A BLOG OF PAIN AND SORROW - AND ANGER AND ANGUISH

Today my voice is subsumed. I print a copy of a blog written by Paula Stern who has a blog called A Soldier's Mother. I have often expressed my feelings and frustrations, my fears re Israel and the horrendous stabbings and attacks. Here is what another feels after the awful axe attack on  a security guard, a man the attacker knew. Read it, long but powerful. Read it and weep and count yourself lucky that you have not clicked on the video of the attack. It was brutal and I am sorry I ever saw it. Please read and think and feel. Thank you.

"I am very careful with words…or at least I try to be. I lose my temper; I get sarcastic, but mostly, I try to weigh my words and consider the implications of how I refer to someone. Some words come easily to me, perhaps at times, too easily. But others almost never escape my mind to the keyboard.
I am very quick to call someone an idiot (and laughed when that was the excuse to not publish one of my posts). I am very slow to use the word Nazi. I am even slower to use the word “animal” in relation to something that a human does.

Once we were considered lower than humans; once we were humiliated, stripped naked and persecuted. Once, they considered us animals when really, all we ever wanted was to live, to raise our children, support our communities. And still, the Nazis came into our synagogues, our homes, our schools. Still they persecuted us, beat us, gassed us, burned us, murdered us. I will call them Nazis; I will not call them animals.

Once they crusaded through our villages, burned synagogues and homes, beat and murdered people. My grandmother was caught in a synagogue set afire by hatred. She survived, though the peasants, crusaders, and others would have wanted her and so many other Jews through the millennium to die. I will call them many things, but even there I do not use the term animal.

The word slips out when the attack is particularly brutal. When two cousins infiltrated a Jewish village named Itamar and murdered two parents and three children…including  three-month-old little Hadas, then the word came out. I don’t remember if I left it or if I changed it and I can’t even say I regret it.
      Now I use the word again — without shame, but with anger. Without regret, but with such pain. My son works two jobs to support himself and his wife and save for a future which they hope will include a home in our city. His second job pays little more than minimum wage, but he has built a bond of many years with the people there and so he finds the time, each week, to work at the mall in Maale Adumim. Once he was a security guard at the gates of the mall; now he is on the move, from point to point, door to door, responsible for those few hours, for the overall schedule and security.
He wasn’t there on Thursday night at 1:00 a.m. when an Arab worker approached a guard from behind and smashed an axe into the 48-year-old’s head. Like most malls in Israel, our mall has security cameras and they caught everything. What the Arab did to Tzvika (please Pray for Tzvika) with each blow, long after Tzvika was down. I won’t detail the injuries – they are both brutal and barbaric.
Tzvika, the father of four children, was not armed; he was attacked with the equivalent of an axe, repeatedly, without mercy. With extreme cruelty. In the video, which I have not watched but which some of my friends have, the Arab is seen calmly taking out his camera and videotaping the results of his work. In cold-blood, he attacked an unarmed man from the back and in cold-blood, he continued the attack long after Tzvika represented any kind of threat. The Arab then stole the keys and let himself out and disappeared into the night, like the animal that he is.

Yes, there you go. I’ve said it. He is an animal, this Palestinian would-be murderer. This cowardly, sniveling snake that slithered out of my city having devastated a man, a family, a city.

It was not “the occupation,” it was hatred, pure and simple. It was brutal. It was barbaric. It was wrong that the videotape was published. Tzvika’s family should never see it…and I pray to God they never do. What hope is there for peace when such barbarism exists in a community; when they will celebrate the attack on Tzvika, pay this cowardly animal’s family a reward?

Please pray for the full and speedy recovery of Tzvika ben Batya…even though, based on his injuries, it is doubtful he will ever fully recover. But let him live – give him life…and help him to learn to cope with what was done to him. From the agony of these past days, please God, let good shine through. A city is united and praying for him, even a country. We must find the good even in the horrible…it is our way.

And please God, avenge every drop of Tzvika’s blood that was left smeared on the walls and floor of a place we go for fun, for food, for entertainment.

After an intense manhunt, the Israeli police have arrested the terrorist. He didn’t even have the guts to die in what the Palestinians would have called a martyred and glorious death.

Let this Palestinian animal be imprisoned for the rest of his miserable life, put in solitude and not allowed to ever touch his family again. Tzvika is no less ours than Yitzchak Rabin, whose murderer remains in prison. Tzvika is still alive, but that is not to this animal’s credit. He did all he could do to murder Tzvika and only the strength of Tzvika’s soul and an amazing and dedicated team of doctors are managing to keep Tzvika alive.

.

I won’t describe the attack. If you come across the video, I urge you NOT to watch it. I will tell you that, as you can see in the video, Saadi Ali Abu Hamed, 21, who was captured a short time ago, is seen using his phone to videotape his brutal attack. Twenty-one years old. The body of a human being but the soul of an animal…or perhaps, as many are quick to remind me, not even an animal. Few animals kill merely for the joy of killing.

     Whatever Saadi Ali Abu Hamed is, I hope he will be convicted and left to rot in prison and I hope and pray that Tzvika will recover and be reunited with his family.

There are few fast and firm rules in life. Treating others with respect is one of them. I don’t always succeed but I try. This Abu Hamed’s actions redefine the definitions of cold-blooded and cowardly and prove something that we really did not need proven – sometimes human beings have been raised without the essence of what makes us human…when this happens, all that is left is the animal.

The animal has been caught; the animal will be caged. Now we must deal with the people and the culture that raised the animal into what he is and enabled him to do what he did.

INTERNET? REALITY? WHAT FOR AND WHY?

