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Dirty Words or Hopeful Signs?

11/27/2019

Mirriam-Webster says:

bipartisan: of, relating to, or involving members of two parties
nonpartisan: not partisan especially: free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Are these dirty words? I’d like to think not, in spite of what seems to be the messaging appearing on the nightly news, nationally and locally.

Lack of bipartisanship, for example, creates many problems.

A Supreme Court nomination held up for more than a year and then discarded.
Other Supreme Court nominations decided on strict party line votes.
Inability to make progress on health care, gun regulation, immigration, and a host of other issues.
Impeachment.
State restrictions on home rule.
Immigrant sanctuary cities; gun sanctuary cities.

The list could be extended for pages. Bipartisan sure seems to be a distasteful word for many. The rhetoric is harsh, uncompromising, nasty. I understand differences of opinion on issues. I don’t understand inability to listen to opposing views and work together to reach a compromise. Sure, no one gets everything they want, but everyone gets something. Is that so bad? Especially given the current situation where heels are dug in and nothing gets resolved? Where decisions are based on the next election rather than the good of the community?

The truth is, bipartisan is not a dirty word. And in spite of what I’ve said, I realize there is effort by some legislators at all levels of government to forge relationships that can lead to cooperation. We’ve seen attempts on immigration and gun safety, for example, where some Republicans and some Democrats have worked together to propose solutions. Not perfect, but better than nothing. Unfortunately, lack of bipartisanship killed those attempts. And I’m afraid that has discouraged other compromises.

I heard a talk by a congressional representative. He said true bipartisanship does work on 60% of the legislation that arises, a statement backed by others present, both Republican and Democrat. Unfortunately, it’s the 40% remaining that deal with the major issues. But I give credit to anyone attempting such an effort on anything.

I think the public has to demand a bipartisan approach to find solutions to national and local problems. To do that, though, we all have to be willing to compromise, to distance ourselves from “my way or the highway.” Can we do it? I’m not sure. We are all so smug in our correctness, no matter which side we’re on. But if we don’t show the way, I don’t think we can expect our representatives to lead.

Now what about the other word: nonpartisan? That’s a different animal. To be nonpartisan you have to step away from the two parties, to look at issues only and take stands independent of political consequences. It means you work with anyone who will assist with the issues of importance to you.

Many organizations have adopted the nonpartisan philosophy. There are hundreds in this category, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Brady Campaign, the League of Women Voters, and the National Association of Towns and Townships.

This means they will work with Democrats when it advances the causes in which they believe, and with Republicans for the same reason. It means they won’t stand only with Democrats on causes also embraced by Republicans, and vice versa.

It seems to me true nonpartisanship is a courageous approach to dealing with our ills. We could all use a dose of it.

Both bipartisan and nonpartisan are noble concepts in different ways. They are signs of hope. We should demand more of both.

Unless you want the current situation in our country to continue.

*****

May you all have the very happiest of Thanksgivings!

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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

11/20/2019

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Only a week to Thanksgiving. Family, turkey, dressing, pies.

And the Macy’s parade in New York City.

The parade has been a part of my life since childhood. I lived a 40-minute trip from the city. But I never saw the parade there.

However, I did view it many times. Because, when I was a kid in the late 1930s and the 40s, the parade, upon completion of its New York run, shipped most of the floats, bands, and balloons to Newark. Right next door to my home in East Orange. The parade made a second run there. My dad took me when I was small, and later, as a high school student, I went with friends.

In fact, Thanksgiving morning saw us traipsing to Newark for the traditional football game between East Orange High School and that city’s Barringer High. East Orange had two high schools and mine was not East Orange. I rooted for Barringer. After the game we went to the parade.

I moved from the New York area to Florida and was the possessor of a huge 12-inch TV. I renewed my devotion to the parade as I watched it progress along the streets of Manhattan in brilliant black and white. I’ve always loved parades and this one was special.

I returned to New Jersey to take a job and also to enroll in graduate school. I would catch a bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and walk to my classes at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences located near Washington Square Park, a distance of about two miles.

As Thanksgiving approached, I’d make sure my route followed the parade path as much as possible. I’d observe the television locations that had been set up to cover it. I’d note the background the cameras would pick up as the bands and floats marched into their lenses. Then, on THE day, I’d tune in the TV, now one with color, and look for the backgrounds I’d observed, feeling pretty smart for knowing which camera was operating.

After finishing school, I again returned to Florida to spend the rest of my life, and my physical proximity to the parade ended.

But I still got excited and over the years watched it many times on successively larger TV screens.

Then I noticed changes, changes that have taken much of the joy from the experience.

The number of ads exploded. There’d always been commercials, but now they seemed overly invasive.

The splendor of the parade faded further as more and more emphasis was placed on name performers doing their stuff, detracting from the fun of the parade itself. In doing a little research for this piece, I discovered that even if you’re viewing the spectacle in person, it’s virtually impossible to see the performers at work. It seems there’s a special place set aside for them, an official telecast area that is closed to the public.

So, for me, the parade has lost its luster. Some years I don’t turn it on. Others I do, but then abandon it as once again I’m hit with an overabundance of commercials and performances.

It’s a shame. But there’s always the Rose Bowl Parade which for several years I’ve been able to watch commercial free.

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Courage

11/13/2019

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A recent photograph in my local paper showed President Trump awarding the Medal of Honor to a Green Beret who had risked his life to save his team from an attack by insurgents. My admiration for such action knows no limits. I can’t help but wonder if I could ever demonstrate such bravery. As I pondered this, I started thinking about the entire concept of courage.

