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

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

…....as I left my apartment right-next-door to see happy, masked families leaving the metro, gaily walking to the zoo. As I spoke with several, I felt I was seeing a broad segment of the area population getting a chance to enjoy what is “ours” in this lovely area.

As I learned  that metro service was being added, I was gratified to hear reports of proper masking and reasonable efforts to social distance.  

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

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

Ron Lehker

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

….......I call it good government!

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

Transcendence-Perfection-Bliss of the Beyond - Toy Store

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

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

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

Chautauqua for everyone

Chautauqua: Previous attendees or those possibly newly interested

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

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

https://chq.org/season/chq-assembly-registration

The themes for this summer are

Week One • June 27–July 4 | Climate Change: Prioritizing Our Global and Local Response

• Week Two • July 4–11 | Forces Unseen: What Shapes Our Daily Lives
• Week Three • July 11–18 | Art and Democracy
• Week Four • July 18–25 | The Ethics of Tech: Scientific, Corporate and Personal Responsibility
• Week Five • July 25–August 1 | The Women’s Vote Centennial and Beyond
• Week Six • August 1–8 | Rebuilding Public Education
• Week Seven • August 8–15 | The Science of Us
• Week Eight • August 15–22 | Reframing the Constitution
• Week Nine • August 22–30 | The Future We Want, The World We Need: Collective Action for Tomorrow’s Challenges

After two years of attending. I am totally committed to their offerings to people of all religious faiths. Present world conditions are providing a new approach both now and in the future. I find it fascinating, however, that history is repeating itself in that many years ago the Washington area GLEN ECHO was the site of one of more than 150 Chautauqua throughout the nation. And now it is available throughout the world.

Ron

A history lesson I would like to share with young people

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

George Santayana's quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”

Here are but three bits of history I find fascinating at this time and want to share with young people

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGd_9Tahzw

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.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?153917-1/president-carter-address-crisis-confidence

From the ssecond inaugural of President Obama, the sermon given by Reverend Adam Hamilton at the National Cathedral where I was fortunate enough to be in attendance.

The Rev. Adam Hamilton delivered the sermon, telling the stories of biblical and modern day figures, calling for leaders in the room to care for the less fortunate and to have compassion “for the least of these.”

Rev. Hamilton also urged political leaders to find common ground and a unifying vision to bring the country together. The entire service is available at

https://www.c-span.org/video/?310530-1/inaugural-prayer-service

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

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

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

An internet summary of his main ideas may be found at

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-thesis-main-idea-democracy-america-699471

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

A rant and a rave I just had to make

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

“Starting off the march on a nondescript side street off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Anacostia was David Platt, pastor of one of the nation’s largest and most high-profile evangelical churches, McLean Bible.

“We pray that you would forgive us for our history and our present,” Platt, who is white, said as he marched.”

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

There truly has been a malaise permeating our country since its founding and hopefully we can finally admit it and do something about it.

The promise of the future

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

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

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGd_9Tahzw

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.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?153917-1/president-carter-address-crisis-confidence

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

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

Religion (at that time he saw Christianity) is encouraged as a curb for excessive freedom

A nation where volunteerism encourages people to work together to solve problems

There is separation of church and state

An internet summary of his main ideas may be found at

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-thesis-main-idea-democracy-america-699471

A look at thew local and world scene

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

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