Kipling’s “IF” - Essential Parental Wisdom

                      IF 
           Rudyard Kipling
If you can hold your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If You can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master;

If you can think-- and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with triumph and disaster,

and treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

and stoop and build them up with worn out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings;

and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

and lose, and start again at your beginnings

and never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone
and so hold on when there is nothing in you

except the will which says to them: “ HOLD ON!! ”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

yours is the earth and everything that’s in it,

and--which is more--you’ll be a MAN, my son!  

Women Appreciation Day

We are in need of a national “Women’s Appreciation Day.”  This celebration should be a national holiday. The fact it doesn’t exist is yet another tarnish in contemporary America. 

Women’s contributions have vastly exceeded just the gaining of further equality for their gender.   They have acted as a constant source of inspiration and benefit to mankind as a whole.  Hence, we are in dire need of not just a reminder of equality improvements but, in a far larger sense, their extraordinary contributions to humanity.                 

We are long remiss in failing to recognized that America society has always been, and will always be, a matriarchy.  Women, through their demands, virtues, sacrifices, compassion and tenderness have been the architects of the moral fabric that defines our societies.  They are the ones who have demonstrated the finest qualities in the human spirit and have thus propelled the very best in us to surface.   Their collective thinking and influence has molded our behavior to this very day. 

The proclamation announcing the national holiday should therefore primarily embrace and emphasize female contributions that greatly exceed the collective works of either Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinem.    

It should also clearly and strongly proclaim that their list of contributions have been the most significant among the genders.   It should publicly declare what we have known for decades – that most male success and contributions would not have occurred without female support, encouragement and intervention.  

Both Mother Teresa and Mary Jo Copeland (Sharing and Caring Hands) are saints.  The magnificent blessings bestowed upon us by this magnificent gender demands its long overdue special recognition. 

                                      “If you can’t feed a hundred; then just feed one.”     Mary Jo Copeland                                  

 Recommended Readings: 

A Malat Musing: Grocery Shopping with Gloria      March 31, 2015
http://malatman-malatblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2015/03/grocery-shopping-with-gloria.html

A Malat Musing: Remembering Irena Sendler        August 26, 2016
http://malatman-malatblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/08/remembering-irene-sendler.html

A Malat Musing: Genora (Johnson) Dollinger         August 26, 2016
http://malatman-malatblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/08/genora-johnson-dollinger.html

A Malat Musing: Christmas Is a Mothers Love         December 23, 2015
https://malatman-malatblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-is-mothers-love.html

A Malat Musing: Time for All to Meet Marie            July 25, 2014
http://malatman-malatblogspotcom.blogspot.com/search?q=Time+For+All+To+Meet+Marie

Remembering Walter Cronkite

A precious legacy ignored today, still offers

   great hope and promise for tomorrow.  

Walter Cronkite was the epitome of a journalist in every sense of the word. His concern was with the facts  and the truth as best they could be determined. 

Objective journalism, in his Mind, was an oxymoron.  To Him it was absurd pretend that certain facts were in dispute.  Ignoring or downplaying the truth to give the appearance of fairness was inherently dishonest. He had no intention of placating those who would never accept the truth, even in light of a preponderance of proof.  To Walter, objectivity was irrelevant, for it had nothing to do with truth, logic or reality.

It was his half-hour report on February 27, 1968 on the Tet Offensive in Vietnam that shone the bright light of truth on all the lies Americans had been told about that war.  Cronkite's continuous reporting on the carnage became the impetus in Americans demanding an end to our involvement in Southeast Asia.  It was after the airing of his documentary that President Johnson was rumored to have said: “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America."

In 1972, as the Watergate scandal was developing, multiple attacks were launched to discredit the Washington Post and Woodward and Bernstein by the most powerful forces in America.  Cronkite’s reporting on their efforts gave them the credibility they needed and thus acted as a springboard for them to continue with their investigation.

Cronkite was the epitome of integrity, journalistic responsibility and professionalism - none of which are valued  to any significant degree by today’s journalists and news media outlets.  

And that is precisely why the Walter Cronkite’s and Edward R. Murrow’s are so very important today.  For they are the idyllic models waiting to be resurrected for future journalists to once again emulate.  Without their legacy of excellence, the Fourth Estate is rudderless – with no hope of being any better than they are today – Which bodes badly for America tomorrow.    

“And that’s the way it is this Tuesday July 30, 2019”

* Why A Fourth Of July *

Prisoners Of Prejudices

We are all prisoners of our prejudices.

