Just What a Girl Needed

With all the depressing bickering, petulant, and bigoted rhetoric flying around, I can't lie, it is taking its toll on me.  Those that have read my blog for years now, I've taken a big break because there's little to add to the noise and just complaining seems redundant.  We are all feeling the fear and pain and WTF moments.  So, last night, came in the nick of time.  Actually, something new and meaningless to complain about....

The Oscars!  Chris Rock as the host was f**king incredible.  Edgy, funny, and pointed.  Better than I could've hoped.  He took on the ""all white" Oscars head on and made incredible observations and cutting remarks.  He didn't lower himself to classless humor, but smart and thoughtful.  Not everything he did hit out of the ballpark, but on the whole...an A.  The show is always too long.  The producers tried with their ridiculous thank you crawls underneath the winners' announcement but fell completely flat and useless.  I do commend them for trying, but won't be back I'm sure.  They could cut many of the clips and combine them into one.  Show a clip of the movie, the actor, etc. all at the same time.  The clips they showed for the writers didn't work for me at all. It's difficult to show the writers' contribution in a clip so it just took up too much time.  The opening clip montage was 3 minutes that I couldn't get back and didn't add anything.  We were all waiting for Chris Rock's monologue.  The montage could have been cut, too.  

Without any doubt or hesitation, Lady Gaga was the high note both emotionally and visually.  Her performance was heart wrenching, singing her Academy Award nominated song, "Til It Happens to You," co-written with Diane Warren.  It is the song from the documentary, The Hunting Ground, which focusses on all the sexual assaults on college campuses.  Vice President Joe Biden introduced the song with a call to action and a very impassioned speech.  Gaga's performance reached a climax when dozens and dozens of survivors of campus sexual assault walked downstage.  There wasn't a dry eye in the house or here at home. Deeply moving and puts so much in perspective  of real problems and issues.  When they went to commercial and off-camera, Brie Larson hugged each and everyone of the survivors as they passed by her.  What a highlight!  What a month Gaga's had her gorgeous Star Spangled Banner, her tribute to David Bowie and now this.  

As Mad Max kept winning for just about every technical award, the show lagged.  Feeling left out, having not seen either Mad Max movie.  Thrilling that there were a couple of huge surprises late in the evening to pick up the excitement and energy of the home viewer.  Stallone the presumptive Supporting Actor winner, lost out to the stupendously talented Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies.  Thrilled beyond measure on that one. Not against Stallone, just love and appreciate the huge talent that is Mark Rylance.  Not a fan of The Revenant, I started to slump down and feel like the evening was over, then Leonardo DiCaprio made a glorious speech when he won for The Revenant (which I didn't think was his best performance by any means, but a fine actor deserving of praise.  If you never saw one of his earliest movies, What's Eating Gilbert Grape? do yourself a favor).  And then, Best Picture....Again, The Revenant, which hands down deserved Best Cinematographer, was not my favorite movie of the year at all, but had won so many previous awards during the season, I figured I could nod out...but the greatest thing occurred.  Best Picture went to Spotlight!!!  What a great movie!  What an important topic and incredible investigative reporting, which seems to have gone the way of cursive writing.  Well-deserved.  I hope everyone sees it, if they haven't.  

In Memoriam, David Grohl sang beautifully Blackbird over and over and over again while the photos displayed above him.  Notably absent and surprisingly so...Abe Vigoda.  A very long career and so memorable in one of the best films of all time, The Godfather.  I don't really know why someone doesn't just write down a list of names from January 1-Deccember 31, or whatever dates they include, so that people don't get forgotten.  Just shouldn't be that hard, but every year people get missed.

All in all, I give the evening two thumbs up. If they could just streamline the show, it could be the most fantastic celebration for those in the theatre and those at home.  Keep trying next year.  

