Kennedy Center must remain a bastion

See the two guys wearing the maroon blazers at the foot of the JFK bust at the Kennedy Center? The one at left is your blog host, B.W.! Quite the thrill to have been at the opulent and inspiring place, way back in the summer of 1972. We could see that the place was just getting established. The surrounding land was rough, not landscaped yet. Look at the massive chandeliers in the photo! I had the privilege of being with a music performing group that traveled extensively over roughly a month. We of course performed at the newly-minted Kennedy Center. Goes without saying it was memorable. Just like today, there was discomfort at our national government level. 

 

We read daily about the issues connected to President Donald Trump, a person who had no government or military experience before becoming president. We all ought to be realizing the liability of that now. But we've had a decade to have the liability sink in. Yet we get up each morning and see a new batch of headlines that ought to have a profoundly depressing effect on us. 

Are we lemmings? Are we just bitter? Are we bitter because we've lost so many jobs to places like China? Do we regret the "free trade agreements?" And we just don't know what to do about it? We're flailing. Ten years after DJT was first elected (with three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton), we're still flailing. 

So now a judge had to rule to get Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center. Why did it come to this? Has Congress been so totally neutered? Well, kind of a rhetorical question. Republicans like our congressperson Michelle Fischbach appear petrified, not wanting to let DJT's endorsement slip away for the next election. 

There is such a vast body of "sheep" out there, the common citizens who have signed up for Trump and MAGA and who consume "conservative media." We have the Jay Thomas radio show coming out of Fargo. Can you imagine him coming down hard on Trump about anything? He's a very intelligent guy and he must know the absurdity of letting Trump rename the Kennedy Center for himself. But just like our elected folks, he is scared. 

I should be scared myself, as I have a lifetime ban from Facebook. I tried signing up for the service or "club" and had the door slammed on me with a terse message. I have not gotten an explanation so I am left to guess, speculate. Maybe it's my writing about the E. Jean Carroll case. Or, my writing about Israel vs. Palestinians. My sympathies with the latter. And because I have such skepticism about Israel, I could get labeled as "anti-Semitic" or even a "terrorist sympathizer." 

A ban from Facebook has all the effect of a legal sanction. Our City of Morris has used its "Facebook page" to post snow emergency announcements. I would have to explain to the city that I cannot get in. 

I actually shared my current travail with none other than Mike Lindell. Yes it would seem we are polar opposites but I find I like the guy with his basic deportment, his zest for life and even his smile. So I sent an email to him, care of his gubernatorial campaign. I didn't get a personal response from "Mike Pillow" but I did hear back from a campaign official. He was sympathetic and he talked about how free and unfettered expression is so important. I say "thank you."

Mike's predicament? He got "locked out" of his iCloud account. He did an extensive interview with WDAY Radio about this. 

I had a friend in college who told me about how when you get further toward the two political extremes - left and right - you find that the members of the two camps actually start having things in common. That thought has always stayed lodged in my head. So, I feel a little affinity with "Mike Pillow." It would be fun to meet him. 

I think Amy Klobuchar is rising to the top. A nice centrist realist. But as a Democrat she could never smoke the peace pipe with Trump. 

Back in 1972 when I visited and performed at the Kennedy Center, the controversy called Watergate was bubbling up. I probably walked right past some people whose names were emerging in the Watergate coverage. It was a complicated thicket of problems and corruption. In the end, Richard Nixon really did respect the rule of law. Whereas today, the MAGA folks are trying to overcome it. Will the American people let them succeed? And if they do, what sort of hell to pay is coming for all of us? 

Chief Dan George

"Hell is coming for breakfast." That's a line from "The Outlaw Josey Wales" spoken by "Chief Dan George." The Chief almost stole the movie! 

Let me say I cherish the memory of visiting the Kennedy Center in the long-ago summer of '72. I was awestruck getting to play my "ax" the trumpet in one of the concert stages. Opulence everywhere. Trump should not be allowed to touch the place, he would only wreck it. 

"JFK" was the real deal for American leadership. He was a bona fide war hero. His story was in the movie "P.T. 109" which I remember seeing at the Morris Theater. Cliff Robertson played JFK. JFK  insisted that the movie be historically accurate. Aw, that probably kept the movie from being a "blockbuster." Usually when Hollywood uses a real wartime event for a movie script, some liberties are taken with the facts for dramatic, sensational effect. But I laud JFK for the realism requirement and the movie was a moderate success. 

IMHO the movie was a character study with Kennedy, showing him before he was famous just doing his duty in WWII. We saw his character traits that would help lift him to leader of the free world. This includes modesty when it was called for. Always listening and learning from the people around him. Staying composed. 

I watched "P.T. 109" on YouTube in the last couple years (for free, "with ads"). 

Thank God the Trump name has come off the Kennedy Center as of early this morning (Saturday). At least I think the job has been completed. 

Can we complete the job of getting Trump removed from office? I lack confidence on that. I can only write my views. "Mongo just pawn in game of life."

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com