Blog
America’s newest war hero seeks a Nobel Peace Prize to recognize another of his astounding accomplishments. I see him deserving a different prize. Granted, when it comes to war and peace, Trump’s been there and done that. On Wednesday, he called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war hero for Israel’s bombings of Iran’s air…
Donald Trump is clearly demonstrating to America that busyness is next to godliness. Last February, Trump appointed himself chair of D.C.’s Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. This past Wednesday, Trump announced the—his—Kennedy Center honorees. They include Sylvester Stallone who, along with Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, will be his “eyes and ears” in Hollywood. Americans…
Dealing with numbers like your bank balance can be exasperating. I went online to see the balance in the checking account Carolyn and I maintain to pay household bills and collect Social Security. The website was way out of whack! Our balance appeared only in the low four-digit range ($1,000–$9,999). I expected to see a…
Trigger warning: This post contains ethnic slurs. Recommendation: Think as you read. President Trump recently called on baseball’s Cleveland Guardians and football’s Washington Commanders to revert to their former names—Indians and Redskins. Why? Native Americans can’t be all that thin-skinned and woke name changes are unpatriotic. Let’s acknowledge, rather than ignore, our nation’s ethnicities. I’m Jewish, so…
Wednesday, thanks to genetic good fortune, I turned 81 and became, as I am wont, reflective about life and death. I’ve outlived my father, Morris, who died at 80. I’m grateful to be of sound body and mind, although part of my personality remains 15. Carolyn will tell you, it takes a sense of humor…
Who cried three times during a Broadway touring musical about the pop songwriter-singer Neil Diamond? Recently, Carolyn and I saw “A Beautiful Noise” about Diamond’s career and emotional challenges. And yes, the one who cried was me. Let me explain, particularly since today is the Fourth of July. One of the show’s first songs was…
Right after Air Force B-2s dropped “bunker busters” on Fordo and Natanz last Saturday, President Trump announced that those facilities had been “obliterated.” Did he jump the gun? A preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency report—I emphasize “preliminary”— stated that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back by only two to three months. In a few days, more optimistic…
When making decisions, government leaders must evaluate their nation’s pain threshold and their own political risks. Cue Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump gave Khamenei 60 days to agree to processing uranium only for civilian use—and outside Iran. Khamenei refused. The deadline passed. Given the stalemate and American inaction, Israeli prime minister Benjamin…