Tuesday, September 22, 2020

A Veteran Reports on his Experiences in Europe at the height of WWII

Ron's Rants and Raves Returns # III

 Here is a story told by one of America's heroes from WWII,  those men and women are often called, The Greatest Generation! It was received in answer to one of my Reddit Posts and I continued to communicate with the man's son whose family (originally from Alabama) now resides in the DC area, I believe.

The interview was conducted at the Library of Congress and is over an hour long, 

Here's a link to part one of his interview: https://youtu.be/F4eZpKPy6LY


Since some of the material is a bit indistinct, here is some of the summary provided by his son.

I read up some of your answers, and you and my Dad would have gotten along real well! He was a freshman at Georgia Tech when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and signed up for a program much like the one you went through. He was told "We need engineers more than we need soldiers". That lasted about a year, when he was called up, was sent to Lehigh, as part of a "tank busters" unit, and after the disaster at the Kasserine Pass, the unit was dissolved, and he was eventually assigned to the 84th Division, the "Rail Splitters".

He was good with Morse code, so he was assigned to a mobile FM unit, and attached to HQ, so he was actually tasked with finding a warm, dry place to hide his jeep and the precious radio, so he was relatively safe in the European theater. He came across a couple of weeks after D-day, and was helping to offload equipment at the mulberries located off Normandy, when a storm blew in, and destroyed the entire facility, including several barges full of their equipment.

He then spent some time supporting the "red ball express", and eventually the unit joined the action, just in time to participate in the "line straightening" exercises, which left them outside of the Ardennes Forrest in the winter of 1944. His unit then was instrumental in stopping the Nazi push, actually stopping one of their main thrusts, and buying time for Patton's 3rd Army to come in and trap the Germans in the massive "pocket", and the eventual relief of those poor guys trapped at Bastogne.

They then fought through Belgium and into Western German, where he personally 'captured' a platoon or so of Germans. I say it that way, because the Germans were VERY happy to come across a pair of American GI's in the woods near the Rhine, when they thought that the Russians were bearing down on them.

I loved hearing his stories about the War, and miss him dearly.

 I stated in my last Rant that I had something positive to report.  That follows:

                                                                           ****************

I shall be traveling to Michigan to see my family for the first time since the attack of the virus and this could well be may last Rant for a variety of reasons.

While this man certainly can be considered to be a part of The Greatest Generation, I sincerely believe the youth of today would be so be considered greater IF THEY RISE UP WITH THOSE OF US, EVEN ELDERLY, who must not only depose our present dictator but also help us realize the promise of freedom and equality for all and as a beacon for the oppressed seeking new opportunities.  How could my generation be considered Great when we were  silentt about the OVERT RACISM and homophobic conditions prevailing in our country?

Indeed those who first first said that America lost its SOUL, and Jimmy Carter's "Malaise Speech" were early indicators of our "illness"?  That and Bill Clinton's desecration of the (was it? Oval office?) were  further warning signs.

Perhaps someday I'll be inclined to return to this site to share a few of the things I would like to say further about our losing our moorings and possible way's of recouping them..

Until then, I truly believe this coming election will show that our populace has awakened and that we will overwhelmingly elect:

                                                                           Joe Biden

Thanks for reding to the end.  

Monday, September 21, 2020

Ron's Rants and Raves # II - Too hot (for some) to handle!

In this second of my Roman Numbered Rants and Raves, I'll just unload a couple of (to me) interesting, even revolutionary, facts:

  1. Since our president seems to be so interested in "true" American history, I'd like to call to his attention the fact that the revered Texas Rangers actually had a rather sordid history in their zealous attempt to enforce the law. But I learned that long after I took Texas history in San Antonio in 1939.

  2. And since Jerry Falwell and other Evangelical leaders are in the news, permit me to share the views of two rather prominent African/American ministers whom I highly respect:

  • Protestant churches are places where white people go to both confess their sins and (often) go to do good works to relieve their consciences.

  • As a lifelong mainstream Protestant church goer with a number of retired ministerial friends, I am amazed that a number of them confided in me that were they to do it again, they would become Unitarian. And I recall that I once was told that Thomas Jefferson felt that within 100 years, all Americans would be Unitarian.