Sidebars:  Sigh, Super Tuesday tomorrow and that's all I can say.  Well, obviously I could say more, but trying to stay above the fray. -- Saw the current production of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.  Not without criticism but if you haven't ever seen it, it's definitely worth the price of admission.  Danny Burstein is wonderful.  He owns his Tevye.  -- Tonight is The Bachelor.  Can't wait.  Fantasy Suite night.  That really helps me forget what is going on in the world.  LOL!  --  The Voice begins its new season tonight, too.  Christina Aguilera is back instead of Gwen Stefani.  -- Sorry to see Melissa Harris-Perry gone from MSNBC.  She brought a different voice than the rest of the talking heads.  MHP, you will be missed by this viewer.  --  That's it for now on this Leap Year Day!  Enjoy the extra day.  It won't be around for four more years.  

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@DianaPodolsky

She's Still Standing, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Election season is always difficult, but this one has really taken on a whole new level of bickering, stress, and lows.  I am a registered Democrat and always will be.  Can't wrap my head around the Republicans and it's just getting worse.  So I sit and watch Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.  Both are intelligent candidates.  Both have much to offer, but as in 2008,  I am always surprised how women aren't lining up behind Secretary Clinton.  It happened with Obama, too.  Both were imperfect candidates, but many women seemed to feel more comfortable standing with Obama.  I knew many of those women.  And, again, today,  Senator Sanders won the women's vote.  SMH.  What are women waiting for?  Will there ever be a good enough female candidate to stand by?  I have written and pondered before why Clinton gets the ire of many and especially women.  Many people thinks she's a liar, but seriously?  Who isn't?  Every candidate and Presidential candidate winner has always lied.  It's part of the system.  It's part of the way it works.  "Say what you have to say to win votes."  Obviously, not all liars are created equal, but why women don't stand next to and behind Hillary Clinton, how they did with Barack Obama, is a mystery to me.  

I know that women are our own worst enemies.  I keep hoping that we evolve to back each other, not blindly, but embrace the greatness and the flaws.  We are still not there yet.  Do I like Bernie Sanders?  Sure.  I have admired him for many years for his vision and stances, but seriously he can't do what he wants.  As noble and great as his visions are, it can't happen. Remember, the great Bill Clinton promised that he'd allow gays in the military?  Yeah, that didn't happen.  When he got to the White House, he found that wasn't possible yet, so he compromised to "don't ask, don't tell."  Not a resounding success, but he didn't realize the pushback or the obstacles.  He thought he'd come in and it would be a simple fix.  Obama came into the White House and started the Affordable Care Act, but before he actually started the legislation, he made a deal with the pharmaceutical companies.  In that very moment, I knew that the ACA was compromised.  Obama blew it.  The great hope of the future, that got young and old so excited, proved quickly, once again, that your vision may be what many want, but that's not how things work.  

Even more important in this Country, a reasonable, moderate legislative body.  The divide is far too great.  That's where the laws of the land are created.  Not in the White House.  More important than the Congress?  The Supreme Court!  There could be 4 Supreme Court Justice openings in the next administration.  That is crucial that we protect our Supreme Court from the crazies.  The crazies don't even want to follow the laws already in existence.  What chance do the people have if the crazies take over more?  

So, I got off topic a bit.  Ladies and Gentlemen,  note the difference between how Hillary Clinton gets treated. Sexism rules still.  She has weathered more scrutiny than anyone and has handled herself with aplomb.  Bernie Sanders hasn't been scrutinized thoroughly yet.  The Jewish/atheist thing hasn't even been scratched.  If the reverse were true, Hillary would've been hit with the interrogation lamp.  Look, I don't care about anyone's religion, as long as it doesn't effect me or my government, but much of America does.  There are multiple examples of uneven terrain in this race.  T***p hasn't had to talk about his personal indiscretions, two immigrant wives, friendships with questionable folk, nothing.  He's a shiny new penny.  Sanders is new to many people and that's probably his appeal, too.  

