Debates

 

There has been a transformation in recent decades as to what the term "debate" means.  It used to be (as I know from my days on my school debate team) a contest as to whom could bring the best argument for or against a particular policy position. Did you hear anything of that sort last week? What you actually witnessed was a beauty pageant. The winner was the one who appeared more attractive in looks and manner and best filled the role the viewers desired.

 [As an historical note, those who heard the Nixon/Kennedy debate of 1960 on the radio thought Nixon won.  Not so for those viewing on TV.  JFK dressed well and both looked and sounded good. He looked like a winner. Richard Nixon with his glowering manner and heavy beard did not.]   

So, when one hears CNN broadcasters claim that Harris "crushed" Donald Trump, it's laughable. Yes, she won the beauty (appearance) contest but that's all. No one, outside of the VP's cadre and fawning media members, commended her intellectual acuity or verbal performance.

 TRUMP-- hope springs eternal among traditional Republicans!  There is still the expectation that the former executive will act more presidential. During his joint appearance with the VP, he was able to do so for 15 minutes.  But, his presentation faltered when the nature of his campaign rallies was assailed. In his usual manner, he took personal umbrage and never recovered.  When will people ever learn? Trump is essentially without self-discipline. He cannot control himself even when his conduct is self-destructive. He will not change. To continue to hope is simply foolish.

 QUESTION:  When Trump accused Kamala Harris of being a Marxist, was he calling her a follower of Groucho or Karl?

 MEDIA-- the questions crafted by ABC generally were even-handed. So initially it is fair to say the liberal network was trying to be straight this time for the audience. But the moderators soon undercut that effort, if it had in fact been genuine. There was no follow-up to the VPs consistent failure to answer questions about her past policy positions even when she misrepresented them. Trump did not receive the same toleration.

 The media, too, has a self-discipline problem when it comes to concealing leftist bias

 

Patriotism

 

Pollsters were probably startled when they reviewed the results of a national poll which asked: "are you extremely proud to be an American?".

59% of Republicans and 34% of Democrats said yes. Perhaps the disparity was to be expected since those on the left have been, for some time, less enthusiastic about their country with some even expressing anti-American sentiments.

But 41% of the GOP are not "extremely proud"? Now that to one, such as myself who considers American patriotism a part of his DNA, is a shocker.

Of course these are difficult times in our society. Our many common values and interests seemingly  are overshadowed by political divisions and hostility toward fellow countrymen with opposing views.

The decline in patriotism is not merely a noteworthy fact reflecting changing American beliefs. It has real-world consequences as the recent military recruitment shortfall attests. If you don't love your country, why volunteer to fight for it? Are voters less inclined to support America's foreign policy aims to protect our as well as the broader Free World's interests such as resisting Russian and Chinese aggression?

[Ironically so-called populist Republicans may very well be a large segment of the GOP who aren't extremely proud. Their leader paints a dark picture of America today and isolationism is favorably viewed. The irony is the claim of staunch pro-Americanism.]

What is happening? The antagonism by some Americans against their country has been festering for some time. Remember the support from many when, in 2016, Colin Kaepernick "took a knee" during the national anthem being sung at a 49ers football game? Is an educational system that highlights America's failures over its accomplishments to blame? Does a media which focuses on the shortcomings of America play a role?

How can the decline be reversed? Experience tells us that we are a people who rally around the flag when the country is threatened. 9/11 comes to mind. Should patriots welcome a national disaster? Of course not. But, history enlightens us, America will not escape future national calamities. Hatred and envy will continue to motivate our enemies from without.

Confronting our adversaries will indeed reverse patriotism's decline. Reigniting a love for America before-hand will cause us to be better prepared to win however. A strong national defense, including necessary levels of military recruitment, require broad backing (as in increased spending) from a patriotic nation. We need leaders who not only believe in the future of our nation but proudly proclaim that for all to hear. 

 

Explicative Deleted -- The Silly Efforts to Avoid Offending Readers

 

The media – both sides – self-righteously edit obscenities, racial slurs and crude language by deleting letters to avoid using the entire word or expression.

 Who's kidding whom?

 People know exactly the actual words used from both the context and the number of letters omitted which, not coincidentally, match the full spelling.

 50 years or so ago the term to explain a word deemed inappropriate was "explicative deleted". At least that expression did not, in effect, reveal the actual "bad" word or expression.

 A question: Why not simply omit the foul language? It rarely conveys anything of value other than the user's vocabulary deficiencies