But I MUST CLOSE with this incendiary statement from a self published book, Can Religion Survive Worship? by a highly respected published author who credits THE CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION in western New York state with his “moral and spiritual” development,

LIKE ALL RELIGIONS

CHRISTIANITY

IS MAN-MADE

I did try to warn you – especially some of my fellow Christian friends - that this would be too hot for some to handle even on the Social Media.


  • Editors note add, “and women”.

  • The next blog will be of a more subdued, even a highly positive one about the past and future of our country!

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Ron's Rant Returns: The Football Scene

Ron's Rant Returns – The Football Scene

It's Saturday, and I should be watching college football. But even when my beloved Michigan returns to the turf in October, I hope I have the strength of my resolution to refrain from seeing my grandson as a trainer on the Big House Turf risking getting sick from the virus.

And there is a second fear for the players:

  1. The possibility of the Covid Virus, and

  2. For the players – most of whom are often of darker skins tone – the risk of life shortening illness.

I guess that leaves me with only the sport of tennis singles to watch. Even golfers a greens to congregate on and the a re poles for caddies to touch.


Hoping to continue my occasional Rant (at least periodically.) 

Monday, September 7, 2020

A vital question for this Labor Day.

 What does Labor Day mean to YOU?

When I was a junior high school principal, it meant I would spend the next 9 months being away from my family a great deal of the time.

Today as a retiree, it means looking for something meaningful and worthwhile to do.

To the labor union leader, it meant that we had gained power almost equal to that of management.

Today for many of our workers, it means their jobs were shipped overseas.

To a student in elementary school, (depending on his/her/their ability) it meant 9 months of making A's or D's and F's.

Today it means staying at home with the computer and zooming with friends.

To a nurse, (I've been told by a friend) when you worked changing shifts it meant Labor Day is just another shift.

Today the reply to me is, it's the same.

To the worker at McDonald's it meant ( hopefully, at least) time and a half for overtime.

Today it means I have no job because a pandemic slows business.

To the refugee at the U. S./Mexican border hoping for a job in the fields of West Michigan, it meant a new life is possible for me and my family,

Today it means that the Lady in the New York harbor has extinguished her welcoming light and I must return to a life of fear for my children and me.

I SINCERELY hope you enjoy a great holiday. May we all reflect on the great privileges so many of us have in this country. I “pray” that the president we elect in November has the wisdom and courage to heal our wounds and bring us ALL together.

I hope to get to my promised RANT about America Losing its Soul in tomorrow's conversation.

Ron

To the reader pf this Rant, I must advise you that I shall no longer Rant.  Instead I hope to converse with young people around the world on Reddit. Of course, I think of everyone 93 and younger as young, I can be reached (according to my grandson: at:


Jake DeBacher

Sun, Sep 6, 10:37 AM (1 day ago)
to Ron

If you want people to go to your general profile to see the posts you've made recently, here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/u/dcretiree

If you want them to go to your current "ongoing AMA" page, use this link: https://www.reddit.com/user/dcretiree/comments/ij13dm/iama_94yearold_man_and_i_have_found_great_joy_in/

Thursday, September 3, 2020

A further look at what some of us feel is America's biggest problem

 

What do you think is America's single biggest problem” was the question I asked all of YOU yesterday. I am still looking at your responses. My answer is:


Our country has Lost its Soul.


However I don't mean that in a religious sense. More like Jimmy Carter in his Malaise Speech, “There is a sickness in our country.” ( While he may have been in many minds, a failed president, what a splendid humanitarian as an ex-president.) It is that sickness that I shall want to talk about extensively when I return,

A look at the future. This is my last Rant! My recent efforts in Ranting have been most successful through something almost all young people know as Reddit. I feel I owe most of my youthful outlook by “being with” youth. Of course to me everyone under 94 is considered young by me. I must take the long weekend off but will inform all of you on Monday of the best way to reach me

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

THE MARVELS OF THE FREE PRESS

HOW I WISH OUR PRESIDENT KNEW HOW IMPORTANT A FREE PRESS IS!

