tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31579317851434913342024-03-04T22:45:07.134-08:00Ron's Rants and RavesLife moves on and at 94 there are still some deep- seated feelings I MUST have "one more say on." The're things about America's present society that truly vex me. It's been thrilling to see how well my views have been received by Reddit's young people both in D. C, and throughout the world the past three years. Improving communication between the generations has been a major cause of mine throughout my elder years. I hope you will check my view out and share your insights with me. Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03853914844108211195noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-63096029814189661532020-09-22T08:33:00.004-07:002020-09-22T08:33:44.520-07:00A Veteran Reports on his Experiences in Europe at the height of WWII<p><span style="font-size: large;">Ron's
Rants and Raves Returns # III</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> 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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">The
interview was conducted at the Library of Congress and is over an
hour long, </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1a1a1b; font-size: 15pt;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Here's
a link to part one of his interview: </span></span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1b; font-size: 15pt;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><u><a href="https://youtu.be/F4eZpKPy6LY" style="font-size: 15pt;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/F4eZpKPy6LY</a></u></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #1a1a1b; font-size: 15pt;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-right: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Since some of the material is a
bit indistinct, here is some of the summary provided by his son.</span></p>
<p style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.17in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1b;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: transparent;">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".</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.17in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1b;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: transparent;">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.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.17in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1b;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: transparent;">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.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.17in; padding: 0in;"><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1a1a1b; font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.22in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.17in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1b;"><span face="Noto Sans, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: transparent;">I
loved hearing his stories about the War, and miss him dearly.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> I stated in my last Rant that I had something positive to report. That follows:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> ****************</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">While this man certainly can be considered to be a part of <u>The Greatest Generation</u>, 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 <u>my</u> generation be considered Great when we were silentt about the OVERT RACISM and homophobic conditions prevailing in our country?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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..</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Until then, I truly believe this coming election will show that our populace has awakened and that we will overwhelmingly elect:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Joe Biden</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thanks for reding to the end. </p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-59080456305926380082020-09-21T07:59:00.001-07:002020-09-21T07:59:27.676-07:00Ron's Rants and Raves # II - Too hot (for some) to handle!<p><span style="font-size: 15pt;">In
this second of my Roman Numbered Rants and Raves, I'll just unload a
couple of (to me) interesting, even revolutionary, facts:</span></p>
<ol><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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:</span></p>
</li></ol>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Protestant
churches are places where white people go to both confess their sins
and (often) go to do good works to relieve their consciences.</span></blockquote><p></p>
</li></ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></blockquote><p></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">But I MUST CLOSE with this incendiary statement from a <u>self</u> published book, <u>Can R</u></span><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;"><u>eligion
Survive Worship?</u></span><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;"> by a highly respected published author who credits THE CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION in western New York state with
his “moral and spiritual” develo</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">pment,</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">LIKE
ALL RELIGIONS</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">CHRISTIANITY
</span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">IS
MAN-MADE</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; text-align: left;">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.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Editors
note add, “and women”.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
next blog will be of a more subdued, even a highly positive one
about the past and future of our country!</span></p>
</li></ul>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-74422672233642235212020-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:002020-09-19T12:53:44.981-07:00Ron's Rant Returns: The Football Scene<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Ron's
Rant Returns – The Football Scene</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">And
there is a second fear for the players:</span></p>
<ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">The
possibility of the Covid Virus, and</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">For
the players – most of whom are often of darker skins tone – the
risk of life shortening illness. </span>
</p>
</li></ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Hoping
to </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">continue</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> my occasional Rant (at least periodically.)</span> </p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-26653683698667664032020-09-07T11:58:00.001-07:002020-09-07T11:58:58.130-07:00A vital question for this Labor Day.<p> <u style="font-size: 15pt;">What
