Letter to the Editor in the LA Times.
To the editor: I grew up in Coronado as a military brat. My male ancestors fought in every American battle for freedom and justice, from the Revolutionary War to the Korean War. My father and grandfather both served as Naval officers during World War II and emulated a steadfast allegiance to their country and its institutions. (“John Kelly says Trump is a ‘fascist’ who while in office repeatedly praised Hitler,” Oct. 23)
I came of age questioning the Vietnam War. My father’s respect never wavered for the decisions made by two presidents. His upbringing and military training taught him to rely on the good intent and integrity of his commander in chief.
From the beginning of his term in office, former President Trump treated “his” military officials with disdain, and often demeans them in public. Bullies tend to target people who are a better version of themselves. The highest-level military leaders have consistently responded with restraint and dignity, in deference to the commander in chief.
A titanic change has occurred recently — high-ranking military officers are publicly speaking out regarding Trump’s fascist words and demeanor. When career military leaders can no longer remain silent, it’s because they’ve chosen to put their allegiance to the United States and Constitution above a danger to our country.
We must listen to what they are telling us.
Mary Rider, Idyllwild, Calif
Fascism: A Warning from the Federal Government
From Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American.
Beginning in 1943, the War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater of World War II. Titled Army Talks, the series was designed “to help [the personnel] become better-informed men and women and therefore better soldiers.”
On March 24, 1945, the topic for the week was “FASCISM!”
“You are away from home, separated from your families, no longer at a civilian job or at school and many of you are risking your very lives,” the pamphlet explained, “because of a thing called fascism.” But, the publication asked, what is fascism? “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze,” it said, “nor, once in power, is it easy to destroy. It is important for our future and that of the world that as many of us as possible understand the causes and practices of fascism, in order to combat it.”
Fascism, the U.S. government document explained, “is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state.” “The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people.”
“The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires; hence—democracy must go! Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.” “Fascism treats women as mere breeders. ‘Children, kitchen, and the church,’ was the Nazi slogan for women,” the pamphlet said.
Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose…. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by false promise of security. The propaganda glorifies war and insists it is smart and ‘realistic’ to be pitiless and violent.”
Fascists understood that “the fundamental principle of democracy—faith in the common sense of the common people—was the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by the elite few,” it explained, “[s]o they fought democracy…. They played political, religious, social, and economic groups against each other and seized power while these groups struggled.”
Americans should not be fooled into thinking that fascism could not come to America, the pamphlet warned; after all, “[w]e once laughed Hitler off as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.
Thank you, Heather.
And Then There is This.
From The Guardian: Anger and vitriol took center stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden last night, as Donald Trump and a cabal of campaign surrogates held a rally marked by racist comments, coarse insults and dangerous threats about immigrants.
Nine days out from the election, Trump used the rally in New York to repeat his claim that he is fighting “the enemy within” and again promised to launch “the largest deportation program in American history”, amid incoherent ramblings about ending a phone call with a “very, very important person” so he could watch one of Elon Musk’s rockets land.
- What were some of the most offensive remarks? One speaker described Puerto Rico, home to 3.2 million US citizens, as an “island of garbage”; Tucker Carlson mocked Kamala Harris’s racial identity; a radio host described Hillary Clinton as a “sick bastard”; and a crucifix-wielding childhood friend of Trump’s declared that Harris was “the antichrist”.
Question of the Day: The Republican Party has already allowed the fascist and his MAGA party to take over their former Republican Party. Are the citizens of the U.S going to allow the fascist and the MAGA party to destroy our democracy and takeover the U.S? Keep this in mind if you have not yet voted for president, and you plan on voting between now and November 5, 2024.
Salvador Perez: A future Hall of Famer and a Humanitarian.
Per ESPN, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez won the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball’s prestigious honor awarded annually to the player whose humanitarian efforts exemplify off-the-field service.
The 34-year-old, who has spent all 13 years of his major league career with Kansas City, is the first Royals player to win the award and was lauded for his generosity not only in his adopted hometown but in Valencia, Venezuela, where Perez grew up, and Colombia, where his contributions honor a minor league pitcher who died of cancer.
“When we do something, we do because it’s coming from my heart,” Perez said. “I don’t like to do things because somebody ask me to do it. When I sit with my mom and want to do something, we just do. We don’t have to post anything on social media. I don’t like that. If I do, I do it for my heart. I want to make people happy.”
Perez said he is proudest of his work in Venezuela, a country ravaged by political instability and food insecurity. Along with his mother, Yilda Diaz, who raised him alone, Perez distributes food and kitchen supplies to nearly 2,000 houses near Valencia every year and has provided aid to more than 10,000 families in the area. In recent years, a youth league Perez owns has provided baseball for 220 children, offering free gear and clinics that promote education and safety.
