RUTHFULLY YOURS

In Greek mythology, the Rod of Asclepius, also known as the Staff of Aesculapius, is a serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius, a deity associated with healing and medicine.

My father and late husband were physicians whose guiding principles were to cure the sick and comfort them when they could not cure them. Yesterday at the graduation awards ceremony of the Mount Sinai Medical School most of the awards were given to progressive graduates who combined healing the sick with healing social problems and disparities and inequity and access, and diversity.

So be it. There were many who won awards for excellence in specific specialties. Some moments were illuminating.  A young and scholarly graduate returning home to family in the heartland; another graduate already famous and wealthy for inventing medical technology headed for California; an Orthodox graduate working to encourage under-represented women, including Orthodox Jewish women to become doctors. The greetings from proud families in America, Africa and Israel were also heartwarming.

They all had a story and I salute their zeal and enthusiasm and love for their profession after four arduous years of study and hard work.

I do want to remind them, however, that several generations of doctors who preceded them vanquished polio, infectious diseases, many forms of cancer, heart disease and preventive care without prejudice or any motivation other than to cure and prolong life of all patients regardless of race or religion or ethnicity.

rsk

Dear Sir,

I am a Republican conservative who has voted in every election since 1960. Of all the ensuing presidents I am convinced that you were the absolute best in domestic as well as foreign policy. You deserve the eternal gratitude of supporters of Israel for the genius in planning and implementing the Abraham Accords which heralded unprecedented alliances among Israel and formerly hostile Arab nations.

Furthermore, I am convinced that the 2020 election was a fraud that robbed you of victory and all Americans of your astute leadership.

Look ahead and not at the past. There is a great deal of talent and energy in many Republican legislators today. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the present governor De Santis of Florida,  Rep.Young Kim of California, Elise Stefanik of New York, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee are just a few who deserve a shot at higher office to further your achievements , legacy and agenda. 

Help them on that path instead of teasing about running again.

With utmost respect….rsk

The political schism between parents and offspring is an issue perplexing so many of my conservative friends. Perhaps it was always thus. John Locke (1632-1704) an English philosopher and physician, was regarded as one of the founding fathers of  liberalism. He mused:

“Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.”

Author and commentator Midge Decter, my dearest friend  asked in 1975 in her book “Liberal Parents, Radical Children”Why and how did liberal parents end up raising a generation of radicals?”

In 2015 Bret Stephens opined:

Radical Parents, Despotic Children  Sooner or later, Orwellian methods on campus will lead to Orwellian outcomes.https://www.wsj.com/articles/radical-parents-despotic-children-1448325901

“Liberal Parents, Radical Children,” was the title of a 1975 book by Midge Decter, which tried to make sense of how a generation of munificent parents raised that self-obsessed, politically spastic generation known as the Baby Boomers. The book was a case study in the tragedy of good intentions.”

For almost 50 years universities have adopted racialist policies in the name of equality, repressive speech codes in the name of tolerance, ideological orthodoxy in the name of intellectual freedom. Sooner or later, Orwellian methods will lead to Orwellian outcomes. Those coddled, bullying undergrads shouting their demands for safer spaces, easier classes, and additional racial set-asides are exactly what the campus faculty and administrators deserve.

Please read his entire column under EDUCATION

rsk

Posted below in a review of Rod Dreher’s book “Live Not by Lies”  an Australian pastor Mark Powell  provides a pithy definition of totalitarianism:

“The term totalitarianism was first used by supporters of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who defined totalitarianism concisely: “Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” That is to say, totalitarianism is a state in which nothing can be permitted to exist that contradicts a society’s ruling ideology.”

Exactly!  Coming to America in a one party rule?   rsk

PBS and Ken Burns have made a docu-series on the life of Ernest Hemingway. Of far greater interest to me is the life of his wife Martha Gellhorn, arguably the finest war correspondent and journalist. Compared to today’s news readers and tyros who write and comment on evolving conflicts and politics, Gellhorn was informed, articulate and principled.