does Labor Day mean to YOU</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;">?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">When
I was a junior high school principal, it meant I would spend the next
9 months being away from my family a </span><span style="font-size: 15pt;">great
deal of the time.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Today
as a retiree, it means looking for something meaningful and
worthwhile to do.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">To
the labor union leader, it meant that we had gained power almost
equal to that of management.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Today
for many of our workers, it means their jobs were shipped overseas. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Today
it means staying at home with the computer and zooming with
friends.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">To
a nurse, (I've been told by a friend) when you worked changing
shifts it meant Labor Day is just another shift.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Today
the reply to me is, it's the same. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">To
the worker at McDonald's it meant ( hopefully, at least) time and a
half for overtime.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Today
it means I have no job because a pandemic slows business. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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,</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">I
hope to get to my promised RANT about America </span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">Losing its
Soul</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> in tomorrow's
conversation.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Ron</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">To the reader pf this Rant, I </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">must</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">advise</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> you that I shall no longer Rant. Instead I hope to </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">converse</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> with young people around the world on Reddit. Of course, I think of everyone 93 and younger as young, I can be </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">reached</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> (</span><span style="font-size: 20px;">according</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> to my grandson: at:</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="gE iv gt" style="cursor: auto; font-size: 0.875rem; padding: 20px 0px 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf gJ" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin-top: 0px; width: auto;"><tbody style="display: block;"><tr class="acZ" style="display: flex; height: auto;"><td class="gF gK" style="display: block; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-height: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap; width: 324.187px;"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf ix" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 323.902px;"><tbody><tr><td class="c2" style="display: flex; margin: 0px;"><h3 class="iw" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: auto; color: #5f6368; font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3px; line-height: 20px; margin: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 8px); overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="qu" role="gridcell" tabindex="-1"><span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="jacobdebacher@gmail.com" email="jacobdebacher@gmail.com" name="Jake DeBacher" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #202124; display: inline; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: top;">Jake DeBacher</span></span></h3></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td class="gH bAk" style="align-items: center; color: #222222; display: block; margin: 0px; max-height: 20px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="gK" style="align-items: center; display: flex; padding: 0px;"><span alt="Sep 6, 2020, 10:37 AM" class="g3" id=":mw" role="gridcell" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: auto; 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display: flex; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><div class="iw ajw" style="display: inline-block; max-width: 92%; overflow: hidden;"><span class="hb" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: auto; color: #5f6368; font-size: 0.75rem; letter-spacing: 0.3px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: top;">to <span class="g2" data-hovercard-id="Rjlehker@gmail.com" dir="ltr" email="Rjlehker@gmail.com" name="Ron" style="vertical-align: top;">Ron</span></span></div><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Show details" class="ajy" data-tooltip="Show details" id=":sh" role="button" style="align-items: center; border: none; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; margin-left: 4px; outline: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><img alt="" class="ajz" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("https://www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/system/2x/arrow_drop_down_black_20dp.png"); 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font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div dir="ltr">If you want people to go to your general profile to see the posts you've made recently, here's the link: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reddit.com/u/dcretiree&source=gmail&ust=1599591200645000&usg=AFQjCNHSGRVFG3vCw6-1y_mDHAEqH2XrKg" href="https://www.reddit.com/u/dcretiree" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/<wbr></wbr>u/dcretiree</a><div><br /></div><div>If you want them to go to your current "ongoing AMA" page, use this link: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reddit.com/user/dcretiree/comments/ij13dm/iama_94yearold_man_and_i_have_found_great_joy_in/&source=gmail&ust=1599591200645000&usg=AFQjCNGBptHPTAM29VuTTAeS_6sV77OkZA" href="https://www.reddit.com/user/dcretiree/comments/ij13dm/iama_94yearold_man_and_i_have_found_great_joy_in/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/<wbr></wbr>user/dcretiree/comments/<wbr></wbr>ij13dm/iama_94yearold_man_and_<wbr></wbr>i_have_found_great_joy_in/</a></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /></div></div></div></div></div>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-53130327544389249342020-09-03T09:46:00.002-07:002020-09-19T05:50:58.637-07:00A further look at what some of us feel is America's biggest problem<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">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:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our
country has </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Lost
its Soul.</b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="border-bottom: 4.50pt double #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.03in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">However
