#656 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Wednesday May 10)
Good morning,
JUSTICE BEING SERVED
Two stories about justice being served:
Donald Trump lost the civil suit in New York, proving that the “grabbing women by the [privates],” which he claims is ok “if you’re a star” has its limits. Sexual abuse and defamation have their consequences. And while Mr. Trump promises an appeal, it is difficult to see the grounds. Remember that appeals are on matters of law—and not on the facts, as determined by a jury.
Meanwhile, George Santos has been charged in New York regarding his alleged financial and ethical lapses. Stay tuned…
WHY THE TENNESSEE DEMONSTRATION BORE NO RELATION TO JANUARY 6TH
A conservative friend of mine sent me an article that describes a protest by gun control advocates at the Tennessee state capitol building. He asked me this question:
“Do you condemn this? ‘Insurrections’ that involve invading a Capitol building and disrupting legislative business apparently are nothing but “peaceful protests” when done by the left…”
First of all, the protest was peaceful. No one was calling for death of any legislator. No peace officers were physically attacked. But peaceful protests are part of what makes our representative democracy work. People can assemble, speak, protest, and cajole. But they may not physically attack, threaten physical harm or death, otherwise be abusive, or try to overthrow a government.
Second, this protest was precipitated by yet another senseless mass shooting, which occurred in Tennessee. The predominant statement from the crowd was “save our children” and not “hang Mike Pence.”
Third, while it is regrettable that state business was disrupted. It bears note that the most disruption that occurred in the chamber were because two elected legislators were shouting “Power to the people” into megaphones on the floor of the chamber. It was not the protesters.
Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, my friend does not know what an insurrection is. It is NOT a peaceful protest at a legislative building. And it’s not even disruption of a state legislature. If he’d like to know what it’s like, he should read the statements of the Proud Boys and the Oath Takers and watch the video from January 6th.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out whether people who profess a commitment to law and order seek to downplay the havoc at the Capitol on January 6th and the attempts to circumvent the election results from 2020.
IT ALL DEPENDS UPON THE NEWS SOURCE
Here is an article in Townhall.com, a conservative web-based newsletter, which my friend sent. While the article has a definite slant, even it noted the lack of violent attacks:
In the meantime, it’s a completely different story from CBS News:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nashville-shooting-protests-tennessee-capitol-gun-control/
The pictures from the protest included many children with plaintive signs, begging for stricter gun control. Meanwhile, gun control is being reduced in most Republican-led states because, as they tell us, “guns don’t kill people—people do.” To which my answer is, “well yes, people with guns.”
MOE BERG, A MEDIOCRE BASEBALL PLAYER AND WORLD CLASS SPY
Sometimes heroes come from the strangest circumstances. Witness the work of Marlene Dietrich during World War II or the inventive prowess of Hedy Lamarr.
Mark Greenfield shares this story, excerpted from “This Day in Baseball,” about the catcher and spy, Moe Berg, whom Casey Stengel called “the strangest man ever to play baseball. “ This is worth the read:
“Among the most scholarly professional athletes ever, Moe Berg was an alumnus of three universities, lawyer, mathematician, linguist, and poor hitter, eliciting the comment: “He can speak 12 languages but can’t hit in any of them.” His ability to handle young pitchers and his reputation as a bullpen mystic kept him in the majors, where his roommates wondered at his sacrosanct clutter of books and newspapers stacked in dozens of piles…”
“… Some may have wondered why a third-string catcher like Berg went to Japan in the early 1930s with the likes of Ruth and Gehrig on an all-star traveling team. In fact, Berg was assigned to take espionage photos. During WWII, he became one of America’s most important atomic spies, gathering vital information on top German scientists and even performing some missions that might have required assassination…”
“He [Moe Berg] bluffs his way up onto the roof of the hospital, the tallest building in Tokyo at the time. And from underneath his kimono he pulls out a movie camera. He proceeds to take a series of photos panning the whole setting before him, which includes the harbor, the industrial sections of Tokyo, possibly munitions factories and things like that. Then he puts the camera back under his kimono and leaves the hospital with these films,” says Nicholas Dawidoff, a Berg biographer.
Truth oftentimes proves to be stranger than fiction…
Have a great day,
Glenn
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