It's amazing, the insight one can gain from fellow Uber passengers in D. C.

I finally succumbed to Uber when I learned of  "Rideshare".   Two passengers from other countries provided me with a fascinating look at what they considered was "exceptional"  about America.

1. The first passenger was seated in the back seat along with me as I was talking to the driver who  was from Ghana. I discovered that my fellow passenger had been in our country for three years, somewhat reluctantly joined our conversation and stated that it was the American educational system that perplexed her.  Her remarks included, "How can it be that good, free education is not provided all students through college". Time did not permit are discussing this further, but I was eager to learn more about her only to discover that she was the wife of the very, very high government official from a Nordic country! And as we neared her residence she surprised me by answering another query with, "My husband found it much more satisfying to work with the previous administration".

2. It was during the height of the NFL stand/kneel controversy that the driver and I discussed how folks from a Balkan nation felt about the issue. Never having attended a sporting event abroad, I was surprised when he stated that he knew of no nation where the national anthem was performed for routine athletic events. Picking up another passenger, this one from Great Britain, he stated that he had traveled the world over and found United States to be the only exception by having patriotism displayed in such a fashion at all sporting events.

How I wish our president might join me on such a ride. He might find out something about how the other 99.9% of the world's population lives and how we are viewed internationally. I'm sorry these aching bones in mine might well prevent me from going to another live athletic event. Guess I'll just have to both kneel and stand when I hear the national anthem on TV.

A somewhat different perspective of #MeToo

As a 92-year-old father of two daughters and four granddaughters I yield to no one in my support of the progress being made and supporting equality and respect for women.  "Times (indeed) up" on the male domination of women's' lives in everything from athletics to style to politics.

Yet I feel there are so many aspects of the movement that we continue to ignore. For me it is watching female cheerleaders and baton twirlers dressed in extremely skimpy attire at athletic events. Is this not something foisted upon them by males? Is that there attire of choice, even on cold days?  I can't recall seeing a male cheerleader in a swimsuit.

I'm well aware of my own tendency to have the "discriminated against" take the first step in reconciliation. However in my 92 years that has often been the course for progress in most areas of discrimination.  Certainly economic inequality stands at the forefront of women being discriminated against. Why else would a woman choose to be a waitress at Hooters restaurants, but……

Here's for equality in all phases of our lives from government to the sports page.

Ron

At 92 now - and more worried about our country than I have EVER BEEN BEFORE - I'm going to let the chips fall where they may - and call 'em as I see 'em. No matter who or what I offend!

Regarding our president's – and many of our leaders – view of immigration!

How selfish can we be?  Who do we think we are to limit immigrants to only the brightest and the best from other countries – especially those we deign to call as  coming from the "Third World? Shouldn't the developmental needs of those countries be considered so that their brightest and best might be encouraged to stay there  and work to improve their country's growth and  development?

How selfish can we be?

I'm reminded of a holiday greeting from one of my former junior high school students who stated "I'm not as much concern about taking Christ out of Christmas as I am about taking Christ out of Christians!"

Back again,

Ron