CHILDISH AS HE IS, HE PROBABLY  THINKS OF IT AS DID MY PRE-SCHOOL SON WHEN WE LIVED NEAR DETROIT AND SUBSCRIBED TO THE DETROIT FREE PRESS:

HE THOUGHT OUR SUBSCRIPTION WAS ACTUALLY FREE!

CHILDISH AS HE IS, TRUMP PROBABLY  THINKS OF IT AS DID MY PRE-SCHOOLER.


 WHILE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, I FEEL COMPELLED TO PUT IT ASIDE FOR ANOTHER EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TOPIC – AGAIN IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS AMERICA'S SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM

I'LL WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO GIVE YOU MY ANSWER SO I CAN BE ASSURED YOU WILL HAVE YOURS.













 

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

 DID YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT'S NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY?

I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T, BECAUSE AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT WAS ONLY ON FOX “NEWS,              I KNOW IT WASN'T ON CNN OR MSNBC BECAUSE I TRIED TUNING THEM IN.

SO I HAD TO WATCH FOX AGAIN. THE ONLY REASON I EVER WATCH FOX IS TO SEE WHAT THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION IS VIEWING AND THINKING!

ALTHOUGH I TUNED IN LATE, I COULD QUICKLY SEE IT  AS A  LENGTHY TIRADE ANSWERING BIDEN'S VEHEMENT RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S LIES. IT WAS SO FASCINATING TO ME THAT I BEGAN TAPING IT FOR OTHERS TO SEE.

YET, I SOON FOUND IT EMBARRASSING BECAUSE I FELT  I WAS SEEING A HUMAN BEING BECOME TOTALLY UNHINGED BEFORE MY EYES.

I WAS ALMOST SORRY FOR A MAN ABOUT TO --

  1. HAVE A HEART ATTACK, OR

  2. HAVE AN AIDE APPEAR AND TELL HIM THAT HE WAS LATE FOR HIS NEXT APPOINTMENT

  3. STORM OFF STAGE.

MERCIFULLY, THE LATTER DID HAPPEN AS ALONE HE SAUNTERED BACK DOWN THE LONG HALLWAY WITH SHOULDERS HUNCHED.

***********************

CODA:  AS I WROTE THAT EARLY THIS MORNING, I THOUGHT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE WOULD BE THE TOP HEADLINE IN TODAY'S PAPER.  SINCE THERE WAS LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT THE PRESS "QUSTIONING"  I CAN ONLY PONDER THE REASON FOR MY MISCALCULATION.

AGAIN, NOT THE STORY I THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE ABOUT.  

THANKS FOR READING.  WE WILL SEE WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS.  

RON


AAIN, NO




Monday, August 31, 2020

America Looks At Itself

 

AMERICA LOOKS AT ITSELF!


Extra: Please note that THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG was written BEDORE I read this mornings POST where I fiet learned of the fracas at Portland. TO ME IT HAS ALL THE SEMBLANCE OF A CIVIL WAR. However, I am thankful for a Free Press that attempts to “tell it like it is.” You can be sure that tomorrow's blog will be about that. What happened before Saturday – or was it Sundayt – in Portland is (like hisory.)


Thanks for reading.


Ron


I'M BEING PRESUMTIVE I KNOW, TO FEEL I CAN “SPEAK FOR AMERICA,” BUT I FEEL THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING IN THIS INTROSPECTIVE DIARY. AND IT IS LIKE A DIARY.


IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, I FEEL WE ARE LOOKING AT OURSELVES!


AND DO WE LIKE WHAT WE SEE?


I FEEL THAT IS WHAT EVERY VOTER SHOULD ASK THEMSELF!


ANYTHING BUT THAT TRUMPIAN PHRASE:


ARE YOU, ( AMERICA) BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE FOUR YEARS AGO?


THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I HAD INTENDED TO WRITE ABOUT, BUT IT MAY WELLL BE THE HEART OF THE MATTER

Sunday, August 30, 2020

DONALD TRUMP (AT AGE SIX) MEETS HIS NEW TUTOR.

