The movie, The Post: The Truth Matters!

My daughter saw this movie last week and had no idea about the history of the Pentagon Papers and how instrumental The Washington Post was in exposing the LIES of our government. She was wildly enthused about this movie, which I saw yesterday with Ira and friends. And knowing the history did not diminish the experience of reliving a time where the government still lied, but a few brave people dared to stand up and tell the truth. This was the beginning of newspapers speaking the truth and daring to expose what politicians dared not utter.

The film was remarkable. The thing is, no matter what lies are thrown out in the arena today, at the end of the day, TRUTH matters and while senators and members of the house cower because they have an agenda, there are still news agencies that will speak the truth, uncover the lies, impeach a president. This film made me believe in the power of the press, and also the power of women. When Katherine Graham took over the Washington Post, she was not prepared; she had been a wife and mother her whole life, and did not even know the full power of the press. She transformed into an amazingly powerful woman ,and one who dared to be THE FIRST ONE to be brave and expose the treachery of a government. She made the Washington Post into the brave paper they are today, and both The Post and The New York Times continue to be our only avenues to speak out, not cower, be brave and hopefully-at the end of the day, bring down a government-if it is meant to be. Bravo to the film, Steven Spielberg and the wonderful actors who gifted the film with their voice. The audience cheered and I continue to applaud the efforts of these two great newspapers who continue to count the lies daily, not ever afraid to say the Emperor is Naked.

Happy new year!

2018 must be better. The world must be better. We can not have the threat of war because of people in office who have poor impulse control. We have to make the world better for our children and grandchildren. I personally think about Ella Madelyn and Jacob Michael, not even two weeks old, who I insist on growing up in a world where equality reigns supreme; decency is the operative word; kindness to those we love and to strangers is significant; truth can not be debated; the environment is protected; women can not be touched by unwelcome hands; racism is obsolte; we care about our immigrant brothers and sisters.

In other words, I demand a future for my family and yours. Is that too much to ask for in 2018? Happy new year and amen!

Happy holiday one and all!

May next year be a good year. May values of decency, integrity, humanity reign supreme. May the world regain its moral compass, and that means calling out evil, lies, put-downs, indecency. May you and your families have health, happiness, personal fulfillment-whatever that may be. May you understand that if you have a lot, you should feel it incumbent upon yourself to give to others who do not. Take care of yourself and your health; smile at a stranger. Remember, you were once an immigrant, too, and whatever you have you can lose in a heart-beat.

Feel the wind, the sun, the rain, the pain of others. And feel your own pain, too, and share it so you can get the hug you deserve. Always be hopeful and optimistic, since if today is not a good day, remember. it can only get better.

Love your neighbor as yourself. And love your family every minute of every day, and be sure to tell them because you can lose them so easily, and that is something you can never get back.

Happy new year. Blessings from my heart to yours!

Amanda

I have a very special daughter-in-law, and her name is Amanda. She is one of those small time local heroes. First of all, she just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. She is a remarkable mother; she has been to Ella, and my guess is she will be to Jacob as well. She is patient in a way I have never seen, ever, but when she has to discipline, she does it and with extraordinary warmth and compassion. She never toots her own horn and cares so little for what is really insignificant-wealth, power, ambition. She lives the way I did when my children were young,with too few indulgences, little baby-sitting, taking care of things on her own. It is very old-fashioned and very lovely, so different from what I see with so many young Moms today.

But Amanda is unlike any young Mom; she is unique and different. When things were tough for her these months-with work, with the pregnancy, with family, she did not complain; she handles her personal plight with dignity and grace, something  I am not certain I could have done. She worked until the last minute of her pregnancy and will return to a work of giving and generosity in the fall.

I love the edge in her humor; the funny glint in her eyes. She is thoroughly beautiful, inside and out.

I wish the world were filled with more like Amanda, but then-perhaps-she would not be so outstanding. But one thing I can tell you, for sure: the world would be a better place. Our family is blessed to have her.

Jacob Michael: New baby boy!

Today a new grandson was born, Jacob Michael Reiser, Ella's baby brother. This is a beacon of hope in an otherwise challenged time, and I have lots of prayers for him, too. I hope the world is not destroyed by our current president-the environment, the education, the moral compass that integrity demands. I hope his parents fill his needs, that Craig can be the kind of father that his father, Ira, was to him. I hope that he can be happy and healthy, and when he is not, that he can communicate those feelings to those he loves. May goodness and possibility always be there for him as guiding posts. And when he dreams, may he always dream big, and live the world as an idealist, never as a cynic, since idealism is always a catalyst for changes that make the world a better place!

Still Fighting for Justice

Everyone has said, "You will get over Trump. You have no choice. "   

Guess what? I have not. In fact, I feel worse, not better. Why? I see the level of moral indecency he has reaped on this world. If I were to get over him, it would mean I believe it is okay to lie; to demean; to change stories; to change personas; to fire people; to put people down. Over thirty people have left their positions since he has taken office. He has implemented a tax bill that will seriously hurt the poor and middle class. He is indecent toward the DACA children-the most decent, hard-working young immigrant children who are here because their parents were forced to leave their countries of origin. He wants these children ousted from this country; though sometimes he does not. He is not trustworthy; he is an unreliable narrator. And he distorts the truth in such transparent ways.

So, I will continue to fight the good fight because I am a fair, decent, smart and open-minded person. And I hope that others will join me!

The West Wing

I am in love with this show. It runs deeper; I am in love with this government. Every time we watch this show on Netflix, I start to cry. My husband's response-it is not real; it is just a show. Of course it is not real, exactly the reason I am crying. It represents how far we have regressed as a Democracy.The show has a president, speech-writers, a press secretary, a chief of staff, all of whom have everything I want in a presidential office: they are seriously smart; they are seriously principled; they have impeccable values; they are open and honest and have integrity. They really look out for the common man and woman. They do not look out for any one group. In the spirit of Democracy, all people are created equal. They would never punish a pregnant woman who can not keep her child. They would never reward the rich with all these loopholes and tax breaks. Furthermore, they would never allow hate language. a place in our country, and would renounce it-every step of the way.

So why do I cry? It is a vision of an idealistic world, a decent government, one we saw during Obama's presidency, in part, but one we have gone so far away from. The West Wing is the government I want, not the government I have.

And for this I cry and continue to cry every day, since yes, I am an idealist in a world that has gone in the other direction.

Jealousy

Jealousy is that ugly demon that sizzles beneath the surface. Look at what it did to Othello! Personal tragedy is built on jealousy; it can be the downfall of a character, since the green monster consumes a character's inner psyche.

By now it is abundantly evident Trump is seething with rage against Obama. Even when he likes his policies, even when the rest of the country supports Obama's policies and revels in his presidency, Trump works tirelessly to dismantle them. Is there a logic? Is there a policy? Absolutely none whatsoever, other than he can not stand our former president, and so he is determined to attack every good and decent thing Obama stood for.