      "What the Internet and its cult of anonymity do is to provide a blanket sort of immunity for anybody who wants to say anything about somebody else, and it would be difficult in this sense to think of a more morally deformed exploitation of the concept of free speech."
     Additionally, ""the blurring of the line between the 'synthetic world' - the online life - and the real world" is often difficult to discern.
     These two quotes are majorly frightening. I have long felt that at times the disadvantages of the Net overwhelm its advantages and if we are to progress as human beings then we must overcome that. When one becomes so wrapped up in the Ethernet that one begins to forget the niceties of life, the realities of life and falls into a false world where there are no brakes on speech and one feels empowered by anonymity to say things, to threaten things, to curse and overwhelm one that has been deemed an enemy, that is a danger point.     
     Right now there is a poor woman named Cheri Jacobus who is undergoing a nasty campaign by Trump lovers merely because she does not agree with them. Tweets and threats, hashtags that demean, Facebook postings - it is not only disgusting but frightening. We have already had kids committing suicide due to cyberbullying and believe it or not - the adults are worse than the kids. Not very good role models are we?
     Last night in the theater, a lovely show highlighting the songs of Carol King and James Taylor, there was a particularly telling set of phrase, perfect for today, never mind the time they were written in. A "soul was in the lost and found" and to paraphrase,  - if you let them, people will use you, abuse you, desert you. Huh!! Reading my mind, were they?
     Think what is going on here in the Village and indeed even in the national elections. There is such abuse, such threats, particularly at this point from David towards me as he seems to have settled on me as the point of focus. Nuts, but there it is. And then he uses the magic eraser after posting statements that threaten me and makes as if they were never there but ahhh, the magic of clouds! Then of course we have the threats of "Bakerizing" wherein authorities are called to examine one of whom it is claimed is dangerous to self and society and basically, off one's rocker. How lovely! And how typical of the David Israel camp that so relies on siccing governmental entities on people. How cowardly and how sad that they do not know how to interact with people in a realistic and civilized manner, how to be grown up.
     Why is this? Why cannot these people come out of the woodwork, retake their souls from the lost and found, and revitalize them. Why cannot these people learn the value of social interaction and not the kind that epitomizes the song's words of desert and abuse, though we all know that is what happens constantly in the UCO of David Israel. The wheels of the bus do not only go round and round, but they leave the imprints of the destruction of those thrown under the bus by David Israel in his paranoid fantasies of all coming to get him.
     Yesterday the paper used the phrase playground behavior to describe what is going on particularly within the Republican party during the primaries. The paper is correct. Are we not ashamed to present these people as our public face, as the possible future president of the USA, G-d help us! Are we not ashamed that anger has been allowed to build for so long, feelings of despair not been addressed, dreams having been shattered for so long that we cannot hear ourselves any longer and nor do we appear to wish to do so. So the nasties on one side drag down the other side as they respond and it is not pretty but a warning to all who believe in starting a war of words - be careful of your choice of enemy, for often they are far smarter and more capable than you. And then you lose and come out looking truly bad. Warning to those who need it, if only they will heed it. It is far worthier and mature to allow a true and full campaign based on the issues, debates that highlight adults and adult thinking, thinking that shows concern and long hours and energy going into the responses and platform statements. How sad it is that this campaign, especially amongst the Republicans does not portray that and certainly all we have heard here in the Village from one side is the past - emails and insurance , both of which are trite already as one had its time  coming and insurance rates were being worked on without David Israel and now they are going to go back up so can we put the blame on you for that since you claimed credit where no credit was due? We hear no airtight plans about fixing our roads which are becoming more and more dangerous to even walk on and remember folks, our roads are our sidewalks in most of the area of the Village. Old folks and sand and pebbles do not a good match make! We hear, see and smell the nasty waters of the Village and hear rumors of things being done - but where, oh where, are the results and thinking out of the box as to how to repair them? Nowhere that I can tell. All we hear is Wi Fi and now Broadband, shouts that should be quiet now while the whole industry undergoes a shaking out and good solutions are found, not right now while everyday and even every hour at times seems to be presenting itself with new ideas and plans. We have Wi Fi, we have Broadband, we have it all with multiple devices - yes, if you wish and no if you don't so why not put this issue aside.
     We hear talk of value of the units and why we need Wi Fi but why do we not hear of the younger ones coming in now who wish to play tennis and all sorts of sports, join leagues and cannot. Why? Because the courts are decrepit and have been left alone for years with patches here and there and no undertaking of the real causes and the real cures. Now these people will not buy or will move out as they despair and even as they present a whole presentation to the committee and get the same stupid and worthless - 'we are looking into it" response.
    Why do we play at an administration that works like this - love me, obey me and you will get rewarded. Do not - and you will not be served. So needy associations, desperate for advice, associations that are trying to hold it all together - get tossed out. Money from motel makers - ah, that is fine and shhh about it - until the malcontents, yes, those who wish to improve our Village, our home, spoke up and exposed it. Why is it that repairs that are necessary are not done, imperiling our residents because these repairs are near or beside those who do not like David Israel and his policies. The bench by me, actually by Andover, has been dangerous for bus riders for a long time , years in fact, and no one did anything because it was near Wellington E - my home. Finally, the almost CAM came to take a look and then said we need bids! Really?
When there is a company who has been going around pouring tar all over the place so what is a little bit more or is this just another excuse to defer and delay and meanwhile our elderly busriders have to stand because to try to sit is to imperil one's body and soul!
     Finally, a fun point - on Friday there was a cavalcade of cars reminding people to vote for Phyllis. It went around the UCO building and the faces of David et al was worth millions. You see, take down the signs, call in the government, pull shticks with the delegates, it all does not matter for WE ARE HERE and are not going anywhere. Try to deal with that. Try to come back to the real world and out of that computer cloud of yours. Try to connect with real people, with real life. Smile, laugh, have joy in your life - all that comes from people, not machines. Remember Barbara Streisand - "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world." Try to be lucky - you might like it. It will certainly make you a better person. It will certainly improve your morals.
    

A DARKNESS WITHIN THE SOUL

      I read a lot, fiction, non fiction, biographies, historical novels and some of the books are just plain fun and others educational or thought provoking. I enjoy them all, but recently I picked up a book by an author known for some darkness in her books but wow! this one was written in the dark of deepest night. It explored what man can do to man and the revenge that can be taken as well, sometimes from one who seems small and incapable of doing that. We must beware what we do to others, for it can drive people to depths of something which we would all be better off without. And the scary part is knowing that the situation in the book is realistic and has occurred in various places within the world - including right here in America.
     During the course of reading, I came across this quote. " Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life."  Eric Hoffer. Think about it and realize the understated truth of that statement and then look around, here and in the world at large and then think again. We are all guilty of falling into periods of "passionate hatreds" at time, some deeper than others, some  longer lasting than others, but we have all been there at one time or another.
     Then I think of a man sitting in a back room, all alone, from early morning till late at night, almost seven days a week, with the odd person or two coming in, not with affection, not with love or concern, but only from selfish causes and reasons - how to maintain power, position - and think how sad this is. The lonely man turns inward and then uses tools at his skill levels to organize what he feels is a battle for his life's last chance at meaning. He has his shills post nasty stuff on his blog site and why? Perhaps he cannot compose much himself. Perhaps he needs to think and persuade others that lookee here, others agree with me. Perhaps he thinks that if he inflates the numbers, his target(s) will be frightened away? I really do not know and could care less, but, a great big but - what is with the game of starting a nasty conversation, engaging in it and then taking away the postings other than an innocent seeming one and a comment by an opponent that seems to respond to nothing. Think again of the truth of the statement above.
    Quite recently, like yesterday, there was a conversation on David's blog between a liar, a gasbag, a nitwit and a chickie who does not know me from a hole in the wall. This conversation discussed - oh these deep thinkers - what made me tick and what were my motivations and how I have descended into a "frenetic" diatribe and plan for revenge. Oooohhhhh..... Well, after you all stop laughing, just think about it and think about the quote above. The cherry on top is that today, in the wee hours of the morning or late into the night, David, having nothing better to do, wiped out much of the conversation, continuing on in his theory of erasing history, kinda like the little one who plays peek-a-boo and when he covers his eyes and does not see someone, that person is not there. Well, guess again, David, the comments were there and are still there in the clouds that you so love and saved so nicely by me in mine.
     When can we expect you to grow up and discuss the issues? Yes, there is great emotion in people when they speak of you and it ain't exactly a positive and soul warming feeling either. Two days ago there were over 300 people gathered to hear candidates, to air their concerns and where were you and yours? Hiding away, afraid to come out and engage in real life talk. There was no yelling, even when two people disagreed and yes, your little buddy on the net, there were quite a large number of delegates and though I know it is hard for you to count without taking off your socks, try again and then go find other fingers and toes to use. But the point is - you guys never deal with the issues and use tried and true techniques to maintain power even as the Village rebels. All the never appearing side seems to be capable of doing is to shout and scream and demean and make weird statements. If you really wish to go head to head using words in a nasty manner - you will lose that battle and only get yourself all het up. How much nicer it would be if you would only stick your nose out of your cave and engage  - engage with the world, with people, go to shows, take a walk, get off that damned computer and breath fresh air, air out your head. Read a book, sing a song, hear some great classical music - live!!!
     And again, see, we know that things take time and no matter who wins here - we win - for the ills have been aired and the time is a comin"..... And either side has many issues and problems to deal with even in victory for this is a troubled Village in many ways. Hey, David, want to play tennis? Oh, sorry, forgot, still thinking about the lousy courts that has taken you six plus years to think about and still nothing doing. Talk of losing buyers..... But you need to know that people working together, putting aside differences, ironing out issues and opinions, can meld together and make for a better and stronger Village and oh, by the way, David, what is with that canal over by Sheffield Q? Good Lord, but it is disgusting and stagnant and an oh so lovely green with its thick coating of slime and green goo. But aha, you're working on that, right? Not putrid enough for you? Need some more years to age it properly? There are real life issues here in the Village and you simply cannot wrap your head around it.
     Time to take a break. It will be good for you - and for us!
    

