Beware the Empty Wind
Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart
The wind has a voice. Just as mankind’s voice comes from the
force of his own wind, his breath, the wind consoles us or warns us about what is
coming.
Out here, in the west, summers are mostly pleasant. On days
when the heat becomes unbearable, cool breezes frequently arise in the
afternoons promising that a good night’s sleep lies ahead. Winter storms are
preceded by cold winds letting everyone know that a new season is coming.
Lightning and thunder in late spring and early summer are announced by strong
gusts of wind.
In the middle of our nation, the most powerful winds
imaginable often leave great destruction in their path. However, before the
tornado becomes life-threatening, the wind becomes silent; warning everyone in
its path that an unstoppable force is coming.
On our east coast and the Gulf of Mexico, before hurricanes invade
our shores and inland areas with devastating winds and torrential rain, the
wind begins slowly as the heart of the storm grows near: warning us of
approaching danger and possible devastation.
When our politicians speak, our citizens refer to their
words as “hot air:” the wind coming out of their mouths carries little or no
substance. When incompetent leaders stand in front of the television cameras
and utter meaningless, angry words of despair, composed of lies and promises
they never intend to keep, I refer to this as “empty wind.”
In my 79 years, the world has suffered from leadership which
has been mostly incompetent and destructive. War is the plaything of
politicians and the super-rich. The world’s leaders prefer death and
destruction over solving the problems of more than eight billion people.
No nation has a worse government than that of the United
States in the 21st century. The white man illegally elected to the
presidency in 2000 became the worst president in American history until 2017.
His erratic and often illiterate “empty wind” divided our nation. His economic
failures brought about the Great Recession of 2007.
When George W. Bush left office in 2009, America was engaged
in two unwinnable, costly, and illegal wars. The housing market was in chaos,
the national debt exploded through the ceiling as the greed of Wall Street
billionaires nearly bankrupted our country. Not a single rich criminal was ever
punished. It was clear that the law only applies to those who are not
super-rich or powerful.
Fortunately, President Obama’s administration was capable
and wise and saved our nation’s economy. However, when he left office in 2017,
our nation became shackled by an illegitimate president and his incompetent
administration who moved America backwards with poor decisions and the failure
to perform their jobs as required by the Constitution.
Between 2017 and 2021, there was not a single positive
accomplishment which originated in Donald Trump’s Washington. Trump’s parting “gifts”
were a deadly coronavirus, treason, and violations of the Espionage Act.
No politician in American history offered more ‘empty wind’
than Donald John Trump. Not once in his life has he told the truth. Not once in
his pitiful 79 years has he displayed an interest in the welfare of anyone but
himself.
Every time he spoke to his “basement dwellers” the
atmosphere was filled with anger, hatred, and the incitement of violence in his
name. This pattern continues today with the addition of remarks I can only
describe as “poor, old me.” He continues to spin the reality of his many crimes
against America, blaming others for a life of failure, crime, and debauchery.
Sadly, the 20th and 21st centuries in
America were mostly void of competent leadership. Only two Americans in my life
offered our nation’s people hope, confidence, and the courage to face the
problems which stood before us every day. Their speeches were teachable
experiences delivered with eloquent speech, great wisdom, and encouragement.
Their words were anything but “empty wind.”
I end this with a single quote from each of these two great
and inspirational men. I dream of the day when our nation will have another
great leader. Unfortunately, I doubt that I will live long enough to see that
happen.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the
highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F.
Kennedy
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish
together as fools.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Op-ed by James Turnage
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