Why?What does he hope to gain? Daily his approval rating drops to a rate President Obama never ever saw. He never dipped below 50% even. In fact, many people loved him, and many who did not, I would venture to say, were racists.

My guess  is Obama is everything Trump is not, and he recognizes this. He is brilliant and he is a brilliant orator. He was graciously accepted by world leaders. He was classy in everything-speech, decency, intellect, integrity. He even had a classy look. He played golf, sure, which Trump criticized him for, and now our president is found at the golf course practically every weekend, looking haggard and overweight. Obama looked good. More importantly, he acted good-decent values, no bullying, no lies and his family is a class act, too-a brilliant wife and two brilliant , beautiful girls with impeccable values.

Trump has already drawn his children into ugly tirades and ugly conflict of interests, has done so many things that are so non-presidential. Hopefully, this will be his downfall. Meanwhile, it would serve his best interests to stop looking at the many achievements of our former president. He does not have even an ounce of the class, dignity, intellect, so he may as well just stop being so jealous, which might enable him to come up with a thought or two of his own-if that is possible.

The Rohingya Muslims

I finished the writing of my epistolary novel, WHY NO BHINE over a year ago, thinking this population and this racial cleansing of the Rohingya Muslims would soon send. My goal was to give all royalties from the book to Fortify Rights, an organization which supports  tackling the terriblethe atrocities in this regional area.

So what has happened? Things have gotten worse-so much worse. Daily there are murders, women getting raped, children getting killed. The hostilities have accelerated, gotten so bad, and what is worse is that people are trying to escape-and die on the ocean instead of on land.

I am filled with grief for the children-the voiceless children-who the world has turned a blind eye toward. Art is one way of tackling terrible political issues, but who will actually step forward and stop these atrocities which daily grow uglier and uglier. I wish my book were not as relevant.

Enough!!

Where is your morality? Where is your moral compass?What issue will set you over the edge, to a point where you say, ENOUGH!!

I am curious about the population who continues to support Trump. With the wildest stretch of my imagination, I can understand how middle America felt ignored. I can even understand people who voted him in saying they were sick and tired of politicians, and wanted someone not political.

Now that he has proven himself as not just non-political, but amoral, what do his fans have to say? Now that nuclear war with North Korea is a possibility; now that he lies daily (40 times a day, sometimes); now that he has stripped Dreamers of their basic rights (these are the absolute BEST of the BEST among young people); women of their rights; is trying to dismantle our healthcare;  women's rights; the very positive deal with Iran, what rationale do these people have to continue to say he is their president. I am totally perplexed, and have to wonder about their moral compass, particularly after watching neo-Nazis march spitting out venomous epithets against Blacks and Jews. "Jews will not replace us."

So, for the people who voted for him because of the morally reprehensible Jared Kushner (who it was said would help broker a peace deal in the Middle East-ha)-have you had enough? If you continue to say he is fine, I have to ask you: How do you sleep at night? The same thing I ask Republican senators who continue to support such a degrading government, just because they are getting their absurd and cruel agenda pushed forward.


At the end of the day, you need to have a conscience!!!!!

Lyn Di Iorio, my colleague and I just wrote a book, MONSTER MARIA about the hurricane in Puerto Rico. It is a picture book for young children, specifically designed as a fundraiser to help Friends of Puerto Rico, and writing this has made me realize I only want to write meaningful books now-about political and socially significant issues, books which will impact on the world. It is no longer about making money; instead, it is about helping people, which art is capable of doing. I sincerely hope our Monster Maria can help the young children of Puerto Rico, a population our president has selected to ignore.

Today Robert Mueller's investigation into Trump's corrupt administration begins. Mueller is an honorable and decent man, but Trump is not-nor are the Republicans. These are very scary times, since no one dares to stand up to him; they are scared. Tim Snyder discusses this in his book ON TYRANNY. How does tyranny happen, the likes of what happened during World War 11? It happens when people look away; when journalists do no report facts; when ordinary citizens do not cry out against ethics; when people such as lawyers and doctors become less ethical; when decency is no longer the norm.

Paul Manafort was just indicted; Mike Flynn will be, too, is my guess. But if we live in an authentically Democratic country, all roads lead to Trump, perhaps even Pence. And if you care about the state of our country, you should care, too!

It is November. Where did all the time go? Politics, grading, writing, so much has been happening. And somehow everything is related, integrated, like my politics is my personality is my writing. More about this in a few catch up blogs. Let the process begin!

La Shana Tova. This is happy new year. Honey is a metaphor for the sweetness that should fill our lives.There was an announcement made today in temple by our former rabbi, Jerry Weider. Apparently, the Council of Reform Rabbis has unanimously come out against the language of hate in our current administration. By putting the blame on both sides, by not denouncing Nazis and Confederates, Trump has placed our country in very dangerous waters. In addition, by creating challenges for the LGBTQ community, by banning Transgenders in the military, by introducing a healthcare bill-yet again-that few have read, that a budget council has not had time to assess, that leaves policy up to the states, again there is a show of unprecedented inhumanity-that is the expression used.


I am a proud Jew, but an occasional Jew, in that I rarely go to temple and do not even celebrate all the holidays, but this announcement has made me feel jubilant about the world of our forefathers. I would like to believe that when my grandfather came here from Russia-to come to a better world-his vision as an immigrant is that America would come to signify hope, a hope that has been crushed by our current morally reprehensible administration.

Yet now, Reform Rabbis coast to coast are saying, we-as a people-are not about this language of exclusion; we are about inclusion; the health and welfare of our fellow human beings. And this statement makes me feel the "honey" of this new year, even when there is other personal grief. I care about the state of my world; I am a humanist, and apparently, so, too, are rabbis who today stand at the pulpit and say (as my rabbi did) "We celebrate love and diversity. Not hate." Bravo!

La Shana Tova. This is the Jewish New Year and honey is the metaphor for the sweetness that should enter our lives. Today in temple our former Rabbi, Jerome Weider, made an announcement that the Reform Rabbis of America-coat to coast-have come out unanimously against the language of hate that has been generated by this current administration. By selecting to denounce "Both sides" Donald Trump, by not saying Neo-Nazis and Confederates are to blame, has placed us in ugly and dangerous waters. Additionally, by using hateful language against women, by making fun of the disabled, by putting our healthcare at risk(a bill that few have read and the Budget Office has not assessed), by banning the transgender population from the military, by posturing that "might is right", the office of the presidency has entered into rhetoric and policy that is morally reprehensible-something "good" Jews do not stand for.

And though I am not religious and do not even celebrate all the holidays, today I felt proud of my Jewish heritage. I can only imagine, my grandfather and his siblings who came here as immigrants who faced political persecution, how they would be appalled by what he is doing with the young DACA hard-working immigrants, all in the name of a very immoral "America first."

This is not my America; I live in a Democracy, not a dictatorship, and like the Board of American Rabbis, I applaud in the rights, dignity and diversity that is America. Today is a sweet day-maybe not in the world-but in my temple, among my people I know there is justice and goodness.And this is America, which includes all the non-Jews who have also taken an active stand against hate and injustice.