A BOLT OF LIGHTNING

How to write, what to write, of two events that are seemingly unrelated, with one of far more importance and gravity than the other. Yet both were of importance in my life. I could not decide for each time I thought about it, and decided on one, thoughts of the other invaded my mind and refused to let go so we will do both today. Both sad, one ridiculously so simply for the phenomenally vicious reactions and statements of one David Israel and his few rabid supporters and the other a sad litany of oft repeated killings, of tears and fears, of cries to the Heavens and wondering, when will this ever end?
     "Over the past five months, 33 Israelis have been murdered and 311 wounded in the wave of Palestinian violence. Twenty-nine of those sustained serious injuries, eight were moderately to seriously wounded, and 214 lightly injured."
     And the awful thing is that the bloody total will rise as more brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, children will be buried and as more heart rending cries crash open the Gates of Heaven. How much more we all wonder and why, dear Lord, why?
     Yesterday's funeral of Eliav Gelman and a video that was made of three young women slaughtered in this "knife intifada" just broke the heart and then inspired it for it spoke of sacrifice as a mother gave her life to save her children in the house and a young girl of 19, a cadet, gave her life to stop bombers and a terrible loss of life and one young lady was simply picking up items in a grocery store for an aged grandmother. As for Eliav, who left two young boys and a pregnant wife, this is what his father, a man of amazing strength said this at the funeral: “You join today the long line of people who sanctified themselves in God’s name without thinking of the moment after. Our forefather Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son for God. Aaron, the priest, lost two of his sons. With great pain, we accept the decree that we were selected to make a sacrifice to sanctify God.”
     Before there was modern day Israel there were attacks on Jews living in their homeland. There were bloody riots with the 1929 Hebron slaughter coming to mind. There were attacks on small settlements set up in the marshes of Huleh Valley and why? No one ever lived there within memory! Before there were "occupied territories" - well, actually, they were occupied  -by Jordan and Egypt, there were raids and bombs and attacks and invasions into homes and then into a country, six, sometimes seven countries invading and the money of the oil rich countries funding it all. Before there was much of anything, the Arabs were screaming in the tones of a religious war - which is what it is and it has been going on for oh so long and believe as you wish, but we here in the
USA and the entire western civilization are engaged in that same religious war - Islam over all, not really different from the other "uber alles" that we can all still remember. Are all Moslems or believers in Islam bad? NO, but it would be ever so much more powerful a statement and belief were there to be a great many of them willing to speak up and out and against this violence and hatred.
    If only wishes could come true and we could wish away all this hatred, this bloodshed and learn, all the peoples of the world, to live together on this small orb of ours in the vast universe. But it seems that man has many obstacles in its path towards peace and understanding and when one looks down, into a smaller arena of this hatred and refusal to accept others, it is perhaps then that one can fathom the harm that this intransigence causes.
     So here we are in the smaller arena of CVWPB. Here we have a group of people, a coterie of sycophants who tie their fortunes and validations of life to the coattails of one man, David Israel. He, in turn, has let his ego grow to a staggering size and fallen into mistaken ways and beliefs, so much so that he has forgotten his humanity, left it by the wayside and turned back the clock on decency, on compromise, on mature behavior. He has come to believe his own lies and false and vicious statements and then wonders why he has generated so much passionate dislike, shall we say?
      Over and over again we have proven his lies, outed the truth, exposed his consistent incompetence and constant appropriations of the achievements of others as his own. We have printed the letter wherein he had to retract his vicious attack on Dan Gladstone or else face serious civil and criminal matters. We walk on the crumbling roads that he has endowed us with at a great multi million dollar cost and we suffer under his abrogation of the term limits that we had and feel the onus of his oppression and yes, even mental deficiencies as he parades his paranoia and megalomania for all to see. And yet this man, this dictator, this fascist of belief and actions, persists in his madness and has now ventured out on to another fragile limb and has decided that he must attack me as if he understands me. But bring it on, for you simply prove the truth of what I said yesterday and as people laughed at you. I said, in so many words, "My name is Esther Sutofsky and David Israel hates me. I have "exposed him on the world wide web to 200,000,000 people." The words might have been a bit different but that is the gist of what I said and the gales of laughter followed at the whole stupidity of it.
    So here is today's nonsense. "Since Esther lost in her attempt to win the UCO Presidency, she has been engaged in a frenetic vendetta. Her diatribe being driven by pure hatred at the idea of being denied her goal." Oy, David, oy indeed. I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU. I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE NAMES YOU CALL ME OR WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT ME. I am happy in my life. I never missed the so called presidency. I never really wanted it but had to show the people here that you are not all powerful and you can hurt no one, there being no need to be afraid of you. Now we have a wonderful candidate opposing you, a large and ever growing opposition that will continue to oppose you should the worst happen and you maintain the ability to use your zombie delegates ripped from dead and dying associations to vote you in once more. But we know that time and despair at what you have wrought and continue to do so to the Village will bring you down, so no, dear boy, such a silly boy you are - no, there is no goal that I have been denied, for all goals are ongoing. There is no vendetta. My life is too full and blessed and does not provide me with the leisure time necessary to carry on a vendetta and no, I do not hide away in a back room so as to carry on with nefarious plans, paranoid fantasies and simply just to hide away from humanity. That is all on you, dear boy. Nor do I see any frenetic activity unless it is the actions that you take, the rants that you make in your venom and determination to keep your power and rule as a petty tyrant.
     Like a bolt of lightning, as I listened to people of the Village talk with each other yesterday, no screaming, no shouts of "out of order', all orderly and mature, it hit me. As in a school, a company, a doctor's office - and in UCO - it all comes down from the top. The cues comes from there. If the head person is a good and fine, caring individual, then so too will be the subordinates and colleagues. But if the head person is a nasty old curmudgeon or a young one, for age is not  a real factor in this, then so too will the subordinates and colleagues. You, David Israel, have infested and infected the Village with nastiness, with sniping - ooohhhh, - at each other, with childlike and even brutal behavior, with a litany of lies and nastiness, with an atmosphere rife with your muttered threats and schemes of intimidation. It is all on you so.... Mr. David Israel, please to go back into your little old room and hide away from all that is good in life - people, friendship, family and love. And if that is not enough, well, then BITE ME!!!

IF THE SHOE FITS......