 DONALD TRUMP (AT AGE SIX) MEETS HIS NEW TUTOR.

Tutor: DO YOU PREFER I CALL YOU DONALD OR DON?

D - DONALD J. TRUMP, OF COURSE.

T - HM. LET'S SEE, YOUR RECORDS SHOW THAT YOU FAILED TO GO     TO SUNDAY SCHOOL.

D - IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION? EVERYONE KNOWS YOU DON'T

GO TO SCHOOL ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY! WHEW, YOU DUMMY!

T - THEN YOU MISSED MOST OF THE PARABLES?

D - PARABLES? WHAT ARE THEY?

T – STORIES JESUS TAUGHT, LIKE THE VINEYARD WORKERS AND THE RICH YOUNG RULER,

D - TELL ME ABOUT THE RICH GUY,

<<<<<< >>>>>>

I HOPE YOU WILL TELL ME IF I SHOULD CONTINUE TRYING HUMOR. SOMETIMES IT PROVIDES MORE SOLICE THAN CRYING,

Typed this way because my mike needs repair and arthritis makes typing difficult.

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO UNLOAD WITH ANOTHER RANT.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

RON'S NEW RANT #2

 THE EDUCATION OF DONALD J. TRUMP

NO. THAT IS NOT THE TITLE OF TODAY'S RANT.  IT IS THE TITLE OF A SERIES.


AFTER COMPOSING THREE RANTS, I READ TODAY'S WASH POST AND WANT TO SHARE JUST ONE VIEW: THAT OF AN EVANGELICAL WHO WENT TO WHEATON COLLEGE; THE SCHOOL THAT BILLY GRAHAM GRADUATED FROM. WHEATON COLLEGE LOCATED IN ILLINOIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL EVANGELICAL COLLEGE IN AMERICA.

MANY OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE EVEN READ THE ARTICLE. IT IS ON PAGE A 19 OF THE WASHINGTON POST 8/29/2020, BY MICHAEL GERSON, AND IS ENTITLED, THE PRESIDENT DISQUALIFIES HIMSELF.

THAT'S IT FOR TODAY AND I CAN THINK OF OTHER THINGS TODAY - LIKE ATTENDING (IN ABSENTIA) THE WEDDING OF A GRANDSON IN SOUTHERN INDIANA


YOU CAN SEE I HAVE SOMETHING TO LEARN ABOUT COMPUTER USE

AMAZINGLY, AS I DO THIS I HAVE RE-GAINED CONFIDENCE THAT VOTERS WILL ELECT BIDEN AND HARRIS. BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO

Friday, August 28, 2020

Ron's rant: For the first time in my life, I am afraid!

 Ron's Rant Revised: For the first time in my life at age 94, I am afraid.that I can recall: I AM AFRAID 


*I must warn you, it is long and I hope you will read the Message at the end about future blogs.  It should be read like a speech

  

For the first time in my life that I can recall: I AM AFRAID 

And it is NOT because I am 94 so old and fearing what's next!

 It is because last night I saw the crowd that will continue to run the country if THEY win in November. 

Oh, I WANTED to watch. 

I learned in WWII the importance of knowing the “enemy.” (I never before considered the other party as my enemy, but,,,)


 Surely there must be some good people ON THAT SIDE. 

 

Through Public Broadcasting I was introduced to a number  of THEM who received help 

FROM THE GOVERNMENT.


I too was helped by the government all my life in ways too numerous to mention:        from the GI bill to CCC for my father during the depression  -   the list goes on and on.      Like my father, I was a veteran of  a World War        When people thank me for my service in WWII, I want to thank them for paying their taxes.           Even two of my children are alive and my wife lived longer because the government paid for their kidney transplants.  

AND SOME OF  ITEMS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The final speaker said of same of the guest,  "I did it for you.,"     I would have wanted to reply, "No, Mr. President, The Office of the  Presidency did it."

Many of those introduced,  seemed to be a bit “different” or out of place. I


Of course  knew of course  all the attendees  knew they would be safe because the military forces were nearby on the ready!  