For affirmation please read:

https://www.military-history.org/feature/world-war-2/war-reporters-martha-gellhorn.htm

 War Reporters: Martha Gellhorn

The outbreak of the Second World War is likely one of the most written-about topics in history. It is difficult to imagine what more new and original could be added to the already profuse literature on the tumultuous events of the 1930s.

But going back to one of the earliest accounts of the rise of Hitler’s Germany provides a different experience. Reading Martha Gellhorn’s reporting from Czechoslovakia in 1938 is like watching the war rise from the ashes of Depression-era Europe with new eyes.

https://www.dw.com/en/the-liberation-of-dachau-75-years-ago/a-53270700

The liberation of Dachau, 75 years ago

When US soldiers reached the gate of the Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945, they had no idea what horrors awaited them. War reporter Martha Gellhorn shared what she saw with the world.

You can also read her myriad columns on Israel’ history and legitimacy…..rsk

My family Passover was a jolly event of family reunion after lock-down separations and the artifice of ZOOM.
The traditional four questions were asked but a fifth hangs in alarm and doubt:
“Wherefore is overt anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel so mainstream in the academies, the media and even in the corridors of Congress?”
The ancient hatred’s fig leaf is so called “tough love” of Israel. Now it is manifested in global harassment, beating and murder of Jewish citizens and slander equating Zionism and Israel with every violation of human rights.

Much is rightly bruited about hate crimes against Asians. Perhaps we should glom on to that since Israel is an Asian nation of Asian nationals. Look at the map….
rsk

On April 1, 1700, English pranksters began popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools’ Day by playing practical jokes on each other.

The biggest political prank/con was played on the American people by the Democrat party in hiding Joseph Biden’s diminishing cognitive skills and promoting him to the toughest job in an increasingly fractious world- a task he cannot fulfill…..rsk

Maria Bartiromo’s guests yesterday were all GOP legislators who visited the border and witnessed the unspeakable conditions with cages and thousands of people crowded into rooms designated for 250 persons. Children unaccompanied, some with Covid or other communicable diseases…. human traffickers …. drug cartel members…. young girls subjected to rape…. This is a human rights crisis and where are the concerned Democrat legislators other than Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) ? They are too busy and too concerned with altering voters’ rights in order to consolidate their power.

 Please read the columns on the appalling crisis that Biden has wrought….rsk

Tonight, after a year of separation and pandemic, my family will gather to celebrate Passover with a retelling of the Jewish exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt, good and plentiful traditional food, political bickering, laughter, love and a prayer for the souls of the Warsaw ghetto who resisted as Rita Kramer details below.

This year so many former Pharaohs have turned to accommodation and recognition of Israel and they too will reap the blessings of Israel’s amazing research and development of life enhancing technology and science.

Thanks to the efforts of President Donald Trump, “this year in Jerusalem” will herald the arrival of diplomats from many nations to their relocated embassies in the nation’s ancient and eternal capital.

May God bless America and Israel and people of good faith everywhere. rsk

Real liberals of both major parties cherish homeland security, the right to dissent and criticize without punishment, freedom of peaceful assembly, border security and freedom to vote.

On issues of homeland security there is a terrible border crisis which includes pathetic and unaccompanied children as well as unvetted criminals, human traffickers and multitudes susceptible and possible carriers of Covid.

The right to dissent is continually challenged by big tech and legislators who approve of censorship and punitive measures. “Cancel culture” seeks to silence the dissent of 75 million Americans.

The right to assembly is only reserved for destructive rioters in many cities. Those who attended the January 6th rally in Washington are derided as white supremacists, racists and extremists, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority gathered peacefully and politely.

The unfettered right to vote is now challenged by a forthcoming bill mid-wifed by Nancy Pelosi to consolidate power for decades.

Where is liberal outrage at the torrent of tyrannical dictates? And please don’t mention Joe Manchin who teases but ultimately votes with the herd.

Their silence is acquiescence to authoritarian one-party rule inimical to democracy. 

There is an old saw that says that conservatives are liberals who were mugged.  How many muggings will it take this time? rsk