’re not seeking a personal relationship in any way, shape or form. What we want, or should want, is a strong leader who is respected (or feared) by all other nations, friends and enemies alike, who is not afraid to do what he believes is right even though it may not be popular, and who puts the interests of America and Americans first. That, my friends, is Donald Trump. You don’t have to agree with everything he does or says. I’ll bet there’s never been a politician with whom you agree 100%. Just recognize and respect his accomplishments. As I have delineated in previous blogs, they have been numerous.

Heretofore, the Dems have been very successful in putting him on the ballot, figuratively, but that is all misdirection, a ruse, a distraction. They want voters to focus on Trump, not their extreme, outlandish, inane, antisemitic, far left, communist policies. They know that if voters were aware, few of them would support their candidates. More on that below.

Various polls have reported Trump’s approval rating to be in the 30s. These historically low ratings are threatening to drag down Repub candidates in the midterm elections, as many voters are blaming him, unfairly, for a myriad of problems, principally high prices, inflation and the Iran War. The Dems are hoping that by focusing on his unpopularity voters will forget that they, themselves, laid the groundwork for these problems. Additionally, they have not offered any viable solutions, because they have none.

I would like to denote that Trump is not on the ballot in 2026, and he will never be on the ballot again. So, all you Trump-haters need to reassess your focus. Rid yourselves of your TDS. A vote for the Dems and against the Repubs will not hurt him on a personal level. He will be disappointed at the result, but he will merely complete the remaining 2 1/2 years of his second term and leave office to do whatever with the rest of his life. Meanwhile, a vote for the radical, far left, neo-communists who are running for office under the guise of the Dem Party will likely render severe damage to you and to all of America currently and prospectively.

Why? How? Read on for the answers.

  1. In case you haven’t noticed or have been getting your news from CNN, MSNBC, the NYT, WAPO, Tik Tok or various fringe podcasters, the radical left has taken control of the Dem Party. The Dem Party we all grew up with is gone. Schumer and Jeffries are leaders in name only. The real leaders, those who are speaking for the Party, those who are driving policy, are Bernie Sanders, AOC, Zohran Mamdani, and various and sundry of their cohorts. The moderate Dems have gone silent. They have refrained from standing up out of fear while the radicals have taken center stage. They don’t realize that that will not save them. Eventually, they too will be attacked.
  2. The “big tent” is a fallacy, a ruse. There is no “big tent.” The “camel” has taken over the entire “tent,” and the formerly moderate Dems, that is, those who remain, are out in the cold.
  3. The Dems have been accusing Trump of being Hitler, a Nazi. Ironically, it is many of them who are exhibiting elements of fascism as well as communism. Read your history. In my view, the parallels to Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia are obvious.
  4. Let’s analyze the Dems’ chief complaints which, other then hating Trump, are with respect to the Iran War and the economy.
  5. Regardless of what some pundits have said and written the war was an absolute necessity. No question! We had to take whatever action was necessary to prevent a nuclear-capable Iran. Trump had the gumption to do what no other president did or would have done. Like I said, he does what’s right, not what’s popular. Anyone who says otherwise is either brain-dead, partisan, or just plain ignorant. You may object to it now, but I predict future historians will applaud it. The evidence was incontrovertible that Iran was only weeks away from attaining nuclear capability. Even the Iranian negotiators admitted it openly. Once it had done so, does anyone think the crazy mullahs who control the country wouldn’t use it? Not just Israel, not just the ME, the entire world, including the US, would be living under the figurative “Sword of Damocles.” I maintain that depriving Iran of nuclear capabilty “trumps” any concerns regarding Trump’s conduct of the war.
  6. With respect to the economy yes, there are issues. Yes, many people are struggling with the high cost of food, fuel, shelter, and other necessities. Yes, we get a “gut punch” every time we gas up the car, buy food, or pay the rent or mortgage. However, it is misguided to place the entire blame on President Trump. We need some perspective. The rate of inflation for the 12-month period ending in August 2026 was 3.4%. For comparison, in 2021 Trump handed Biden an economy with an inflation rate of 1.2%. The Biden Administration’s spendthrift policies caused it to increase to 4/7% in 2021, 8/0% in 2022, and 4.1% in 2023. So, despite the disruptions in the oil supply chain caused by the Iran War, inflation is trending in the right direction. The Fed’s recent rate increase will likely moderate it further. As we learned in the 1970s inflation, once unleashed, is stubborn. It can take years to tamp it down. You oldies should remember; you youngsters should “look it up.” So, I ask you which Party has demonstrated a better ability to control inflation? Whom do you trust to accomplish it? Historically, the answer is the Repubs, hands down.
  7. Moreover, in my last blog I delineated the various signs that the economy is turning and will boom in 2027 and 2028. This is classic economics 101, and it can be tied directly to Trump’s various economic policies, notably last year’s huge tax cut.
  8. The far left radical DSA/communists have managed to obscure their true policies. Their platform includes some very scary and preposterous policies and opinions, such as eliminating the presidency, the Senate, the electoral college, ICE, the DHS and the Pentagon, sharply curtaining the power of the SC, opening the borders again to any and all immigrants, emtying the prisons, and providing universal healthcare cradle to grave to everyone, including illegal immigrants. Not only are these policies unrealistic, they will never work, and some of them are unconstitutional and illegal. Furthermore, they hate Jews and Israel and espouse terminating all aid to Israel, our only reliable ally in the volatile and strategically crucial ME. Basically, they want to shred the Constituion and remake America as a communist state. The DSA candidates for office are denying this, but in running under the DSA ticket they are expressing their tacit support for them. If you doubt me, research their prior quotes and postings.

