President Trump’s campaign-rally type remarks were totally inappropriate for this audience. Donald Trump is a BSA and that does not stand for Boy Scouts of America. He proved that in spades when he spoke before the National Scout Jamboree in Glen Jean, West Virginia on Monday, July 25. Early in his speech, the President proclaimed, “I said, ‘Who the hell wants to speak about politics when I’m in front of the Boy Scouts.’ Right?” He then proceeded to spend the bulk of his … [Read more...]

For more than a decade now, much has been written about the increasing polarization and the tremendous philosophical and political differences among those in various states and regions of this country. There are: The red states and the blue states. The coastal states and the heartland states. The big states and the little states. The question becomes is the American democracy at risk because of this balkanization? The answer is it all depends. Truth be told – and it … [Read more...]

Our country needs to be able to make war, but it needs to try to make peace first. The release of President Donald Trump’s first budget on May 23, 2017 has created quite a fuss. With its huge cuts to and elimination of domestic programs, redistribution of funds from the middle class and poor to the richest Americans and failure to balance, the budget has generated a significant hue and cry against it. There has even been dissatisfactionexpressed by some in the areas of military … [Read more...]

When Donald Trump came into office as president on January 20, 2017, he had neither governmental nor military experience. This was the first time in the history of this nation that any American president did not have a background in one of those two areas. The thought and hope of many was that because he was a “successful” business person he would learn on the job, be a quick study, and become presidential. He has not. What Trump has done instead is to try to run this country … [Read more...]

On May 29, the United States and the world will celebrate the 100th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s birth. Tragically, President Kennedy, or JFK as he was known universally, did not live to see the ripe old age of 100 or even get close to it. He was assassinated on November 22, 1963 - when he was only 46 years old - as he sat with his wife Jackie in an open top convertible in a Dallas motorcade. Kennedy’s premature and horrific demise caused professor of history Robert Dallek … [Read more...]

President Trump’s “America First” federal budget proposes drastic cuts or the outright elimination of many programs that support the socially and economically disadvantaged; scientific and health research; education; and, the arts. If it is enacted in full, or in part, it will have a dramatic negative effect on this nation and many of its citizens. That will make philanthropy even more critical than it is today here in the United States for promoting the common good and equality of … [Read more...]

In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump called attention to the very real and serious problem of “Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities….” He was right to signify on this problem. But, as he continued to signify on an “education system flush with cash” he was wrong. And, when he ended this section of his address – after talking about crime, gangs and drugs - by declaring “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.” he was even more wrong. … [Read more...]

In June of 2016, we wrote a blog about the then-presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for President of the United States, titled “Donald Trump is Building A Wall.” It began as follows: In a recent interview with Jake Tapper of CNN trying to defend his indefensible comments regarding Gonzalo Curiel, a native born American of Mexican heritage, who is the federal judge overseeing the lawsuit against Trump University, Trump repeatedly proclaimed, “I am building a wall.” That … [Read more...]

On January 20, the inaugural parade was held in Washington, D.C. to mark the commencement of a new presidency. On January 21, there were women’s marches in Washington, D.C. and across the United States against the new President. And, in the week of the inauguration, Congressman John Lewis’ book trilogy, March, shot to the top of Amazon’s best-seller list. The inaugural parade march on January 20, the protest marches on January 21, and the success of John Lewis’ March in the week of … [Read more...]