To ignore them is to signal a death knell. 

Tribalism, political parties, almost all religions and ideologies require the adoption of some form of prejudice.  They therefore promote a basic mistrust in our fellow man.  Some of their doctrines may have legitimacy yet, in reality, most of their beliefs are riddled with irrationalism. The problem is that they are mechanisms used to support what their members want to believe.  They are not truth seekers. 

Everyone knows this to be true of every organization they are NOT affiliated with.  No one beliefs this could possibly be true of the organizations they are affiliated with.  Hence the problem. 

Each and everyone of these prejudices are carried into the polls on election day. Racists vote.  Bigots vote.  Feminists vote.  Business owners vote.  Employees vote.  The rich vote.  The poor vote… and on and on.  The challenge isn’t that these biases exist.  That is human nature.  The real challenge is in our unwillingness to recognize them in ourselves.  Are we willing to set them aside for the betterment of our nation, society and mankind as a whole?  

As we all know, the issues are NOT typically paramount in the minds of the American voter.  Their selection of a president is primarily based upon Anger, fear, hatreds, preconceived notions (bigotry, discrimination, political party, tribalism and etc.), which can, and usually do, eclipse the issues.

We have reached a point in America where it is essential we recognize this failing and begin disciplining ourselves to focus on issues - what is bigger than just ourselves and our narrow desires. 

We should all seethe when we read things like; “If the ticket has a woman, a person of color or a Latino, or a female who is also a person of color, Democratic Party turnout will surge more in really important places…"  This form of bigotry and discrimination has become acceptable.  Yet this should annoy us every bit as much as blatant racism.  It is critical that Americans come to grips with the fact that this overt ugliness is every bit as bigoted as the Ku Klux Klan. 

Our support, or the withholding of that support, NEEDS to based on issues and issues only:

·        End 18 years of war

·        End callousness toward the deaths of countless young black males

·        Hold the president accountable for corruption

·        End the corruption within our political system

·        End the cold indifference that defines our health care system

·        Alleviate homelessness and feed our hungry children

·        End spree shootings and mass killings

·        Tackle global warming and clean up the air 

Unfortunately, we are living in an America where voters place less and less emphasis on issues.  Gun owners only care about their guns.  The rich only care about the size of their yacht.  Feminists only care about electing women. 

The independent voter is what has saved America from political ruin.  They still know the difference between right and wrong and are, for the most part, willing to vote it.  Unfortunately, their number is dwindling when we desperately need that number to be increasing.  

If the issues and proper focus on an agenda is ignored in favor of a woman of color or any other inconsequential requirement, then little hope will remain for the America we once were and are capable of being again. 

Intellectually and emotionally, we need to embrace the maturity and wisdom of Heidi Heitkamp and Claire McCaskill: “We want someone of very high character…Someone who is competent, strong and authentic and we don’t care if they are a woman.” 

Only then can we move forward once again in America.

Marilyn and That “Bullitt” Mustang

McQueen visits with San Francisco kids in 1968 while filming “BULLITT”

"Bullitt" has once again hit my radar. It comes in the form of that special lady in my life alerting me to the television series “Blue Bloods” and a resulting conversation of the season 6, episode 7 installment that aired on November 06, 2015 entitled “The Bullitt Mustang.”  

 

It gave pause that Steve McQueen was only nominated once for an academy award.  It was in 1967 for his portrayal of Jake Holman in the 1966 movie “The Sand Pebbles.”  It was, for many of us, McQueen’s finest work.  But it wasn't to be, as Paul Scofield won the award for his exceptional performance in “A Man for All Seasons.”

 

McQueen didn’t grouse or pout in the press, like many before him. Instead he immediately went to work on filming "Bullitt" in 1968.

 

When that “Blue Bloods" episode was aired, it had been 47 years since “Bullitt” first hit the big screen.  Apparently the magic of this film had not diminished.  As Susan Encinas wrote in Muscle Car Review, in March, 1987; “No one has duplicated the electricity or the savage ferocity that manifested itself in BULLITT chase scenes, and it’s doubtful any one ever will.”  The eleven-minute car chase that took three weeks to film will, in all probably, never be forgotten.  Whenever the movie is referred to today the descriptive “Classic Film” always accompanies its title.

