The First Amendment is crucial to our democratic nation. Freedom of speech allows us to criticize our government and call attention to injustice without danger of persecution for our beliefs. Our president cannot stand criticism and lashes out viscously against any criticism. I’ll paraphrase Thomas Jefferson’s statement about freedom of speech as follows: “I may vigorously disagree with what you say, but i will defend with my life your right to say it.” Of course, it does have its limits. We cannot shout fire in a crowded theatre. We have the right to peacefully assemble and to demonstrate. Someone should have told Trump this when he had peaceful demonstrators tear gassed and forcibly removed so he could have a photo op with a Bible (Am I the only one who thought he looked awkward holding up a Bible?) Freedom of the Press. The press includes TV, radio, internet information, newspapers, and magazines. We Will spend some time summarizing some articles in The Week magazine which comes out (you guessed it) weekly. If you are not familiar with it, it is worth reading . It summarizes editorials from both sides with articles from The Wall Street Journal as well as the New York Times and The Washington Post. It has summaries of editorials from other countries showing what they think of us. It has science and medical discoveries; book and movie reviews. It has also humor–:It must be true, I read it in the tabloids, and only in America. It also has quotes to prod us to think. We must support our newspapers. Local as well as big nationally read papers. Remember all politics is local. Without our papers government and corporations are much freer to behave in ways that are not in the best interests of we the people.
Catching COVID-19; I attend a gym and in Ohio, we have a stupid rule which is not followed. You must wear a mask when moving from one piece of gym equipment to another then you can remove it to exercise. How many people are gong to put it on to move 10 feet to the next machine? I just leave mine on but many others just leave it off. Wiping machines down can be helpful but heavy breathing coughs or sneezing
are more likely to convey it, Heavy breathing in a gym increases possibly spreading the virus as does singing in church and talking loudly in a bar. The main spread of the virus is through coughs, sneezing, talking or breathing. So protect others as well as yourself; wear a mask in public.
President Trump opposes the removal of statues that commemorate Confederate generals and renaming military bases named for these generals. Lets keep in mind that these men rebelled against our country and defended the institution of slavery. They should come down and bases renamed.
How about a few quotes
“We are all in the same storm. But we are not all in the same boats.” Dr Bonnie Henry, Canadian health official.
“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” Napoleon Bonaparte. Isn’t this great! Don’t you wish you thought of this?
“We are here today to celebrate and expand our historic campaign to rescue American workers from job-killing regulations.” Donald Trump at a July 16 White House PR event hailing his relentless push to rescue US corporations from obeying rules to protect workers lives, pay, and rights.
“Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing the ground.” Frederick Douglass.
“It is with narrow-souled people as with narrow-necked bottles; the less they have in it, the more noise they make in pouring it out.” Alexander Pope.
“A 2 yr old is kind of like having a blender; but you don’t have a top for it.” Jerry Seinfeld
“Americans love change, but they hate to be changed.” Godfrey Hodgson.
“Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” Erma Bombeck
“When you mix politics and science, you get politics.” John M. Berry
“A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.” Marshal McLuhan.
Ok, for all of you who want to lose some weight’ Do NOT go on a diet; change your diet. I did my first bodybuilding competition when I was just a few month shy of being 58 years old. A bodybuilder friend gave me his “diet”. I had five and sometimes six meals per day and after 13 weeks I had gone from 198 1/2 pounds and a really tight size 34 inch pants to 165 pounds and a size 31 inch waist. Do not think you can go to a gym and “kill yourself” with exercise and expect results. One year my wife decided to drop a few pounds and got on our treadmill and “killed herself”. Then she went to the kitchen and made pasta. After 6 weeks, she lost….guess what she lost. That’s right she lost 6 weeks (no pounds). I did my bodybuilder diet and went to the gym but never exercised for more than one hour each day for 5 days per week. Diet is 80% of weight loss and cardio and lifting weights is the other 20%. If you do decide to do the diet I did, here is a tip. Do cardio first thing in the morning before breakfast. This requires your body to tap stored fat for energy. Secondly, do cardio at this speed: Sing God bless America (breathe) land that I love (breathe). If you have to breathe earlier than after America and love you are going too fast for your current cardiovascular condition and conversely if you can make it to the end without having to breathe you are going too slow. Do cardio for about 20-30 minutes. If you really want to do what I did, I will help you but if you are not sure just do this; write down everything you eat and drink for 3 days. Look at your list and cross out everything you know you shouldn’t eat. Good luck!
Finally, Do you ever wonder why so many Republicans are so angry. Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan is a perfect example. They have the White House, the Senate, they used to have the House, and they have he Supreme Court. They just added more than a trillion dollars to the national debt that they will saddle our children and grandchildren with so that they can give tax breaks to the top 1% and large corporations (neither of which need any help; the rich do just fine). None of this went to the rest of us. They hold most of the governorships and most of state assemblies (thanks to Gerrymandering). So what are they so angry about? Can you help me out here?
Next blog will look at the struggle to get voting rights in America, I cannot think of a more appropriate subject considering Trump’s attempt to slow down mail service to prevent mail-in voting to be counted. Most of those who will vote in the 2020 presidential election are Democrats. This is a blatant attempt to interfere in the election. In 2016 it was the Russians and failing to get Ukraine to help now he has a megadonor he put in charge of the postal system to do his bidding.
See you next time, Be safe and do your patriotic duty–wear a mask, practice social distancing. and avoid large groups.