In Flanders fields poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row….. / We are the dead. Short days ago / We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, / Loved and were loved, and now we lie / In Flanders fields….. / If ye break faith with us who die / We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields.
Veterans Day is tomorrow. However Key West is celebrating it today. A big parade at 5 running from Catherine down Duval to Front Street.
Ergo, I write of Veterans Day today.
The day was first known as Armistice Day. Transitioned over the years to Veterans Day. Whereas initially to honor World War I dead, today to honor veterans of all wars, living and dead.
The poem was written in 1915 on a battlefield in France. By Lt. Col. John Mc Crae, a Canadian physician. He was inspired to write it after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier.
World War I was the war to end all wars. Man fooled himself. History has proven the goal wrong. Man enjoys maiming and killing too much.
I have been home bound since last weekend. Car problem. Required a new starter. Everything must come from Miami. First one, not correct. Finally got the car last night. Everything in order.
Need to get out and communicate with people, enjoy a couple of drinks, etc.
Last night was not to be. Nor will tonight. Syracuse played football last night and plays basketball tonight. For some reason, I prefer watching the games quietly and alone from home.
Syracuse beat Louisville 54-23. Syracuse now 8-2. I suspect the victory will move us into the top 10.
The victory was not consequential in itself. Louisville played like Syracuse had the past 20 years. Even worse most of the game.
Next saturday, a big one! Syracuse plays undefeated and nationally ranked #3 Notre Dame. Syracuse can win. Not wishful thinking. The team is good.
Syracuse basketball tonight at 7. Syracuse v. Morehead State. Syracuse’s second game of the season. Syracuse is expected to dominate the game.
The California fires are horrible! Horrendous! TV showings reveal nothing less than pure unadulterated disaster. Hurricanes bring the same. However, a hurricane comes and goes. A fire hangs around for days.
What has FEMA been doing to help? Not much. A pattern has developed where natural disasters are involved. Government does not seem to care, have enough money, etc.
One FEMA responsibility is to refund 75 percent of firefighting costs. Trump yesterday threatened to pull all federal funding if California does not shape up. He claims the fires being out of control are due to “gross mismanagement.”
The two reasons Trump claims California is not doing the job properly has to do with water and forest thinning. He claims California is dumping water in the Pacific it could use to fight the fires. He further claims the forests are dry and subject to easy fires because of California’s failure to thin them.
Experts galore say Trump is incorrect in both instances and does not know what he is talking about. They claim climate change is the cause. The climate change argument falls on deaf ears since Trump does not believe there is climate change.
Which brings me to Michael. Post Michael, a disaster. FEMA failing. The third biggest hurricane since record keeping instituted in the U.S. and we hear nothing about what is happening in northern Florida and elsewhere that Michael touched.
The reason obvious. FEMA and other governmental agencies failing. Another Puerto Rico.
The reason money and not having learned yet how to handle large disasters.
Money, money, money. At the heart of Trump’s concern, though not openly acknowledged. Recent years have brought one disaster after another. The government failed to have sufficiently funded natural disasters.
My admonition, Trump should stop worrying about $26 billion for a wall and concern himself with mega dollars for disaster relief.
Election day clearly showed people are primarily concerned with health care. Way more than immigration problems. Does not seem to have made a dent in Trump’s thinking.
Yesterday, he signed a proclamation suspending the entry of migrants seeking asylum through our southern border points for 90 days. Normally, migrants are permitted by law to seek asylum at any border point any time. Children traveling alone are excepted from the bar.
Typical of Trump’s mean side. Civil rights groups describe his conduct as immoral and inhumane.
What happens when those seeking asylum cannot even get in to make application? Will confrontation result? Will Trump get his “invasion” and the military be permitted to shoot at the migrants?
Will Rogers was a famous humorist and social commentator. He made fun of the government. Commented on their screw ups. He once said, “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.
Another way of intimating government would only do worse.
Rogers one smart man.
Enjoy your day!