But I digress. WHAT CAN I DO – ESPECIALLY AT 94?   I, my family and friends knew something had been bothering me for some time:   Lost my appetite and my confidenc - got  too excited  -  woke up too early and couldn't nap.  

All of a sudden I realized  that  “IT WAS FEELINGS OF GUILT.


Before I felt that, "this National nightmare would soon be over with a Democratic landslide,"  Now, I was truly afraid we might lose this election and FEARFUL that I was not doing all I could to prevent that,

I even developed contingency plans. First choice, Canada (but maybe they won't accept me); then, start a commune for all my extended family (illogical – dumb idea);  and finally,  I'll look forward to meeting the “Grim Reaper” with open arms in order to escape from living FOUR MORE YEARS under this despotic dictator. And so I came to this

CONCLUSION for  ME:

 It is most important that:

I communicate every day with my friends on my old blog until the election.  I'll continue to communicate with the 1,000s of (esp) young people throughout the country  as I did successfully for the past 5 or more years,

And  I hope YOU

and all who want a country where everyone can live without FEAR, to remove the present egoist and his syncopates from the White House and replace them with a team of patriots under the leadership Biden and Harris.

AND FINALLY – Since Mr. Trump so respects “the greatest generation” and how great America was then, I want as many Americans as possible to hear from THIS ONE who lived then and will give an honest accounting of what America was then TO AS MANY AS I CAN..

Ron Lehker  #2610

PS: My generation knows that if the drive and intensity of young people who have peacefully demonstrated for justice for all continues through November 3, we will truly MAKE AMERICA  and have a democcrtiv sweep.


* This will be my last weekly reminders.  Because daily blogs are so time consuming, but enjoyable for me, I MUST simplify.  That site also provides a place for dialogue. It can be found at the below site (or some variation thereof.


https://ronlehkersrants.blogspot.com/




Saturday, August 22, 2020

Ron's Rant #4 - The last blog until.....

 Ron's Rant # 4 - The last blog… Until…

…...I find a new way, among the thousands of Reddit sites (or some other vehicle) to communicate with young people. Of course my definition of young people for this last blog, is anyone 93 years age or younger; my peers who are 94 years of age. People who are 95 years of age or older are truly old, and that will be me just a few months. I hope to reach them all in my new “uncensored vehicle": DISCUSSION WITH 94 YEAR OLD RON!
I had intended to consider two rather intense topics for this last Rant to EVERYONE: REPARATIONS and INSTITUTIONAL RACISM. Knowing that might be censored, I have chosen a single, much simpler subject HOW I DISCOVERED THE BEST WAY TO AVOID BIASED MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTING. IT'S SIMPLE: I recommend.listening ONLY to National Public Radio and Television. And perhaps C-Span. For some very practical reasons, I have continued listening to the 4 major channels, sport networks (Esp. Big 10) and recent upstarts like MSNBC and CNN.
My new and old fashioned devices (including ear pieces) now go to “Gov't Sponsored Programming and while there might still be some bias, I feel much better informed about the new and old issues that truly matter.
I have a person to turn to for help soon to start again. I'll let you know so you will be among the first to hear me expound on those two perplexing issues.
"Til we meet again.
Ron

Ron's Post # 3

 

Ron's Rant # 3

Law vs Soul: That's what this election is all about. One candidate appears to have the law on his side. The other the soul!

For instance, in the complex topic of Reparations! Or the topic of Institutional Racism!

The first is an old idea of many of my liberal friends for something that must be done to free us of racism. As I think of it in more depth, but I may be wrong, it seems that reparations would only intensify our problem.

Just as now, institutional racism kinda relieves us of guilt: "it's not my fault, it's the system."

If I were a dark skinned individual, I would want to say. "I don't give a damn about your reparations, designed to assuage your guilt.  All I want is for my son to be able to go outside at night wearing a hoodie and not be afraid for his life!"

What's your reaction?

Post Rant PS. I wish ALL AMERICANS could read John Feinstein's column in today's Washpost. 8/22/20. it brings to mind several of my favorite topics:

  1. the wisdom of sportswriters like him, Sally Jenkins and Mitch Album and many many others.