Do the Right Thing

What is the right thing? There is no objective way to define this; it is always what is right for you. But I have been thinking about this a lot lately in my observation of people. Everyone is quite at ease when things are simple. If you are fine, it is quite easy to ask "How are you?"But what about when you are not fine? What about if there is a terrible loss in your life. Isn't it more important-at this point-to ask? in my mind it is is more important. It is about common decency. And I am going to take a leap-there is something WRONG if you do not ask. I am going to take a bigger leap-it is quite indecent not to hold out a generous hand in a time of loss and grief.

I speak from experience. When I lost my Dad, when my friends knew I had a terrible fight with my Dad and how bereft I was when he had a heart-attack, there were friends right at my side. Yet, there were others, particularly when I went back to school(I was 16) who never asked, and pretended I was the same person; I wasn't. I was morbid, filled with grief, bereft. This did not mean I did not want to talk about it. In fact, talking helped ease the pain-just a tad.

I grew up motherless, in many ways; I mothered myself. And in this unusual state of being, I always knew how to help people, how to reach out, how to discuss emotional pain, how to be a friend and a good family member. And frankly, if you do not know how to do that as an adult, shame on you! There is a right and a wrong, and I will always choose to align myself with people who know how to do the right thing. And the older I get, the more I discover so many people just do not know how to be thoughtful and sensitive; in other words, a mensch! And that is something they will have to live with, but I do not need to accept.

Dark Money by Jane Mayer

Just finished DARK MONEY by Jane Mayer, not a new book, but an important one. It is terrifying, in that it makes it so abundantly clear that money has shaped policy in a terribly ugly way. The subtitle of the book is the hidden history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical right. Its focus is on the Koch brothers,but there are others, and their agenda is hands off business and money, so they can screw their employees,not hire union workers, taxes are tyranny, no environmental regulations-everything for the betterment of their businesses. The upshot? What is good for big billionaires business people is not good for most of America, but by employing the false rhetoric of populism, they get common folks to believe they are on their side. And they pay to get common folks on their sides-millions of dollars in districts all across America. Their  beliefs advance their personal and corporate interests. One example is the DeVos family, a billionaire family invested in shaping politics as such. They make political deals, and one was providing Betsy DeVos with a cabinet position: as Secretary of Education, a job for which she is grossly unprepared and not qualified for. She never stepped into the foot of a public school until she got this position in the Trump administration, and she is not interested in the needs of this population; hence, vouchers as a suggestion to help dismantle the public school system.

These libertarian ideas are dangerous and appalling, and here we are stuck in an America that has been manipulated by the finances of self-serving"rich" interests. This is not my America-yet how to stop this? A MUST READ book, but very depressing in its reality-based focus.

Remote Area Medical

Several years ago, my husband an I (he is a physician) did volunteer work in Wise, Virginia, for Remote Area Medical. This is a three-day event in Appalachia for people who have no insurance. People drive hundreds of miles to line up in the middle of the night, just to have an opportunity to be seen by a doctor, dentist, or just take a simple procedural test, like a mammogram (some of the women had not gotten one for decades-too expensive. I was in charge of recruiting women to take this test). It was gratifying work; I was so happy to do it, but also sad and frustrated. Sad because a basic human right-health insurance-was clearly not available to people and frustrated because (according to my husband) there was no follow up for patients once they left Virginia. Ultimately, he stopped wanting to go down to Wise, since he was not convinced this was good care-to be seen once; to get medication and never to be seen again. What is even more depressing is reading in the NYT this week that Remote Area Medical is thriving-bigger than ever. The lines are longer and there are more desperate people. This made me feel when I retire, I will go back there, even if my husband does not come with me, but also I felt so sad that the state of healthcare in our country has grown worse-not better. The biggest part of my frustration is that now the Republican majority wants to dismantle whatever little is left of a broken healthcare system, leaving millions without the proper care. Those same senators would make it their business to go down to Wise, Virginia for Remote Area Medical, and see the countless families whose children have never seen a dentist (age nine), who have never been tested for cancer or diabetes, even though it runs in their families; the countless toothless people who have never been to a a dentist. Maybe then they will give pause and say, something is terribly wrong with the heartless way we regard people's lives. Perhaps they might think to do the right thing.

What is a Hero?

What is a hero? Someone who stands by their conscience, someone who stands up against a bully, someone who dares to defy the norm. I have never been part of the norm, and revel in the fact that this feels like a good thing. I admire people who are very principled and it is their principles that motivate them. Part of the reason I do not respect our president is that he lacks a conscience and principles; this translates to being morally reprehensible. It is not about party; there are Republicans I admire, even though I am a Democrat. And this week there are three I applaud as heroes: Senator Susan Collins of Maine; Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator John McCain of Arizona. These three stood up to the bully pulpit and said NO to the Republicans who are trying to sabotage our healthcare system. They are Republican, and the senator from Alaska was even threatened by the president, who said he would withhold money from her state, something he cannot do. Bravo to these three brave souls. My only prayer is that more and more Republican senators will follow suit as 45 continues to dismantle our system, without a thought to what is fair, decent and right. MIGHT is never RIGHT. And these three people stand up unafraid. So proud to be a part of their America!

Another Brooklyn

Two years ago Jacqueline Woodson, my friend, gave me a copy of ANOTHER BROOKLYN (uncorrected proofs), before it was nominated as a National Book Award finalist. I admired the writing, was moved by the story and thought-like always-she is a superb writer. Reading it two years later has made me appreciate the book so much more! It is elegant writing-sad, poignant, poetic-a story about friendship, family, loss. For whatever reason, I loved the book this time, much more the second time around. I suppose I have been reading a lot of poetry this year, and this has changed my sensibilities. ANOTHER BROOKLYN is an elegy, a lamentation, filled with the beautiful and figurative diction of a long-lasting and terrific poem. I LOVE this book and believe me, you will too!

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished Zoraida Cordova's LABYRINTH LOST. I was on a panel with Zoraida, and I am always committed to read books by my peers, particularly those people I am on a panel with. This is not my genre, in that I love fairy tales, but magic/fantasy is really something I would not select to read. At first, I was reluctant-all the predictable signs that Alex (a bruja) has a deeply held magic which can be exciting, but could result in something terrifying. Will not share the terror of what happens as a consequence of this magic, since I do not want to provide a spoiler alert, but suffice it to say, once she embarks on this journey, I am totally there as a reader. She discovers Los Lagos as a way to recover what she lost-and it is here-in the land of "limbo" (Dante's Inferno) she must battle the forces that have taken away what is precious to her. The book is beautifully written, and ultimately, enchanting. A must read!