     Adages are bits of truth and folk wisdom that often give just the right bite or emphasis that is needed. Every time I write of the Village, criticize the policies and actions and results of David Israel, his overwhelming tendencies to the dictatorial and oppressive, the adoption of the themes and principles of Fascism, I think of "if the shoe fits....". He denies what is there for all to see and to his lies we add the blind, morally and mentally challenged followers, that small group who do his every bidding and who swear by him as the new version of a Holy Book. Quite frankly, I really do not care what the duped feel, for he is unprincipled, immoral, rude and crude in his behavior and statements and verges allegedly quite often on the criminal, perhaps even steps over the line with his admitted vandalism of private property, his boasting of it, and perhaps even financial malfeasance for look how hard he fights against a forensic accounting of UCO's budgets and spending. Where has all the money gone? Only David knows and no one else if he continues to have his way. He boasts of his skills and knowledge with computers but dear Lord above, so do many other people. This plaint is becoming dated and old, so old.
     We cannot believe what he says for time and time again he has been proven to lie. Oh, the roads are wonderful he maintained until he had to admit that it was not really such a good job and we would have to redo sooner. Now during election time these very same roads seem to have morphed into great roads once more according to the know it all. Guess all the ever growing and ever widening cracks, the piles of  sand and pebbles that keep growing as well as the road separates into its components, the ever growing ponds and lakes after rains - guess all that is really not there, huh?
     But the worst of all in my opinion is his resemblance to and with dictators of the world. Let us take a look. So today Elaine Brown admits that David is not really a people person, hiding away from the residents in his lair and speaking to them only when?  During election time. So why is that? Because he, as with all dictators, cannot abide society, cannot abide others, cannot abide nor deal with opposition, so they keep themselves away from the public and thus hope to control their damaged personalities and thinking from leaking out.
     How do they plan for the future? Here is one theme of theirs, one policy. "There are some absolutely disgusting people running for the Executive Board.  Look at some on Gary's recommended list on his moron blog." This from one of his main spokesmen. Yes, this is a principle governing factor in his political life and quite frankly, he has no other life excepting the connection to his clothes buyer ad his sycophants, the usual parasites who hang on to a shark. The man is a misanthrope and a misogynist. He behaves in a grossly disgusting manner towards all who dare to challenge him, screams, rants, throws real great toddler tantrums, has an egocentric world of a toddler and breaks rules left and right as it suits him. His principles of people dealings? Just look at the stressed line above and you got it all.
     And now let us venture further afield, into the real world, realpolitik to be sure. Let us try on the shoes that fit. So, no term limits please he states and demands. No return of those halcyon days of yore. Just like Evo Morales of Bolivia who also has violated the  term limits rule and is now wishing to go on to his seventh and eight years. hmm. Ringing any bells yet?
     Or how about President Xi of Communist China who walks around with an adoring coterie and literal circle of adoring and fawning newsmen, if we dare to use that term for them. One even read and recited a paean of praise that he had written for Xi. Nauseating, violating all the principles of journalism and yet, the ring of familiarity seems to peal away. Anyone hear the names of David Israel and Joy Vestal? Of Myron Silverman? Of Lanny Howe? Excuse me while I throw up.
     Back again. More? Want more? Okay, how about all the tinpot dictators of African Republics who fight and slaughter and the comparison to our Dear Leader who cannot slaughter physically - at this point anyway - but who slices people's hearts and souls with his curses and tirades. How about his resemblance to the line of Dear Leaders of North Korea who sit and watch while their people starve and struggle, who slaughter family members with panache for they suspect all who come into their sight or into the sphere of their knowledge. Does David Israel not do the same thing when he throws people under the bus? When he tosses people out from positions unless they are 100% loyal to him?
     How about the resemblance to Abbas who is now in the eleventh year or is it the twelfth of a four year elected term! How many more years are we to suffer under the harsh rule of King David, the self made king? How many more lies, inefficiencies, incompetent behavior, poor and damaging contracts are we to suffer. How many more years do we have before he totally destroys our home, he and his henchmen.
     Il Duce would be proud. All dictators would be proud. And the good people cringe even as his lies and nonsense continue. And I ask again? How, if one truly had such an oh so important role to play in NSA, how could that person be so open and boastful of it when it is a commonly known fact that people who work in intelligence, particularly people who are important and of high rank, NEVER tell of this. NEVER. Yet here we are, oh so blessed by the savior of us all after 9/11, he who designed anti terrorist protocols because eight years after he left and for all the years before no one else ever thought of these things so a tired old man was recalled! Believe that and man, I have a bridge and a tunnel and another few bridges to throw into the sale just for you!
     If the shoe fits.... A true leader is one who knows how to work with others. Who can take criticism. Who has new and fresh ideas and does not get stuck in the old and passe and tired muck of one idea which is no longer valid. Who has a 360 degree world view rather than an astigmatic one which focuses only on him, him, him. The scary picture of Mark Zuckerberg strolling triumphantly thru an entire audience plugged in with their eyes covered and looking into a machine which gave them a different reality - frightening indeed. One can see the science fantasy of old becoming the horrific science fact and reality of today. David Israel too wants us to believe in a different reality, one that does not exist anywhere other than in his mind. His views are deadly yet dull. They are trite and old. They are anti society and anti humanity. They transcend and violate every rule of law as it applies to us here in the Village and violate all principles of trust even as they foist poor contracts and twisted changes, secret changes, in by laws, all to maintain their positions.
     Not IF the shoe fits, for people, the shoe fits and it is time to get new ones. The shoes of this next president need to be ones headed into the proper path, with righteous thinking, feet shod with care for others, with concern for the right things, for the correct procedures, for a rule or administration of law, for an open door policy, for transparency and honesty. These are the shoes of Phyllis Richland.
     How much longer will people blind themselves to the fact that if one has no morals, if one has no dignity, nor treats any other people with dignity - that is not a leader, that is not a president and he must go. I shudder at a future that could possibly encompass a Trump nationally and two more years of David Israel locally. Shudder! Shudder!