I don't mean that in a religious sense</span></u></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
More like Jimmy Carter in his </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">Malaise
</span></u></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.) </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>It
is that sickness that I shall want to talk about extensively when I
return,</b></u></span></span></p>
<p style="border-bottom: 4.50pt double #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.03in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<span style="text-decoration: none;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
look at the future. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>This
is my last </b></u></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><u><b>Rant!</b></u></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
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</span></span></span></span></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-91425318239869007262020-09-02T09:23:00.001-07:002020-09-02T09:23:19.581-07:00THE MARVELS OF THE FREE PRESS<p>HOW I WISH OUR PRESIDENT KNEW HOW IMPORTANT A FREE PRESS IS!</p><p>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:</p><p>HE THOUGHT OUR SUBSCRIPTION WAS ACTUALLY FREE!</p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">CHILDISH
AS HE IS, TRUMP PROBABLY THINKS OF IT AS DID MY PRE-SCHOOLER.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">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</span></p><p align="CENTER"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>WHAT
DO <b>YOU</b> THINK IS AMERICA'S SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM</u></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-size: large;">I'LL
WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO GIVE YOU MY ANSWER SO I CAN BE ASSURED YOU
WILL HAVE YOURS.</span></p><p align="CENTER">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="CENTER">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="CENTER">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT"><br /><br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT"><br /><br />
</p><p> </p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-72555920080647751062020-09-01T10:03:00.003-07:002020-09-01T10:03:51.609-07:00<p> DID YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT'S NEWS
CONFERENCE YESTERDAY?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T, BECAUSE AS FAR AS I
KNOW, IT WAS <u><b>ONLY</b></u> ON FOX “NEWS, I KNOW IT WASN'T ON
CNN OR MSNBC BECAUSE I TRIED TUNING THEM IN.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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!</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">YET, I SOON FOUND IT EMBARRASSING BECAUSE I FELT I WAS SEEING A HUMAN BEING BECOME TOTALLY UNHINGED BEFORE MY
EYES.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I WAS A<u>LMOST</u> SORRY FOR A MAN
ABOUT TO --</p>
<ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">HAVE A HEART ATTACK, OR</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">HAVE AN AIDE APPEAR AND TELL HIM
THAT HE WAS LATE FOR HIS NEXT APPOINTMENT</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">STORM OFF STAGE.</p>
</li></ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">MERCIFULLY, THE LATTER DID HAPPEN AS ALONE HE SAUNTERED BACK DOWN THE LONG HALLWAY WITH SHOULDERS HUNCHED.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">***********************</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">AGAIN, NOT THE STORY I THOUGHT I WOULD
WRITE ABOUT. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">THANKS FOR READING. WE WILL SEE WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">RON</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p align="RIGHT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">AAIN, NO</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-24061267388553689292020-08-31T10:00:00.001-07:002020-08-31T10:00:19.092-07:00America Looks At Itself<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">AMERICA LOOKS AT
ITSELF!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Extra</b></u>:
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.) </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, I
FEEL WE ARE LOOKING AT OURSELVES!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><u><b>AND DO WE LIKE
WHAT WE SEE?</b></u></i></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I FEEL THAT IS WHAT EVERY VOTER SHOULD ASK THEMSELF!</span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">ANYTHING BUT THAT TRUMPIAN PHRASE:</span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><u><b>ARE YOU, (
AMERICA) BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE FOUR YEARS AGO?</b></u></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">THIS IS CERTAINLY <u>NOT</u> WHAT I HAD INTENDED TO
WRITE ABOUT, BUT IT MAY WELLL BE THE <u>HEART OF THE MATTER</u></span></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-39315650399197529862020-08-30T07:49:00.000-07:002020-08-30T07:49:32.638-07:00 DONALD TRUMP (AT AGE SIX) MEETS HIS NEW TUTOR.<p> <span style="font-size: 15pt;">DONALD TRUMP (AT AGE SIX) MEETS HIS NEW TUTOR.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Tutor: DO YOU PREFER I CALL YOU DONALD OR DON?</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">D - DONALD J. TRUMP, OF COURSE.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">T - HM. LET'S SEE, YOUR RECORDS SHOW THAT YOU FAILED TO GO TO SUNDAY SCHOOL.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">D - IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION? EVERYONE KNOWS YOU DON'T</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">GO TO </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">SCHOOL</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY! WHEW, YOU DUMMY!</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">T - THEN YOU MISSED MOST OF THE PARABLES?</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">D - PARABLES? WHAT ARE THEY?</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">T – STORIES JESUS TAUGHT, LIKE THE </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">VINEYARD</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> WORKERS AND THE RICH YOUNG RULER,</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">D - TELL ME ABOUT THE RICH GUY,</span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><<<<<< >>>>>></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">I HOPE YOU WILL TELL ME IF I SHOULD CONTINUE TRYING HUMOR. SOMETIMES IT PROVIDES MORE SOLICE THAN CRYING,</span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">Typed this way because my mike needs repair and arthritis makes typing difficult.</span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO UNLOAD WITH ANOTHER RANT.</span></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-83373543748298886792020-08-29T08:16:00.001-07:002020-08-29T14:33:04.257-07:00RON'S NEW RANT #2 <p> <span style="font-size: 15pt;">THE
EDUCATION OF DONALD J. TRUMP</span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">NO.