Hillary Clinton has been around a long while.  She's been skewered for decades and still kicking.  She's withstood more barbs and investigations than anyone in my lifetime and come out the other side.  Listen, do I think she is perfect?  Far from it, but I do think that she's learned from her mistakes, life experience, and  blazed a trail for others.  None of those things can be discounted.  She is without question the most qualified person running on either side to become President.  Who else running can say that?  On this day, Groundhog's Day, I am standing by Secretary Clinton, but let me be extremely clear, and this will not change, I will support whomever is the Democratic Presidential nominee.  I can only hope that's true for all Sanders supporters.  I never thought I'd be alive for the first African American President.  I have great hope that I will be alive for the first woman President of the United States of America.  It is time.

Sidebars:  Okay, so February television sweeps are starting off with a bang.  Tonight, the first episode of The People vs. OJ Simpson on FX.  Hopefully, it will be 10 glorious weeks!  Wednesday and Thursday nights, Richard Dreyfuss as Bernie Madoff.  I can only hope it's as good as expected. -- It's Super Bowl week.  Too much air time for all the talking heads to break down every portion and piece of the match-up between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos.  They will talk it to death and regardless of what they say, the game will be what it will be.  That's the continued problem of a 24/7 cycle.  Have to fill all those minutes of every day.  I am just hoping for a very exciting, non-injury, and close game.  May the best team on that day win.  I just hope the halftime rumors prove to be true and Bruno Mars shows up.  Otherwise, it will be Coldplay and Beyonce. -- Didn't see all of Grease Live, but will get to it.  Heard it got big kudos.  I do send out both huge applause and condolences to Vanessa Hudgens who lost her father that day from cancer.  Proving once again that "the show must go on."  From what I saw she soared. -- SAG Awards were enjoyable.  I'm sure you can catch them on TNT on demand or online.  How many self congratulatory Awards shows are there before the Oscars? -- A big plug, not that she needs it, for my husband's friend, Maureen Sherry.  Her book, Closing Belle, released today, has gotten so much praise and press.  Hoping it makes the NY Times bestselling list.  Getting my copy today.  -- Here's to gorgeous February weather in NYC.  Enjoy wherever you are!

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@DianaPodolsky

Universal Nothing!

Just a few thoughts for a Friday.  I keep seeing that Bernie Sanders is getting a lot of support.  I don't get it.  I have always liked him, but does anyone want to scratch the surface on his ideas?  Healthcare, Universal Healthcare.  Who wouldn't want that, but how can it happen?  Seriously?  Isn't that the problem with the system?  We are a capitalistic economy and country.  If we create Universal Healthcare, what happens to all the insurance companies?  All those jobs are lost forever, so what happens then?  Why isn't anyone asking that question?  I have thought about it forever.  We are too late.  If you can tell me how Sanders can pull it off, without catastrophic unemployment, by all means let me know.  

I can see why Bernie Sanders is appealing, but what is the reality that he could do any of the things he wants and supports?  Have you not realized that it doesn't matter what is promised during campaigns?  Newly elected Presidents can't get things done.  There are too many moving parts that cause delays, hiccups, and postponements.  It's BS if you think any candidate gets into the Oval office and can do what they said they were going to do, and Sanders' radical proposals will never get through Congress ever.  Don't you see that?  Haven't we been living through seven tempestuous and mostly unproductive years with Congress?  How will he get anything done?  Seriously, stand back, people, take a breath, and re-assess.  I am not an anti-Sanders person, but he can't do what he promises.  He can't.  It would mean dismantling much of our economy.  I've thought a lot about how we could all be covered, and so far haven't been able to come to a resolution.  The insurance companies are huge.  They are a large part of our economy and, whether we like it or not, provides hundreds of thousands of jobs for people all over the country.

Please, I am open to hear how he can actually proceed on any of his policy plans.  I don't see it.  His heart is in the right place.  He's been saying the same ideas for decades, but we, the United States of America, are made up of a vast array of mechanisms that are all intricately intertwined.  Nothing is easy. Yes, I know, the saying nothing worth it, is ever easy, but we can't just sit back and cheer and support someone with beautiful dreams and ideas.  It's not realistic.