SCARY, SCARY, SCARY

     Last nite I watched one of the most frightening shows ever. It was the second episode of the three episode childhood's End and I recommend it to all thinking beings. No, no monsters, no zombies, for the monsters? the causative factors of our own danger is us, people. So it has been and it seems so it will always be until we reach the end of the trail and I do not believe that the trail is one of Roy Roger's happy trails!
     Essentially, we have a humanity that was struggling, just as we are now on earth, with the usual list of issues, from disease, poverty, thoughtless people, slums, but also the traits of what make us human - curiosity, hope, courage, creative thoughts, the arts, love and family. So why is it so frightening? Because it is so realistic in the motivations and actions of the humans. And in the possibilities of what might happen in a similar situation.
     Essentially, it appears that help has arrived in the form of an unseen but heard savior, the Overseer of Earth and he and his unseen minions then eliminate all evils from earth, at least from the segment of those who are willing to give up their independence, their curiosity, their human strivings, scientific knowledge and who accept that they are not ready for the advances they were making. It is the parent telling the child that something is not good for them, they are not old enough or wise enough or mature enough, only these children are adults. They are US.
     But there are those who prefer to remain in the cities, to keep striving, to accept the ills and woes of humanity even as they accept the positives - the arts, love, family, independence and the ability and desire to strive, to be free, to turn aside from the "benevolent" dictators.
     All seems well until the undercurrents that were always there come to the surface. The people demand to finally see the face of the Overseer and out comes - the Devil, Satan - in all his glory, hooves, horns, tail and all. The people are so brainwashed already that they accept this personification and in the meanwhile faith is taken from people for how can they believe when all is topsy - turvy and all they thought they had known is now twisted.
     Children become affected, the Overseer seems to have developed some nasty traits and habits, his voice is harsher and yet, and yet, for the safety, for what he has supposedly given earth - people still want to believe. And then he mentions that we have prepared the earth for our successors! And that he himself has a master. Huh! Who? What? And then the ingathering of all the species of the world aside from humans seems truly ominous, for this is no zoo and there is no real zoo for them. So what? What is the true meaning.? And in the meanwhile, bad things happen to good people and good people are truly confused, lost, their lives as the Eloi of the Overseer  not so good any more.    The Overseer can be shot, can be killed - and then a human saves him and the Overseer says that he tried to spare them agony over the fate of the children by denying them children. Is he allowed to make that choice? Are humans truly incapable of making their own life decisions? Are we to give up all for a false illusion of safety and security, for freedom from making decisions? And yet, and yet, in this show we do. As we have done in life.
     Frightening in a show, but it is only TV, right? There has been no appearance of a true Satan? Or is that really true? This is an allegory, an extended metaphor, and the application as an overlay to our world is right there, frighteningly so. How many of us around the world have ceded our freedom, our independence, our right to make our own decisions, our own mistakes, achieve our own triumphs? And why? Because we wished to feel safe and secure? Because it is easier to be led than to lead? Because it is easier to accept than to challenge? Because it is easier to just go along rather than be the odd man out and struggle for the truth, for the right?
      Take a look around. Poland has rumblings. Hungary has gone way to the right. Russia is right back in its dictator mold. The Ukraine is fighting again despite a truce and do we root for them and their independence and overlook their past which has frighteningly returned in their politics? So we accept that some people have embraced the devil in the form of Iran for the sake of making many bucks? Do we worry about the Kurds who have been robbed of their own country for so long already? And what about the hatred that rends the fabric of the European countries and of the hordes of migrants roaming around, a modern migration which what? And what about the entire continent of Africa and even Asia which are being torn apart by wars?What will it lead to? What will we read about it in the future? In fact, will there be a future and if so, what kind - that of the Overseer because we are tired, so tired of the war, of the hatred, of the ills and woes of humankind or will there be a future where the triumphs and tragedies will still be of our making even as we inch forward.
     One of the most frightening songs that people think is so great and sing it at marches and gatherings is "Imagine". Truly? Do we wish for no countries and no religion? Do we wish to live only for today? Wasn't that tried already in ancient Greece? Do we give up all morals and strictures and just let it all hang loose? I do not want that and have been raised to believe that to strive is part and parcel of being human and thank G-d my children have let that become part of their very being as they all three work so hard to help others and the older grandchildren seem to be developing that way as well.
     And this is not only a trouble for the world and for the country at large. Even as we watch the nastiness developing in the national races and the viciousness about the Supreme Court nomination and the threats that go back and forth, the refusal of sides to talk even as they stake out more and more extreme positions and make remarks they will rue, even as that happens - we here in the Village do the same thing. We have accepted, many of us, the easy way out. Let someone else make the decisions. Who cares, as long as I have my pools, my courts and my shows. Who cares for I am retired and too tired to make important decisions any more. Let the burden devolve on someone else. Oh, lookee here. Here is someone who says he knows it all because everything is on the computer and he is a "master" of the computer. So this Overseer and his minions take over and refuse to let go even as all deteriorates around them and around us. and for the most part, most of us ignored the situation and few were the Paul Reveres who went riding thru the Village calling out the warning and the plea, "to arms".
    Yet the situation is changing, rapidly. The residents have heard the call and even as the Overseer and his minions try desperately to convince the proletariat that all is for their benefit, there are voices being heard and these voices will continue no matter the result of the election, for win or lose, we win. We will continue to harry the wrong decision makers and their incompetent decisions We will keep after those in office, no matter who they are, reminding them that "the whole world is watching". Humans strive for improvement and progress. Humans do not cede independence simply because it is easier. Yes, we have done that in tragic times in the world and we have done that here in the Village  for far too long and so now the time has arrived. On Friday, March 4 do the right thing no matter what you have been promised. Vote for the best of us here in the Village and not the overseer in whatever shape it has manifested itself.
     As for me - I am trying to decide if I want to watch the last two hour episode for fear of what it what say about us, about humanity and our future. Hard coming from a teaching background for every movie, every book has a story to tell, a deeper meaning and the sad thing is that these meanings are so true and have been since the first tale was told and the themes remain the same be it from the Iliad and Odyssey to Iain Pear's new book, Arcadia. When will we ever learn, the song asks? who knows, but we must try. We must. We must.
    

WORDS AND NAMES

     Before I begin to delve into today's post, let me give a tad of a warning and heads up to some people. It has come to me from a credible source, that there is a witness to the vandalism of the Richland for President signs. These are the signs that are attacked by people under illegal orders, such as the Glow workers who are paid by WPRF and whom David has appropriated illegally to commit his dastardly deeds (can't you just see him twirling his mustache and sneering in the typical baddie pose?) The rest are taken down by obsessed beings who have at these signs, even on private property not even within the Village property lines, who go at these signs with pliers, wire cutters, hammers, wood sticks and rams and what have you. Besides being illegal, this is quite sick and some people need serious head exams. In any case, these attacks and acts are illegal and this source says the witness is just about ready to inform authorities so - stop while you can, get normal and behave! 
     From the time man first uttered a sound syllable to the present, words have played enormous roles in our history, rousing people or frightening them, amusing them or comforting them, demonstrating the elegance of a turn of phrase or the clumsiness and ugliness of the words of hate. People have used words to raise themselves up and to demean themselves and others.
     Fascists, in whatever guise they use at the moment, are known to use words in harmful manners and with evil intent. They use words to frighten, to intimidate and to separate, for to separate is to weaken opponents and to dehumanize them. Inevitably, the tables are turned on them and their words come back to haunt them.
     The Communist Chinese are desperate to hang on to Hong Kong when the agreement to allow it the current degree of independence expires. Those who wish to remain independent and capitalist, who wish no ruler over them, are aware and are fighting for themselves, knowing the importance of getting in there early and getting on with it - unlike our current UCO here who refuse to see the writing on the wall and start post Millennium preparation! In any case, the Communists, who are fascists by another name, kind of like a brother by another mother, have taken to a tried and true technique of yore and assigned these opponents a name meant to be demeaning, is derivative in any case, and does not seem to be doing the job. They are called Radical Separatists in a tone of scorn, but look what has happened. These young kids and adults have adopted the name and said Radical? Yes! Separatists? Yes! Why not and so their own words of the Communists (Fascists) have come back to bite the accusers.
     Malcontents? YES! Discontented with the status quo, with the incompetence, with the selfishness, with the lack of any principles of management - and oh, here is a new one from yesterday's management interviews. People need to be trusted and respected, nourished so that the best is forthcoming. Hmmm. Just like here - NOT! In any case, yes, we are the malcontents in a proud American tradition, like the union leaders who stood up to the beatings of the capitalists and nasty owners, to Margaret Sanger who stood up for women, to Abraham Lincoln who did not like the situation and the institution of slavery and saw a way out, to George Washington and Thomas Paine and the Adams brothers, to Benjamin Franklin- all these were malcontents and thank G-d for that.
     What we need here is the realization of the idea of community, with shared values, with all of us realizing that we are part of something greater than ourselves or a few people, greater than the selfish needs of some. In the interest of full disclosure, this is a paraphrasing of the words of Fred Lawrence talking of his years as president of Brandeis University and his dealings with BDS on campus there. We do not have that feeling here any longer. It is very sad, but then it is more than that.
     When David Israel tells you to vote for the same old same old because   "They have a strong record of fiduciary trust and financial responsibility."  Uh-oh!
     When he does that, one chokes on those very words. The same Ed Black who colluded with Bob Marshall and David Israel to scrape the bottom of our financial barrel of our funds to finance the incompetent and harmful contract of the roads? 
     The same people who illegally moved funds to the tune of $8o,ooo in this matter when the Treasurer was away? The same people who allowed our Village to deteriorate into a motel zero, and took donations and political power from the man who did this - Donald Kelly - and all others who followed in his path.
     These are the people who have run down the former proud Reporter, who have turned it into a financial drag on us until they turned it into a propaganda broadsheet and filled the rest with ads and more ads. The advertisers should only know how many of these papers are printed, never delivered and of those delivered, how many go into the trash unread - even unbundled! But yes, in the interests of being green - they do make good stuffing and wrapping for items to be shipped so there is a god use of materials and recycling.
     To vote for most of David Israel's choices is to vote to maintain the very weak and shaky status quo, the crooked and incompetent status quo, the status quo where contracts and agreements are done in secret, against DA votes and opinions, with improper supervision, where by laws are rewritten and not publicized while they wait for the moment to shove them down our throats as they did and do with contracts. This administration needs to be removed from office.
     We must vote in Phyllis Richland and vote for those who will work well with her and yes, that might include the delegates to the Executive Board but to choose from amongst those is ridiculous - they are all automatically in, whether they receive one or 300 votes! What cannot be allowed is to vote for any of the officers named on his slate. Vote for their opponents and choose from a group of four VPs who will serve the Village and not themselves.
     We must vote in the person who wishes to reintroduce an element of civility here, the candidate who refused at the Forum to sink to the low level of David Israel and his henchmen in their use of nasty tones and insinuations and personal attacks. When such a  response was called for in return, Phyllis simply said she was done with the matter. This is one who is looking for a new day, a new path and new UCO, one of inclusion, of proper behavior, of honesty, of acceptance of others, of altruism rather than selfishness.
     We must change or the Village will die. That is the truth!
     No more Motel Zero. No more transients. No more lies and more lies. No more violence and vandalism. No more repression. Up with democracy!!!! No more secrets from the residents. Proper planning and process and procedure. Proper financial planning. Programs that will enhance our home rather than harm it. A WPRF that is under control. And all the rest that needs to be done.
     Bring us into the future in a good and honest way, on the right path. Beat down the fascists and remind us all that we live in America, with an open Clubhouse and grounds, where opinions are welcomed and evaluated and incorporated as they come in and are even solicited. Let us return to and go forth with that Golden Age as our goal.

