I WATCHED THE NETFLIX (extended version) MOVIE entitled “GETTYSBURG” AGAIN RECENTLY. IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO DRAW A PARALLEL BETWEEN THAT CIVIL WAR AND OUR CURRENT UN-CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS. THE ISSUES AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT BUT THE STAKES ARE JUST AS HIGH. OUR DEMOCRACY HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “OUR HOUSE” STANDS AT ANOTHER CROSS ROADS OF HISTORY. OUR CURRENT CONFLICT IS NO LESS IMPORTANT NOW THAN ALL THE OTHER CONFLICTS IN OUR HISTORY. WHEN A HOUSE IS BUILT, THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION. WE HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION AND THAT FOUNDATION IS THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. THE FOUNDERS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WERE THE ARCHITECTS THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION. THE FRAMERS BUILT OUR HOUSE ON THAT FOUNDATION. WE AS THE INHERITORS OF THAT HOUSE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN AND PROTECT THE HOUSE AND THAT INHERITANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY WILL FALL UPON OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

THE CONSTITUTION IS SOMETIMES TAKEN FOR GRANTED AS JUST A PIECE OF HISTORY . HOWEVER, THE TRUE GENIUS BEHIND THE CONSTITUTION WAS THE FOUNDER’S ABILITY TO CREATE A LIVING BREATHING DOCUMENT. THE CONSTITUTION BY DESIGN HAS THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGE AND EVOLVE OVER TIME. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO AMEND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, AS WELL IT SHOULD BE. MODIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION REQUIRE OVERWHELMING BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT.

OUR FOUNDATION IS BASED UPON COMMON VIRTUES THAT ALL PEOPLE OF OUR PLANET WORK TO INSTILL INTO OUR CHILDREN. THESE VIRTUES AND TRUTHS HAVE A COMMON THREAD WITH MOST RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. THESE COMMON TRUTHS THAT WE INSTILL IN OUR CHILDREN ARE TRUTH, JUSTICE, MUTUAL RESPECT AND BASIC CONCEPTS OF A RIGHT vs WRONG.

We teach our children the difference between honesty and dishonesty. We teach them the importance of TRUTHS vs LIES. We teach them about the virtue of lawfulness and the consequences of lawlessness. In short, we try to teach our children how to live and survive in a complicated and sometimes dangerous world. We try to teach our children about human dignity and humility. The best way to teach anybody anything is by example. In our very busy world of busy parents working to make ends meet , a lot of that teaching falls upon school teachers, and family elders and clergy. If the children are lucky, they benefit from some type spiritual education. There may be a lot of different religions in this world but every society loves their children and desires to protect them and give them at a good start in life. This is a common virtue of humanity.

THESE ARE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LIFE. WE TRY TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE.. WE TRY TO TEACH THEM HOW TO DEAL WITH ADVERSITY. WE TRY AND INSTILL A SENSE OF DECENCY AND CHARITY AND SERVICE AND OF HONOR. I THINK THESE ARE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS FOR ALL OF HUMANITY. WE ATTEMPT TO PASS ON WHATEVER SPIRITUAL TRUTHS HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO US FROM OUR ELDERS AND OUR TEACHERS.

I CRIED WHEN I WATCHED THE MOVIE “GETTYSBURG” BECAUSE IT BECAME CRYSTAL CLEAR TO ME THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS AGAIN IN SERIOUS PERIL. WE ARE IN A WAR AGAIN WITH OURSELVES. . OUR COUNTRY IS DIVIDED AND ANGRY. IF WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR HOUSE, WE MUST PROTECT OUR FOUNDATION. WE ARE A RELATIVELY YOUNG COUNTRY BUT WE HAVE HELPED TO CHANGE THE WORLD IN POSITIVE WAYS. WE HAVE MADE MISTAKES…. AS HAVE ALL COUNTRIES.

OUR FOUNDATION IS IN JEOPARDY. WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN NOW ?

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED BY PEOPLE THAT THINK IT IS OK TO LIE. GRANTED…. WE ALL LIE. BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIE LIKE .. ” HONEY, YES I JUST LOVE YOUR NEW DRESS AND SHOES !” AND THE LIES OF A PRESIDENT THAT THREATEN THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY !

I ALSO REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE GOOD U.S. CITIZENS THAT ELECTED PRESIDENT TRUMP HOLD THEIR CHILDREN TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THEY HOLD THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY!

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL NOT RELEASE HIS TAXES VOLUNTARILY. WHY WON’T HE RELEASE THEM ? HE WILL NOT RELEASE THEM BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH HIS RECORDS !

IF HE WAS HONEST, WOULDN’T HE BE PROUD TO SHOW THAT HE PAYS HIS TAXES ? EVEN IF HE PAID NO TAXES LEGALLY , SO WHAT ? THERE ARE LEGITIMATE TAX WRITE OFFS ! DONALD TRUMP IS DECEPTIVE AND HE IS VERY PRACTICED AT DECEPTION.

DID I MENTION THAT I DO NOT RESPECT PRESIDENT TRUMP ? I DO RESPECT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY AND ALL THE GOOD MEN THAT HAVE HELD THE OFFICE. I DO NOT LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMPS’ DEMEANOR. I HATE THE WAY HE TALKS DOWN TO PEOPLE. I HATE THE WAY HE IS MEDDLING IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND DOES NOT CONSULT OUR EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS THAT SERVE OUR COUNTRY. PUBLIC SERVICE IS A SELFLESS CALLING. PUBLIC SERVICE RANGES FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE UNITED STATES STATES TO VOLUNTEER CROSSING GUARDS, TEACHERS , BUS DRIVERS AND EVERY RANK AND FILE MEMBER OF OUR ARMED FORCES.

I THANK ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THEIR GOOD WORKS. I RESPECT THEM BECAUSE THEY ALL DID SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIVES THAT I NEVER DID. I WAS MOSTLY ALL ABOUT “ME” AND “MINE”.

SO WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN NOW ? KIDS ARE GETTING SMARTER AND SMARTER. THEY SOAK UP EVERYTHING! QUICKLY !

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, DONALD TRUMP IS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND THAT MEANS HE SHOULD WORK FOR THE PUBLIC AND NOT VICE-VERSA.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT DONALD TRUMP GETTING CAUGHT! IT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN! HE PROBABLY WILL BE IMPEACHED AND TRIED IN THE SENATE AND JUST FOUND “NOT GUILTY” BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE SENATE. HE MAY EVEN GET ELECTED AGAIN. IF HE IS ELECTED AGAIN….WATCH OUT ! IT WILL BE FOUR MORE YEARS AND NO CHANCE FOR REELECTION. HE WILL BE EMBOLDENED AND FEARLESS.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP. WORRY ABOUT OUR FUTURE, OUR WORLD AND OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE THE FUTURE. marc