For the past couple of weeks it seems as if the news was like a chain of railroad cars all painted with the same brush. Not just one major storm in the Caribbean but three, not just one devastating earthquake in Mexico but at least three and not just one headline about our president's unpresidential bearing but several.
Hurricanes ravaged the picturesque islands of the Caribbean on their way to the United States mainland. After wreaking havoc in the Caribbean, on August 26th Hurricane Harvey made landfall at Rockport, Texas.
On September 2nd The Weather Channel reported it had dropped nearly five feet of rain. A large portion of Houston, Texas, the nation's fourth most populous city was underwater.
The morning of September 10th Hurricane Irma hit Florida as a Category 4 storm ripping off roofs, flooding coastal cities and knocking out power to more than 6.8 million people. Some 10 days later Hurricane Jose brushed the coast of Now England. At the same time Jose was winding down and headed into the northern Atlantic, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico knocking out power to the entire island, a United States
territory.
The death toll continues to rise from these storms. People from across the country descended on the stricken areas to volunteer and help. They brought boats and food and clothing. Color, religion, political affiliation didn't matter who was helping and who was being helped.
To our south the same scenario was playing out. On September 19th a strong earthquake crumbled buildings and changed the landscape of some areas of Mexico. More quakes followed from the capital of Mexico City south to Guatemala. Just like in our nation color and social status didn't matter to those helping and those being helped.
A few weeks before the natural disasters reigned on the news, events in Charlottesville, Virginia was in the spotlight A day of rage, hate and violence turned deadly with what began as a march of white nationalist and white supremacists. Counter protesters caught authorities off-guard with their persistence and determination. When it was over it was reported there was one dead and 19 injured.
Members of Congress voiced opposition to the demonstration and President Trump's subsequent remarks seemed to defend the ultra-right group of supremacists and neo-Nazis saying there were good and bad on both sides. Describing white supremacists as: "very fine people."
Across the Atlantic, in Germany a country with history of white supremacist, Angela Merkle the nation's chancellor, pointed out after a clash of like-minded individuals, Germany recognizes its history and refuses to tear down statutes and other memories of its past. But, also noted laws have been passed forbidding such groups and it has zero tolerance for that behavior.
More recently, another world leader, Vladimir Putin seemed to hit a nail on the head when he described the head North Korea and President Trump as "children in a kindergarten." The only problem being both these heads of state seem to rule at times with their egos and without leadership a very dangerous combination.
And, on a final note, I can't help but wonder if our president is the least bit familiar with the Constitution of the United States. The other day his remark about National Football League (NFL) players sitting or taking a knee during the playing of our National Anthem apparently magnifies his ignorance of this document.
At a rally he commented when a player refuses to stand for the flag he would like to see NFL owners say: "Get that son of a bitch off the field, he's fired." While I may not agree with the actions of the players, I do wholehearted agree with their right to perform such actions. I swore an oath to defend our Constitution. I have bled defending it. The First Amendment guarantees and protects freedom of speech. Yes, even the right of an ignorant man who was elected to hold the highest office in our land.
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