If you haven't been watching a television show on CBS called Madam Secretary, I think that it illustrates fully how complicated running this country is.  It's worth taking the time.  I actually have been thinking that all the GOP candidates should binge watch it.  They always make things sound so easy.  They're going to bomb here or invade there without any forethought of any knowledge or consequence.  It's all sound bites.  It's all to feed a 24/7 news cycle and twitter sphere.  I highly recommend taking the time.  Not all episodes are equal, but you will definitely see how incredibly difficult it is to keep putting out fires all over the world.  Some will succeed, others won't.  Even that's a simplification.  

Sidebars:  What a terrible week for deaths.  David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Rene Angelil, Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Elizabeth Swados (hardly mentioned, but one of the very few female composer/directors in theatre),  Brian Bedford, Monte Irvin, and many more.  Tough week. -- Anyway, trying to catch up on the nominated movies, next up The Revenant, if I can stand it.  --  Martin Luther King's Birthday weekend. Another 3 day weekend where most people don't even know why we have a day off.  Sad.  Better to stay in school and learn about him and his importance than another ski weekend....

Okay, that's it for now.  It's a new year.  My brain is still shifting all over the place, so my blogs may too.  Enjoy your family and friends wherever you may be.  Happy Weekend!  Happy 2016!!

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@DianaPodolsky

Round and Round I Go

I have had so much difficulty writing these past few months.  So much is going on in the world that I have definitely gotten overwhelmed by it all, and focussing on one subject has been impossible.  It's almost the end of 2015 and we are nearing a clean slate for 2016.  Before we go, I just have a few things I want to ruminate about.  

The first is the all encompassing and media darling, Donald T***p.  It's hard to bear watching.  The things that come out of his mouth and the cheers and applause he gets from his disciples are unsettling and appalling.  Since I live in the world of eternal hope with some dips in depression, I have to believe the likelihood of us inaugurating President T***p are slim to none.  I am going with that premise for this rumination.  Then what?  What does Donald do after he loses the nomination?  How can he pick up the pieces after all he's said and done?  Would I ever give one dime to anything with his name or likeness on it again?  I had already boycotted T***p Tower in New York.  A personal choice, but how can his business associates turn the other cheek?  According to him, some of his best friends are Muslims.  How do they ever break bread with him again?  How do you spend thousands upon thousands to be members of any of his golf courses?  How does the PGA continue to go all in with their prestigious tournaments at any of his courses?  How do you find construction crews to build his next ostentatious tower?  I just can't see him being able to go back as if nothing happened, as if all the things he said didn't have an impact, as if he didn't insult every minority group multiple times, as if, as if, as if.  I can't imagine sitting around the family table with all the extended family, as if.  He has been married to two immigrant wives.  The current wife wasn't a citizen until after they got married.  How can he ever go back?  The Pandora's box is open.  The curtain has been pulled back completely.  How can he ever continue, as if....

On the other side of this, is Hillary Clinton.  I absolutely don't get the hate and the visceral reactions when her name is mentioned.  Many women are the worst haters.  I don't get it.  What did she actually do?  What is her sin?  It feels so anti-woman to me.  Can someone please explain it to me?  She is a thoroughly accomplished woman. She went to Wellesley College and Yale Law School.  She fought for women's issues all her life.  As First Lady, she dared to present a comprehensive health care plan that may have crossed the traditional lines for a First Lady, but she tried and got roundly demonized.  She suffered through public humiliation and thrashing for her husband's dalliances and Congress' unending hearings for everything under the sun.  She stood by her man.  Is that her sin?  She ran for President in 2008 and made some huge campaign errors.  Is that her sin?  She was chosen to be Secretary of State under Barack Obama.  Is that her sin?  I am constantly stunned by the lack of support from so many Democrats.  I don't get it.  If someone could explain to me why she is so hated, I'd appreciate it.  She's done more than most in this world.  I know that polls say she has a trustworthy issue, but they all do in politics, so why does she get so vilified?  I really don't get it.  

