Isolationism/Nationalism – What Does That Mean?

Before WWII the United States was steeped in Natioalism and Isolationism. At that time the terms meant that we wanted nothing to do with Europes wars and we had no interest in anything beyond our borders and our protectorates. Charles Lindberg was the Voice of American thinking of the time (Late 30’s) making it very difficult for FDR to generate backing and aid for Europe and England. We were willing to let Hitler and the Nazi’s take Europe and England, as long as they didn’t tread on American Soil. We fealt safe, being oceans away from the conflict. “They started it, let them finish it.”

When we finally did get into WWII it was because of a Nazi ally Japan and their sneak attack on Oahu, Hawaii. The Pearl Harbor attack was a mixed blessing to FDR. He certainly did not want to see thousands of American sailors die in the wanton slaughter, but he did want to get America onto the global scene and immediately declared war on Japan, which caused Hitler to declare war on the United States, which incurred the war declaration on the United States from Hitler.  American went from Isolationism (a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries) and Nationalism (patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts) to Globalism (the operation or planning of economic and foreign policy on a global basis). We occupied both Germany and Japan for 10 years after WWII, and we still, in effect, occupy South Korea some 59 Years after the Korean War. This is certainly not Nationalistic/Isolationistic activity on the part of the United States. In fact if you include support of NATO, SEATO, Iron Curtain Nations, Israel, Palestinians, The Middle East, Preyed upon African Nations, and many other foreign interests you can in no way infer that the Unites States is and Nationalist/Isolationist country.

We have, however, become a more impoverished nation due to our foreign benevolence. We entered trade agreements that have caused the collapse of American industry, we allowed American unemployment to reach unprecedented heights and we have allowed the American middle class to all but disappear. At the same time we have spent trillions upon trillions of dollars rebuilding the German, Japanese and Korean economies and standards of living to level higher than our own. We have spent many trillions in the Middle East and Asia, to the tune of 21 trillion indebtedness.

Finally, after 71 years of give-away programs, along comes a blustering Donald J. Trump to say “Enough, Let’s Make America Great Again”.  As a businessman, President Trump is going to remove all the roadblocks to American Economic growth. What does he mean by that?
1.) Let’s make all participating countries in NATO pay their perscribed share or the cost. (Seems fair and reasonable to me. An agreement is an Agreement.)
2.) Let’s make every country pay the cost of their own defense and military. (What a novel idea.)
3.) Let’s pull out of Climate Agreements that only the United States is adhering to and paying for. (Make the agreement a two way street. When everyone else pays, we pay.)
4.) Let’s do away with punative EPA regulations that only the United States supports and pays the price for. (Sounds fair to me.)
5.) Let’s pull out of Trade Agreements that benefit other nations that stifle American business. (Again, sounds fair to me.)
6.) Let’s pull out of the Iran Deal. (Even though the horse is out of the barn on this one, this makes perfect sense to me, considering Iran is the largest supporter of terrorism, which we and allies are spending trillions to eradicate. Iran also wants to eradicate Israel, which is an absolute no-no for most Americans.)
7.) Let’s Frack.
8.) Let’s tighten up our borders and control immigration into the United States.
a.) Limiting immigration from extreme Muslim Nations until we can develop a system of vetting. (Sounds like a safe and sane policy to me.)
b.) Tight borders make let us know who is coming to join our society. (Social System) (Sounds like a smart thing to do.) I am the son of Danish                     Immigrants who followed the rules of Immigration and Naturalization and contributed to the greatness of this country. Our immigration system is fair to those who do it properly.

President Trump isn’t promoting Isolationism and Nationalism, he is promoting America. We have squandered enough of our wealth, strength and goodness on a world that could care less as long as we keep hemoraging dollars. President Trump wants to hemorage dollars on law abiding, patriotic American citizens. Sounds like a good idea to me.

