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!!!!!