  2. The hypocrisy found in so many of our most highly respected institutions.

  3. The wisdom, insight but naivety of youth in solving complex problems.

  4. And the immensity of the problems faced by even our most sacred institutions.


Friday, August 21, 2020

One word that describes all Americans: Ron's Daily Rant #2

 PS!  Please note that this was written about 6 AM Friday morning. I was so FEARFUL yesterday that Joe Biden would muck up his speech Thursday night that I went to bed last night without hearing his address. I see that he uses THAT word, FEAR, quite a bit.  And I was not only FEARFUL, but AFRAID.

One word that describes all Americans: Ron's Daily Rant #2

That's what came to my mind this morning when I woke up. What word do you think of?  Mine is the word "fearful"!

I surprised myself. It's a word I thought I would never use in describing America. But then again, in my 94 years, I have never seen my country so divided. Fortunately I then recalled a history lesson we talked about in the schools I was fortunate enough to attend: "That the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”

And then I thought of my first rant and the words I had underlined: words like hope – trust – pray – believe – feel.

I also recalled a man whose biography I discovered again by chance: William James. This Harvard professor whose lifetime extended from Ralph Waldo Emerson to Karl Jung who was both a medical doctor and philosopher (physiologist and psychologist) was extremely influential in guiding American thought through wars and pestilence. Most important for me has been his clarification of those four words and many others of a similar type.

I believe my country will again realize that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself if we can again trust the democratic process.

Thanks for reading. I hope you will share your thoughts with me on my rant blog.

PS 2:10 PM  I have heard Joe's speech.  That brief 25 minutes (for him) would have been over 2 hours had he but had his usual audience.  So much of what America needs.  I now feel confident that RIGHT  can again prevail.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

RON'S Daily Blog #1 - I needed that

 

I needed that!

It was like a shot in the arm! No, that's a shot for the flu.

Or a kick in the pants. My generation is great on cliches'.


But that is what the DNC's Convention did for me last night.

It restored my faith in America. I believe we will win in a landslide. I hope we do. Perhaps I'll even pray we will.

How could I not feel that way as I saw and heard the inspiring testimony of so many patriotic Americans who just like me are relatives of an immigrant. I was converted to being an optimist for this election.

We just have to watch out for overconfidence! But I'm looking for a landslide and will be a bit disappointed if we only win!

Ron

PS 1 - “Tune in tomorrow” (That's an old radio term) and I will tell why some words are underlined.

PS 2 – While I didn't get the number of responses in the first hour (about 100) as I did with my first AMA,  (That's the young peoples Ask Me Anything) 

I'll continue doing this ALAP (AsLongAsPossible) as a diary for my family. And after all I see myself as a part of the “great family of man). And of course, women and children.



Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Why I can't stop Ranting at age 94!

It's complicated, but I will try to be brief:

1.  At my age (et al), there are MANY things I can't do in an election that I think is RATHER critical..

2.  But because I was fortunate enough four years ago to be schooled in the use of modern social media, I was able to communicate rather effectively with thousands of YOUNG PEOPLE throughout the world in meaningful dialogue.  Most notably via Reddit's AMA Ask Me Anything.  

3.  Therefore, I have decided to not only start RANTING AGAIN (hopefully) daily, in the hope that I can continue to reach others.  Particularly those young people whose views may be contrary to mine in the hope that we might have a meaningful exchange .

4. And I trust it will be by all going to my RANT BLOG section, the "Comments",  since I am having problems with my new tablet and would like them all in one place.  However, I will continue to try to answer any question or thought I receive ANYWHERE. 

                                                                              ***********

Here's a first thought.

Those at my age level (and even younger) have a tendency for young people to be too impatient for change. Yet I continue to be amazed at the change I have seen in my (brief lifetime) at the amount of social change I have seen.  While this is most notably seen in the gay/lesbian et al (I know) it is also true in many, many things from family structure to drinking fountains to climate change awareness.

So here is a quote in the Washington Posts editorial TODAY:


"Sander's speech was an invitation to his supporters to accept that gradualism in the pursuit of change is no vice."