The End of an Era

As all my friends know by now, I am 80 years on this planet, and I have seen my fair share. Eisenhowers’ and McArthurs’ deaths touched me very deeply and signaled the end of the Field Marshall War Era. Television marked the end of the Radio Era. Beta and VHS Tapes marked the end of the (331/3, 45 and 78RPM) Vinyl Record Era. CD’s ushered in the Digital Era as Beta and VHS Tapes were relegated to attic storage. Kodachrome, Argus C-3’s and the SLR Camera Era was kicked to the curb by iphones. These, and thousands more, I have experienced and I am sure that thousands more will come without my experiencing them.

In 1948, as I turned 10 years old, one of my buddies offered me his paper route. He was moving and could no longer handle the job. Side by side, for two weeks, we rode our Schwinn Newsbikes (Similar to the one above) through his 100 paper route throwing box folded San Mateo Times papers as close to the front doors as possible. We made three folds in the paper forming a pocket and folded the remaining end into the pocket forming a box and the neatly stacked them into the saddlebags and hung them over the rack over the rear fender. It became second nature to reach back with my left hand, grab a paper and sail it like a frisbee onto the front porch welcome mat. Half-way through the route when one saddle bag emptied, I had to stop and turn the saddle bags, to sustain my left-handed delivery. I had to collect the monthly payments (and tips) from my patrons and turn it in to my employer. I think I earned $30 per month, which was a kingly sum in those days.

My earliest recollection of reading the News Paper was during WWII when Dad would open it after dinner and show us the latest battle line maps that appeared daily to keep us abreast of how our brave boys were doing over there. I subscribed to a Daily Newspaper my entire working life but had limited time to read it. When I worked overseas, I made do with the International Herald Tribune and some local English Newspapers. When I retired, fourteen years back, I subscribed to my new local newspaper for $120 per annum ($10 dollars/mo.). Some five years ago, the newspaper changed owners (USA Today bought out Scripps). Shortly thereafter I was told that the news was going up to cost $180 per annum, and for the first time seriously thought about stopping the paper.

Today I received a letter from the Record Searchlight saying my subscription price was going up to $600 per Annum, a 333% increase. In a phone call the senior editor told me that the change-over to digital is driving the cost increase as fewer and fewer people are wanting printed news. That’s All Folks, the Passing of an Era.

Dear Naomi Osaka – You’re A Winner

Dear Naomi,

I’m not a tennis fan, but I am particularly disenchanted with your US Open Finals opponent and the crowd that watched you triumphantly defeat her. (That should clear the air). I do want you to know that you are a winner, and I applaud you for your stunning win over your opponent. What happened after the final set point was outrageous and reprehensible.
Having to deal with a cheating opponent, breaking rackets, calling out judges, playing the race card and playing the #metoo card, all in one heated irrational tantrum is more than your should have had to withstand to seal your win.
What happened, Dear Naomi, was that a petulant, elitist, brute and her adoring mob of followers and her hand-signaling coach were hell bent on a come-back win to show the world that she could have a child and still return to the number one slot. I’m not saying that she couldn’t, but I am saying that she didn’t, and because she didn’t she had to blame others for her lack of performance, and try to steal your thunder at the awards ceremony. This is what petulant elitists do with impunity; you are probably too young to remember John McEnroe.
My purpose in writing this is make sure you understand that you beat her fair and square, you bested her that day and you are going to go on doing that for many years to come. You are a star in every sense and the fact that you endured that cheesy public display and went on to win makes your star shine even brighter. Excellent, excellent job.

Sincerely
Dick Jacobsen

Dear Nancy Armour – Letters I’d Like To Write

Dear Nancy,
I think I am as bewildered as you look. Either I missed the boat, or your bewilderment stands in testament to your lack of understanding of one genuflecting Colin Kaepernick. Nobody was ever interested in silencing #7. Nobody cared about his Afro (although I have to admit it did tweak me a little, cuz it sort of harmonized with the fist pumping a former black-activist embraced). Nobody really cared that he took a knee.

As far as I know, the only thing that the majority of people protested to was the fact that he chose to do his constitutionally guaranteed activities during the National Anthym and the parading of our National Flag in the time honored pre-game slot. In other words defame, disparage and denigrate the symbols that all true American’s  hold dear. The toxicity released by those jestures is untenable to the majority of patriotic Americans.