View all my reviews

The Lost Language of Crazy

I am writing a new book, THE LOST LANGUAGE OF CRAZY. I am loving writing this book, and it is an easy story to write, in many ways, since it is a story I know-it is mine. While I am writing this, I am aware the country feels "crazy" now. The weather is "crazy" (global warming) and the office of the presidency is "crazy" (and who will be fired today? What "crazy" tweet will emerge?). What I have discovered in the process of writing this is that it is joyful (the engagement), but also painful, since when I grew up with mental illness in my home, revisiting it in such a primal way brings me back to those basic fears, anxieties and depressions I can pretty much keep under lock and key. As I write this book I am back in that world, and it is not an easy one; in fact, it is painful. It is part of the reason when people joke that the president is "mentally ill" I think, he probably is; he displays all the signs of someone who is, and this is terrifying to a person who grew up in this world. The upshot? Every day I write ad I write passionately, though sometimes I am fatigued at the end of the day, since I am now back in that deeply traumatic time-never easy!

Policy vs. Principle

Daily I am appalled by the lack of morality displayed in the office of the presidency. Certainly Donald Trump does not follow any norms; in fact, that is why many people voted him. I have to wonder, though, why some of his base continues to support him. I try to understand why people voted for him, and I know there were causes a certain population believed in, and the Democratic party did not represent these particular causes. I can even understand how people in the middle of the country did not feel their voices were heard. But now that he continues to dismantle the office of the presidency-daily-I cannot understand how these same people can be on board. We are not talking about POLICY, but instead principle. What are the principles of a man who seeks to pardon HIMSELF and his family from an investigation where he says he is innocent? How can people with no money find it fine that he refuses to release his taxes, and is "terrified" of an investigation into his finances? Clearly he has committed crimes; is probably in office because of Russian interference (which he says is fake news)-then why speak about pardon? Every day someone else quits, is fired (he thinks he is on "The Apprentice") and he talks about a health policy that strips millions of their insurance as "beautiful." Senators, doctors, the AARP and so many other lobbying groups have said the policy lacks decency, humanity and-in truth-his economically disadvantaged fan base will absolutely have NO insurance. Where is his moral compass? Where is his intellect? And more worrisome, in truth, is where is the morality of the people who continue to look the other way and say this is okay? Would these same people care if their children displayed this level of moral indecency? I think not!

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adam Silvera has written an unconventional love story in his book HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME. In some ways, it is about learning to love yourself, but not before the main protagonist, Griffin, learns to cope with the death of his boyfriend,Theo, his guilt and the fact that Griffin was in love with someone else before he left to go to the other side of the country, California. I am currently writing a book which concerns itself with mental illness, and what I love about this book is the fact that Griffin has some symptoms that make him a challenge to himself and others, though he is a wonderfully vibrant and interesting character. The language and plot are terrific and engaging; a must read for teens!

View all my reviews

The Secret Language of Sisters by Luanne Rice
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You may know Luanne Rice as an author for adults. In the book THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SISTERS, she has used her enormous skills of story-telling and language to create a poignant and sometimes sad story about two sisters, one of whom is in a terrible auto accident, caused by texting her sister. The accident results in "locked in syndrome." The marvel of this book is that you do not feel sorry for Ruth Ann (Roo) McCabe, but instead you learn to understand how live and vibrant a disabled person can be. A must read, beautifully written!

View all my reviews

Because of the Sun by Jenny Torres Sanchez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am working on a middle grade novel, so I have been reading lots of books for teens this summer. In this mode, I just finished BECAUSE OF THE SUN by Jenny Torres Sanchez, and all I can say is wow! Interestingly, my latest novel is about a girl's conflicted relationship with her mother, so this book became like a mentor for me. The mom in my book is mentally ill, but the mom is Sanchez's book is damaged, and the damage causes her daughter's loneliness and psychological trauma-its own kind of damage. How can a daughter reconcile with an "absent" mother? Perhaps knowing the history of that mother can help, though-before that point-the rage, the fear, the despair become "touchably alive." And for Dani Falls-she has no idea who her mother is or was, and has learned to be on her own, like an orphan before she actually becomes one. Until....not about to provide a spoiler alert for this, but trust me, you MUST read this beautifully written and landscaped book. You might cry, but the tears will be good ones!

View all my reviews

Mental Illness

Writing about mental illness for my newest book, THE LOST LANGUAGE OF CRAZY, has awakened me to the the possibility that we all have that "crazy" part inside us. There is a question the dad in the book constantly asks: What came first, the chicken or the egg? The implication is people are born mentally ill-or did a precipitating event in their lives make them that way? This makes me regard our president differently: with a little more compassion. The signs of his mental illness are evident: the endless tweets, the rants against anyone who he perceives has insulted him, the idea that on any given day, he can switch his point of view dozens of times. He has no sense of audience, no self-control. I had heard his dad mercilessly made fun of him when he was little; perhaps this provides insight into why his sense of self-worth is so diminished that he must lash out constantly. And he perpetually lies.

People make fun of him, myself included, but being so intimate with mental illness, maybe it is SAD that today, as we speak, he wants to launch an investigation into PROOF that he won the popular vote. This is called delusional, and this is serious, not comical. Why isn't he getting help?  And what about his tweet showing him punching a man with a CNN face; he is actually on the floor fighting. This is total insanity, and everyone has to know this.There is good therapy, medication, so many ways of being treated. Not getting treated, however, put our lives as Americans at risk. That is what is scary. He is BAD to himself, and-as a consequence-he is bad to the world!

Charles Blow

Charles Blow is probably my favorite editorialist writing today. In the July 3rd NYT he has written the most brilliant editorial "The Hijacked Presidency." The conclusion of the piece says is all, so this is my blog for today: "He is counting on his capacity to wear down the resistance by sheer force. We must be adamant that this will never come to pass. Trump is an abomination, and a cancer on our country, and none of us can resist until he is no longer holding power."

Trumpcare

When 45 reached office people said, it is sad but the people who elected him will be hurt the most. I always felt this was such a narrow view, since when other people get hurt, I, too, get hurt. However, I realize I am protected with the cushion of privilege, so this advice was meant to allay my fears of getting personally hurt.

What a narrow view. And the truth is, if Trumpcare is passed, not only will those with less be hurt, but so will I on a very immediate level.

My Mom is on Medicaid. That is why she can afford (with no money) to be in a nursing home. If Medicaid is cut drastically, there is her payment for the nursing home.

Pre-existing conditions affect many people in my immediate family, and to think PREGNANCY, for example, is now a pre-existing condition is one bad joke. I thought a well-planned pregnancy was a gift to a family, not a "condition" where insurance companies could deny payment. The absurdity of this is beyond comprehension. 

Healthcare is a RIGHT for the American people, not a privilege, but it seems like the biggest concern in this package is protecting the RICH and their TAX CUTS. Congress should be ashamed of itself for supporting this, but you know what? So should the people who continue to support this president who continues to flaunt his reckless disregard for the health and well-being of our ONCE GREAT NATION. They should be ashamed of themselves for a total lack of decency not just in terms of healthcare, but in terms of education and other human services.