THAT IS NOT THE TITLE OF TODAY'S RANT. IT IS THE TITLE OF A SERIES.</span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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 </span><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">GRADUATED
FROM. WHEATON COLLEGE LOCATED IN ILLINOIS IS PERHAPS </span><u style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;"><b>THE
MOST INFLUENTIAL EVANGELICAL COLLEGE IN AMERICA.</b></u></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">MANY OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE EVEN
READ THE ARTICLE. IT IS ON PAGE A 19 OF </span><u style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;"><b>THE WASHINGTON POST</b></u><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">
8/29/2020, BY MICHAEL GERSON, AND IS ENTITLED, </span><i style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;"><u><b>THE
PRESIDENT DISQUALIFIES HIMSELF.</b></u></i></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border-bottom: 4.5pt double rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in 0in 0.03in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">THAT'S IT FOR TODAY AND I CAN
THINK OF OTHER THINGS TODAY - LIKE ATTENDING (IN </span><span style="font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;">ABSENTIA) THE WEDDING OF A GRANDSON IN SOUTHERN INDIANA</span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border-bottom: 4.5pt double rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in 0in 0.03in;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border-bottom: 4.5pt double rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in 0in 0.03in;">
<span><span style="font-size: 15pt;">YOU CAN SEE I HAVE SOMETHING TO </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">LEARN</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> ABOUT COMPUTER USE</span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="border-bottom: 4.5pt double rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in 0in 0.03in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">AMAZINGLY, AS I DO THIS I HAVE
RE-GAINED CONFIDENCE THAT VOTERS WILL ELECT BIDEN AND HARRIS.
BECAUSE IT IS <i><u><b>THE RIGHT THING TO DO</b></u></i></span></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-12106547719325997762020-08-28T10:41:00.000-07:002020-08-28T10:41:33.891-07:00Ron's rant: For the first time in my life, I am afraid!<p> <span style="color: #500050; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ron's
Rant Revised: For the first time in my life at age 94, I am afraid.that I can recall: I AM
AFRAID </span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #500050;">*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</span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #500050;"> </span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
the first time in my life that I can recall: I AM AFRAID </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
it is NOT because I am 94 so old and fearing what's next!</span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
is because last night I saw the crowd that will continue to run the
country if THEY win in November. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, I
WANTED to watch. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
learned in WWII the importance of knowing the “enemy.” </span></span></span>(I
never before considered the other party as my enemy,
but,,,)</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br /> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surely
there must be some good people ON THAT SIDE. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through
Public Broadcasting I was introduced to a number of THEM
who received help </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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 </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">AND
SOME OF ITEMS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE
COLOR OF THEIR SKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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."</span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many
of those introduced, seemed to be a bit “different” or out
of place. I</span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of
course knew of course all the attendees knew they
would be safe because the military forces were nearby on the
ready! </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All
of a sudden I realized that “IT WAS FEELINGS OF GUILT.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">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,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">CONCLUSION
for ME:</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It
is most important that:</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">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,</span></span></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
I hope YOU</span></span></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">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..</span></span></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ron
Lehker #2610</span></span></span></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">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</span> <span style="color: #222222;"> and
have a democcrtiv sweep.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*
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.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<a href="https://ronlehkersrants.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://ronlehkersrants.blogspot.com/</span></span></span></a></p>
<p style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.08in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-15536379394296603812020-08-22T15:56:00.006-07:002020-08-22T15:56:54.773-07:00Ron's Rant #4 - The last blog until.....<p> Ron's Rant # 4 - The last blog… Until…</p><div data-reddit-rtjson="{"entityMap":{},"blocks":[{"key":"88k37","text":"Ron's Rant # 4 - The last blog… Until… ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"19lip","text":" …...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! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"3rr2v","text":"\nI had intended to consider two rather intense topics for this last Rant to EVRYONE: REPARATIONS and INSTITUTIONAL RACISM. Knowing that might be censored, I have chosen a single, much simpler subject \n HOW I DISCOVERED THE BEST WAY TO AVOID BIASED MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTING. \n IT'S SIMPLE: \n I recommend.listening ONLY to National Public Radio and Television. And perhaps C-Span. \n 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. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":85,"length":36,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":204,"length":96,"style":"BOLD"},{"offset":85,"length":36,"style":"ITALIC"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"8avb7","text":"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. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"f3maj","text":"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.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"99dgn","text":"\"Til we meet again.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"27ic2","text":"Ron","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}]}"><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="7c99ad" data-offset-key="7aakh-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7aakh-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7aakh-0-0"> …...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! </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="7c99ad" data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-0"><span data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-0">