Hope to see you on my Rant blog tomorrow.  I know there is a lot of HOPE expressed, but I remain an optimist.

Ron Lehker


                                                                          

 


Friday, August 7, 2020

 Why did it take me/us so long:

Why did it take me/us so long:

First, to discover all of the truths behind, "Black Lives Matter"? They have mattered for a long, long time, but we/Whites have denied what our heritage has wrought! Oh, it has been conveniently hidden in denial, "I wasn't living then, it wasn't me!" However we have gratuitously accepted the "progress" of our ancestors as well as the "results of the gratuitous work of slaves” from the past. How clear this all became to me again as I thought about my visits to German relatives. How proud I was of my ancestry, people with the intelligence and artistic ability of Wagner and Goethe. I see how the German people have responded to the present world crisis. Eureka thought I, perhaps I have inherited some of this. And then I realize real truths that I might also have inherited some of Eichmann and Adolph.


Second, for me to believe that President Trump actually told the truth as he spoke of a rigged election due to mailed in ballots? After all, he did appointed one of his friends to head up the United States Postal System.


I'm excited that with a new Tablet, it will be so much easier to continue Ranting.

Friday, July 24, 2020

It was good to see the re-opening of the zoo today.


It was good to see the re-opening of the zoo today......

....as I left my apartment right-next-door to see happy, masked families leaving the metro, gaily walking to the zoo. As I spoke with several, I felt I was seeing a broad segment of the area population getting a chance to enjoy what is “ours” in this lovely area.
As I learned  that metro service was being added, I was gratified to hear reports of proper masking and reasonable efforts to social distance.  

And I felt relief that area merchants might begin to return to some normalcy as restaurants and other stores increased their business in this “best season of the year” for them. At the zoo itself I was pleased to see how well organized things were at the entrance. and the patrons I spoke to assured me that this was the case inside.  

Perhaps above all I felt re-assured that we have local leadership attempting to make difficult, wise decisions to move us forward in this critical period. What a remarkable contrast with the national level where all I see fear fear and loathing in America.

Ron Lehker

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Some may call it socialism, but......

.......I call it good government!

That's what I felt when the owner of Cleveland Park's

Transcendence-Perfection-Bliss of the Beyond - Toy Store

told me that one of the contributing factors to her being able to endure the trauma of the Covid scourge was the D. C. Small Business Micro Grant that she, along with 7,000 other small business owners, received. What a marvelous example of the type of service that a caring government can provide.

Bliss” as it is affectionately known in the Cleveland Park neighborhood has for many years, made it possible for area residents to conveniently purchase fine quality toys, cards and other gift items. How grateful we should be that government leaders have helped keep small, serving businesses like hers alive.

How important it is that we get beyond labels and look to leaders who will work to solve problems rather than cast blame.



Sunday, July 5, 2020

Chautauqua for everyone




Chautauqua: Previous attendees or those possibly newly interested

The pandemic has brought a new look to the summer programming in New York State that has been available to residents only in the summer since 1874.

Your computer enables YOU to participate from home for the whole 9 weeks of outstanding lectures, discussions and musical performances. Free trials – and the whole summer - are available at :



The themes for this summer are

Week One • June 27–July 4 | Climate Change: Prioritizing Our Global and Local Response
After two years of attending. I am totally committed to their offerings to people of all religious faiths. Present world conditions are providing a new approach both now and in the future. I find it fascinating, however, that history is repeating itself in that many years ago the Washington area GLEN ECHO was the site of one of more than 150 Chautauqua throughout the nation. And now it is available throughout the world.