Idealist

I am an idealist. I watch the West Wing and I sob because I think about the way government should be, with decency, honesty, integrity, intelligence. When I discuss education, I dream about good public schools for all, not the upper class in their private schools, segregated from the rest of the world, but I think about ALL people-rich, poor, middle class-getting the best education possible. I envision a world where we all get the best healthcare, and that includes the same as our political leaders. I also hope for a minimum wage where people can afford to feed their families, where there would be an incentive to get off of public assistance because everyone understands it is always better to have a job-but with a living wage.

The office of the presidency now is so inhumane, so far removed from these goals, so inconsistent, so hypocritical, I find myself bereft when I think about the state of the world. People are saying, MOVE ON, since what choice do you have? In part, I agree, but to move on would mean I do not take the world we live in quite seriously. And I do, so I grieve, and hope this administration is short-lived, and the next one is better.

Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina by Rodman Philbrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ZANE AND THE HURRICANE by Rodman Philbrick is a politically and socially important story. What happens to people stranded together during a hurricane, in this case, Hurricane Katina. Zane Dupree and his faithful dog, Bandit go down to New Orleans for a short family visit, and end up in one of the worst disasters ever, one which will help him grow up and look at the world differently. In the process of every disaster, though, are the bonds we form when we rally with other people, and that is an important lesson that Zane learns, too. His voice is terrific and the details-though sometimes grueling-are often good. A must read for a younger audience.

View all my reviews

The Writing Journey

Writing another book this summer has brought me back to that wonderful place-the act of writing, the joy and the pleasure of it. Part of the process of a book sets in motion the skills of selling the book-the readings, the marketing, the reaching out, even the tweets and blogs. This is a lot of hard work, and I have never been one to balk at hard work; however, it is not always pleasurable.

The writing, the discovery, watching the characters come to life, enhancing the characters through the creation-all this and more makes this journey exhilarating. This newest creation is dredging up some challenging and painful memories, since in many ways it is my story; however, this does not diminish the infinite joy I receive when I sit with my writing pad and watch the story unfold. Yes, I am truly a dinosaur, so the writing journey beings with a pen and paper. And then the MAGIC begins!

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day, certainly, is a hallmark holiday, but if you were raised by your father, it is so much more. I am quite certain my father did not anticipate raising a young girl solo, but when my mother left the scene, he had no choice. I think of the film Kramer vs. Kramer where the father had no idea what it meant to raise his child, until his wife was out of the picture, but-what matters in the end-was he stepped up to the plate, and he did it well. 

So it was with my Dad. He valued me as a person and made me feel like I mattered-my intelligence, my dreams; he even made me feel like I was beautiful, when I certainly was just a chubby little girl with glasses. When a parent perceives you as great, you absorb that message, and my Dad was king of positive messages. He taught me how to love and to love well; how to respect other people; what loving kindness means.

He has been gone for so long; he passed away when I was sixteen, and this is sad. He would have loved to have met my children and granddaughter, and he really would have loved to discover that I found a husband-Ira-who is a mensch in much the same way he was. Not everything has been so good in my life; there have been ups and downs. But today, Dad's Day, I honor the terrific dad who raised me and the WONDERFUL husband I married. In this way, I hit the jackpot!

Florence in Ecstasy by Jessie Chaffee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to the world of Italian saints and art; of the wonderful galleries and physical beauty of the streets of Florence, of the cafes, the men, the eating, the drinking. Welcome to Hannah, an American woman bound to these saints through her personal struggles of food and drink and men; the demons of anorexia and bulimia and her journey to find the essence of her heart and soul. It is also a writer's struggle-the sense of isolation, deprivation and discovery, and the language that brings us there is so sensual and daring. I am grateful and proud to know Jessie as an MFA graduate of City College, where I work, and based on the sheer eloquence of this book, I would venture to say she has a long and illustrious career ahead of her. I started it and finished it on a plane ride from Europe; how perfect. I could not put it down, not even for a second!

View all my reviews

A Seat at the Table: A Novel of Forbidden Choices by Joshua Halberstam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A SEAT AT THE TABLE by Joshua Halberstam was a story I had heard before about the Orthodox son who discovers life outside the confines of his community. However, because the author is a journalist, you get a much more expansive view of the Orthodox community and the struggles of the son and the father who has invested so much in his son's religious upbringing. His son has decided to take a journey in the secular world. This in no way diminishes the son's love for family-or for his Orthodox community, but this journey is a complex one, and filled with both love and angst. In a way, isn't this every father/son story, when his son decides to move in his own direction, journey on his his own path?

It is a heart-warming story, and a well-written one, too. It might remind you of THE CHOSEN by Chaim Potok, so think of it as variations on the same theme, and a good one at that!

View all my reviews

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicola Yoon is everything a middle grade novel should be. It is clever, smart, poignant, authentic and uses social media in a wonderfully zany way. Plus, it is such a compelling story-18 year old Madeline's story of an illness that has kept her home in the most unusually sanitary conditions with a nurse and sometimes with a tutor, since her illness requires her not to be exposed to any germs. This seclusion is easy to keep, until the boy next door moves in-tall, lean, wearing all black-as cute as can be. Olly threatens her equilibrium and turns her world upside down, and I would write so much more about this brilliant and beautiful book, if it weren't a spoiler alert; read it; you won't be disappointed. Plus, it will soon be a movie, so read it first!

View all my reviews

The West Wing

I started watching The West Wing, and I am a hundred episodes behind. People who know my passion for politics are so surprised I never saw it, and so Ira and I started. Lately I have felt so unpatriotic, so disinterested in politics, so disappointed in the way the world has turned, but this show has invigorated me. True, it's a show, but it makes me feel what government can be, what government could be when there are smart, idealistic, decent people in the White House, people who believe in decency, humanity, integrity, who understand policy, who want to wheel and deal, but also negotiate for the greater good of humanity. With this goal in mind, I love the president-President Bartlet-because he is what I want in a president-someone well-read, someone poised, smart, diplomatic, to be respected, but also filled with love for his staff, his people, the world. This was written before Obama took office, but from what I heard about his world behind the scenes, he was loved, respected, admired, not like our current president. Yes, this is a show, so it is only a fantasy, but I would like to believe-deep in my heart-that one time in the future a less fictionalized President Bartlet will show up in office, and the humane, smart, decent world can begin again. Until then, I prefer to watch this instead of the news, since I am watching what SHOULD be rather than what is.

You're Fired!

I just got back from Portugal, where European tourists were eager to talk about our president, citing countless examples of his criminality. My husband and I agreed with them; yes, our president is a criminal and yes, we also can not understand 1. How this happened and 2.Why and how his party continues to stand by him. He is the laughing stock in other parts of the world; frankly, in parts of America, too, though his base continues to defend him. But yesterday's NYT says that, "Democracy is not possible without the rule of the law-the idea that consistent principles, rather than ruler's whim, govern society." But everything is a whim for this man; after he pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord, the very next day he asked if he could renegotiate.