“Everything starts where you’re coming from,” Perez said, “so you make it to this level, you have opportunity to help people.
Salvador Perez is one of the greatest catchers in MLB history. When the time comes, he will be a first ballot selection to the Hall of Fame. He is a great ambassador for the game and for humanity. He gets my Orchid of the Day.
Let’s talk some Sports
MSU vs. Michigan: MSU dominated the first quarter while Michigan played mistake free (no turnovers and no penalties). In the end the Spartans had too many dead ball penalties which cost them the game. Michigan seems to have found the right QB combination with Davis Warren playing most of the snaps and Alex Orji periodically replacing Davis as an addition to the running game. MSU has two great players in running back Nate Carter and freshman receiver Nick Marsh. Both will be playing in the NFL.
World Series: It will be hard for the remaining games to top the first two. Even though the Dodgers have a commanding 2-0 lead as the World Series moves cross country to New York, anything can happen, and the Yankees are not out of it. Both games came down to the last pitch. In Game One, Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers hit a grand slam walk off homerun in the bottom of the 10th inning. On Saturday, the Yankees were down two in the top of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and two outs when pinch hitter Jose Trevino lined out to center with the tying run on second base.
Lions’ statistical anomaly in their 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans: In all my years of looking at box scores, I have never seen some of the things that showed up the Lions/Titans box score from yesterday’s game.
- The Titans nearly doubled up the Lions’ yardage total, 416 yards to 225
- The Titans had 24 more offensive plays than the Lions as well as 7 more first-downs.
- The Titans led in time of possession by over 11 minutes.
- By halftime the Lions had more points (35) than QB Jared Goff had passing yards (28).
- At one point, the Lions had scored 42 points, and the Lions had just 9 yards net passing
- The Lions started four drives inside an opponent’s 25-yard-line in the first half. That hadn’t happened since 2002, according to ESPN.
- Goff completed 12 of 15 passes but finished with just 85 yards, the second-lowest total of his career.
- In addition to a 7-yard receiving touchdown in the third quarter, Kalif Raymond returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown and totaled 190 yards worth of returns — the second-most in a single game in franchise history and the fifth-most punt-return yardage in NFL history.
- Kalif Raymond set the highest-average punt return since the 1970 merger. He’s the first player in franchise history to record a receiving touchdown and a punt-return touchdown in the same game.
- The Lions finished the game with over 260 yards in punt and kickoff returns.
Thank you to the Chicago Bears coaching staff for not learning from the U of M vs. Colorado game a few decades ago: The Washington Commanders had to complete more than a 50-yard hail Mary pass on the last play of the game to beat the Bears. Rather than rushing enough defenders so the Commanders’ quarterback did not have enough time to throw the pass, the Bears let the QB run around until the he had enough time and throw the pass just short of the goal line. Fortunately for Lion fans, it was tipped by a Bear defender into the waiting hands of the Commander receiver who was standing in the endzone. The Bears’ coaching staff gets my Onion of the Day. See my Video of the Day.
Quote of the Day: “Gibby meet Freddie.” Fox World Series announcer Joe Davis as Freddie Freeman rounded the bases during his walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of game one of the World Series. Davis’ reference was to Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homerun in game one of the 1988 World Series. Unlike Gibby’s at bat that lasted over 5 minutes and 8 pitches, Freeman ambushed the first pitch. Due to injuries to both legs, It was Gibby’s only at bat in the World Series and it is one of the iconic plays in World Series history. It will be interesting to see how Freddie’s grand slam ranks.
Shaun Amos, a Friend and Fellow Umpire
Shaun Amos, one of the most giving people I know, was hit with tragedy on Friday morning as his home burned down. Shaun and his wife were not at home, and a quick-thinking neighbor was able to save their dog. They lost everything else.
As of last night, Shaun was able to find a fully furnished home to lease which is less than two miles from his home. Shaun told me, the foundation on his home is still intact so they will be able to rebuild on their home’s site. He is planning on reconstructing the home exactly as the original. Construction work is one of the skills Shaun has used to help others.
The Amos have a long way to go, and Shaun is not one to ask for help. Anyone who is interested can contribute to the Go Fund Me account that has been set up by a friend who has been on the receiving end of Shaun’s generosity. The link below can be used if you so desire.
Feel free to share my blog with others. To receive the blog in your email, please use the sign-up button which is located at the bottom of the blog below the Video of the Day or send an email to me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com and I will start the process for you.
Quote of the Day: Fox World Series announcer Joe Davis. See the above story.
Orchid of the Day: Salvador Perez. See the below story.
Onion of the Day: The Chicago Bears coaching staff. See the above story.
Question of the Day: See the above story, And Then There is This.
Video of the Day: Hail Mary by Commanders to beat the Bears.