Jimmy Cliff, 1944-2025

In the movie “High Fidelity,” John Cusack turns around at a funeral service and addresses the movie audience, listing the best songs for a funeral.  The first one he mentions is “Many River to Cross” by Jimmy Cliff.  I had already decided that I wanted that one played at my funeral service, if one was held.  I turned to Linda and said, “Now everyone will think I got the idea from the movie.”  

It is a great song.  Jimmy Cliff sang it better than anyone. 

Just in case you are curious, I am also requesting “Drive” by the Cars and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”  I picked that last one just for the line, “As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.”  In fact, I don’t think I want anyone to speak.  Just listen to some good music.

By the way, I’ll be off for at least the next two nights.  I’m spending Thanksgiving in Richmond, Virginia.  Looking forward to Chinese takeout.

Action on Ukraine

This is a guest post from "David," who comments regularly on the posts.   Here is what David sent:  

The United States does not have a formal defense treaty with Ukraine comparable to NATO’s Article 5. However, it has entered into significant agreements—most notably the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the 2024 U.S.–Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement—that commit Washington to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and long‑term defense capacity.

 

We pledged to support Ukraine; its people are bravely defending their freedom, just as  we are. Failing to respond to aggression would undermine our credibility and self‑respect. The agreement "negotiated" between the US and Putin is extremely one sided, the Ukrainians didn’t take part, and they don't accept it.

 

The Senate approves treaties. Tell them to reject this one. Pass stronger sanctions, especially against Putin and his oligarchs. Write and/or our Senators today. If you're in Pennsylvania:

 

John Fetterman

https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/contact/   

(202)-224-4254

 

Dave McCormick

https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/

(202) 224-6324

 

If in another state, you can find your senator here: https://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm#:~:text=All%20questions%20and%20comments%20regarding,comment%20forms%20on%20their%20websites.

Thoughts on Marjorie Taylor Greene

I watched her eleven minute statement on why she was resigning.  It did take some courage to stand up to Trump, and I appreciate that.  

Unfortunately, she is also one of the dumbest people in Congress.  I’d like her to repudiate Q-Anon, the idea that Jewish lasers cause forest fires, the idea that a census should only include “Americans,” the shouting of “liar”during a presidential address, the opposition to vaccines, the concern with “unborn babies” while ignoring children born in poverty, and the whole “America First” silliness while endorsing foreign policies that will weaken our position in the world.  

Goodbye Marjorie.  Don’t let the screen door hit your butt on the way out. 

The Ken Burns series on the American Revolution

I’ve been watching it on and off all week.  Unfortunately these specials aren’t as important as they once were.  When “Roots” was shown in 1977, it ran for eight consecutive evenings, and everybody watched it.  You’d watch an episode and then discuss it the next day.  

I was thinking that the series on the Revolution might inspire some patriotism, some understanding of what this country went through to gain its independence.  The series does not flinch from the issue of slavery in a war for “liberty” in which all men are created equal, nor does it turn away from discussing the irony of a population that wanted independence in part so the Indians would no longer be protected by British soldiers.  

The series also emphasizes that this new government really was a new thing.  Nothing like it had been tried.  It was truly an experiment.  Could we pull this off?  How long would it last?  Would freedoms and participation and citizenship be extended to all inhabitants?  Can a people retain the ability to govern themselves?

I must tell you–the main emotion I am left with after watching the series is overwhelming sadness.

Merch for Sale in the West Wing

A small study off the Oval Office in the White House was once used by Presidents as an actual study.  President Reagan was pictured working on his 1985 inaugural address there.  George Bush directed the invasion of Panama from there.  The study has now been reconfigured.

You can buy tumblers, water bottles, towels, and a gold tray, all with Trump’s name on them.  You can also buy hats that say “Trump 2028” and “4 More Years.”

And that’s not all!  

We have mugs with the presidential seal, books about Trump, a keepsake gold “presidential bill,” and matchbooks with the president’s signature.  You can even buy Trump fragrances.  

You might want to forego that last item. 

See Doug Mills and Ashley Wu, “West Wing Witness to History Now Has Whiff of a Gift Shop,”  New York Times, (Nov. 21, 2025), p. A14.   

Protests in Charlotte

My friend Bill sent me a photo of students protesting ICE raids in Charlotte.  Those ICE guys are so cute.  They called their raids “Charlotte’s Web.”  

The important point here is that an estimated 30,000 people, most of them students from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system (along with many of their parents) filled athletic fields and public areas with signs denouncing ICE raids and activities.  The resistance grows.

85% of wetlands

That is the amount of wetlands that will be stripped of protection once the new Trump EPA policies take effect.

I do not remember any of the MAGA people at Trump rallies last fall complaining about wetlands protection.  I know that some developers think the rules on what constitutes a wetland are too extensive, but most developers have learned to live with the rules.  I don’t see a mass movement of thousands of people pushing for withdrawing protection for wetlands.

So why now?  Why this?

Unfortunately, even if a president with some sense of the importance of wetlands to the climate, to aquifers, to endangered species, to the health of the nation is elected in 2028, it will be too late for the wetlands that have been drained, degraded, or starved of their water supply.

I don’t get this.  It is the mentality of a small boy throwing rocks at a bird’s nest.

Information for this post is from Maxine Joselow, “E.P.A. Rule Would Strip Protections for Wetlands,” New York Times, (Nov. 18., 2025), p. A15.