I had intended to consider two rather intense topics for this last Rant to EVERYONE: </span><span data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-1" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">REPARATIONS and INSTITUTIONAL RACISM</span><span data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-2">. Knowing that might be censored, I have chosen a single, much simpler subject
</span><span data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-3" style="font-weight: bold;">HOW I DISCOVERED THE BEST WAY TO AVOID BIASED MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTING.
IT'S SIMPLE: </span><span data-offset-key="3dvo8-0-4">
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. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="7c99ad" data-offset-key="bl1kn-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bl1kn-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bl1kn-0-0">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. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="7c99ad" data-offset-key="f3nui-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f3nui-0-0"><span data-offset-key="f3nui-0-0">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.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="7c99ad" data-offset-key="fmp2p-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fmp2p-0-0"><span data-offset-key="fmp2p-0-0">"Til we meet again.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="7c99ad" data-offset-key="7bo92-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7bo92-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7bo92-0-0">Ron</span></div></div></div>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-28895875448629948162020-08-22T06:27:00.002-07:002020-08-22T07:41:25.748-07:00Ron's Post # 3<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ron's
Rant # 3</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">For
instance, in the complex topic of Reparations! Or the topic of
Institutional Racism!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Just
as now, institutional racism kinda relieves us of guilt: "it's
not my fault, it's the system."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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 </span><span style="font-size: 15pt;">son to be able to go outside at night wearing a hoodie
and not be afraid for his life!"</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">What's
your reaction?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Post
Rant PS. I wish ALL AMERICANS </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">could</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> read John Feinstein's column in
today's Washpost. 8/22/20. it brings to mind several of my favorite
topics:</span></p>
<ol>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">the
wisdom of sportswriters like him, Sally Jenkins and Mitch Album and
many many others. </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
hypocrisy found in so many of our most highly respected
institutions.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="font-size: 15pt;">The
wisdom, insight but </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">naivety</span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> of youth in solving complex problems.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
the immensity of the problems faced by even our most sacred
institutions.</span></p>
</li></ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-36915288694467221562020-08-21T04:17:00.005-07:002020-08-21T11:11:54.850-07:00One word that describes all Americans: Ron's Daily Rant #2<p> 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.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">One
word that describes all Americans: Ron<b>'s</b> Daily Rant #2</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">T<span style="font-size: 15pt;">hat's
what came to my mind this morning when I woke up. What word do you
think of? Mine is the word "fearful"!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">And
then I thought of my first rant and the words I had underlined: words
like hope – trust – pray – believe – feel.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">I
</span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">believe</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> my country will again realize that the only thing we
have to fear is fear itself if we can again </span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">trust</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> the
democratic process.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Thanks
for reading. I hope you will share your thoughts with me on my rant
blog.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-26586534576595690822020-08-20T06:44:00.002-07:002020-08-20T13:12:32.909-07:00 RON'S Daily Blog #1 - I needed that<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
needed that!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">It
was like a shot in the arm! No, that's a shot for the flu.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or
a kick in the pants. My generation is great on cliches'.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
that is what the DNC's Convention did for me last night.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">It
restored my </span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">faith</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> in America. I </span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">believe</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> we will win in
a landslide. I </span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">hope</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> we
do. Perhaps I'll even </span><u style="font-size: 15pt;">pray</u><span style="font-size: 15pt;">
we will.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">How
could I not </span><u style="font-size: large;">feel</u><span style="font-size: large;">
that way as I saw and heard the inspiring </span><u style="font-size: large;">testimony</u><span style="font-size: large;">
of so many patriotic Americans who just like me are relatives of an
immigrant. I was </span><u style="font-size: large;">converted</u><span style="font-size: large;">
to being an optimist for this election.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Ron</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">PS
1 - “Tune in tomorrow” (That's an old radio term) and I will tell
