Thoughts for the Day, July 22, 2022: The Young Americans at Boyne Highlands is a great way to spend an evening.

One of the highlights of our summer is taking our grandkids to the Young American Dinner Theater at Boyne Highlands.  On Tuesday we took our fourteen-year-old granddaughter Alexis and her friend Aubrey.  Since this was the 60th anniversary of the Young Americans, the theme this year was the 60’s music.  The first act was all 60’s music and the second act were songs from the 60’s movies and stage performances.  They played many songs on my playlist, plus a few more that I need to add.  We arrived at 6:00 PM and the dinner and show ended at 9:45. Alexis and Aubrey then spent the next 20 minutes talking to and taking pictures with many of the performers.

As we listened, I was amazed at how many of the songs Alexis and Aubrey knew.  After the performance, I was talking to the Director, and he told us that many of the performers were not familiar with many of the songs and had to be shown old videos to learn the words and how to perform the songs.  They were quick learners because they did a great job performing the songs similar to how the original artists performed them. 

It is so uplifting to see young adults perform for the pure joy of it.  I cannot wait until August when we take Katy and her family to the show.

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As I was driving back up to Petoskey last night, I was able to listen to the latest hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection at our Capitol.  It was not lost on me that it was a Republican congresswoman who was presiding over the hearing, and it was two members of congress who were longtime members of the military that were questioning the two witnesses, who were staunch supporters and significant players in Trump’s team, that is until they decided to resign after Trump sent his infamous tweet during the middle of the insurrection encouraging the rioters.   It was also not lost on me how so many of Trump’s close advisers were trying to get him to call off the attackers, but Trump refused to do so until more than 3 hours after the insurrection began.  It also is not lost on me how so many of the Republican representatives and senators who were trying to get him to call off the rioters were the same ones who refused to convict him in the impeachment trial.  It is clear to me that Trump violated his oath of office and he tried to prevent congress from doing their constitutional job.  It is also clear to me, that the Republican congressman who were appalled at the riots and feared for their safety, did not do their job by finding Trump guilty of the articles of impeachment.  If the congressman had done their job, we wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of Trump running for president again in 2024.  The burden of preventing Trump from running for president in 2024 now rests with AG Merrick Garland.  The House Select Committee is doing much of the hard work for Garland.  It is time to Garland to step up and do his job.

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Prior to listening to the House Select Committee hearing yesterday, I had a conversation with a friend, who reads my blog and is a strong conservative.  Although we disagree on many issues, we always have an intelligent debate.  It is a debate in which I am confident he has heard my side of the argument. He will agree with some of my points and disagree with others.  He also knows I have heard him.  He knows when I agree with some of his points and when I disagree with others.  We debate, discuss, and listen. We don’t say “I am right, and you are wrong.”  We don’t personalize it.  We don’t begrudge each other’s opinion.  We say goodbye and look forward to the next discussion.  No hate. No animosity. Just friends educating each other with a different perspective. In today’s day and age, it seems like a unique concept.

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Elections Matter. Pray for peace and tolerance. What are you doing to stop the violence and mass killings? 

Orchid of the Day:  The Young Americans (See my Video of the Day)

Onion of the Day:  Congressman Josh Hawley for running for his life from the same people he gave support to hours earlier.

Quote of the Day: “ I can’t say that.  I don’t want to say the election is over.”  Donald Trump while preparing for his speech to the nation on January 7, 2021.

Question of the Day:  Will AG Garland prosecute former president Donald Trump based on the information provided by the House Select Committee?

Video/Image of the Day:  The Young Americans practicing for this years show. Note the joy.

https://www.facebook.com/TheYoungAmericans/videos/874697826781312