PHYLLIS RICHLAND FOR PRESIDENT!!!

THE ECHOES HEARD ROUND THE WORLD

     For a number of weeks I have wanted to write about the wave of anti Semitism , the reek of its evil permeating the very air round the globe, but each time I wished to write of that, the homegrown nausea of David Israel demanded attention. The silent shrieks of "mine, mine", the sounds of a tormented toddler's mind, echoing the insanity of Gollum chasing after his ring, demanded attention.
     The pathetic lies that are told, that are clung to, echo the other sickness, that of anti Semitism, so I decided that I can do both in one posting. Both movements, anti Semitism and the support David group are composed of people who sense their inferiority, who need to cling to a leader who will tell them how and what to think, when to do something and what to say. They will have no responsibility for what happens. A simple lie, they start with, yes, but one that wreaks havoc on and in the life of others and the lies grow in size and consequence.
     The lies. The lies. One says that Jews control the media, the papers, the movies, the television medium and anything else they can think of.  Stars who owe their careers to Jewish agents or audiences or promoters jump on the bandwagon of BDS as they are pressured to boycott Israel. Rocks are thrown at stores - here and in Europe. Jewish stores are targeted and the echoes of Nazi Germany and other Fascist countries are heard once more. A restaurant in Ohio is targeted by a man with a machete who kills people because he thinks the owner is an Israeli Jew. Correct on one count - he was an Israeli - but a Christian and proud of his Israeli roots. And notice how the fact that the terrorist was slain by the police is not criticized - as it should not be - but when an Israeli policeman or soldier on guard duty kills a stabber or bomber or shooter, it is claimed to be "excessive". Wrong, wrong, wrong! A terrorist is a terrorist and they deserve what they get.
     Israelis, Jewish Israelis, are told by "partners in peace" that they do not belong in the area, that they need to return to whence they came, and images of Jews of Polish origin being thrown into no man's land between Poland and Germany rise up in one's mind. The French excuse that they deported only non French born Jews as if that would excuse the enthusiasm they evidenced as they committed war crimes now echoes again in the attacks on Jews in France.
    Chills run down my spine when I hear Putin tell Jews to "come home" to Mother Russia. Uh huh, the same Russia of the pogroms, the Pale of Settlement, the real life Anatevkas, the Russia of the principle of 1/3 thru conversion, 1/3 thru emigration, and 1/3 thru extinction. Even here in the USA Jews are being attacked and many are beginning to follow the growing European trend of tucking in that Jewish star necklace, removing the kippah, but nothing works for hatred is all encompassing and it twists the lives of those who suffer from it as well as the lives of those who practice it.
     That same hatred can be seen in the waves and words that emanate from the David Israel camp.  There is evident religious nastiness on their part, expressed over and over again in their various postings, which David is now making sure to remove from his blog, as he is doing to all the statements his shills make - but remember, oh man of the waves, these statements are still there and many are saved within our clouds. The same belief in lies permeates their campaign, following the fascist principle of the Big Lie. The same effort you and yours make to assign a seemingly negative or pejorative name to your opposition smacks nastily of the tactics of Fascists. If the shoe fits.....
     The media is repressed and dominated by one party. Take a look at the most recent paper issued. The President's Report, meant to be a neutral reporting of the state of the Village or a discourse on a topic of importance to the residents, has now become, once again, a political column, a propaganda column fixated on campaigning for the incumbent and nowhere within the paper, not even amongst the toilets and tires is there a presentation of a matching column from the other candidate for the office.
     That pompous bag of hot air, Lanny Howe, writes of Cerabino's article - curious how it managed to get into the paper so quickly! He posted it on David's blog as well and it was on there and in my own blog that I responded to his lies but there they are again. He dares to misquote me, saying I said or used the term "disrespectful" - so show me, big boy. But in any case, no column from me presenting another viewpoint and no, Irv Rikon's column is not the answer either. Bought souls are bought souls no matter how one dresses it up. By the way, Irv, I have often compared David Israel to Putin so you have nothing new to contribute here. But at least I am in good company, that of Phyllis Richland, who is constantly being misquoted as saying things and statements that never were. Lies, lies and more lies and the sad thing is that there are simple people out there who hear them, who read them, and then believe them for after all, how could our "leader" lie so!?
     Never before in my life have I been so afraid for the future. I worry terribly about the future world of my kids and grandchildren. I worry for their safety. I worry if they will undergo the unthinkable. I wonder if the world will ever change and hate and hatred be a thing of the past. I wonder why there are creatures out there who think and believe that evil is the way to go, that violence is the way of life and lies are valued over truth. Anyone who knows me knows that one of my biggest pet peeves in life is the lie and the liars so this is a particularly bad and evil thing in my mind.While there has been no violence here, those same principles of Fascism are up front and center right here in our Village. And I worry for the future of the Village and my Act III and that of my friends.
     The leader? David Israel. He encourages those who lie, who use violence in their words, who break the law, who repress free speech, who will obey his orders and tear down signs, who will harass opponents of his way of thinking, those who oppose his constant quest for power. He has co-opted the paper and then writes of how he has been hands off from inception and thinks that people do not know the truth. He is incompetent as a manager, lost millions of dollars, knows not how to budget, but believes that he can hide that truth and in truth knows that the only reason that he remains in office is because of our antiquated delegate system of voting, leaving the residents out in the cold. 300+ delegates versus 14,000+ residents - not a good ratio, but if one controls the list of these delegates and does not allow them to be contacted by anyone other than Himself, well, it is clear is it not?
     One cannot separate evil into gradations and categories. One is evil, period, and when this is so, his evil aids and abets the evil of others in the world. Hence, there is no difference in principle between a dictator of a country in Europe or Asia or Africa or South America or Central America or a dictator of a small township in Florida for one is limited only by the space one chooses wherein one's evil can be practiced.
     Evil people are selfish people, wanting only what is for them, to maintain the reins of power, to surround themselves with a coterie of suck-ups, of yes men and women, or intimidated people, of people who are thankful for the crumb of power they are given, for the chance to be in the shadow of the Big Man. Well, it must be pointed out in the same manner that the Emperor's nudity was pointed out, that in reality, this Big Man is a Little Man, a pathetic, evil, hanging on by his toenails loser of the worst type, a man who spreads evil and dissension with his every breath, the raison d'etre of his existence.
     Well, take comfort in the fact that even if the system is against us, there has never been a dictator who has remained in power forever. Either there has been a coup, violent or otherwise, an assassination, or Nature takes its course and the dictator becomes enfeebled or dies. After that, judgement for him and for those who supported him.
    We talk of legacy. We talk of progress. But  as I look at pictures of classes, of clubs, of families from the late 1920's and early 30's, as I look at these people living their lives, and knowing what was coming, I think how quickly the world can turn over and why it is so important that we fight against evil, no matter how hard, or personally bruising it becomes. One cannot stand aside and say ,"It is not my battle." It is. There is no neutrality here, for if one is neutral in the face of evil then one is really allowing it to flourish.
     So fight against the anti Semitism, fight against racism in whatever manifestation it takes, fight against wrong, for if not - there we are! Again! And fight against its presence here in the Village. The consequences are clear. The principles of right and wrong are clear. The choice is clear as well.

