Rachel, Rachel

I live just outside of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where the story about Rachel Dolezel broke.  If what I've read in the local paper is accurate our community has to take some responsibility for being an enabler.  You see, some questioned whether or not she was truly black and it fell upon deaf ears by the powers that be for whom she worked.

I think everyone feels a mixture of emotions.  Mostly shock then empathy then confusion.  That she has some mental issues is of no doubt.

Her allegations about hate mail and an ominous noose that "suddenly" appeared were found to have no merit when investigated by the police.  Was it a ploy to get attention? I think probably. Why, I haven't a clue.

She moved on to Spokane, maybe 30 miles away, for a fresh start.  Was the ploy no longer working and more people were becoming suspicious?  I don't know but when it started up again in Spokane the lid blew off.  Obviously she was not well schooled in the art of deceit coupled with the lure of publicity though she got her fair share by virtue of the positions she held.  It just wasn't sensational.

People wanted to believe there was merit to her claims.  She was likable enough and trying to do good work for the minorities in our cities.  One thing I can say with some certainty, if she was really raised in Troy, Montana it's hard to believe she started identifying as black at the age of five.  It would be difficult to find enough blacks in Troy for her to identify with.  It's a tiny town in northwestern Montana not far from the Idaho border and decidedly white.

The more she seeks out publicity the less sympathy people are going to have for her.  What's next?  A reality TV show?  A movie?  I hope not.  While it may enrich her pocket book, it won't enrich her life.  Perhaps a better avenue would be sorting out her family conflicts.

It's strange to me that this should have started here, at least the breaking of the news.  Coeur d'Alene and its surrounding areas, especially Hayden just to the north, has fought long and hard to rid itself of the reputation as a haven for neo Nazis and their ilk. Now it seems we have a case of racism in reverse.

I hope she gets the help she needs to sort out her life.  It seems a waste for one so capable to be so hindered by her own actions.

Republican Hypocrites

The Obama trade bill hasn't had quite as much hype as Obamacare did, but it comes close.  The stand out about Obamacare is Nancy Pelosi gurggling about how wonderful it was that it passed because we could now find out what's in it.

To their credit the Republicans didn't vote for it.  What happened to that sense of integrity?  Nothing because there was none.

Now the shoe is on the other foot.  While with Obamacare the Democrats wanted it as a step closer to a one payer system.  It had nothing to to with the well being of Americans and everything to do with a political agenda.  If not then the promises blatantly made wouldn't have been false.

Now it's the Republicans turn.  Big business really really wants the trade bill even though it has been shown that middle class jobs will be lost. The devil, as usual, is in the details and that's why the likes of Mr. Integrity, Paul Ryan, is saying no one shall read it until it's passed.  Why is that?  What's in it ?

What ever happened to having legislation put on line so the American public, as well as Congress itself, has time to read it and digest it?

Personally I wouldn't give this President the power to negotiate anything considering his track record, but that's beside the point.  The point is that when it comes to specific interests which will benefit a party all bets are off.  The lack of integrity is interchangeable.  What's good for Americans?  Who?  Oh.  Us.  We who have no voice.  Same game, different faces.  Same outcome.  Lovely.

It Isn't Just ISIS!

Remember the young Saudi who was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for the sin of blogging?  He barely survived the first 50 lashes and it was to continue once a week until 1000 had been reached.

There was huge outcry from around the world and the sentence was postponed.  During that time it was appealed to the Saudi Supreme Court which has upheld the sentence. Forget the ins and outs of the "crime" which shouldn't even be debatable. Consider the mentality of those who impose this type of punishment and those who watch and cheer.

So now what?  Aren't we fighting, in our own inimitable way, ISIS for the same cruel behavior?  How can we aid the Saudis when they act in the same barbaric way?  Or any other of the Middle Eastern countries who dole out similar punishments and we well know it.

Now Obama can go back in history and claim that early Popes often ordered the same type of punishment.  Yes, they did, but civilized societies recognized the cruelty of it and ceased.

I've often said part of this country's problem is that we don't understand the Middle Eastern culture. When we become aware of their practices in this day and age we are shocked and appalled as well we should be.  So what do we do when the Saudis tell us and everyone else in the human rights community hat we have no right to interfere with their internal policies and practices.  In other words, shove it.

I'd like to see the world practice some payback rather than conceding everything workable, like severe sanctions, in the futile and naive effort to bring them into the world community.  We've seen from Iran they have no intention of changing their ways; nor is Syria or Iraq or any of the others.  They play nice at the negotiations, for anything, while they beat and maim their citizens.

