SAME OLD SAME OLD

     Good morning, Century Village. I'm back and so thankful about that too. I had a great visit with a delicious young man who is turning into an adult to be proud of. His parents have done a great job. It is a pleasure to see one's grandson so respected and liked by his colleagues as he wends his way thru the Disney world, working towards a degree that will help him gain his dream job - a full time gig with Disney in the social media world.
     But for those of us who live in in our little would be paradise, be thankful for it is winter out there! When temps in California hit the 40's, that is cold! One gets a few hours of warmth and one day we were able to go on water rides without freezing - and guess who got drenched! - but jackets and sweatshirts were needed to watch the evening shows and even in the morning. Here? Nice!
     It was especially grand smiling and saying hi to strangers, talking with them as if we were lifelong friends for here in the world of magic all was pleasant, gentle and caring. No one pushed. No one ran to be first. People were polite in the parking lots and allowed other cars to go. What happened on the freeways is another story but in Disney? Nice.
     Then the world intervenes and sticks its nasty nose into the fairytale world which so enchants people. I find out that Michelle Bachman, she who actually thought she should be president of the USA, thinks that it is about time for Jews to mass convert to Christianity. Again? Is this the Inquisition in Christian format rather than Catholic? Are Jews once more going to be held responsible for no coming of a Messiah because they have not converted? This woman and those who support her scare the dickens out of me. Friends like this we do not need. Why is it that people think that others need conversion to their way of approaching G-d? Why can we not leave well enough alone and then perhaps we would not have these crazy religious extremists blowing up people and things, ramming into them and sending out 12 and 13 years old kids to go kill people as they did again on Tuesday in Israel. This is sick, people, truly sick.
     I think all politicians need to undergo a course on watching the tongue before speaking in public. They need to learn how to break away from dangerous support, poor thinking, illogic and pure hatred and dangerous nonsense. It is too bad they do not - and do not think that our "leader" here is exempt. Stuck in his NSA days and idolizing? McCarthy, or so it seems, David Israel keeps falling back onto outmoded and antique words which have no place anymore in our world. Agitprop? Really? Is he now calling us communists? I think that is funny, truly funny. Would he care to point out where I or any of us have indicated that affiliation? After all, when I state that the man has fascistic leanings I back it up with proof in statements and behavior so fair play, yes? So silly. Truly, David.
     And so the world stumbles on. On the anniversary of the Kristallnacht we still speak volumes of hate, volumes of violence, with no apparent lessons learned. We decide that talk is not good enough so we must force ourselves on others, demanding that they give in whether it is right or not. So two people from the University of Missouri have resigned and what will that gain? Will that gain more adherents to fair play? Will the demands of the football team also include the violence against Jewish kids on campuses throughout our country, so much so that the kippot and the Jewish stars are hidden?
     And yes, I know one can say that we are the same, demanding the resignation, or at least the stepping down - finally - of one David Israel and a new administration be put in place. So what is the difference? We are doing it without violence, without threats to the existential life of our Village and under great handicaps while those students out there are free to demonstrate and demand in the open. Aaahhh, democracy in action. Wonder how that would feel to have it back again here in the Village? Is that agitprop, Mr. Israel? I think not.
     Oooohhhh, Disney is looking tempting again. Hey, perhaps we should organize a conference there for our people and they might learn civility and honesty and caring all over again. Just sayin', just thinkin'! Same old same old and here we are again but I, for one, am keeping the shine and gleam of Disney as long as I can.