I agree with you the NFL and the owners have handled the situation miserably, but they certainly haven’t done that in a racist spirit as you suggest. By the same token I wholeheartedly disagree with you that Nike is performing some humanitarian act to put the NFL and owners on notice to solve the problem.

The truth is Kaepernick doesn’t have a job because he is personally so toxic that no team wants to take him on on any capacity; and Nike, the NFL, and the NFL Owners a acting for one reason and one reason only, making the almighty buck. That’s Capitalism baby.

Sincerely, Dick

EVACUATION

The first I heard the word Evacuation, in the form of a directive from higher authority, was in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution. I was living in a remote village in southern Iran on a construction project that had at least five more years to complete. I was aware that the revolution was in full swing, but my sense was that the Shah would be ousted, the Mullah’s would move in and everything would be back to normal. There were signs that the situation was getting hostile, so when the company finally said leave, I was ready. Life as I knew it was about to change drastically. I was never to return; my job, our only source of income was gone; I had no home so there was no place to go. My young wife and I were adrift.

We were young and foolish, full of confidence and adventure and ready to face whatever came, so we decided to take a six week vacation and tour Europe. I don’t really remember thinking about, fretting about or worrying about what was to come next. We were smart enough to realize that what was happening to us was completely beyond our control, and we could only make the best of what we could control.

Now, 39 years later, the call came again in the form of a mandantory evacuation due to the Carr Fire in the Trinity/Shasta county forest area. We didn’t have a lot of time, so we finished our dinner, gathered up the dogs, vital papers, three days of clothes and left quickly. Our plan was to drive south and find the first hotel that would take our pets , ride out the storm and deal with the consequences later. I felt eerily calm and resolute. Again, everything was out of our control. At stake this time, however was, our retirement home, 40 years of memories and priceless (to us) collectibles; in other words all we had worked for. I knew that I, my wife and my dogs would live through it.

On our 2nd day of evacuation, our local TV weatherman posted a map, showing where the fire was and what the containment levels were.  The fire was barreling toward our home and we were resolved that we were about to lose everything except our insurance policy. On day four of evacuation the weatherman updated his map and low and behold our home appeared to be spared. Fire had raged all around us, but through the smoke and ashes we could see that our property had been spared. It took us six more days to get to our property, but get home we did. What did we learn, or re-learn, about evacuations, in the process.
1. As long as you have your life, everything is going to be alright. It may take you awhile to figure out the where’s, why’s and how’s, but you will and life will go on. Heed evacuation orders, nothing is more valuable than your life and the lives of those you love.
2. Fretting and stewing is a natural reaction to stress, but preparation, heeding instructions and an excellent insurance policy goes a long way to releaving much if not most of the stress.
3. Have the things you value most identified and listed, and have managable containers available and ready for quick and easy use.
4. Some valuables are unmanagable in the short time period you have to evacuate from a fire. Photograph, document and evaluate these items and keep this information with your valuable papers and documents.

In Honor of Excellence

LETTERS I”D LIKE TO WRITE

June 17, 2018

Dear Joe Buck,

I’d like to explain excellence to you, because obviously you have no idea of its meaning. Sports professionals are measureded by their statistics, or the feats they have accomplished thus far in their careers. Phil Mickelson has won 43 times on tour; he has 3 Masters Green Jackets (one of 16 professionals to ever have accomplished that); 1 PGA; 1 Open; 16 times runner-up at the US Open; 700 weeks (13.5 years) in the top 10; and World Golf Hall of Famer. His 34 plus years; 26 Professional, plus University and High School; in golf uniquely qualify him as far a knowledge, capability and commitment to the sport are concerned.  He has the respect of his peers (of which Joe Buck you are not one), he has the love of golf fans in the galleries that follow him all over  the world, he has the trust and respect of his demanding long-time sponsors like Rolex, Workaday, Callaway, Titleist, Barclays and Ford. I think one would conclude from that resumé, Phil knows what he is doing on a golf course and understands the importance of maintaining high standards.