CONCLUSION

This has been a very perplexing election cycle. As I have blogged before despite the foregoing, the radical, neo-communist candidates are leading or tied in most Congressional races. At the moment it appears likely that they will gain control of one or both of the Houses of Congress. If you had told me this one year ago I would have told you that you were out of your mind, but here we are.

I urge voters not to be gaslighted. In this election cycle you will not just be voting for a person; you will not just be voting for a political party. You will be voting for a way of life for you and future generations. Are you in favor of freedom of choice or government controls? Are you in favor of capitalism or communism? Do you want the government to control every aspect of your life such as your income and wealth, type of job, medical care, food distribution, and your children’s schooling, or do you want to retain control over the lives of you and your family? Do you want to retain the presidency, the Senate and the electoral college or not? Do you want to retain viable borders or open borders? Do you want to incarcerate criminals or let them roam free? These are some of the choices you will have to make on ED. Make the wise choices.

A vote for the Repubs will mean a continuation of the American way of life – capitalism, free enterprise and freedom of choice – that has stood for 250 years. We are not a perfect country, but we are the best. Why else are millions desperate to emigrate by any means, and few elect to leave? A vote for the radicals will be a vote to rip all that up and eventually remake America into a communist state.

As I said in the beginning, Trump is not on the ballot in 2026, but America and the American way of life are. It’s all up to you, the voter. Remember you get the governmnent you deserve.

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9/11 PLUS 25

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Wow! Has it really been 25 years? As they say, time flies. Those of us who experienced that horrific day will never forget it. We will always remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. It was shocking to learn that a group of terrrorists had managed to hijack four commercial airplanes, fly two of them into the World Trade Center and another one into the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane that was headed for Washington, DC crashed when the passengers rebelled and attacked the hijackers.

The WTC was one of the symbols of America and was assumed to be impregnable. And yet, both towers were destroyed and collapsed. The Pentagon, a symbol of our military might, was damaged but not totally destroyed.

Many have compared the foregoing event to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. I get it. Both attacks were shocking and heinous. Both resulted in thousands of Americans dead, maimed and wounded. However, in my opinion 9/11 was worse, because the victims were not armed forces personnel, but innocent civilians who were going about their daily routine – work, school, whatever. Moreover, it all unfolded on tv right before our very eyes. I was one of thousands who were actually there. I experienced some of it live and then on tv over and over again like the replay of a sporting event I have to tell you; once was more than enough. Like many other people I lost friends. So sad and unnecessary.

I will never forget the sight of office workers who, trapped by fire and facing certain death, actually jumped from the towers, in some cases actually holding hands, choosing one horrible method of death rather than a worse one. Then, we all witnessed the horror of watching on tv as both towers collapsed and hundreds of bystanders on the streets were forced to run for their lives.

For purposes of this blog I will presume that you are all well-versed in the details of the events of that day and ensuing days, and in the interest of time and space I see no point in my regurgitating it all now . Over the years there have been a plethora of books, movies, and tv shows describing all of that in great detail. Instead I would like to focus this blog on this year’s events of remembrance and, in particular, the controversy surrounding Comrade Zoh’s intention to participate in them.