 

This really validates Steve McQueen’s contention that because movies are a visual medium, the majority of the entertainment and story should be contained in the those visual elements – NOT IN THE DIALOG. Those car chase scenes, along with the grocery store scene as well as the scenes at the very end of the “Classic” movie, solidly validates and enforces McQueen's belief.    

 

The very last scene in the 2015 “Blue Bloods" episode has all the permanent male cast members admiring one of the greatest machines ever built. Yet further validation that that car may never be forgotten. 

 

One can’t help but wonder if The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences got it right in 1967.  But then, that will always be the problem with any attempt to turn art into competition.  It may have some strong financial remunerations but, other than that, it’s just plain ludicrous.  The beauty of any art form is always and only in the eye of the beholder.  Only the beauty of Marilyn and apparently that 1968 Mustang, remain indisputable.

Marilyn Monroe – Circa 1957 –1968 “Bullitt” Mustang Valued At $4 Million

Excerpts From Blue Bloods:

“This is the Mona Lisa of cars.”

“A Car that was in the greatest car chase ever filmed

with the coolest movie star ever.”

“It's Dorothy's ruby red slippers.

It's Neil Armstrong's space suit. 

 It's Bruce Springsteen's Fender Esquire on the cover of Born to Run.  

It's a thing that you could touch that stands for a whole feeling

that you had about things, what was cool and inspired you.”

“To millions of men the stuff that dreams are made of.”



Religious Right Aiding White Supremacy

As our nation continues its swirl around the porcelain receptacle, we must demand accountability where none is even considered, if we are to avoid the sewer.

Congressman Steven King has long been a decadent thorn is the side of Iowa.  He has now become an irrefutable and severe embarrassment.  "White nationalist, white supremacist,… — how did that language become offensive?" Yet his most disgusting proclamation has strong roots and ties to the oval office.

 Since 2015, President Trump has refused to denounce white supremacy whenever he has had the opportunity to do so.  His responses have always been open-ended and best characterized, as non-denial-denials, which he later denied denying by claiming ignorance to white supremacy.

Example: Bloomberg Television anchor John Heilemann asked if Trump would repudiate David Duke’s endorsement.  Trump’s response; “…if that would make you feel better, I would certainly repudiate.”  Not because white supremacy is evil or because Trump distains it, but only to silence the questioner on the topic.  Non-denial-denial.

Months later Duke offered his strongest support for Trump telling radio listeners that a vote for one of Trump's rivals would be "treason to your heritage.”  When asked again if Trump was comfortable with this endorsement Trump proclaimed; "David Duke endorsed me? O.K., alright, I disavow. O.K.?"  The tone and expression clearly indicated, beyond his choice of words, that he was just placating the interviewer.  Again, he refused to disavow or express disgust over the racist mental illness.  Another non-denial-denial.

Many months later on February 28, 2016 Jake Tapper pressed Trump on David Duke and the support he was receiving from white supremacists. Tapper tried three times to get a rebuke of the depravity and each time Trump declined.  "So, I don't know. I don't know—did he endorse me, or what's going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke; I know nothing about white supremacists."  

Months later, after Trump was badgered on multiple occasions over support from white supremacists, he still hadn’t educated himself on white supremacy???  All he could offer was a response in the fine time-honored tradition of Sargent Schultz from  “Hogan’s Heroes”; “I Know NOTHING.” When President Trump was asked to address Steven Kings racism his response was typical and predictable.  Answer – You guessed it – I know nothing – NOTHHHHHHING.

Mitch McConnell and other Republicans condemned Steven King’s racist remarks.  Yet they refuse to condemn President Trumps racist posture. No Republican outrage has been expressed over yet another inane Trump response or his refusal to denounce racism.

Republican politicians are not the only voice that is silent regarding President Trump’s many non-denial-denials of racism.  One of the parties most vocal demographics and ardent supporters, the religious right,  has also had nothing to say on the subject.   

The closest to any religious utterances on the subject come from Trump’s press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.  She is the daughter of Mike Huckabee, a southern Baptist minister and a Republican politician.   He has won elective offices, by primarily campaigning as a zealous religious right advocate.  It’s not known if his daughter has adopted and claims adherence to her fathers’ religious persuasion.  What is know is that she was obviously raised to embrace such beliefs.  By her continued silence and refusal to denounce the racism that swirls around her boss, she too, is lending support to it.  Silence is consent.

These events are NOT just alarming but extremely dangerous. If we are on the road to once again embracing white supremacy then we, as a people, are on our merry way to losing our very souls.