What I do know beyond any reasonable doubt, is that the next President of the United States must be a Democrat, and for the three that are running, it really only leaves one.  I know that many people love Bernie Sanders.  I have always admired him, but his socialist views will stop him, even before his Judaism gets realized.  Martin O'Malley is not ready yet.  That leaves Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  It would be amazing to have a woman for President, but even more so, an extremely qualified woman.  There may be 4, I will say that again, 4, Supreme Court appointments during the next Presidency.  For the millennial generation that don't understand what that means, please do your homework.  That is more important that almost anything else anyone says or does.  Those appointments are for life.  Life, you hear that?  You must register to vote. You must take the time in your day when the primary and general elections are held.  OK?  Sigh.  

Okay, and the last thing that has been really sticking in my craw is the great Pete Rose.  The MLB commissioner has continued Pete Rose's baseball ban for life.  It was crushing, but whether you agree or disagree with that decision, it's the total hypocrisy of MLB that kills me.  Pete Rose is banned because he allegedly bet on baseball and still gambles today on sports.  He lives in Las Vegas and it's legal.  He is one of the all time great baseball players to have played the game.  No one argues that.  Robin Manfred, commissioner, didn't like that Pete still gambles and yet, MLB is a huge investor in DraftKings and FanDuel.  Both sites have been called gambling by NY State, Illinois, Nevada and others to follow.  So, let me get this straight Commissioner Manfred, it's not okay to gamble if you're Pete Rose and one of the greatest players ever, but it is okay to invest heavily in websites that promote heavy gambling to keep people interested in your sport?  Maybe we should just go back to steroids for the players to keep people watching. 

Things that I have been ruminating in my head about for weeks now.  I hope that 2016 brings us all a world full of peace, love, and prosperity.  Happy New Year and drink responsibly.  

Don't Want Your Prayers!

This umpteenth mass shooting that's still active in this moment, these are the tweets  90 minutes since the news was released from our candidates:

Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump  10m10 minutes ago

California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!

Dr. Ben Carson ‏@RealBenCarson  4m4 minutes ago

My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.

Marco Rubio nothing

Gov. Mike Huckabee ‏@GovMikeHuckabee  16m16 minutes ago

Praying for those impacted by the shooting in California today.

Chris Christie nothing*

Carly Fiorina nothing*

Jeb Bush ‏@JebBush  14m14 minutes ago

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.

Jeb Bush ‏@JebBush  14m14 minutes ago

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.

Lindsey Graham ‏@LindseyGrahamSC  3h3 hours ago

On @MorningJoe, @SenJohnMcCain and I talked about strategies to #DefeatISIL. http://thetandd.com/the_spot/graham-you-can-t-fix-iraq-without-dealing-with-syria/youtube_db6da046-979c-11e5-8a4a-33963a6cae4e.html …

John Kasich nothing*

George Pataki nothing*

Rand Paul nothing*

Rick Santorum nothing*

Lindsey Graham nothing*

* Nothing meaning they are tweeting about other things than this tragedy or they haven't tweeted for awhile....

Can You Hear That Beat?!

Since the tragic terrorist attacks, the Republican candidates have gone over the top crazy.  Where are the educated journalists, Republicans,  and Americans to cry foul?  It's f**king insane what's going on.  The rhetoric is dangerous that's coming out of the mouths of Ben Carson and Donald T***p.  Did you see that T***p riled up a crowd to beat on a black man that was protesting his speech?  Seriously, he encouraged these disciples to attack this man and had no apologies.  If you don't believe me, Google it.  It's appalling.  The anti-refugee speak is idiotic and ill-informed.  They know nothing, but spew venom so easily.  No care about the carnage that they leave in their path.  None, whatsoever.  

