I support President Obama

21 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by michelinewalker in The United States

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

A Statesman, Barbra Streisand, Congress, President Obama, Security, Stability, Support, Voter Suppression

Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America

Three Flags, Jasper Johns, 1958, Whitney Museum of American Art (Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Flag Vase, Jasper Johns, Joseph K Levene Fine Art, Ltd

Flag Vase, Jasper Johns, 2000 (linocut) (Photo Credit Joseph K Levene Fine Art, Ltd)

Donations

I am not an American citizen

Isil

We jumped for joy

I have received several messages asking that I make donations to President Obama‘s political campaign in the United States. I cannot do so because I am not an American citizen. My grandfather was an American citizen, but I was born in Canada. I have tried to make donations, but my money was rejected.

However, I want to state that I am a non-American supporter of President Obama. I fear the conflict in the Middle East will not be solved militarily, but I do not possess sufficient information to oppose President Obama’s involvement. In fact, I have no reason to think President Obama is acting irresponsibly. I can trust him and I believe President Obama found himself in a position that did not allow him to keep out of the coalition battling demented terrorists: Isil/Isis.

I have been watching President Obama since 4 November 2008 and everyone I know admires and respects President Obama. In my opinion, he may well be one of the United States’ best Presidents. In fact, he may prove to have been the best. I love the way he treated former President George W. Bush. He treated him as a President should be treated. He was very polite. And he treated him in a manner Jesus of Nazareth would like: forgivingly. The attacks of 11 September 2001 were destabilizing, to say the least.

On 6 November 2012, we were jumping for joy. Americans had elected the better candidate.

Were President Obama not at the helm, the world could well be facing its worst financial crisis ever. The success of an economy is based, to a large extent, on reliability. President Obama is trustworthy. He looks before he leaps, which is very wise.

Voter Suppression

Security

Stability

Ethical behaviour

What President Obama wants is security and stability for his people. The Affordable Care Act is proof of this. If President Obama could, he would do even more, but Congress is dysfunctional. Mr. Boehner is suing President Obama, thereby ignoring the fact that Barack Obama is the duly-elected President of the United States of America. He was chosen by the people without using unethical means, such as voter purges.

Welfare for the Wealthy

Opposition to the Affordable Health Care

Demand for tax cuts

Debt ceiling crises

Obstructionism and Scapegoating

Disrespect

Let it be widely known that Mr. Boehner wants tax cuts for the wealthy and opposes the Affordable Health Care Act because there may be a rise in taxes. If taxes are raised, it will not be by a large amount and it will be for the better. It will ensure affordable healthcare for all Americans and save many from bankruptcy and, possibly, death. Besides, in no way should the poor and the middle-class support the wealthy.

I do not support politicians whose main concern is obtaining tax cuts for the wealthy and are therefore trying to sabotage the Affordable Health Care Act because the wealthy may have to pay higher taxes. In this regard, the debt-ceiling crisis of 2013 and the government shutdown were the last straw. That crisis was a form of blackmail and it cost American citizens billions. Congress had derailed.

When the debt ceiling has to be raised, one raises it. The alternative is unthinkable.

President Obama has been subjected to systematic obstructionism and scapegoating. Whatever he does is condemned. He is not paid the respect he deserves by virtue of his position, wisdom and leadership.

Detail of Flag (1954-55). Museum of Modern Art, New York City. This image illustrates Johns’ early technique of painting with thick, dripping encaustic over a collage made from found materials such as newspaper. This rough method of construction is rarely visible in photographic reproductions of his work. (Caption and photo credit: Wikipedia)

Conclusion

If President Obama were not at the helm, the world would live in fear of hasty decisions and a total economic collapse. Too many Americans would carry lethal weapons. A woman’s health concerns would not be respected. The poor and the middle-class would be poorer. The minimum wage would not be raised. There would be no social programmes protecting the citizens of the United States. The United States would be governed not by a polite and exceptionally gifted statesman, but by mere politicians shooting from the hip.

Imagine! Mr. Boehner would kill himself if the minimum wage were increased. Are Americans to return to the days of slavery?

Dear Barbra

One letter came from Barbra Streisand. Barbra, I doubt that you will ever read this post, but I will say nevertheless that I am a supporter of President Obama. I love his manner, his humility, his compassion, his brilliant intellect, but most importantly, I know that he cares for the people: the poor, the disabled, the sick, the middle-class homeowner, the children who need good schools and good teachers.