MORE TRUTH

TO ALL CENTURY VILLAGE RESIDENTS – BEWARE

THERE IS A SIGN THIEF PROWLING AROUND AT NIGHT -  WE ALL

KNOW WHO THAT IS!  OR WHO ORDERED IT AND WHY!

STEW RICHLAND

 Tell this to Lord Dave and to those WHO creep around at night and tear (with wire cutters) down campaign signs or SPONSOR candidate forums and no one shows up. 

Last night (Thursday) Phyllis and I attended the show at the Club House.  It was great!  It was a sellout!.  However, what was even more rewarding and encouraging was the fact that while Phyllis and I were schmoozing with our friends, at least 15 residents came over to Phyllis and hugged her and thanked her for all she had done for them, told her they supported her in her campaign and some even had tears in their eyes.

In Lanny Howe’s latest attempt to shore up David’s character qualities, he took offense by the moniker  given to him by those who he refers to as “Malcontents”  (I SUGGEST THAT LANNY LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF MALCONTENT.  THIS TERM WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE USED AS A PEJORATIVE.  A MALCONTENT IS A   a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious.  LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON, SAM ADAMS, THOMAS JEFFERSON AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.)   Now lets define Dictator. a person who has absolute rule and supports undemocratic rule.  (Examples are: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao Tse Tung, Fidel Castro)  This is rhetorical, but why do most Village residents think that Dave is a Dictator?  He has conspired with WPRF to end any political campaigning at the pools and clubhouse. (suppression of freedom of speech and assembly)   He has called Code Enforcement to remove a campaign banner from the synagogue fence on Haverhill Rd.  and then again when the banner was displayed on Olga’s association wall.  When support Phyllis Richland signs began to be placed on the fence surrounding the Golf Course (which is not UCO property) he ordered one of the  Glow cleaning crew to take the signs down.  At least a dozen signs have been ripped off. (Suppression of press and speech).  Glow is paid by WPRF. So they know what is going on.

 No articles are allowed to be accepted and published by the UCO Reporter under the leadership of Joy Vestal that even attempts to criticize Lord David.  (Control of the press, first thing a “dictator” does when they gain power)  Channel 63 which is now under control of Lord David and his minions,  seem to have a problem keeping to the schedule for the programming of the candidates presentations.  Incompetence or by design. (dictators control all modes of communication – keep the people in the dark)

 Dictators believe in the “Big Lie” principle.  Tell a lie over and over again until the people begin to believe it.  For example:  Phyllis Richland left the office early and thus did not fulfill her UCO obligations.  Crap and Lord David knows it.  But when a leader abuses his position to characterize his opponent in a negative way, this is abuse of power. Hence, a form of Dictatorship.   How many hard working and dedicated people has Lord David fired because they did something that rubbed him the wrong way.  (Dictators love conformity to the will of the “leader.”  It's good to trust others but, not to do so is much better. Benito Mussolini   Perhaps this explains why Lord David fires so many volunteers?

Well Lanny, based on the definition and examples I have provided for you, which side would most freedom loving Century Villagers support.

One other thing I would like to point out.  Lanny tells us that what has happened to us here in Century Village kind of made us uncomfortable and as he suggests somewhat scorched by it all.  Ask all the military veterans that have sacrificed so much if they think what Century Village is turning into is humorous.

to post about this article -  phyllisrichlnd.blogspot.com

CHARACTER - WHAT IS IT? WHO HAS IT?

    Character is defined as "the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual". It is what makes the person. It is the virtual backbone of a person's soul. It is where and how we find out what makes a person tick and what is his/her connection to humanity and humanness. Some simple tells of a person's character, or lack of a positive one, is the person's stress on certain behaviors. Does the person tell the truth or is there a complex liar in the mix? Does the person value positive aspects of social connections or is there a humanity piece missing, a lack of care and concern for others. How would this person answer the Biblical question - "Am I my brother's keeper?"
     It is the conglomerate of traits which make or do not make a person a Good person. Aristotle defined character as êthikai aretai —  usually translated as moral virtue or moral excellence. There are moral standards to be upheld, to be striven towards and for, and the progress towards achievement of a higher moral standard is to be admired and sought for.
     "You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one."
Henry David Thoreau

     The hammer and forge of character building are missing in the president of UCO at the moment. There is no tilt towards the truth; instead there is a constant tendency to lie, to avoid the truth. One can see that tendency exercised in real life in Trudeau's avoidance of the question as to why he wishes to support Hamas with the donation of funds to UNRWA which are funneled to that terrorist organization. There was no answer there and there was no answer from Joy Vestal either when questioned about the poor old Rag. There was no answer from David Israel when asked about current achievements, only what has been done seven years ago. The rest of the time there were lies, underhanded attacks, a definite lack of empathy for those who have suffered in a personal life. And why is that? Because this man HAS no personal life other than a bizarre relationship with his computers, his obsession with them, and his twisted relationship with underlings at UCO.

    He claims to have accomplished much in his tenure so let us check out the truth of that.

     He brought in email seven years ago, an idea whose time had come and would have been brought in anyway and there is a substantial group of people who maintain that Ken Graff brought it in. Next.

     He managed to misspend our money to the tune of millions of dollars, inducing near bankruptcy, $11,000 buffer from that precarious state.

     He has managed, with the help of Ed Black and Bob Marshall, to completely ruin the roads and perimeter walkways of the Village and the roads today make a good environment for slipping and falling what with the sand and pebbles components of the roads separating and amassing.

     He has managed to oversee the complete deterioration of our waterways, trumpeting the introduction of County water - with all its chemicals and overabundance of harmful minerals and so we now have, instead of waters that reflect the blue of the sky, we now have a putrid greenish brown color, algae floating and accumulating and where are our turtles?

     We now have a CAM that is not a CAM and while he seems to actually be working, why is he not in the position of having taken the test already. We are required to have a licensed CAM at contract negotiations, and well, that has been observed in the breach!

     We have observed a constant and steady move from democracy to repression and dictatorship, with paranoid behavior and cursing that has moved from private into the open at meetings and assemblies.

