I’m not particularly religious but as I’ve shared before, my family has partaken of Catholic schools even though we are not of that faith—nor any faith actually. Having been married to an alcoholic, though, I became aware of the 12-step recovery programs which talk about reliance on a “Higher Power” and I have constructed my own definition of a guiding principle for life. Basically, I like the idea of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. My original nature tends towards forgiveness, and following those twelve steps has confirmed my idea that peace, love and kindness should be paramount.
So all this philosophical musing came about because I awoke in the middle of the night and decided that I needed to watch the recent Al Smith Dinner speeches (full title the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner). Well, I got my phone out of sleep mode and searched for the YouTube of the event. I was partly through watching the current Republican candidate for President making a speech at this event when I realized that I had selected his appearance at the same venue from 2016. I was actually very glad to watch it all the way through because one of the most accomplished women on the planet was front and center during his speech, hobnobbing with the Cardinal. Having lived in New York for a number of years, I had somehow missed this legendary event. Not that I could have afforded to attend, but I honestly had no idea what a political must-do it had become.
After visiting that wayback machine, I needed to get back to sleep. But when I awoke this morning, as soon as I had made my hot lemon water, I keyed up this year’s event and watched the not-very-funny speech by the man who would be king. The phone-in video by this year’s female opponent was hilarious, but of course she took a lot of flak for not attending in person.
Because I had watched the earlier speech, I could compare notes with the rather stilted performance this week. Of course, the mention of genitalia and the cursing seemed somewhat more extreme. But overall there wasn’t as much difference as might be expected. But mainly my heart went out to our country because we could have had a female president in 2016 if not for the electoral college. This year’s speech exhorting Catholics to vote for such an irreligious and immoral man was very frightening because I know that the word “abortion” carries a lot of baggage. All I can say is that if you are dead set against making reproductive rights available nationwide, then keep your “Arnold Palmer” in your pants and you won’t have to worry about making any babies.
When abortion again becomes available as part of women’s health care, anyone who does not find it acceptable doesn’t have to use this life-affirming service. I cannot believe that we are having to fight this battle over and over. If there is indeed a God, may she please figure out how we can all live in peace and harmony instead of relitigating matters of long-settled law. And by the way, did anyone else find it ironic that the Al Smith Dinner occurred just as the huge settlement by the Catholic Church for the abuses by its priests hit the headlines? But don’t get me started on that rant . . .
TTFN
The Republicans Party has been working on breaking the Constitution for years. Trump, a con man, a liar, and a bully showed it could be easily done. Many of us have been shocked by how many Americans are fine with ending our democracy. But Trump is an old buffoon and his act has gotten worse. There is a good chance he will lose the election. We had hoped that if he loses MAGA would crash and burn. But it has become clear that win or lose MAGA will still be a driving force pushing to destroy American government. It is now Vance, Thiel, Musk and other billionaires who want to buy the government and take it private. IF, IF Harris wins this election her biggest task will be to push back the corruption that has invaded every level of our government, especially the courts.
You state that we could have had a first female president if not for the Electoral College. True, however, IMO the bigger issues were chauvinistic men and women who loathe strong women.