The fact is, clearly he does not understand the way government works, but even worse, he does not follow the rules and norms of government, which makes him both dangerous and scary. A buffoon we can laugh at, as people do, but he is worse:"He rejects the law-the judicial system, Congress, civic institutions and principled members of his administration." He lies. He tweets. He thinks this is a reality show and we want to watch his daily tirades.

 Frankly, I hope people realize this is not a way to govern-I will decide what rules I have to follow, and take the necessary action. It seems like the time has come to say to him, "You are fired!"

The Truth of Right Now by Kara Lee Corthron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

THE TRUTH OF RIGHT NOW by Kara Lee Corthron is a smart, sassy and sad book (can you tell I love alliterations?). More importantly, it is about the choices young people make, some of which are not smart, yet are part and parcel in the journey of adolescence. How does any teen know which is the right road to take, when the world is filled with possibilities, and some of these possibilities may include danger along the way? And each teen- Lily (white, privileged) and Dari (short for Dariomauritius), unpredictable, curious, an authentic artist- bring his or her own baggage and background to the relationship, and some of this baggage presents serious challenges. In addition to their emotional/psychological challenges, there is also the racial challenge, which should not be an issue at all in NYC in 2017, yet it is. How do they perceive themselves? What about the world they are in? And if each one could take back ONE thing, what would that one thing be? I have some misgivings about the ending, which felt too rushed, yet it did not diminish how engaged I was with the characters and the utterly beautiful language. A must read!

View all my reviews

Jews and Muslims Breaking Bread

Ronit and Jamil, a book that states, "We build bridges; we dismantle walls" is alive and well in some parts of the world. Yesterday's New York Times (5/16/2017) reports that Jews and Muslims are "breaking bread" in dinners around Manhattan and Brooklyn to help build interfaith understanding. Lonnie Firestone, a modern Orthodox Jew and freelance writer, came up with the idea. She wanted to bring Jews and Muslims together in the spirit of friendship, something she felt was crucial in the post-Trump presidency. "When you have a natural affiliation, you can advocate together, and that is what happens when you share food." She hopes this will help to combat the anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. This is a way of creating a very important bond, and this is what my book is all about: PEACE!!!!

The Circus

Before Trump was elected to the presidency, there was a program on SHOWTIME called, "The Circus." Four journalists/political correspondents followed all of the candidates into different states and surprisingly, it was non-partisan. You were not quite certain who any of the correspondents were voting for. However, this did not diminish that Donald Trump appeared buffoonish. Every other week, he did something which was quite astounding, whether it was making fun of a disabled vet, questioning the beloved vet family about their son's honor, the news report that he had not only groped women, but engaged in detrimental name-calling. He came off as a misogynist, a clown, but it seemed funny at the time, since no way could he be elected.

Now that he is president, even SNL is no longer funny, since what could be funnier than what is really happening in the White House? Every day, there is another lie--more chaos, tweets galore, insults to those who do no agree with him, a firing. His latest was James Comey, who frankly I was enraged at when he reported-a month before Hillary was slated to win-these leaked e-mails, which turned out to be insignificant, but did nothing to share with the general public the Russian collusion which was being investigated in the Trump candidacy.

Now, a day after the Comey firing (and as it turns out, the man has great integrity), today's headlines read he disclosed Trump has exposed secrets to the Russians. The man is no longer just a buffoon--he is downright dangerous. He is a danger to our environment, to our healthcare system and to the world-who now laughs at America. I laugh at this office, which I no longer take seriously. How can any intelligent person take a man who changes his mind dozens of times a day take him seriously; one who breaks promises every day of the week and needs to be placated like an infant?

This "Circus" he has created has lost its sense of humor to me. We need to dump not only him, but the whole crew who dares to call him president of the United States, an office that was supposed to have some integrity!

Stories and Lies

Charles Blow, you've done it again. You write the best editorials in the NYT, because you are so on-point. And what is so great this time? The way you dissect Trump's language-or lack of. You call it degradation of language, saying he has the intellectual depth of a coat of paint. Great metaphor! "In Trump world, facts don't matter, truth doesn't matter, language doesn't matter. Passionate performance is the only ideal. A lie forcefully told and often repeated is better than truth-it is accepted as an act of faith, which is better than a point of fact." Just last week a CBS reporter was thrown out of his office for mentioning Obama and dare I say--how much he accomplished in one hundred days.

So the stories continue. And the lies. But for his supporters, this doesn't really matter.

Sore Winning

Frank Bruni, a great food critic, has also become a wonderful political commentator. So good, I can not paraphrase what he has said, so I will quote directly. He writes about the smallness, the meanness of our current administration, where he wants good to happen, but nothing does. "Who among the presidents of the last half century has been so publicly cavalier about conflicts of interest, so blithe about getting away with whatever grits he could, so lavishly mean spirited and so proudly rude? Who among those presidents made so little concession to decorum? Who stooped so low on the campaign trail or in office as to ridicule a disabled journalist and make light of a prisoner of war's ordeal? Who talked incessantly about how heroic his election was, summoning more energy for self-congratulation than he ever exhibited for the praise of others? Who taunted his adversaries with such abandon? Who made such spectacle of his grievance that he invented a phenomenon: sore winning?"

Why, after a hundred days, is this okay?

Somaliland

Who are our heroes? We all have personal definitions, but mine is pretty simple. If you are willing to serve the public good and your reward is not necessarily financial; if you do some small (or large) good deed with little compensation other than the reward of public service, you are a hero. On Sunday, 60 Minutes (my favorite show) focused on one such hero, Jonathan Starr. He has formed an academy in Somaliland for high school students, and this area is one of the most under-served parts of the world. He basically takes these students off the streets, immerses them in language (they have to learn English) and then all the academics. One boy, for example, was a goat herder and now will soon be graduating from MIT. All of Starr students have gotten into great American colleges, and all the girls are driven and ambitious. These are young women who would ordinarily be married now.

As for Starr, he was a hedge fund manager who felt his life was meaningless. Now he feels his life has a purpose, and he has given these young people a purpose, too. The only sad part, one which had me in tears; the next graduating class may not get into an American university because of Trump's horrendous travel restrictions. In between my tears, I prayed that our government will do the right thing.

American Street by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I scan google I often see, if you liked RONIT AND JAMIL, you will also like AMERICAN STREET by Ibi Zoboi. This book is so different from mine, yet I understand its lyricism and language are equally compelling, and its story is relevant, poignant, authentic. A young Haitian girl comes with her mother to America, but while her mother is detained in New Jersey, Fabiola is shipped off to her cousins in Detroit, where she was supposed to be with her Mom, aunt and cousins. Relying on her spiritual guides, she learns to navigate the loss of her mother and the loneliness of being in a new culture. Freedom comes at a cost. The streets of Detroit and the American world are not any less catastrophic than her native Haiti. Fabiola is torn between so many contradictory forces, including her love for family coupled with the morality of what they are doing wrong. And there are also the challenges of the streets which become their own kind of character. I love Fabiola, her family, the daring diction with which Zoboi tells her story. A young-adult must read!