When considering the subject, I suspect most would think of those, like the Green Beret and so many in the military, willing to put their lives on the line to save others. Or spouses or parents who throw their bodies over a loved one for protection during a shooting. Or early explorers and astronauts willing to risk all to advance knowledge or simply to go where no one has before. Or those willing to die for a cause felt to be worth the risks. A cause like the civil rights movement. Imagine what it must have required to take a stand knowing it could lead to hosings, beatings, lynchings.

Who could not have the greatest respect for such acts of courage? But does all bravery take this form? I have come to believe there are other forms of courage, examples of which I see on a regular basis. People who have never lifted a gun or cannot imagine distinguishing themselves on the battlefield daily demonstrate a quiet and incredible strength that inspires us all.

Many live with illnesses or physical impairments, some all their lives, yet become productive citizens. A famous example is Stephen Hawking, a brilliant physicist who defied his Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis diagnosis and amazed the world with his revelations while confined to a wheelchair and using a computerized voice to communicate. But bravery doesn’t demand fame. I have met so many who have lived life to the fullest despite terminal diagnoses or chronic conditions that will never improve. In the same vein are parents who, expecting a normal child, are blessed with one having difficulties. I say blessed, because they find inner reserves and raise the child in a loving way. Courage!

How about care givers? There can’t be anything more difficult than looking out for a loved one day after day, month after month, year after year. It is exhausting. It is frustrating. It is discouraging. Yet they wake every morning determined to do the best they can for those for whom they’ve assumed responsibility. Courage!

While we’re on the subjects of parents, think about those who have lost a child through accident or suicide or murder. To me just going on living after such an event is an amazing accomplishment. But think about how many of them have moved beyond even that to become advocates against the situation that took their child. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is an excellent example. Courage!

There is the rare politician who is willing to put his political future on the line by speakinåg up when he sees his party moving in the wrong direction. Or anyone for that matter who stands up against improper action. Those, for example, who report sexual abuse, or confront and do not permit bigotry in their presence. Courage!

In this age and in this country where money is king, we have people who select a life path they know will be nonremunerative. An obvious example is those who enter teaching. They work in a field that used to be respected, but now is not from a large segment of society. They deal with students who often are not motivated and whose parents are not supportive of student or teacher. Yet they plow on, driven by the desire to accomplish something worthwhile. Others choose paths like art or music or history or English, not known for their monetary reward. Yet what is society without contributions from these and other such fields? Courage!

Finally, what about the person attempting nothing more than leading a decent life? Working hard every day, perhaps in two or more jobs in order to provide for her family. Not cheating anyone. Not avoiding taxes. Staying calm when confronted with anger. Being good to his family. Not succumbing to any of the nefarious demands arising from so many directions. Courage!

Yes, courage takes many forms. Look around. I suspect you will see it often.

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Pet Ownership—Affordable?

11/6/2019

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What a wonderful experience it is for a child to have a pet. It certainly was for me. A six-week-old puppy came into my life when I was about 12. I’d like to think he taught responsibility although I’m not sure that was the case.

What I do recall is carrying my pal, named Pal, with me wherever I went, walking him around the neighborhood, throwing him a ball, and crying myself sick when he got distemper and I thought I’d lose him.

My mother took him and me to the vet. The ride was unbearably long and so was the wait in the office. You didn’t need appointments then, so it was first come first served,

Finally he was seen. The vet was not hopeful, but did prescribe medicine. My mother paid the bill as we left. I don’t remember or perhaps never knew how much it was. But we weren’t an affluent family and mother didn’t seem concerned, so I guess it wasn’t too bad. I do know Pal could get all his yearly shots, such as they were then, for $5. Even in the 1980s a visit to our vet was only $10.

Fortunately, Pal recovered and lived many more years, but think what it would cost today for the same service. Of course, it isn’t the same service. Knowledge and drugs have improved. And costs have skyrocketed.

A recent visit to the wonderful vet we now frequent dealt with an incessant licking of a paw that hid the almost invisible tear that needed time to heal. It was $48 for the diagnosis plus another $15 for a flu shot booster.

An annual checkup with shots runs in the neighborhood of $200.

A daily half pill costs about $500 a year.

Heartworm and flea medicine consume hundreds of dollars annually.

Cancer treatments and knee replacements for pets come with a price tag approaching $5,000 or more.

I’ve read that one should plan for dog ownership expenses to be $1500 per year per dog. An estimate I found to be uncannily accurate during the time we owned three greyhounds. Except when we were forced to an emergency clinic for bloat and the cost was over $1000.

Visiting a vet now loosely approximates dropping in on your own primary care physician, or in extreme cases your emergency room specialist. Except for most of us there is no insurance.

Having said all that, who could object to spending what it takes to improve the comfort of a beloved pet or extend its life? A sweet, dear furry creature giving unqualified love, companionship, gentleness, faithfulness, forgiveness.

But what about the millions of kids whose families don’t have the means for proper pet care? Are they to miss out on the therapeutic value of pet companionship, or to have it but subject the animal to less than adequate health treatment—much like we do to humans come to think of it?

I don’t have an answer. I know there are special times when shots are given free or at a reduced rate. That’s great, but it’s not enough. It just seems like yet another area where, if you have the money, you can have the joy. Otherwise, tough luck, for you and the pet.

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Dirty Words or Hopeful Signs?

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Courage

Pet Ownership—Affordable?

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