The grand military parade that President Trump has requested will be held on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2018. I’m not sure how I feel about this. How about you? Music, marching, celebration are universal in their appeal. It’s the weaponry and artillery that bring out national pride in some and repel others. Let’s talk about […]
Thoughts on the Parkland School Shooting..
Did you think it strange that so many teens had such a cool, calm, collected demeanor in front of the news media cameras after the Parkland school mass murders? Yes, I know… teens today are experts in front of a camera due to their social media prowess. But seriously? They just went through the unimaginable. How could they be so detached so quickly? You have seen WWII movies, right? Survivors were young. They looked traumatized from seeing bloodshed and from being frightened to such a degree. Vietnam, same thing. They were traumatized…many, for life. I simply cannot believe that social media posing is great practice for the unscripted. The unimaginable. A Valentine’s Day massacre. Do you?
Is there no grieving anymore? Do kids no longer need time to process events? Forgive me, but humans have yet to disband with the God-given grieving process. It’s in us. All of us. All the more that growing children (yes, they technically are still children until age 18) need guidance and help from parents/adults who may not know what to say or do but are just there. So why would the news media interrupt the necessary time to grieve and lay to rest friends and loved ones by interviewing the survivors so quickly? What is the motive here? Is this the exercise of common sense citizenship in America?
I spoke with an 86 year old woman today who thought it was just great that these survivors of the Parkland massacre on Valentine’s Day were speaking out. I challenged her by suggesting that these kids may be being used as props for a political issue. She changed the subject quickly. Maybe I’m off the mark, but I don’t see the common sense in quizzing kids after a tragedy and before the reality of the situation sets in for them. I do, however, treasure their right to speak out in their own way and time. Done in this way, common sense citizenship prevails. Done too soon and it looks more like the kids are being used as political props. That is not the American way. Our children are blessings and deserve to be treated as kids while they still are kids.
If Gun Control Could Fix It… (but it can’t)
Here we go again… more talk of gun control due to the mass shooting and murders in south Florida. The students and teachers who were shot didn’t have guns. Remember the people in the Florida nightclub? They were not armed. Neither were the grade school children at Sandy Hook or the Columbine high school students. […]
Two Sides to Every Story
We are hearing a lot about the FISA memo story and how there is still more to come. Common sense citizens know that there are two sides to every issue (and occasionally more!). In the video “Two Sides,” we discover the importance of seeking out factual information This is certainly applicable to our current national […]
The Memo
Lots of commentators are talking about “The Memo.” Want to form your own opinion? Here’s a link to The Memo so that you can read the actual four pages of the memo for yourself, rather than hearing only opinion about it. http://bit.ly/2EaRoCE
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Whose DREAM Is It Anyway?
The DREAMer discussion is hot and heavy on the heels of decision in America.There are those who accuse the U.S.A. of turning away these young people from the only country they’ve ever known. Many have deep feelings for the plight of the unaccompanied minors who were brought here illegally from war torn, poverty stricken countries […]
Common Sense Citizenship and Cussing
Upset by President Trump’s potty mouth? He’s not acting presidential, right? I made a vocab list of some of the cuss words I’ve known presidents to use.. you know, the usual suspects.. words that society deems unfit but are used like salt and pepper. Go to any public high school today. Trust me, “s*hithole” is […]
“Sustainability”- a common sense civics and citizenship perspective
Sustainability began as the buzz word of millennials, but is now a growing part of everyday Americans’ lives. We have at our disposal, sustainable products in sustainable packaging. We have available in the marketplace, sustainable cuisine and sustainable fuel. I discuss “Sustainability” from a common sense civics and citizenship perspective in episode 32. There is a link […]
This is picture of George Washington that was the only painting rescued from the fire (4 slaves took the very large painting to safety) that ravaged the White House during John Adams’ administration. I took the picture during my recent visit to the Christmas Traditions exhibit at the White House.
https://civicsandcitizenship.org/2017-12-23-dojqsilrz6iqjiunwt5betyc6mw3x3/
Christmas Night, 1776
Christmas overnight, December 25-26, 1776. Rain turned to sleet, turned to ice, turned into a biting storm from the northeast. Who would brave a night like that with a poorly clad, hungry, tired army and the need to cross the ice-choked Delaware River? George Washington would. The army was battle- weary and in bad need […]
…About Net Neutrality
I’ve been cyberMonday-ing for a week now ?, looking for the best deals. Likewise, I’ve been researching both sides of the Net Neutrality topic, looking for the side that I believe yields the greatest benefit to consumers. I’ve come down on the side of the free market on this issue. Common sense citizenship requires that […]
As We Prepare to Celebrate Another American Holiday
We have some holidays that are uniquely American-I’m thinking of Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day but you could include our American Thanksgiving Day as well. Thanksgiving is almost here, and when I saw the video for this week on the schedule I thought maybe it was out of season for Thanksgiving Day. Then […]
About the recent mass murders…
We know that if guns are removed from the hands of law abiding citizens, criminals will still get their hands on some other form of weaponry-like a truck, for example. Removal of trucks and/or guns doesn’t solve the problem, so let’s consider what might be the root cause of the heinous acts of mass murder […]
A Good Time to Talk About Borders
Another terrorist incident this week, another discussion about borders ensues. Good. We need to talk to each other and then listen carefully to the other side on this issue. I offer a simple explanation of why the USA (and, frankly, other countries) have a border policy. Take a look at Episode 26 called “Why Borders?” […]