View all my reviews

The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded: Poems by Molly McCully Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just finished a fabulous book of poetry, THE VIRGINIA STATE COLONY FOR EPILEPTICS AND FEEBLEMINDED, poems by Molly McCully Brown, and "wow" is all I can say. This book is based on a real place in Virginia, where people who were thought to be "lesser human" beings were brought to and experimented on. It was eugenics at its worst, and the horror of stepping into the hearts and minds of these women just sent chills up my spine. Its honesty and poignancy is stunning, and the language which drives it is gut-piercing. It is a painful read, but a must read in order to step into another's shoes.

View all my reviews

How to Transcend a Happy Marriage

I recently saw How to Transcend a Happy Marriage at the Lincoln Center Theater, a play by Sarah Ruhl, whose other plays I have seen and loved. It was so great to see a play that understood middle-aged marriage so well.Yes, there is nothing new and exciting, so you may dream and fantasize about those younger days, and in the case of the first act of this play, actually do something. In the process, you might forget the "wonderful melodious moments," the violins, as Marissa Tomei's character says-of what you have: the length; the continuity; all that you have created-your family, your friends, your home. And like the bird that is transient and leaves, these stables are with you, for better or worse, but mostly for better, since they have grown and blossomed, and you love them, despite the ups and downs.

Starting a New Book

It is SO exciting to start a new book. There is the sheer joy of writing. Sometimes, in a desire to get published, you forget that there is nothing as good as the joy of invention, of imagining a character, of coming up with a plot, of creating a new character. And the stories we all have in us; there is the sheer wonder of your personal story, and the invention that goes with it. I can not wait for the summer when I can continue to write!

Our Planet

In yesterday's NYT there was a discussion in the Week in Review about the dangers of disregarding our earth.  I started sobbing, since clearly our political leaders are so concerned with taking care of big business and stripping the world of EPA regulations, so that even when Trump is long gone, the disasters of his dismantling will be with us. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that family people (our politicians have children, grandchildren) are NOT thinking about what adding carbon fuels and pollutants to our environment will do. The things is, the earth is like a precious child which needs to be nurtured; disregard our air, our oceans, or animals, what is evident is there will be no future to look forward to. But these people-mostly men-do not get it; they argue with science, with facts, and call this all a hoax. Ignorance is not bliss; indeed, it is a crime, and all it takes is a trip to Alaska or Iceland to see how dangerous and precarious our climate is. I cry that there is no vision for the future of our very precious planet. America has become so backwards that it feels like a very dangerous place to be.

WORD

So proud to be part of the absolutely beautiful anthology published by TRIBES: WORD. What makes this book so special is that every poem is accompanied by beautiful art, so the book itself becomes a work of art. In addition, there are many well-know poets (Eileen Myles, Ishmael Reed, Bob Holman, Jayne Cortez) and then there are poets with publications (like myself), but no-name brands. The anthology is done on glossy-paper, and it makes it wonderfully professional-which it is. And the language, if you are a lover of language, is simply dynamite!

Afterland by Mai Der Vang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just finished reading the most evocative, powerful poetry collection ever, AFTERLAND by Mai Der Vang. She writes about the Hmong population-the lament of her people and the songs of loss and grief that come with war. Each poem sliced through my skin in its silent, grotesque and powerful imagery as these resilient refugees struggled to escape and survive. Every image is staggering. In the poem "Light from a Burning Citadel she begins:

"now I am a Siamese rosewood on fire.
I am a skin of sagging curtain.
I am a bone of bullet hole.
I am locked in the ash oven of a forest."

So many tears shed for the grief for her people and you, too, will shed those tears. What a powerhouse of language!

View all my reviews

Trump Tax March

Trump Tax March, April 15th. Who could have imagined a world where a president is not required to release his taxes? Frankly, who could have imagined a world with such nepotism, such cronyism, so many illegal acts committed on a daily basis, as the president continues to go (practically every weekend) to Florida and play golf as we, the people, are taxed millions so he and his family can frolic on the golf course and around the world. Aren't hard-working people--Republicans--incensed? Apparently, some are, since some former Trump supporters joined the crowds in NYC (huge, where I was) and in cities around the country demanding for him to release his tax returns. The operative question for the day was: what are you hiding? Since every president before 45 has been more than eager to release these forms, it is evident he is hiding something. Now that the Russian meddling into our elections is in full swing, it is obvious, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." More to the point, something is rotten in Washington. More than one thing is rotten in Washington, but as the people continue to get more frustrated, more disenfranchised, our president continues to play golf, since that is what he does. Furthermore, why is Kellyanne Conway suddenly so quiet? Just because her husband was asked to come on board to the Trump team, to add on one more person to his list of cronies? This is an appalling travesty of decency and justice and cover-ups. The cry of the day? "Lock him up!" I think so.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Could not put down Angie Thomas' book, THE HATE U GIVE. I have never seen a novel which understands the challenges of being the lone black girl in an all white prep school, and the uneasy balance of negotiating these two worlds. Of course, the major challenge emerges when Starr, the main character, witnesses the fatal shooting of her best friend from childhood, Kahil. And she knows he was innocent, but yet again, he dies at the hands of a police officer. Kahil's death becomes a national headline, and Starr is faced with the burden of what to do with the information she has, while maintaining her place in her fancy prep school. What Starr does not want to compromise, however, is her integrity; plus, she has a burning desire for justice to be served. What does this mean, when the rest of the world turns a blind eye to the truth? Very raw, very painful, very real, I understand why John Green says, "she has written a gut-wrenching novel what will be remembered as a classic of our time!"

View all my reviews

Hate and Extremism in the Age of Trump

Went to a lecture at Temple Emanuel on April 2nd: HATE AND EXTREMISM IN THE AGE OF TRUMP. This is a HUGE temple, and it was totally sold out. I felt so proud to be a NYC Jew, though there were many non-Jews there, too. But, yet again, the rabbi announced their temple as a sanctuary temple in a sanctuary city, and this felt so right--what religious institutions should be doing--protecting human rights. How fitting that this was led by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a center which represents justice, decency, integrity and fights-pro-bono-to help people all over the country fight the human rights which seem to be challenged daily by our current president. Morris Dees, the amazing founder of SPLC, also spoke, and their words energized the crowd. They talked about civil rights and the awful Jeff Sessions, how they will fight the good fight-with law suits-to protect basic human rights. An immigrant teacher, who went to Cornell and became a principal, spoke, and also had his young student read her narrative about coming to America, yet this very much felt like the "old" America, where our doors swung open with love.

This lecture gave me faith, though, since there are organizations like these. Religious organizations, ordinary citizens who are willing to demand justice in the world, who are willing to make America the Democracy it was intended to be. They concluded with Martin Luther King's famous quote, "We will fight until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

What I'm Grateful For

What does it mean to be grateful? It means you are so appreciative of what you have. Many people do not think about this; they muddle through their days, their busy lives and do not give pause to think about how lucky they are to have whatever it is they have. Perhaps they are not so fortunate, yet if they stopped and reflected, my guess is they could come up with a job, a family member, a friendship which really makes them blessed.

