I Could Be Wrong.

 Every November, Americans gather around tables to celebrate Thanksgiving. We tell ourselves a story of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a peaceful meal, a myth of harmony and gratitude. But the real power of Thanksgiving lies not in its origins, but in how leaders have used it to shape national identity during moments of crisis. In 1863, with the Union torn apart by a great Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Thanksgiving. His proclamation was not about Pilgrims; in fact, Pilgrims were never mentioned – it was about unity. Lincoln urged Americans to give thanks “in the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity,” reframing suffering as part of divine providence and national resilience. Thanksgiving became a civic ritual of reconciliation, binding the North and South under shared values even as battlefields raged. By the late 19 th century, the Plymouth feast had become America’s founding story. Textbooks and school pageants promo...

  On Truth Social, the President of the United States called for a group of Democratic members of Congress to be hanged for sedition and treason. They must have committed a very serious crime for Trump to be asking that they be hanged. What happened is that a group of Democratic lawmakers, many of them being veterans or with national security backgrounds, released a video telling members of our military that they must refuse unlawful orders, emphasizing loyalty to the Constitution over political directives.   Trump on his Truth Social account labeled their actions as “seditious behavior from traitors”   and claimed their conduct was “punishable by death”. He reposted a comment calling for them to be hanged. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Trump did not literally want executions, but rather accountability. Accountability for what?   What law did they break? She was arguing that the lawmakers were undermining presidential authority over the milita...

  In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1944 State of the Union Address, he proposed a Second Bill of Rights. It was a visionary proposal for economic and social justice. It aimed to guarantee every American a baseline of economic security and dignity. History tells us that Roosevelt was not just any President. According to the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Survey, he is the 2 nd greatest President in our history, only behind Abraham Lincoln and one spot ahead of George Washington. If you look at the Presidents that are honored in the National Mall, you will see that only 4 have this honor. There is George Washington with the Washington Monument, honoring our first President, who set our democratic precedents by avoiding a monarchy. He was our first NO KINGS protestor. There is Thomas Jefferson, with the Jefferson Memorial; he was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase that led to our Manifest Destiny. Abraham Lincoln, with the Lincol...

  On November 4 th, many communities held elections around the country. There were a few major elections, including the Governor's election in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as the Mayoral election in New York City. But we also had many local elections that tell a tale of what may be happening in the country. One thing that is for sure is that for the next year, we are going to see an intense battle for the soul of our nation. In New York City, we now have a Muslim mayor. Depending on who you talk to, the Zohran Mamdani is either a Socialist, a Democratic Socialist, a Communist, or a Terrorist. The man is the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York City. Mamdani has not even started his term yet, and people are already saying he is destroying New York. It has sparked intense reaction, from being celebrated as historic to being condemned by conservatives and Trump allies as a dangerous shift toward radicalism. What he did do is promise the most aggressive affordability a...

  Being in the hospital, I missed the “No Kings” protest, but still rooted for my friends who were there.   I was refreshed to see so many people out there who love their country so much that they are willing to stand up and demand that our democracy and Constitution be preserved. I had participated in the others, and I think the movement is growing. The fact that over 2,700 rallies were held across all 50 states was fantastic. The fact that these protests were non-violent was a credit to all who are not intimidated by the threats of violence that are spewed by the conservatives and Republicans. Speaker Johnson tried to brand the protest as “Hate America” protests. What they really were was a celebration honoring our Democracy and our Constitution that Trump and his administration have been trying to trample since he took office. When the White Supremacists marched in Charlotte in 2017, they were trying to intimidate people by carrying torches, and they were chanting “You will...

  It has been over half a month since I wrote a piece for my blog. In fact, I was reminded that my last piece was posted on October 8 th . I had started writing a piece about the Israeli /Palestinian ceasefire when I began to feel a little under the weather. It started like a common cold and quickly progressed to affect my lungs. My wife called 911 when I could no longer breathe, and I was rushed to the hospital. In the emergency room, I was put on a BiPap to help me breathe and was admitted for a respiratory infection and cardiac observation. My pulse was over 130, and my blood pressure was sky high. I spent four days in the hospital on the 8 th floor at Health Park, in Fort Myers, Florida. I have to admit that the room had a great view, and I could watch the sunset every evening. From out the window, I could see all the way to the Sanibel Causeway. Overall, my care was good, but you could tell that at times they were understaffed, but were doing their best. I do wish that they c...