I trust the citizens of the United States will not let themselves be bought. There are anti-tax extremists in the United States, but there are people who can see greed and selfishness, where there is greed and selfishness. There is an élite. They may or may not be affluent, but their integrity cannot be doubted. Barbra, you are part of this élite.

You are so right about Congress. In my opinion, it is a perfect storm.

I apologize for not posting sooner. There is a crisis in my family. However, the bigger crises are taking place in the Middle East and the United States.

Please accept my kindest regards.

Paul Robeson sings “Let my people go”

October 21, 2014

Updated Oct. 22, 2014

WordPress

The United States’ Electoral Campaign

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by michelinewalker in The United States

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, Buying one's Way into Office, Ignoring the People's Choice, Ineffective Drove Strikes, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, The Dog Squad, The Minimum Wage & Debt Bondage, Voter Suppression

“Frostbitten, 1962″ is on exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in an exhibit “Andrew Wyeth: looking Out, Looking In” (National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Charles H. Morgan, © Andrew Wyeth) (Photo credit: McClatchy DC)

I am writing a post – nearly finished – on a different subject than the United States, but wish to take a moment to write about the crisis in the Middle East and the electoral campaign.

President Obama

The Crisis in the Middle East

I could be very wrong, but as you know from previous posts, it would be my opinion that the current strikes in Syria will not help solve the present crisis in the Middle East.

The drone strikes may lead to the death of several civilians, including a large number of children.
The drone strikes are a form of retaliation, and retaliation invites retaliation. It never ends. The crisis could spiral out of control.
Moreover, the drone strikes will no doubt be seen as further meddling on the part of the United States in the Middle East, which it isn’t. It is a mission to save detainees and disable the militants.
They may endanger the lives of Americans on their native soil: retaliation.
They may endanger the life of the detainees and cause the militants to torture them.
They harm the environment.
But, most importantly, retaliation is what Isis wanted. Isis can use the drone strikes as their lame excuse for beheading innocent detainees.

Having said the above, I need acknowledge that I lack detailed information on the crisis in the Middle East. Leaders cannot divulge all the facts and their strategy to civilians.

The American Arsenal

I should note that the American arsenal is so large that this can lead to rather false demands on the American people and its President. I should also note that the military respects the President, which may be a factor in the decision to use blind strikes. This matter is complicated, but when one has had to dodge attacks for six years, a small degree of erosion is to be expected.

With respect to the crisis in the Middle East, personally, I would use the best intelligence available and send in the dog squad. Dogs can sniff the clothes of the detainees and then find their whereabouts. Isis militants are little more than rebels who have found a “cause.” They are giving Islam a bad reputation. Nothing justifies the terror Isis spreads.

See “The Dog Squad,” The New Yorker http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/video-the-dog-squad

Wolf Dog, Jamie Wyeth, 1976

Trodden, Andrew Wyeth

Geraniums, Andrew Wyeth

The Electoral Campaign

Myopic and systematic opposition

ignoring the decision of the American people

The Republicans have more money than the Democrats and there is, on the part of hardline Republicans, a significant degree of systematic and myopic opposition, bordering on hatred, towards President Obama and his administration.

Ignoring the American People’s Choice

In this respect, hardline Republicans have been ignoring the choice of the American nation. Barack Obama was voted to the Presidency of the United States on 4 November 2008, and President Obama was re-elected to the Presidency on 6 November 2012.

Moreover, the cause of these hardline Republican representatives is cancellation of the Affordable Care Act, voted into law on 23 March 2010, four years ago. Hardline Republicans are anti-tax extremists.

Respecting the Voice of the People

Given that the citizens of the United States voted Barack Obama to the Presidency of their Country, hardline Republicans have been ignoring the decision of the people.
Given also that President Obama is the President of the United States, he and members of his administration should be allowed to play their role.
President Obama must listen to the Republicans, but first and foremost, he must listen to the voice of the people and respect policies he announced.
Suing President Obama is picayune and, dare I say, mean. Nor is it legitimate to impeach him for frivolous reasons: tax cuts for the wealthy and the revocation of the Affordable Care Act.
A country is dysfunctional if its citizens do not pay their fair share of taxes in return for social programmes that protect them and other essential services. There are means of keeping costs lower. In short, American citizens should not forfeit their right to a reasonable degree of security at all times.