Ron

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

A history lesson I would like to share with young people


An old history teacher at age 94 teaches one one more lesson

George Santayana's quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
Here are but three bits of history I find fascinating at this time and want to share with young people
Listen to our 39th president (1977 - 1981) Jimmy Carter. The speech was given after three years in office and has been derisively referred to as his “Malaise Speech:. Here is a brief 2 minute introduction
But hear him out in his 33 minute speech. The last half is directed at solving the (then) perceived major problems of inflation and energy, but there is attention to the greater problems that have remained unsolved.
From the ssecond inaugural of President Obama, the sermon given by Reverend Adam Hamilton at the National Cathedral where I was fortunate enough to be in attendance.
The Rev. Adam Hamilton delivered the sermon, telling the stories of biblical and modern day figures, calling for leaders in the room to care for the less fortunate and to have compassion “for the least of these.”
Rev. Hamilton also urged political leaders to find common ground and a unifying vision to bring the country together. The entire service is available at

And from another era, the words of a traveler from France, Alexis de Tocqueville, who saw the United States as “exceptional.”
I personally have found these three views as particularly pertinent at this time:
  1. Religion (at that time he saw omly Christianity) is encouraged as a curb for excessive freedom
  2. A nation where volunteerism encourages people to work together to solve problems.
  3. There is separation of church and state

An internet summary of his main ideas may be found at

AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER I FEEL THESE ARE THREE IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD STUDY & ANALYZE






Friday, June 12, 2020

A rant and a rave I just had to make


I was heartened by the following statement last week in The Washington Post quoting a prominent evangelical Christian:

Starting off the march on a nondescript side street off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Anacostia was David Platt, pastor of one of the nation’s largest and most high-profile evangelical churches, McLean Bible.
We pray that you would forgive us for our history and our present,” Platt, who is white, said as he marched.”

But upon further reflection, I became incensed! Certainly church institutions are not perfect social organizations. And as a 94 year old member of a variety of mainline churches, I am among the first to admit the manifold SINS of churches collectively and church members individually. Yet I am proud of the awakening and action I have seen in progressive, RELIGIOUS organizations to further embrace the cause of human dignity and justice for all human beings. In my last 50 years of church attendance I have seen progress I could never have anticipated. The underpinning of the cause was set by leaders such as King and Gandhi.. The future looks bright to me as I see those causes being espoused by young people of all hues in the streets.
There truly has been a malaise permeating our country since its founding and hopefully we can finally admit it and do something about it.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

The promise of the future

Remembering more of our history at age 94 as I see the idealism of the youth of America on display


George Santayana's quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” comes to my mind as I ponder the exciting future that the present protests promise. And I marvel that it seems to have been nourished and sustained by young people,

Here then are but two bits of history I find fascinating this time.

Listen to our 39th president (1977 - 1981) Jimmy Carter. The speech was given after three years in office and has been derisively referred to as his “Malaise Speech:. Here is a brief 2 minute introduction


But hear him out in his 33 minute speech. The last half is directed at solving the (then) perceived major problem of inflation and energy, but there is attention to the greater problems that have remained unsolved.



And from another era, the words of a traveler from France, Alexis de Tocqueville, who saw the United States as “exception.”

I personally have found these three views as particularly pertinent at this time:

Religion (at that time he saw Christianity) is encouraged as a curb for excessive freedom
A nation where volunteerism encourages people to work together to solve problems
There is separation of church and state

An internet summary of his main ideas may be found at




Sunday, May 31, 2020

A look at thew local and world scene


Once again the sporting world and sports writers specifically provide clear insight into the American cultural scene. This time it is magnificently done by Sally Jenkins in her Washington Post article, "A knee on the turf or a knee on the neck. The choice is ours." It compels me to follow the leadership of young people to take action. I must, however, realize that my 94 years prohibits my joining them peacefully protesting at the White House. I can, however, once again encourage them and Americans to join me in:

Pledging to both stand and kneel at sporting events whenever the National Anthem is played until there is adequate recognition and amelioration of our nation's discriminatory practices. In so doing I feel I not only show respect for my country but also my recognition of its racial discriminatory practices in the nation's past and present.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Until the next time

I too have trouble believing that anyone would vote for Trump.  In my 94 years I have never seen such a divisive force.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Living through a pandemic at age 94

I am given hope for the future by this message from my Unitarian Church where I find a broadly based community of people of all cultures and creeds considering life's meaning.


Here is the Sunday service at All Souls UU Church in DC on April 26, 2020. I thought Tony's message was outstanding. I hope you will be challenged by it and also enjoy the concluding music which was performed the evening of the Women's March on Washington on the day after Trumps inaugural.