TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart I was one of millions of America’s children who was privileged to have grown up in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Our fathers, uncles, and in some situations mothers and aunts had defeated the fascist mob attempting to recreate the world in their vile and hate-filled image. I loved school. First grade was spent at St. Mark’s Elementary School in Venice, California. For the next seven years I attended St. Gerard Majella Elementary School in West Los Angeles. Across the nation patriotism was the primary emotion. Beginning in second grade we studied the origin of the United States of America. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and the rest were heroes because their dream created America, and because their lofty ideals were pure. Our country was envied by people all over the world. We learned about two world wars and how our fathers and grandfathers were eager to fight for their country and for citizens of other nations who were under siege by military forces controlled by me...

I am not certain that this is the fifth article I have written about why I am proud to be a liberal, or the fourth or the sixth. I only know that on occasion I find it necessary to explain how I learned right from wrong, and how I became aware that the past is only good for one thing: it is a place where the most important things I learned were from my mistakes, and the mistakes of my government.   As an original “baby boomer,” born in July of 1946, I began my life in an atmosphere of patriotism, and rebirth. The war to defeat fascism had been won, and America was changing quickly, attempting to leave the horrors of war behind us and move our nation forward with changes which no one could have imagined just a few years ago. Millions of women who had become workers in our factories in support of the need to create weapons of mass destruction stepped aside, allowing America’s returning heroes to secure employment in the private sector. Factories were re-tooled, manufacturing eve...

Here’s the picture. I was born in July of 1946, making me an original ‘baby boomer.’ When I began my school years, I was sent to a Catholic elementary school. The first thing we did every morning, before prayers, was to stand, face the American flag in the corner, place our right hands over our hearts, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. This was two years before the words “under God” were added to the oath. My mother had a large family, and there were family gatherings frequently. I enjoyed them, but did not understand everything they talked about. Three of my uncles had returned from serving in WWII; one did not. Although I don’t remember them talking about what they did and saw during the war, politics and the state of our nation were frequent topics of conversation. Although politics were frequently discussed, my family was very patriotic. Movies on television were often stories about battles on the land, sea, and air during the war. John Wayne was an American hero, although he av...

The First Amendment guarantees the right of ordinary citizens to peacefully protest their grievances against a corrupt government. The Mother of American Fascism, Marjorie Taylor Greene does not support the Constitution, although she took an oath to “preserve and protect” our most sacred document from all enemies foreign and domestic. Maybe she enjoys being one of the most hated people in our nation. On Tuesday the Trump lackey held a Town Hall Meeting in Acworth, Georgia. In addition to angry voters, a number of Georgia’s disgraced law enforcement were present, who proved that they share MTG’s disdain for the First Amendment. Protesters were attacked with stun guns, and physically removed from the venue for interrupting and booing the worst Representative in history. Several individuals exercising their First Amendment rights were illegally arrested, proving that there is no equal protection under the law in America. It also proves that law enforcement and the military are both fascis...

    Politicians all lie, and the most ridiculous of all is the claim that America is the “greatest country in the world.” America is not even close. In a study of 15 developed nations, the United States is rated poorly in most categories. In the most important category, ‘quality of life,’ our nation was rated 15 th . It is obvious that politicians and the super-rich believe that the U.S. is the most ‘important country in the world.’ Arrogance is a trait which defines all politicians and all of our nation’s 756 oligarchs/billionaires. The facts prove that between 2017 and 2021 America lost its status in the world. Trump has made a laughingstock out of a once respected and admired nation. However, Trump and ‘his people’ don’t care. They think they are more important than anyone else on the planet. As I predicted, long before the 2024 campaign season began, Trump is now a dictator with no resemblance to any legitimate president other than himself. In collusion with Elon Mus...

In August of 1619 the first slaves stepped onto the New Land. This vile and inhuman act began what has become pervasive racism in the United States for more than 248 years. Republicans, with assistance from their propaganda machine, FOX News, continue to confirm that their party is composed of racists, bigots, homophobes, religious bigots, and sexists. This tells us that about one-half of all 340 million people are prejudiced without reason. One event which I never read in history class, and only learned about later in life, is demonstrative of how destructive racism has been for our nation’s future. The Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a very successful business district in 1921. However, on March 31 and June 1 st , an angry crowd of about 10,000 angry white men stormed into the Black part of Tulsa on March 31 and began attacking Black men and women while setting fire to their stores and shops. At the end of a well-planned attack on June 1 st , more than 300 Black men and women...

  I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s. There were many imperfections in America’s government which I learned about in high school. However, I was proud to claim the title of “American citizen.” I was positive that our Founding Fathers believed good people would improve upon their dreams. They were noble, but failed to understand the weakness, greed, and avarice of human beings. Everything drastically changed in the 21 st century. The demise of the once Grand Old Party began in 1981 with the inauguration of Ronald Reagan. Most Americans believed that Ronald Reagan was an old man who would serve his country well. I, and others who voted for him were fooled by a talented actor. Reagan was power mad and a religious extremist, who had plans beyond anyone’s imagination. Reagan remade the Republican Party completely. He demanded unwavering loyalty. His proposals and policies were to be supported without question. He began the current policy of unity to the point of eliminating free ...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   This 78-year-old man is not convinced that the nation of our Founding Fathers is worthy of saving. The men and women we elect to serve all of our nation’s people cannot be trusted. At least 40 million of our nation’s citizens no longer believe in wha t it means to be an “American.” I do not understand what has happened to my country over the l ast eight decades .   No one who is not part of my generation can remember what it was like to experience the pride of being an original baby boomer who was the product of parents who sur vived the second world war and hoped to experience a nation of people proud to know that the fascist agenda of Adolf Hitler had been destroyed . Our democratic nation had been an integral part of his defeat.   Patriotism permeated our lives. Movies and television offered never-ending reenactments of the heroic efforts of American soldiers and their courageous and dangerous actions to save the worl d from rule by Ado...

Op-ed by TheWiseOld Fart   I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s. My interest in politics began in 1956. Our government has never been perfect, but during my younger years, with heated deliberation and compromise, it worked. Most of the time our elected officials “did the right thing,” or something close to it.   The American People are the Least Informed in the Free World   One of the things I remember most is that my grandparents, uncles and aunts discussed politics and the direction our nation was taking after the end of WWII. They read the newspaper and were far more informed than the average American who “learns everything they need from television today.”   I assumed that every American paid attention to what was happening in our country, and about one-half of them did. Today I doubt that five percent of all Americans are aware of what is happening in Washington. They are ignorant because of a lack of effort, but also because our government has become m...