As most of you are aware Zoh, by his own words and deeds, has made it clear he is no friend of America and the American way of life. In my view, he actually hates America and wants to tear it all down. He and his cohorts have espoused the view that America “instigated” the attacks by their policies and actions and “deserved” it.

Consequently, Zoh has no right to participate in the 9/11 remembrance agenda at all. Nevertheless, he has stated he will do so. It’s obvious that he has a political agenda for doing so. It would be a clear insult to the memory of those who perished, and it has created a firestorm of protests. Nobody wants him there, not the former federal, state and local officials who dealt with the aftermath, not their current counterparts (excluding Zoh’s likeminded supporters), not the first responders and other heroes who saved lives and helped clean up in the aftermath, not the survivors who lived through it, and certainly not the families of those who perished.

Below please find a sampling of some of their reactions:

  1. They are cognizant that Zoh has associated himself with and received the support, advice, and political donations from other extremists, such as Hasan Piker, who have condemned America and blame it for provoking the attacks by its support of Israel and other “objectionable” actions (in their view).
  2. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was lauded for his leadership through the aftermath, opined that Zoh is worse than bin Laden and the actual terrorists because they were upfront regarding their hatred of America, whereas he tries to hide it. I agree.
  3. Over 100,000 of the victims’ families have signed or indicated support for a petition objecting to Zoh’s participation.
  4. Former NYS Governor George Pataki noted that “anyone who has refused to reject the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ … should not [be allowed to participate in the ceremonies].”
  5. Some of the objections of the victims survivors focused not only on his anti-American policies, but also whom he has hired and associated with, such as Ramzi Kassem, who was the attorney for an al Qaeda terrorist.

In the aftermath, many Americans were shocked, angry and searching for answers as to how this could happen. Over 2,700 innocent persons perished that day, and many more were physically wounded and mentally and emotionally traumatized. Health officials predicted that in the ensuing years many more than that would die from post-911 health problems. Indeed, some health issues, such as cancers and pulmonary-related symptoms would not appear for many years. At the present time, according to federal records nearly 9,770 additional persons have died in the intervening years. Unfortunately, there will be more.

On the other hand, the people were infused with as strong a sense of patriotism as I have ever experienced. They rallied behind their political leaders such as President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki and especially Mayor Rudy Giulani. Giuliani became known as “America’s Mayor.” One day, I was eating in a restaurant in NYC when he walked in to dine. He recived a rousing standing ovation from everyone. That’s how popular he was.

In a rare burst of bypartisanship we created the Department of Homeland Security to unite all the various federal law enforcement agencies under one umbrella and passed the Patriot Act. We hunted down and killed bin Laden on May 11, 2011.

Alas, that patriotic fervor has not lasted. It began to dissipate under Presidents Obama and Biden. On their watch millions of unvetted illegal aliens were allowed to enter. We don’t know who they are, where they are, how many there are, or their intent. In any event their presence renders us vulnerable to additional terrorist attacks prospectively.

CONCLUSION

Currently, we are being plagued by a far worse enemy, a multitude of far left/neo-communist politicians who hate America and the American way of life. Their intent is to tear it all down and remake it in their own style. This was considered to be unthinkable as recently as a few years ago. In my view this is potentially more damaging than all the terrorist attacks combined, yet much of the electorate remains unaware and unengaged. How ironic it would be for the most powerful nation in the world to be brought down not by another country but by the enemy within.

In the immediate aftermath we pledged to “never forget,” yet there are indications that that is what is occurring. Only two states, Arizona and Florida require a school curriculum that teaches 9/11 in public schools. In addition, according a study published by a group of college proefessors of ME Studies 2/3 of their students are unaware of who attacked us on 9/11 and why. Furthermore, woke educators have introduced a curriculum that omits and distorts facts. Sadly, we are raising an entire generation of people unaware of the real story of 9/11.

Zoh is toxic; and his opinions, policies and deeds are toxic. He has no right to be a participant. He doesn’t care about the victims and their families. He is just trying to score political points. He is a phony and a charleton.

He should STAY AWAY.