why some words are underlined.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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) </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">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.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-79751945551444623802020-08-19T10:31:00.001-07:002020-08-19T10:45:45.622-07:00Why I can't stop Ranting at age 94!<p>It's complicated, but I will try to be brief:</p><p>1. At my age (et al), there are MANY things I can't do in an election that I think is RATHER critical..</p><p>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. </p><p>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 .</p><p>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. </p><p> ***********</p><p>Here's a first thought.</p><p>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.</p><p>So here is a quote in the Washington Posts editorial TODAY:</p><p><br /></p><p>"Sander's speech was an invitation to his supporters to accept that gradualism in the pursuit of change is no vice."</p><p>Hope to see you on my Rant blog tomorrow. I know there is a lot of HOPE expressed, but I remain an optimist.</p><p>Ron Lehker</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-91319077261433894172020-08-07T15:19:00.000-07:002020-08-07T15:19:23.542-07:00<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Why did it take me/us so long:</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why did it take me/us so
long:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, to discover all of
the truths behind, "Black Lives Matter"? </span><i style="font-size: large;"><u><b>They
have mattered for a long, long time</b></u></i><span style="font-size: large;">,
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.</span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm excited that with a new Tablet, it will be so much
easier to continue Ranting.</span></p>Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-79708875448588369082020-07-24T13:12:00.002-07:002020-07-24T13:12:54.743-07:00It was good to see the re-opening of the zoo today.<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It was good
to see the re-opening of the zoo today......</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
…<span style="font-size: medium;">....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.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I learned that metro service was being added, I was gratified to hear reports of proper masking and reasonable efforts to social distance. </div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Ron Lehker</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-18465282109323761992020-07-23T07:27:00.000-07:002020-07-23T07:27:22.763-07:00Some may call it socialism, but......<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
…<span style="font-size: medium;">.......I
call it good government!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">That's what
I felt when the owner of Cleveland Park's</span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="gmail-western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/transcendence-perfection-bliss-of-the-beyond-washington"><span style="color: #660099;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Transcendence-Perfection-Bliss
of the Beyond - Toy Store</span></span></span></span></span></a></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">How
important it is that we get beyond labels and look to leaders who
will work to solve problems rather than cast blame.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-37262014224893083132020-07-05T19:10:00.001-07:002020-07-05T19:10:34.564-07:00Chautauqua for everyone<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Chautauqua</b></u>:
Previous attendees or those possibly newly interested</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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 : </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://chq.org/season/chq-assembly-registration">https://chq.org/season/chq-assembly-registration</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The themes for this summer
are </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
One •</b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> June
27–July 4 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-one-june-27-july-4" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Climate
Change: Prioritizing Our Global and Local Response</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Two • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July
4–11 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-two-july-4-11" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Forces
Unseen: What Shapes Our Daily Lives</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Three • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July
11–18 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/Week%20Three%20::%20July%2011%E2%80%9318%20Art%20and%20Democracy" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Art
and Democracy</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Four • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July
18–25 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-four-july-18-25" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Ethics of Tech: Scientific, Corporate and Personal Responsibility</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Five • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July
25–August 1 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-five-july-25-august-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Women’s Vote Centennial and Beyond</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Six • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">August 1–8
| </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-six-aug-1-8"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rebuilding
Public Education</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Seven • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">August
8–15 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-seven-aug-8-15" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Science of Us</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Eight • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">August
15–22 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-eight-aug-15-22" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Reframing
the Constitution</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.09in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Week
Nine • </b></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">August
22–30 | </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://chq.org/season/weekly-themes/week-nine-aug-22-30" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0088cc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Future We Want, The World We Need: Collective Action for Tomorrow’s
Challenges</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron</span><br />
<br />Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-29786697493447794612020-06-24T08:23:00.001-07:002020-06-24T08:23:25.036-07:00A history lesson I would like to share with young people<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">An old history teacher at age 94 teaches one one more lesson</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">George </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Santayana's
quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat
it”</b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Here
are but three bits of history I find fascinating at this time and
want to share with young people</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> 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</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGd_9Tahzw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGd_9Tahzw</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> 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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?153917-1/president-carter-address-crisis-confidence">https://www.c-span.org/video/?153917-1/president-carter-address-crisis-confidence</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> 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.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 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.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif;">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 </span></span>
</div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif;"><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?310530-1/inaugural-prayer-service">https://www.c-span.org/video/?310530-1/inaugural-prayer-service</a>
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> And from another era, the
words of a traveler from France, Alexis de Tocqueville, who saw the
United States as “exceptional.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I personally have found
these three views as particularly pertinent at this time:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Religion (at that
time he saw omly Christianity) is encouraged as a curb for excessive
freedom</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A nation where
volunteerism encourages people to work together to solve problems.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There is separation
of church and state</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">An internet summary of his
main ideas may be found at</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-thesis-main-idea-democracy-america-699471">https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-thesis-main-idea-democracy-america-699471</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL
HISTORY TEACHER I FEEL THESE ARE THREE IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT ALL
AMERICANS SHOULD STUDY & ANALYZE</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-85301411872496180252020-06-12T08:24:00.001-07:002020-06-12T08:24:09.625-07:00A rant and a rave I just had to make<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I was heartened by the
following statement last week in </span><i style="font-size: large;"><u>The Washington Post</u></i><span style="font-size: medium;">
quoting a prominent evangelical Christian:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">“<span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 175%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">“<span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We
pray that you would forgive us for our history and our present,”
Platt, who is white, said as he marched.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 175%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 175%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But
upon furth</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">er
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 </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><i><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">SINS
</span></u></i></span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 175%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: georgia, New serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
truly has been a malaise permeating our country since its founding
and hopefully we can finally admit it and do something about it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-25270158215125551762020-06-06T09:21:00.001-07:002020-06-06T09:31:07.671-07:00The promise of the future<span style="font-size: medium;">Remembering more of our
history at age 94 as I see the idealism of the youth of America on display</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">George </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Santayana's
quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat
it”</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
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, </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here
then are but two bits of history I find fascinating this time.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGd_9Tahzw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGd_9Tahzw</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?153917-1/president-carter-address-crisis-confidence">https://www.c-span.org/video/?153917-1/president-carter-address-crisis-confidence</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">And from another era, the
words of a traveler from France, Alexis de Tocqueville, who saw the
United States as “exception.” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I personally have found
these three views as particularly pertinent at this time:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Religion (at that time he
saw Christianity) is encouraged as a curb for excessive freedom</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A nation where
volunteerism encourages people to work together to solve problems</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">There is separation of
church and state</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">An internet summary of his
main ideas may be found at</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-thesis-main-idea-democracy-america-699471">https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-thesis-main-idea-democracy-america-699471</a>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-27046765563420528852020-05-31T14:21:00.001-07:002020-05-31T14:21:31.516-07:00A look at thew local and world scene<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">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,
"<i>A knee on the turf or a knee on the neck. The choice is
ours.</i>" <i><u><b>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.</b></u></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I can, however, once again encourage them and Americans to join me
in:</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><u><b>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.</b></u></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></span></span></div>
<br />Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157931785143491334.post-5879253215139325952020-05-23T14:19:00.001-07:002020-05-23T14:19:08.028-07:00Until the next timeI too have trouble believing that anyone would vote for Trump. In my 94 years I have never seen such a divisive force.Ron Lehkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12510279926728605110noreply@blogger.com0