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Paul Elisha: Brought To You By The Letter "T"

On this One-Hundreth anniversary of the ‘Yuletide Peace, undeclared but observed by ordinary soldiers on both sides of the field of slaughter, in World War I, this grizzled but grateful, WWII Veteran turned ‘Pundit,’ thought it an apt time to examine our progress toward a peaceful and permissive world or the lack of one…, and try to fathom, why not?

In June,1963, but three months from his own assassination, President John F. Kennedy posed these thoughts for Congress and the nation: “If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.”  Several days later, he added this observation…:”No one’s been barred on account of race from fighting or dying for America  - there are no ‘white’ or ‘colored’ signs on the fox-holes or graveyards of battle.”  His poignantly true comments don’t seem to have struck the hearts and/or minds of many Americans, in positions to do something to end the race-prejudice that even now plagues our official state, civil and corporate entities, in most parts of this country.

Today, our current President, son of a White American mother and Black Moslem father, faces continuing actions and expressions of overt racial prejudice, from officials in federal, state and local governments, plus many individuals in corporate and civic positions of importance, who oppose his attempts to expand the promise of this democratic/republic as unsought and unsupported efforts.  Some even claim they lack a Constitutional basis.  These apparent re-energized expressions of race prejudice are also frighteningly connected with an explosive increase in unrest and acts of violence, between ordinary citizens and members of various police forces, in many areas.

This commentator strongly believes it’s time for more talk and less violence, on everyone’s part and with this in mind, has compiled a helpful ‘T-list,’ ‘T’ for Talk: It’s time to Tone down the rhetoric but Think Things Through and when speaking with others about them, use ‘Tact’.  When public officials ask for opinions about what’s going on, tell them we expect them to bring all of us together, not set us apart and against one another.  Those who still watch TV, especially those who are parents should turn off programs that accentuate violence.  Let local officials know that Truth is still a powerful weapon against a political plethora of blather.  Tell the same thing to your local TV News people and school officials.  As for local and area police, they have thankless and often dangerous jobs but that doesn’t give them the right to brow-beat or bully those they’re sworn to protect.  We should still extend help and cooperation, as we ask for theirs.

In a speech to an area Bar Association, in 1847, Daniel Webster said: “Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint.”  That’s as good a rule to follow now, as it was then.

We might all profit from trying it… even if it doesn’t begin or end with a ‘T’.  The byword should be ‘caution’ in inflammatory rhetoric but ready agreement on a show of hands-to-help; especially those still unable to join an upwardly mobile majority.

The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.

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