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LABOR DAY

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

On September 7 we will celebrate Labor Day (“LD”).  As we all know, the holiday has traditionally been celebrated on the first Monday of September.  It is a federal holiday to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the US economy. 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.

According to multiple sources more people will be flying this year than in prior years. The TSA expects up to 17.5 million travelers nationwide over the Labor Day 2026 holiday travel period. More bad news, airfare is up 23% compared to last year. Saavy air travelers know that there are certain conditions they can control. For example, flying on the “right” day is the number one factor in controlling prices and crowds. Also, one can find bargains by flying economy, and/or by choosing a flight with stops. Moreover, it might pay to rent a car in lieu of flying. Those rates are down about 9% compared to last year.

AAA advises that the worst days to travel on the roads will be the Thursday and Friday before the weekend particularly in the afternoons and evenings as holiday travelers conjoin with commuters. For returning travelers Monday is expected to be the worst travel day. To avoid the heaviest traffic, drive before the afternoon rush on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday or Sunday. Astute travelers know to hit the roads either early in the morning or in the evening to mitigate problems. Use your GPS to mitigate or avoid unforeseen problems. As always, adverse weather and/or accidents could easily cause further complications, disruptions, and delays.

This year, the cost of domestic air travel will be up some 20%; domestic hotel prices will be 9% higher; and the price of gas at the pump is expected to remain high. In fact, this year could be the first time in history that gas averages over $4 on Labor Day.

Midst all this gloom and doom there is some good news. Major retailers will be running end-of-summer and holiday weekend sales on products such as appliances, technical equipment, clothing, and outdoor gear.

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 I said above, 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, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics union membership peaked percentage-wise in 1954 when approximately one-third of the nonagricultural workforce belonged to a labor union. By contrast in 2026 the rate is around 10%. Moreover, the flood of illegal immigrants in recent years has served to depress wages of both union and non-union workers.

The history of LD began in the 1870s in Canada.  Labor Unions were illegal in Canada at the time, 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 the raising of 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.

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, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and mass shootings. 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.

CONCLUSION

Why does the summer season appear to be so short? Every year it seems like summer has just begun and here comes LD, which signals the end of the season. I believe it is because in our minds, we transfer the approximately three post-Labor Day weeks of the season to Autumn, because the weather gets cooler, summer rentals terminate, and schools reopen.

I hope you all enjoy your LD holiday however you choose to spend it.  Feel free to tell me how you celebrated it.

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ABDUL EL-SAYED

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Who is Abdul El-Sayed, and why should all those who believe in and want to preserve America and the American way of life that has flourished for some 250 years be concerned about him? Read on for the answers.

Until a few months ago few people had heard of El-Sayed. Now, we all know who he is. Abdul El-Sayed is the far left Dem candidate for US Senate for the State of Michigan. Last week he won the Dem primary over US Representative Haley Stevens by the very narrow margin of 48.5% to 47.5%, a mere 15,000 votes. Senator Bernie Sanders, a leader of the progressive movement who was an early supporter of El-Sayed’s candidacy, characterized it as “the most extraordinary victory that I can think of in modern American politics.” Senator Chris Van Hollen, another progressive leader who endorsed El-Sayed, said the victory “should be a wake-up call to the Washington Democratic establishment.” For once I agree with Van Hollen.

Sanders’ hyperbole aside, the political ramifications of El-Sayed’s victory should not be ignored or minimized. He is a prime example of the alarming shift to the left in the Dem Party. These far lefties hate America and the American way of life. They want to tear it down and reconstitute it as a communist state in the model of Soviet Russia, Communist China, Venezuela and Cuba. They are ignorant of or choose to ignore the historical fact that communism has failed wherever it has been tried.

Like many of his ilk El-Sayed has never held elected office and has very limited, if any, experience in or knowledge of finance, business, economics and history. In his last election in 2018 he lost Michigan’s Democratic gubernatorial primary to Governor Gretchen Whitmer by more than 20 percentage points. This time, espousing an unabashedly far left platform, he won despite being outspent by a huge margin and the fact that his opponent had the support of Chuck Schumer, outgoing Senator Gary Peters, and host of other establishment Dems.

In the intervening seven years El-Sayed had wisely remained in the public eye biding his time waiting for the right situation. For instance, he started a podcast, wrote a book and became a regular presence on YouTube and television. He steadily developed a political base. His opportunity came when Senator Peters declined to seek re-election.