I grew up poor. I had nothing. Believe me, I bemoaned my fate; I did not like that we had to shop in May's or Alexander's. Lucky for me, I had a Dad who reminded me what I did have: a Dad who loved me, a sharp mind, a sense of humor and some other family members who loved me. He made me realize that really nice pair of Fred Braun's shoes (a popular item when I was ten years old) would stand as a symbol that might make me feel good for a day, a week-even longer-but at the end of the day, it would not sustain me. 

And now, at the end of the day, a day when I have some nice shoes and bags and clothes, when I travel to some nice places and eat at some nice restaurants, I understand these are all good things, but not truly what I am grateful for. I am grateful for the family I have; when I have a great conversation; when I do good deeds in the world. I am grateful to wake up each day where I can feel the wind on my face and the sunshine on my back. I am grateful to have a good family, good friends. So if the "glitter" disappeared tomorrow, I would still feel grateful, because it truly is not what helps you sleep well at night.

So I end each day thinking, what was I grateful for today? It may be that I taught a lesson at a school, and a student gave me a hug. It may be that I made political statement and my voice was heard. It may be that I gave up my seat to an elderly man or woman on the train-or that I conversed on the train with someone who said, "I love your hat!" My hat, by the way, says love trumps hate. Each day I am grateful that I have a lot more than I ever thought I would have. And though I DO have many pairs of shoes, it is not those shoes that make me grateful, but rather, the ability to walk in the shoes of someone who has a lot less than I do.

Teachers are Gifts

Ronit and Jamil has brought me so many gifts. First of all, writing it was a labor of love. It is poetry, and poetry defines me. Secondly, I feel its diction is so lovely and that, too, helps to define me; I am in love with language. But finally, it has afforded me the opportunity to go to many wonderful public schools throughout NYC. And what I have had the opportunity to observe is there are many amazing teachers who daily give 200 percent to their students. So many of these students have received great gifts from their teachers: a love of learning and a belief in oneself. I am thinking, for example, of Debra Newman from P.S. 368 Star Academy in Brooklyn. She teaches at a lock down school, where many of the students are suffering from emotional problems. So what does she do? She purchases books for her students, has me come in and each and every one of her students not only read the book, but had questions to ask. This woman is remarkable. And what makes her more interesting is she was a public prosecutor in Brooklyn for thirty years, and decided to switch careers where she could really help people. Certainly, no one is helping the children more than she is, and there are many Debra Newman's in these schools I have gone to, in mostly under-served communities. The students are blessed, and so I am to be a witness to this.

Our Planet At Risk

Now Donald Trump is willing to put the health of our planet at risk; how terrifying! He thinks global climate is a hoax and he has dared to argue with knowledgeable scientists. Global warming and its consequences are everywhere-rising seas; more devastating droughts; widespread species extinction. According to a NYT editorial, "Mr. Trump's ignorance  has stripped America of its hard-won role as a global-leader of climate issues." In fact, he has stripped America of its position as a Democratic government dedicated to significant and good causes. And he continues to cut from the E.P. A., so dangerous it is frightening.

He is a travesty from start to finish, but I will not have him destroy our great planet. He has so little understanding of not just science, but government and its need to protect. This level of ignorance, however, goes beyond everything; it assaults the air we breathe; the oceans we wade in; the earth we walk on!

Won't Back Down

My friends and all those very close to me did not ask for this president; he was thrust upon us, and now we are asked to treat him accordingly. Most people I know have signed petitions actively; some have gone to protests many actively negate his actions, his lack of civility and diplomacy, and some of them have moved on. He is our president; what can yo do? We will survive. Some have even suggested to move on.

And here is why I cannot. I am a fighter; I have always been a fighter. If I were not a fighter, there is no way I would have survived. I grew up in a home that was a deficit; oh, I had a Dad who loved me, grandparents, an aunt, cousins, but home was chaotic. I did not have a full-fledged anchor, but I did have something-a voice, and it was not a small one. I believed I had to fight to survive-in the classroom and the world. In my younger years, I was a survivor, but I was also a child, so I fought with a level of fear and anxiety, and I brought some of this with me into adulthood.

When I was the parent of adolescent children, I fought; I fought to raise civilized, decent children with good values. Sometimes this was hard, since my children were strong-willed, but I was willing to do the hard work, with no guarantee the outcome would be good. What choice did I have? To give up on my child would mean a terrible defeat, an awful resignation; it would mean a kind of hopelessness and despair, which is so much not a part of my personality, not who I am. I have deep and passionate beliefs in the goodness of my family, my children, but adolescents can test that resolve. Had I resigned and not put up the good fight, that would have been a statement-that I stopped believing that everything would turn out alright in the end.

And now there is a man in office who exceeds all expectations of normalcy, decency, integrity, and some say, what can you do? He is gutting the EPA. What can you do? He is dismantling public education.What can you do? He accused our former president of wire-tapping him-an obvious lie. He lies; he cheats; he is a a criminal. He is building a wall instead of starting us on a road to diplomacy. And I can fight all I want, but with a Republican controlled congress, there is a sense of futility, and perhaps it would be fine to shrug my shoulders and move forward.

But that is not me. It would mean that I had become a person who stopped believing in the power of the fight; the power of the written word; the power of argument; the power  of decency, integrity, the world of possibilities. It would mean that I am becoming a person who is resigned to a world that is morally reprehensible, that does not open its doors to immigrants, that does not help the poor, the elderly. It would mean that I am fine with the status quo.

I am older now and feel the power of my voice in a much bigger, stronger way; to back down would mean this is all okay. What if Gandhi had done this? King? Lyndon Johnson? Abraham Lincoln? What about our very own revolutionaries here in America?  It is possible to say the Emperor is naked, and even if millions say it, he may still continue to walk around without his clothes and we will just have to accept this at the end of the day.

But sorry, not without a fight. The fight ends when my life does, and even then I can only hope people will remember that I had a voice, and that I used it, hopefully, for the betterment of the world, and always with kindness and compassion!

The Border is Always Open

Just read a wonderful piece in Sunday's NYT, The Week in Review, "The Border is Always Open" by Hisham Mitar. Its focus is on the magic of reading. He says, "The secret motive behind every library is to stumble upon ourselves in the lives and lands and tongues of others." What happens? A distance is widened and then it is crossed. All great art is a glimpse across the limits of the self.

This piece spoke to me in so many ways, mainly in the way I have used books to give me access into another's world, and how important, how critical this is. He says literature is the greatest argument for the universalistic instinct, and that is why it is intransigent.

I agree, and also with the limitations of a presidency where doubt and contradiction are not tolerated, for what is life (and literature) if not a series of contradictions. Donald Trump is not only intolerant of complexity; he fears it. That is why he does not read, and why we must continue to read, so we can go to many far off places, ones Donald Trump could never go to with all his money, but limited imagination and intellectual acumen. I read; therefore I am!