TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart “Baltimore, Maryland: Two dead, 28 injured.” This headline was not the first story on the front page of “Google News.” That’s no surprise. It happens every day somewhere in our nation. These happen so frequently, Republicans have ceased offering their “thoughts and prayers.” During a block party in South Baltimore, on the 4th of July weekend an 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were shot and killed by what appears to be a lone gunman. 28 others were injured, some remain in critical condition. “Just two days into the month, it is one of three mass shootings in July and one of 338 mass shootings in the US in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive.” Since 2017 there have been more mass shootings than days on the calendar, and our government does not give a damn. They continue to do nothing with the exception of stuffing their war chests with money from the NRA gun lobby. It is our government who is the reason why the United States has become the most dan

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   This is one of the headlines from Ohio today, June 22, 2023. One I have seen far too often. “2-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots And Kills Pregnant Mother After Finding Gun, Police Say” Prior to 1976 when the NRA became a lobby for gun manufacturers and gun sellers, there was a free pamphlet offered to everyone suggesting measures to safely store guns inside the home. It no longer exists. The instructions were simple and would prevent one of the biggest problems in America today. The NRA, a gun safety organization, suggested keeping all guns stored in the home unloaded. Most importantly, the weapon and its ammunition should be locked and stored in separate locations.  “Laura Ilg, 31, was 33 weeks pregnant when she called police Friday afternoon to report that her son got a hold of a gun and shot her in the back, Norwalk police said in a press release published by local newspaper the Norwalk Reflector. “Responding officers kicked down the front door to find Ilg stil

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart White supremacy, pervasive racism, white privilege, and bigotry in far too many other situations are real, and undeniable. Let me tell you a personal story about a young, white man who had personal experience with these issues. A man who was not raised in the deep South or another red state, and learned that extreme racism is a reality in all 50 states to some degree. I was born in Lewiston, Idaho in July of 1946. Before my sixth birthday my family moved to Los Angeles, California. This great city, composed of diverse people and people who encourage free thought and the exchange of ideas, remains my favorite place to live if I could afford it today. Let me inform you that I trust no one in power in the 21st century. Every one of these groups has proven that they are not worthy of my acceptance because their lies are unending. I especially detest the worst of the worst, professional politicians. I know that political parties are destructive to any nation’s future