Buying one’s way to office, including the Presidency

Political Parties cannot conduct a campaign without the money to travel, to stay in a hotel, to buy meals on the campaign trail and to advertise to a reasonable degree.
However, money should not be the chief tool leading to political office. One should not be able to buy his or her way into office.

Voter Suppression

Moreover, in no way should hardline and greedy Republicans engage in voter suppression. Has the United States ceased to be a democracy?

The Minimum Wage & Debt Bondage

Mr. Boehner has stated that he would commit suicide if the minimum wage was raised. When determining the minimum wage, the cost of living is the standard one uses.

Forcing people into debt is creating a form of bondage: debt bondage. Mr. Boehner’s language is that of a potential slave-owner. Mr. Boehner may therefore need to commit suicide, which, metaphorically speaking, is a fait accompli.

Allow me to close by quoting the American Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (The American Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson.)

Snow, by Andrew Wyeth (Photo credit: mhsartgallery)

Snow, Andrew Wyeth (Photo credit: mhsartgallery)

Conclusion

If I were an American citizen, I would still support President Obama fully. He could not foresee Isis, as these are rebels who have seized on what they saw as an opportunity to kill. Isis is a group of bloodthisty terrorists.

With kindest regards to all of you.

Sources

—ooo—

Adagio for Strings

Samuel Barber (9 March 1910 – 23 January 1981)

"Wind from the Sea, 1947" is on exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in an exhibit "Andrew Wyeth: looking Out, Looking In" through November 30, 2014. (National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Charles H. Morgan, © Andrew Wyeth)

October 12, 2014

WordPress

Throwing “Nuts,” the Voter Purge, and the “Folia”

30 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Music, United States

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Arcangelo Corelli, Baroque, CNN, Henryk Szeryng, Republican National Convention, Spain, Tampa Florida, Voter Suppression

: La Folia

During the Baroque era in music (1600-1750), the Folia, a musical piece that probably originated in Spain, became very popular. I did not intend ever to mention the Folia until I went to my WordPress Reader yesterday and found myself reading about instances of genuine folie or madness. There is nothing mad about the Folia, but there is madness among Republicans. Let us look at two events I found “unsavoury.”

The Camerawoman Incident

Reading through various posts, I learned that two women attending the Republican National Convention, in Tampa, Florida, had thrown nuts at an African-American CNN camerawoman shouting “this is how we feed animals.” For details, see CNN Camerawoman Hit With Nuts (EnStarz). Needless to say, I quickly reworded the headline so it would read CNN camerawoman Hit by Nuts,” using nuts in its pejorative acceptation. Folias in music are lighthearted, but throwing nuts at a coloured camerawoman and calling her an animal shows genuine folie, madness, not to mention sufficient bigotry to sink a battleship.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (29 August 1809 – 7 October 1894) stated that “[t]he mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract.” That definition would apply to the nut-throwing incident that took place in Tampa. The bottom line here is that we are witnessing bigotry and racism.

The Voter Purge Incident

As I continued reading your posts, I learned that a woman would not be permitted to vote because she could not produce the photo ID (identification) Florida (R) and perhaps other states are now requiring of voters. Does exercising one’s right to vote require of voters that they possess a driver’s license or a passport? Some persons are too poor to own a car and therefore do not have a driver’s licence. Moreover, some persons are also too poor to travel. Consequently, they do not have a passport. Demanding a photo ID therefore seems an unreasonable request and voter suppression could prevent President Obama from being re-elected, which would be a catastrophe.

This second incident, the photo ID (identification) incident, demonstrates that Voter Suppression is not only unreasonable but that it constitutes a discrimatory practice that could keep away from Election Polls the elderly, the disabled, the poor and persons, in particular coloured individuals, who may feel their social status does not allow them to exercise their right to choose a leader, a misconception voter suppression is bringing to the fore. These people were slaves and two idiots threw nuts at them calling them animals.

In fact, Voter Suppression may well be in direct violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 “a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S.” (Voting Rights Act of 1965, Wikipedia) Voting is an unalienable right in the United States of America.

But enough is enough. Let us hear a Folia that is not madness: folie. The Folia moved beyond Spain, so we will listen to a Folia Variations composed by Arcangelo Corelli (17 February 1653 – 8 January 1713), an Italian violinist and composer of the Baroque era.[i] Our main performer is Russian violinist Nathan Millstein (13 January 1904 – 21 December 1992).