(A little over a month ago MTG stated to a crowd at a Trump PAC Save America rally: “Democrats want Republicans dead and they have already started the killings.” It’s bad enough that the level of vitriol is poisoning American civility, but resorting to blatant scare tactics is just playing on man’s basest emotion: FEAR. And, unfortunately, it’s not just her. In New York, Lee Zeldin’s campaign ads state: “Vote like your life depend on it . . . because it does!”
Zeldin’s scare tactic is geared towards those who the corporate media have convinced that crime has gotten out of hand. The media, as a whole, is neither “liberal” nor “conservative”. They are driven by just one thing: PROFIT. What generates these profits is ratings, as they all adhere to the old media mantra: If it bleeds, it leads. He’s taking advantage of what is largely a misperception of the facts. Bottom line, some crimes are up, but others are actually down. But when you turn on the news it can seem like we’re all going to Hell in the proverbial hand-basket! Unless you are personally experiencing – or witnessing – crime you need to be cognizant of what these news reports are trying to do . . . get your attention, and elicit raw emotions. Experts have attributed rises in certain crimes to the pandemic, and the resulting economic fallout. Namely inflation, the downturn in the financial markets, and rising fuel prices. These are global issues. They’re NOT just happening in the U.S. Regardless of whether you want to believe anything that I am pointing out, we should not be guided by fear. We should be guided by our principles.
But getting back to MTG, and her even more blatant, and divisive assertions, do you really believe that Democrats want Republicans dead??? By now, you must know that I’m a Democrat. And, not just a Democrat, but an actual liberal Democrat. I say “actual” because so much of the political rhetoric has it that EVERY Democrat in office is an “extreme liberal”. This is totally ridiculous, as the vast majority of Democrats in office are actually moderate Democrats. There is a small group known as “The Squad” who are very liberal, but their influence is minimal. They’re the exceptions, not the rule. But I grew up in a highly Republican enclave where Democrats were in the minority. Probably a good 70% of the people I grew up with are registered Republicans. Many/most of my friends from work are Republican. And a good number of my family members are Republicans. Do you actually think that I would wish death – or any harm – on friends and loved ones? I have protested the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, I have attended Occupy Wall Street rallies, I continue to support BLM and BDS because I see them as issues to correct glaring injustices. I’m a friggin’ “tree-hugger”. A “snowflake”, as some like to call me. Yes, I am a reflection of all Democrats. We want what everyone, pretty much everywhere, wants. Just to get along in a peaceful, civil and just society.
Don’t give in to the ugly hype, folks. We can all get along, as we have for generations. We can agree to disagree on certain issues without being disagreeable. We are all Americans. We should be guided by the words of Voltaire, as interpreted by Evelyn Beatrice Hall: “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” And, also by FDR’s: “The only thing we have to fear . . . is fear itself.” Now, go out there and bravely exercise your right – and privilege – as American citizens, and VOTE! Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
Image courtesy of Google
Jumble Solved – 11/12/22
Published November 12, 2022 Commentary , Entertainment , Language 2 CommentsTags: fdrat, jumble answer, jumble solution, nuyotc, Puzzles, Word Games
Visual Description: Crashing a gaggle of gals?
FDRAT = DRAFT, GROOF = FORGO, KATMER = MARKET, NUYOTC = COUNTY — Giving us: DAORGAKEONT
Clue/Question: In order to see the male goose that had joined the flock, the female goose – – –
Answer: TOOK A GANDER
(Why, hello there, tall dark and handsome! Come here often? Oh, you’re just visiting . . . from Canada! Do we have poutine here? Sure, but we call them disco fries! Even though disco has been dead for about forty years, we still call them disco fries, because we like to think that we came up with the idea of putting cheese curds and brown gravy on french fries. They go great with a Molson, or a Lucky Lager!
Should I FORGO stating that all of today’s clue words are on the ralis95 clue word database? 😉 Two of the jumbles appear to be new, but we’ve definitely seen “groof” and “katmer” in previous Jumbles. The answer letter layout was an elegant eleven letter jumble. It disguised the final answer very well. Take a gander is one of those old expressions that could die out with my generation. All the young folk seem to use Check it out!
Fun cartoon of the geese at a pond. The eight geese of the original gaggle appear to be all female, but who knows! Maybe our gander will soon rejoin his flock, which appears to be flying overhead in the distance. Flying south for the winter? Fun Jumble. Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
Images courtesy of Google