In April 2025 he launched his campaign with a tiny staff. In his victory speech he reminisced how it all began. “I remember talking to a room of five people,” he said. “It was an opportunity for us to share an honest conversation about pain and about purpose. And I’ve been able to have 500 more of those discussions over the past 15 months.”

El-Sayed ran a classic grass roots campaign. He visited some 110 cities and hosted more than 500 events. According to his campaign his volunteer network eventually grew to 12,000 people. Julie Brink, a 29-year-old volunteer from the Detroit area, said the campaign still felt like an “underdog” when she joined in February. From there, she said, it was “gaining momentum really consistently.” El-Sayed embraced his underdog status declaring “what we’re doing is building a movement of the many against the money.”

El-Sayed never let up. He sprinted to the finish line. For example, on Election Day he held several interviews with content creators at Detroit’s Eastern Market and traditional news organizations, such as The Associated Press and MS NOW. Following his upset victory the campaign that had once struggled to fill small rooms packed Detroit’s Majestic Theatre for a huge election night party.

So, I repeat my earlier question. Who is El-Sayed? Now, we are cognizant of his background and work experience, which incidentally does NOT qualify him to be a US Senator, but what are his politics? Read on for the shocking and disquieting answer.

Below please find some of his policies. These extreme positions are typical of those espoused by El-Sayed and other neo-communists of the DSA. The differences between these and traditional American values are not the kind that could be resolved by debate between reasonable persons. They are inane, unworkable, and demonstrate a lack of common sense and historical context. They would destroy America as we know it. Regardless of whether or not he has actually advocated all of them; as a DSA candidate for the US Senate he is tied to them and should be compelled to defend them as well as other similar comments.

  1. Medicare for all.
  2. Open borders
  3. Abolish the Senate
  4. Abolish the office of the President.
  5. Abolish the electoral college.
  6. Abolish ICE.
  7. Favor electric vehicles over gas vehicles. (This would be a particularly “hard sell” in Michigan, which is dominated by the automobile industry.)
  8. His comments regarding the ME are particularly disturbing and not just to Jews. For example (1) He has questioned whether Israel has an “inherent right” to receive American taxpayer money. (2) He has advocated ending military aid to Israel which he characterizes as supporting “genocide and apartheid.” (3) He has been a strong critic of pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC. (4) He has openly labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal. These comments are not only highly antisemitic, but also exhibit a lack of awareness that Israel has been America’s only consistent and reliable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME. The two countries have developed a symbiotic relationship, which is critical to the national security of both countries.

CONCLUSION

The foreboding significance of El-Sayed’s victory should not be underestimated or ignored. Heretofore the establishment politicos had crowed that the far left agenda would only be successful in certain deep blue locales such as NYC. Now, for the first time the far lefties have proven they could win a primary election in a crucial swing state. Even more alarming is a newly released poll, which was commissioned by pollsters Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, that disclosed that El-Sayed is leading Rogers among likely voters 48%-47%.

Winning a Dem primary in which fewer than half of registered voters bother to participate, is one thing. Winning the election against a Repub opponent supported by moderate to conservative Repub voters is a whole other task. El-Sayed’s qualifications (or lack thereof), policies and prior statements will be heavily scrutinized by the Rogers campaign as well as by objective members of the media and discerning voters. Like most other radical candidates with a narrow base of support El-Sayed will likely attempt to “moderate” certain prior actions and comments to convince mainstream voters he is not as extreme as he really is. He will claim he has “evolved,” was “misquoted” or his comments were “taken out of context.” The “spin doctors” will be working overtime.

Will this strategy succeed? Who knows? Unfortunately, sometimes it has in prior elections, because typically, many voters are lazy, misinformed, stay home, or vote for a certain political party out of habit.

At least there are indications that the Repubs are viewing El-Sayed as a legitimate threat and are taking this election seriously. For instance, the Senate Republican campaign committee has already allocated some $45 million in advertising to support Rogers with more to come. Also, AIPAC, which has already spent more money on Michigan’s primary than on any other contest, has indicated it would continue its financial support.

In my opinion this election will be among the most important in my lifetime. Either the neo-communists will win and demonstrate their program has mainstream support or they will lose and be relegated to a fringe extremist group. My urgent message to Michiganders is VOTE, VOTE, VOTE/

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