I believe we need to play a more active part in defeating ISIS because they are the worst of the worst but as for the others, no more aid or weapons or training or anything else they want until they eliminate such practices.

True, they cannot and will not change over night, but they can immediately halt archaic methods of punishment. If they don't we need to do more than complain.  We can.  We won't.  A young blogger is likely to die because of it.  I hope the mirror's reflection is pleasing to those who can apply the pressure to make a change but won't.

My Prejudices Are Showing

Vanity Fair photo by Annie Leibowitz

Not much bothers me any more.  Photos in the news of ISIS atrocities, plane wrecks, refugees drowning and so on, but there is something about the Annie Leibowitz photo of Caitlin Jenner that really, really bothers me.  It actually makes my skin crawl.

I'm surprised at my reaction to the finished transformation of the former Bruce Jenner.  After all we've been privy to it since the outset and were offered pictures of progress throughout the transition.

Still.  Maybe it's because I'm old enough to remember Bruce as the former Olympic champion.  I watched him.  I cheered for him.  Then he disappeared from my radar for quite some time only to reappear years later as one of the Kardashian clan.  Ah, what fame can do for you.

I don't think I have a prejudice against transgenders.  I can't say I've ever met one.  Maybe that's the point.  If I have I don't know it and I just as soon it stay that way.  I guess I'm having trouble reconciling who he was with who he has become. Especially this particular pose.  It seems to be trying to be provocative.  After all Jenner is 65 years old.  Not that a 65 year old can't be provocative.  Look at Helen Mirren.  She's 69 and in my opinion still reeks femininity and sex appeal.  And I haven't even seen her is a strapless bathing suit! Point being she doesn't need it.

Somehow I'm thinking that without all the doctoring one can do to photos these days, Caitlan may not look quite like this in the flesh. I might find that even more disturbing.

Never-the-less, I hope Ms. Jenner is finding happiness in her new self and goes on to lead a wonderful life without the angst she has lived with previously.  She can fade out of the limelight now as far as I'm concerned.  Next time I see a photo of this 65 year old woman I hope she's dressed and posed age appropriately.  I'd find that easier to digest - the woman she really is.  Not some posed fantasy.

We NEED Our Police

As I was browsing clip art for this post I came across the banner to the left.  I think it's a great idea and if there is a police officer out there who would like some senior citizen support, let me know.  By that I mean support from those of us who grew up wanting to be a policeman because we admired them and respected them.

As we got older we came to realize being s policeman was more than an exciting job and a cool uniform.  It meant being tough when it was called for and putting oneself in danger when it was called for.  Still many wanted the career and thank heaven for that!

In scanning headlines this morning I see the murder rate in New York City is up 15%, Baltimore continues to get bloodier, shootings involving children are up 500% and a Washington D.C. reporter was shot dead after being used as a human shield.

Don't ask where are the police.  They aren't wanted. After all they're filled with bigotry and racism and just add to the problem.  I think not.  

There is so much discussion about why there is so much discontent and violence and what can be done to change it.  Strengthen the family unit.  Better education for the kids so they will have opportunities other than crime.  That's wonderful.

In the meantime we need our police.  Yes, they sometimes make bad calls and sometimes, as in any large population, there are some bad eggs but by and large that is not  the norm. Yes, they are hardened and sometimes seem to be less than sensitive.  Well, put yourself in their shoes and deal with what police in cities like New York and Baltimore and even Ferguson have to deal with day in and day out. See how warm and fuzzy you are after a week.

I think about the police officer here in Coeur d'Alene who lost his life in the middle of the night during a traffic stop.  Does it matter what the race of the shooter was?  No. What would have happened in that neighborhood at that time of night if the officer had not stopped the man or had not been there at all?  Some type of crime you can be sure.  No one prowls neighborhoods late at night just to admire the lawns and gardens.  More likely they're checking out easy access, lack of barking dogs and maybe a pile of uncollected newspapers. As it was the officer was there and was killed for his effort, for doing his job. It could have been anyone in that neighborhood who awakened to a noise and went to investigate.  

Let the police get back to work so little kids aren't afraid to walk to school.  The ones who should fear indictment are the corrupt or inept officials that put unreasonable constraints on them. Or the Justice Department who deems itself the ultimate poo bah in how cities should run their departments.  How many have ever served?  How many realize the risks and the anxiety that comes with the territory? How many know the hard edge of of fear when confronted, or the sense of futility when they are called out time and time again?  We not to understand where the police are coming from, not the perpetrators of mayhem who are the first to cry foul.

Adopt a cop.  I like it.  Not a bad movement to see started!