     We have seen a development of real good tantrums, worthy of any superior two year old.

     We have seen personal attacks on his opponents, crucifying an opponent for resigning when her son died, demeaning her achievements for the humanity of the Village and twisting words that never were said! She had the dignity and strength of character to ignore his nasty jabs and lies.

     Let us take a current example of that. Phyllis is reported by them to have said that the ends justify the means. Well, listen to the tape - never said, but the big Lie is in place, and accepted and a usual tactic of David Israel. And why here? Because Phyllis said she accepted the support of anyone and why is that? Simple - because anyone who wants this man and his underlings gone is a good supporter at present. After the election there will be inclusiveness and attempts and successes at bringing the Village back together again. With adult behavior, with decency and clear thinking, with a team that will hear ALL viewpoints without screams and shouts and with pure evaluation and acceptance of the idea that there are other viewpoints and ideas worthy of being heard and even implemented - the best Village ever will be the result.

     Aha! Another accomplishment. He has overturned term limits in a most damaging effect on the Village and did it in a typically sneaky manner, disregarding the viewpoints and votes of the majority during the season. And continues that kind of behavior with his ignoring the definite turndown of Village wide Wi Fi, forced upon people, and continues to negotiate in secret with firms who do this. Why? When there are new changes in this field, six a day, why does he want to rush into something that is outmoded before we ink the contract!! Why? Interesting road for investigation, is it not?

     So what would Phyllis do? I  am tired of listing that man's characterless "achievements", so.... Phyllis would bring in the proper tools - attorneys who know contracts, attorneys who can help us prepare for post Millennium, who can help advise us and associations and give them the help they are crying for. She will work to turn out the disaster that is Donald Kelly and his ilk that want to ruin our Village and turn it into a shabby third world motel rather than the beautiful home that it should and could be and once was. She will rein in the spending of WPRF and work to amass the funds we need to fix the roads. The unpaved but well maintained dirt roads of the Acreage are not here in the Village, so let us maintain what we do have and need.

     New projects will be presented to the electorate and Phyllis will value their opinions, work towards the one owner one unit voting rather than the antiquated and unfair delegate system we now have. There will be an outreach from UCO towards the associations and an eager desire to help and aid, and turning away from the downward from the top either ignoring of the associations or the attempt to force them into something. The principle of inclusion will be the reigning one and we will use all the brainpower of the Village, not of the chosen, poorly chosen, few. Committees will be opened to people, to volunteers, to variety. Those who need help will get it and those who desire to harm our Village will be dealt with in an efficient and legal manner. And of course, our poor newspaper will be resurrected and anyone wishing to run a paper of their own while not receiving Village funding, will be welcomed. The Clubhouse, the pools, will be opened for  all who belong to the Village and fairness will reign. Of course there will be no more double dipping of two and three positions in UCO being held by the same person and conflict of interests will not be an accepted policy of UCO!

     No more "leader" who lies. No more one who peers into the windows of his neighbor. No more tantrums. No more secrecy and exclusion. No more repression and fascistic principles. Yes, towards looking towards the future in an organized and thoughtful manner. Yes, to the needs of the Villagers and not for the needs of one. Yes to careful handling of our funds. Pinch a penny enough times and there are dollars. Pinch the dollars and you have hundreds. Pinch the hundreds and you have thousands and on it goes. Spending? YES but not wasteful and selfish spending. Luxuries after the needs are met and not before.

     "Nothing of character is really permanent but virtue and personal worth."Daniel Webster

     Think on that and think about what we have here. Think again and then vote. Tell your delegates to vote for the future and not the past. To vote for the one with true character, moral values and ethics. Simple.

AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

TO ALL CENTURY VILLAGE RESIDENTS WHO DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CANDIDATES FORUM FOR WHAT EVER REASON!

STEW RICHLAND

“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” 
― Jonathan Swift

PERHAPS IF FOOD WAS SERVED MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SHOWN UP.

When I read Lanny Howe’s comments on the Candidates Forum I could not believe that we were in the same room.  The venue was called a Candidates' Forum,  but where were the Delegates?  Most of the attendees wore Red Shirts, as Dave acknowledged to Susan Bucher, and again made the snide remark, "this looks like the meeting of the Comintern".  This comment fell flat, no one was listening, but when  one judges themselves as the high priest of droll humor,  why not repeat the comment.  Why repeat the comment again when most of the audience wore red shirts which clearly demonstrated  they were in support of Phyllis Richland. 

Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels noted “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.”   I counted 83 attendees at this so called Candidates' Forum and about 20 candidates.  We have over 300 voting delegates in Century Village -  where were they?  Maybe Dave  sees something that us mere mortals do not, like 300 delegates all with signs waving in the breeze, “TEAM DAVID.”

Lanny Howe has to be coming from an alternate universe.  How could any one attending the forum and then reading his column take him seriously? 

A real observer would, as all reporters should do, “get the facts, just the facts” and report the other side of the story before  drawing conclusions.  You conclude that Dave WON  this debate because Phyllis has a limited knowledge about WI-FI!!Give me a break!  Based on your mode of analysis,  we have to conclude that Dave is a flop as  a CEO because he has demonstrated time and time again that he absolutely does not have the people skills for his job.

Jonathan Swift observed, “Proper words in proper places make the true definition of style.”  This quote explains why Phyllis took the highroad in the debate.  Dave’s clumsy attempt at trying to degrade Phyllis Richland’s  performance as a UCO V.P. is what this huckster is all about.  Just another example of him playing three card monte with the facts.  Phyllis Richland, as a human being with compassion, has always felt that the soul that is within her no man can degrade. 

Dave Israel is truly the King of Lilliput.  He is the ruler of the Lilliputs (citizens of Lilliput in Gulliver’s travels) only they are called “Team Dave.”  By the way, those who supported Phyllis Richland have been using the term “Team Phyllis”  weeks before Dave discovered it.

The King of Lilliput urges Gulliver to steal the ships of the king’s competitors. 
Well the King of our Century Village not only gets the government to remove campaign banners,  he also had his own Gulliver wearing a “Glow”  shirt, riding around the Village in his golf cart following orders,  tearing down all campaign signs supporting Phyllis Richland under his order.

Another one of Jonathan Swift’s gems:  “proper words in proper places make the true definition of style.”  Well let's examine our King's style.  He used vile language  towards one of his Vice Presidents,  uses snide remarks at Delegate Assembly meetings in order to demean any person who disagrees with his policies.  His attempts at sarcasm, when weeding out those who oppose him, become another illustration as to the real character of this man.  Mr. President, the best rule to follow when in conversation with opponents is never to say a thing which any of the audience can reasonably wish had been left  unsaid.

Lanny,  how about Joy Vestal’s refusal to answer a question which she felt did not need to answer or could not answer with a good response?  Rather not say anything and allow the truth to come limping along afterward,  when it is too late for any rebuttal.  Her responses remind me of a physician who has discovered an infallible  medicine after the patient has died.

So the Emperor of Lilliput presided over the “red carpet” event, the Candidates Forum, attended by his court of noble Lilliputians, to an audience of 83, who, many wearing  “red” shirts and were supporters of Phyllis Richland, and Lannie Howe calls this a win for the Emperor.  Bazinga (coining the phrase used in the Big Bang Theory meaning we gotcha). 

Congratulations Dave, you  and most of your  team have discovered a shorter and more prudent method to becoming clever, using innuendo,  and wit  without the fatigue of reading or thinking.

                                                                                             "WHERE’S THE “BEEF” 

Note: any comments please forward – phyllisrichland.blogspot.com