Sad July 4ths

 

Independence Day. July 4, 1776. 249 years ago. We can observe and celebrate that long ago event. But how, in good conscience, can we celebrate where this July 4th finds us?
With tens of thousands of people in detention or living in fear of being snatched for deportation without due process, hundreds of thousands already torn from quiet and productive lives and deported most without due process, with military soldiers being used as storm troopers, with the Department of Homeland Security acting like a Gestapo, with the U. S Congress passing the most expensive, destructive and oppressive bill in our history, with a president using economic measures in pursuit of misguided isolationist polices which will erode and destroy our daily lives and peaceful existence and degrade our once respected and admired  world standing, with our system of checks and balances destroyed and dysfunctional, our social and health safety nets gone, with millions facing homelessness and lack of healthcare, with measures which remove protection of our land,environment, cultural and natural resources, with degradation of our educational system at every level, and with a party in power beholden only to a pliable and inattentive electorate.
Right. Happy 4th of July. Not hardly.

You cannot buy class

 Jeff Bezos can spend gazillions on his wedding but he could not buy the class, elegance and warmth of a simple garden wedding in any culture anywhere. Donald Trump can invade and try to control the Kennedy Center but he could not be there in any other way lacking achievements or grace. Social status is achieved only if it also brings respect for the course of one's life and how one spends their personal capital. It does not require wealth although if one has it and uses it well respect can follow.  A simple life lived with purpose and dedication achieves more than flamboyant ostentation or authoritarian bullying. Bezos and Trump may live in South Florida but they will never earn the status of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, Maurice Ferre, Mitchell Kaplan, Mike Eidson, Micky Arison, Frank Malcolm Cunningham Sr and many more. The world may be a stage but if you only remain as an actor and never step out of your role to become a person your life is still only theater. And Bezos and Trump will never win an Oscar or an Emmy.

Words of a sociopath

 “Thank you, everybody. Have a good flight. Fly safely,” (President Donald) Trump told the press pool after railing against late night comedians who mock him, amid the uproar over ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel. Then he added: “You know why I say that? Because I’m on the flight. Otherwise I wouldn’t care.” (Huffpost Sep 19, 2025)
From the Mayo Clinic:  Antisocial personality disorder, sometimes called sociopathy, is a mental health condition in which a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to purposely make others angry or upset and manipulate or treat others harshly or with cruel indifference. They lack remorse or do not regret their behavior.

This from the most powerful man in the world and our elected leader. What are we missing?

Half Of SNAP?

 So, our president, is willing to pay half of the SNAP monthly amount. Is that what the court ordered? And will he be eating half of what he usually eats? Is this what our nation is all about? Shouldn't I be able to go to sleep at night knowing that every citizen in our country has enough food to eat, a roof over their head and medical care? Is that only a liberal concern? Do conservatives think this is wrong or are they afraid that someone might get a crust of bread from the government that they might not fully deserve so they sanction withholding bread and services for all? We seem to be the richest nation in material assets and the poorest in caring for each other. What religious or ethical system endorses that?  Personally, I am ashamed to be a part of such a country especially when we seem to be an outlier nation in these concerns. Claiming to be the greatest nation on Earth rings hollow if this is the best we can do. 

'Can’t blame me for anything anymore': Joe Carollo

 

Good riddance. How could one person have done so much damage to our county, not just the City of Miami? A litany of destructive actions he perpetrated is not necessary. Just point to his senseless destruction of the Town Theater once a vibrant cultural hub for film festivals and community events under MDC, is currently neglected and far from its former glory, with its future uncertain.  We can only hope that the new mayor and other city, county and educational forces can restore it to the rich resource it once was as quickly as possible. 

Ending A Civilization Takes Practice

On April 7, 2026, the Miami Herald and other news outlets reported that President Donald Trump threatened to end Iranian civilization if Tehran did not meet a deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” adding that while he did not want it to happen, it "probably will". And, despite the two week truce, Iran should take Trump seriously. He's doing a pretty good job ending this one.

Miami Herald Endorses Eliott Rodriguez?

The Miami Herald endorsed House District 27 Democratic candidate Eliott Rodriguez over Robin Peguero. Rodriquez told Glenna Milberg, host of WPLG-10’s This Week in South Florida, his stance regarding federal immigration enforcement.  Rodriguez stopped short of calling to entirely defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement but advocated for sweeping changes and severe budget oversight.

"We definitely need to take a very strong look at ICE," Rodriguez said questioning why the agency commands such a massive budget. "I would look at their budget very, very, very closely, and I would not — I don't want it to resemble anything of what it looks like now.”  Doesn’t this really sidestep the central issue of ICE’s mandate and actions being played out daily causing horror and fear in many of us? He focused on its budget?  Is this who we want representing us in Congress when they do not have the same disgusting and appalling reactions most of have toward ICE? Murdering and incarcerating people many without due process? If Rodriguez equivocates on this issue what will his positions be on others which Democrats, progressives, independent voters and even some Republicans see differently from conservatives?  The Miami Herald endorsed Rodriguez over Robin Peguero minimizing his fifteen years of congressional experience in Washington, D.C. and his credentials. He is a Harvard lawyer. He was Chief Of Staff for  Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), he was Investigative Counsel for the  House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, he was a Communications Specialist for Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and he was a Staff Assistant for Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY). He was a homicide prosecutor in Miami-Dade and a federal prosecutor. Knowing how the system works in Congress is essential for being effective and achieving your goals. Eliott Rodriguez has none of this experience and none of these skills. Don’t we want an effective Representative to speak for us and achieve our goals? And someone who’s first reaction to ICE is not about their budget but about its despicable treatment of human beings? Hard to understand the Editorial Board’s choice.