Every Republican candidate wants to be Rambo, except Rand Paul.  They want to, talk tough, send soldiers into Syria to "take Isis out," and be the great victor.  Let me make this completely clear to all of you, the only Presidential candidate that served in the military, but didn't see combat...Lindsey Graham.  That's it.  None served. None saw war, carnage, and death.  Only one candidate has children that serve/served...George Pataki (two sons).  Both these men are in the undercard.  They barely get air time.  All the others that are crowing to go into Syria and send troops on the ground, have never seen one second of the military.  Would they send their children?  Grandchildren?  Hell, no.  That's for others to sacrifice, not them.  

Remember President Teddy Roosevelt?  He was a hawk.  He wanted war.  He was ready to send young men into battle.  When his own son was tragically killed in war, he changed his tune.  That loss almost broke him and he wasn't so eager to send more troops into battle.  BUT why did it take his personal loss to change?  Why can't you just see how painful it is for parents to send children into war and receive their dead bodies at home?  I watch tons of movies, I can make believe things without having to actually experience them to know how I feel about different life issues.  President Roosevelt couldn't without suffering an unbearable loss.

So, all these GOP candidates shouting tough talk and wanting to send other people's children into harms way, shame on you!  I don't even understand why there are so many disciples buying all this bullsh*t.  Haven't there been enough injuries and death?  

Let's be specific on the kids but not going to be sacrificed:

Jeb Bush has 3 adult children, 2 sons and 1 daughter (George, Noelle and John, Jr.).  

Ben Carson 3 adult sons (Rhoeyce, Ben Jr., and Murray).

Chris Christie has 4 children that range in age 12-19 (Patrick, Andrew, Bridget, and Sarah).

Ted Cruz has two young daughters (Caroline, 7 and Catherine 4).

Carly Fiorina has two adult step children.

Lindsey Graham has zero.

Mike Huckabee 3 adult children (David, John, and Sarah).

John Kasich has twin 15 year old girls (Emma and Reese).

George Pataki has 4 adult children ( his two sons are serving).

Marco Rubio 4 children (Amanda, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominic).

Rick Santorum has 7 children...SEVEN.

Donald T***p has 5 children (Ivanka, Donald, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron), plus 6 grandchildren.

Between the candidates they have 39 children.  Some may be too young to serve and some may be too old, but do you think any of them would send their own children (other than Pataki) into a bloody and brutal war?  They are sending other people's children to fight their battles.  Do any of them even know what the hell they are talking about?  There are so many lies being sold and told and no one is calling them out.  Carson seems completely uneducated and uninformed.  T***p must be embarrassing Wharton because he keeps fabricating numbers and tales.  Come on, people, why are we so easily led to believe lies and bad information?  We bought it going into the Iraq War and haven't recovered since.  Before you write me and tell me you weren't for the Iraq War and you don't believe the BS, I applaud you, but too many do.  I don't know what has happened to so many that they believe anything.  No one Googles to confirm information.  If you say it with authority and confidence, it's "true."  We all know people like that, but do we want a President to represent us that will say anything?

Where are the news/media people?  I want there to be a fact checker at every debate.  FACTS, people, not opinions.  I want there to be a buzzer, or maybe even a taser, every time a candidate stands up in front of the American people and fabricates information.  I'd like that for those in the audience too.  The debates have become more Gladiator vs. lions in the Coliseum than actual policy and fact.  I can't imagine (not even in the movies) that there could be a President T***p.  I'm not making any declaration that I will move to Canada if that were to happen, but I'd cry.  I'd want to take my Country back.

When you hear the candidates, beating he drums for more war.  Remember whose children are being sent.  They're not theirs or mine.  Are they yours?  

