“A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest." - Paraphrased from The Boxer
---Paul Simon
By the time I post this we will know who won the presidential election, but today, the Monday morning before Election Day, I can tell you who the clear loser is...the American people. This past year has caused anxiety throughout our country (actually throughout the world) and has shown us that a convenient lie is sometimes viewed as acceptable in the political arena. Blatant scare tactics have worked on both sides, causing millions of people to believe that our country will be destroyed if the "other side" wins.
Our candidates have spent so much time defending their email and twitter accounts, that issues like climate change and social security have been put on the back burner. Really...does it surprise us that Clinton deleted emails? Does Trump's inability to control his tongue in a tweet show a side of him we didn't know? Of course not, but these things made great headlines for a media that seems to have forgotten their true purpose.
Can you imagine Woodward and Bernstein investigating the veracity of 3:00 A.M. Tweets? How about Huntley and Brinkley focusing on personality failings at the expense of real issues? Many years ago, Simon and Garfunkle sang the lyrics..."Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, A nation turns its lonely eyes to you" during a time when Americans needed to reacquaint themselves with the heroes that surrounded them. I used to consider media people heroes, but I believe many of them took the low road in this election cycle. Where is Walter Cronkite when we need him?
Trump did not create bigotry, homophobia or misogyny, he just gave them an atmosphere to allow them to come out of the closet, and the media shown a light on the worst we have to offer. We "lost" because now we have to pick up the pieces of a split society and somehow put them together. We can no longer just see what we want to see. We have to face some harsh realities and raise our children to be better. WE ARE WINNERS, however, because we can do it. We did it in the sixties and righted many wrongs. Americans are strong and compassionate people for the most part, and we always find the higher road. What we need is good leadership and a willingness to admit that we have a problem. I, for one, hope to see that we have reached the time that a woman can indeed become President, but either way, we must do what America has always done...find a way to come together and move forward in an America that provides liberty and justice FOR ALL! ___________________________________________________________________
Well, it is now the Thursday after the election, and yes, I am disappointed. I admire much about Hillary and want to believe a woman can be elected to serve as President. Didn't happen...but it will someday. As for today, half of America is very happy with their President Elect, and hopefully he will prove the rest of us wrong. It is time for us to work together. I refuse to freak out...I will hope for the best and believe that the best of the American values will prevail.
Thomas Benigno's book, The Criminal Lawyer, takes us on an adventure that shows what is the worst that America has to offer. Although the main character is a lawyer, he acts more like a private detective in this book, and he is hunting down a serial killer who has supposedly kidnapped his son's girlfriend. There are many twists and turns in this book as it moves towards its surprising ending.
Dishonor Thy Wife by Belinda Austin is a well written story that invites us into the marriage of two very unhappy people. Ronni and Brad have stayed together because of the child that caused them to marry in the first place. Their relationship is strained at best, each in his/her own bedroom leading their own lives. Brad, a physician, returns from a convention in Philadelphia a changed man. He seems more interested in Ronni, and she is uncomfortable with his actions. The book brings us mystery, murder and mayhem and is definitely a good choice for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.
I would like to end this blog on a very positive note and thank all of the brave men and women who served our country during times of war and peace. Your contribution is never forgotten, and our country will survive and prosper because of you all. Enjoy this day that celebrates you.
As always, complete reviews of these two books follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
---Paul Simon
By the time I post this we will know who won the presidential election, but today, the Monday morning before Election Day, I can tell you who the clear loser is...the American people. This past year has caused anxiety throughout our country (actually throughout the world) and has shown us that a convenient lie is sometimes viewed as acceptable in the political arena. Blatant scare tactics have worked on both sides, causing millions of people to believe that our country will be destroyed if the "other side" wins.
Our candidates have spent so much time defending their email and twitter accounts, that issues like climate change and social security have been put on the back burner. Really...does it surprise us that Clinton deleted emails? Does Trump's inability to control his tongue in a tweet show a side of him we didn't know? Of course not, but these things made great headlines for a media that seems to have forgotten their true purpose.
Can you imagine Woodward and Bernstein investigating the veracity of 3:00 A.M. Tweets? How about Huntley and Brinkley focusing on personality failings at the expense of real issues? Many years ago, Simon and Garfunkle sang the lyrics..."Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, A nation turns its lonely eyes to you" during a time when Americans needed to reacquaint themselves with the heroes that surrounded them. I used to consider media people heroes, but I believe many of them took the low road in this election cycle. Where is Walter Cronkite when we need him?
Trump did not create bigotry, homophobia or misogyny, he just gave them an atmosphere to allow them to come out of the closet, and the media shown a light on the worst we have to offer. We "lost" because now we have to pick up the pieces of a split society and somehow put them together. We can no longer just see what we want to see. We have to face some harsh realities and raise our children to be better. WE ARE WINNERS, however, because we can do it. We did it in the sixties and righted many wrongs. Americans are strong and compassionate people for the most part, and we always find the higher road. What we need is good leadership and a willingness to admit that we have a problem. I, for one, hope to see that we have reached the time that a woman can indeed become President, but either way, we must do what America has always done...find a way to come together and move forward in an America that provides liberty and justice FOR ALL! ___________________________________________________________________
Well, it is now the Thursday after the election, and yes, I am disappointed. I admire much about Hillary and want to believe a woman can be elected to serve as President. Didn't happen...but it will someday. As for today, half of America is very happy with their President Elect, and hopefully he will prove the rest of us wrong. It is time for us to work together. I refuse to freak out...I will hope for the best and believe that the best of the American values will prevail.
Thomas Benigno's book, The Criminal Lawyer, takes us on an adventure that shows what is the worst that America has to offer. Although the main character is a lawyer, he acts more like a private detective in this book, and he is hunting down a serial killer who has supposedly kidnapped his son's girlfriend. There are many twists and turns in this book as it moves towards its surprising ending.
Dishonor Thy Wife by Belinda Austin is a well written story that invites us into the marriage of two very unhappy people. Ronni and Brad have stayed together because of the child that caused them to marry in the first place. Their relationship is strained at best, each in his/her own bedroom leading their own lives. Brad, a physician, returns from a convention in Philadelphia a changed man. He seems more interested in Ronni, and she is uncomfortable with his actions. The book brings us mystery, murder and mayhem and is definitely a good choice for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.
I would like to end this blog on a very positive note and thank all of the brave men and women who served our country during times of war and peace. Your contribution is never forgotten, and our country will survive and prosper because of you all. Enjoy this day that celebrates you.
As always, complete reviews of these two books follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
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