Sidebars:  Plenty of cartoons, satires, verbiage going around Facebook about Thanksgiving and the refugee situation.  Much commentary on who were the first refugees to come to Plymouth Rock.  It certainly wasn't the Native Indians that had thrived here.  It was all the newcomers on the Mayflower.  Some seeking refuge and religious freedom and others searching for adventure.  When your families get together on Thursday to share another turkey day, this year pause and think about how this Country was created, what sacrifices were made, all the bloodshed and victories, to make the United States of America.  We all came from somewhere else.  That's the country that was built.  Let's try to remember that. 

Wishing all a very peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving!  

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@DianaPodolsky

Does the SS St. Louis Mean Anything to You?

I have been hesitant to weigh in on the tragic mass murders in Paris.  It strikes straight to the heart.  I saw many postings on Facebook why the world wasn't as upset by the murders in Beirut and Nigeria.  I've thought a lot about that.  I don't think that it is a simple answer.  Partly, I think that so many Americans have been to Paris or seen so many films showing life in Paris that there is a deep connection.  The romanticism of life in gay Paree has been well documented in cinema that we have a true relationship with Paris.  There may also be deep cultural reasons for the complete disregard for Beirut and Nigeria.  The "other."  The Russian plane alleged bombing we can clearly understand.  That story has flowed in and out of our consciousness, but we can relate to the tragedy.

Okay, so now we are five days since the mass terrors in Paris.  The news is still focussed on the lives lost, the hero stories, the investigation and the questions linger on....Now, there's much talk about the Syrian refugees flowing en masse into Europe.  Could a terrorist sneak through?  Well, you don't have to say much more than that to get the USA Republican Governors to declare they're not accepting any Syrian refugees, if they are Muslim.  Wow, how helpful.  How perfectly christian.  Most of these Governors that have declared blockage of taking in any refugees are self-proclaimed Christians.  Well, I have news for you:  A) that isn't a Christian act

B) it's not Constitutional.  Many have stated that we never turn away refugees, but now is the time.  We have to protect ourselves from all the Muslims that want to  come here and kill us.  

I get the fear, but the lack of knowledge and history slaps me in the face.  The Governors refusal feeds the hate, it doesn't help.  AND it isn't true that we never turn away refugees.  May I remind the Governors and all the people that the United States of America wouldn't accept, turned away, and sent a ship load of Jewish refugees back to certain death in 1939.  The SS St. Louis left Germany with about 1000 German Jews trying to escape the Nazis.  They paid all the money they had to board this ship and to find a new life in Cuba.  Cuba wouldn't accept them, so the ship's Captain tried to get the US to let them dock and disembark.  No go. "We have hit our quota of Jews."  So with few supplies left from their cross Atlantic travels and subsequent limbo, this boatload of desperate and terrified German Jews were refused.  What another great moment in American history.  So, Governors, we've refused mothers, daughters, sons, and fathers before.  We've done that.  We know how that ended, don't we?  

Look, I understand that there are concerns, but you can't possibly speak out of both sides of your mouth.  You can't say you are christian and proclaim that you aren't willing to help families and people in desperate need.  It isn't the "American" way or is that all just BS.  Recently, it seems that way.  Leave it to a Presidential election season to bring out all the hate and fear mongering.  Democrat or Republican alike, if you speak out of your ass before knowledge, you are playing right into the hands of all terrorists.  Too bad that you don't flip out when white American males shoot up schools in this country.  Oh, how you segregate and compartmentalize all the hatred.  Where are all the leaders?  We need people all over America to stand up. I know it may be scary, but somehow so many American citizens and leaders have forgotten that we are a Nation of immigrants and refugees.  

My head is swirling with so many thoughts about too many connected topics, but this is a blog and not a tome.  I will end with this.  I love Paris.  I will go again, but I will wait.  I think that we are adjusting to a "new normal." We may always have to be more cautious and more aware forevermore.  This is how the people of Israel have lived since 1948, and they have thrived.  We can too, if we don't let all the fear take us down. 

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@DianaPodolsky