Yesterday at the US Open, on the thirteenth hole Phil saw a losing battle with his putter, and with split-second decisiveness, decided to out-sprint a runaway missed putt and backhand it on the fly, fully aware that he would incur a 2 stroke penalty. The smile to “Beef” was a knowing one, not a sign of disrespect for the game.

Joe Buck, a career sportscaster, with a controvercial background, with known disrespect for his colorists, decided in his infinite lack of wisdom to lable Phil a paraiah, disrespectful of not only the course and the Open, but of his livelehood as well. Wake up Joe Buck, and show some respect for the hard working professionals you sportscast. You and your twin Jim Nance need a long hard lesson in humility, or is that not a word in your vocabulary.

Dick Jacobsen

Hey Colbert? You Know What’s Really Funny?

What’s really funny is, this idiot thought he was making a big leap in his career by hosting the Emmy’s. He laughed, sang danced and did everything he could to win our hearts and minds. Many of Hilary’s ‘Bevy of Beaut’s’ tuned in to watch their Golden Boy singe the screen with his toxic wit and sarcastic sense of humor. I don’t think, however, that he realized that, many of President Trumps “Basket of Deplorables’,against their better judgement, tuned in also to watch the awards. If they were anything like me, they tuned out shortly thereafter.

Oooops! All of a sudden 62,000,000 other people in the US got a first hand look at what a real jerk looks like.

Hey Commish – Show ‘Em A Day At The Beach

Hey Commish, here’s what you need to do. Since your charges are all twenty to thirty somethings, you are going to have to tell them there was a war way back in the 40’s, called WWII. Tell them that a lot of our boys enlisted for that war effort, went over there, lied about their ages; ’cause they couldn’t wait to kill a few huns. Then, Commish, tell them a little about D’Day, like the fact that 2,500 of those boys died that day, and then show ’em the video above. It’ll confuse them, ’cause it ain’t the typical video they are used to.

 

Then, Commish, show them a few shots of the memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Let ’em take all that in. Then, Commish, tell ’em that the requirement for them to continue to play in the NFL, is, they have to find one of the survivors of WWII, (or Korea, Vietnam or The Desert Wars), then walk up to him, then take a knee, and then thank him, from the bottom of his millionaire heart, for the man’s service. Tell ’em, Commish, they better hurry ’cause there ain’t many of those WWII heroes left.

And Commish? If they don’t get it after that………they never will, and we’ll underastand.

I Hate Being So Indecisive

I used to think that Actors and Actresses were kind of ditsy people who couldn’t decide who they were, what kind of life they wanted, or what they wanted to do with their lives. I mean, the average marriage amongst them probably lasts an average of 3 to 5 years, or before the money runs out, or the star fades, or until the sex thing wears off, or whichever comes first. I could never understand how they could play in a shoot-em-up movie, one day, and then be in a gun control ad the next. It seems strange, to me, that they puff on cigarettes in a movie, and then take money for a ‘stop smoking ad’, because they care. Seems more like double dipping to me. But the ones that get me the most are the ones that host lavish parties, costing millions of dollars, for political entities like Obama, who then feels he needs to contribute millions of our taxpayer dollars to Ruanda, rather than veterans. Why don’t they just send the party money to Ruanda, and stay home and watch one of their movies, or TV reruns.

Although I still hold onto those thoughts, I’m now wondering if it isn’t their fans and followers that are ditsy. I mean watch the fans fall all over the celebs at the Oscars, screaming, sobbing, throwing undergarments, waving their arms, quite a scene actually. I can’t understand why the fans hang one every word the celebrity utters at Political Rallys, Political Conventions, Political ads. The celebs are certainly entitled to their political opinions, leanings and ideologies, but they don’t know any more about what they are talking about then does the man on the street, but yet thousands of fans look up and drool as Katie Perry says, “Can’t we all just love on eachother”. As profound as that statement is, I have no clue what it does to combat terrorism, fix immigration laws or ‘Make America Great Again’.

So now I’m lost, at an impass, pondering and posing who is the ditso, the one who can’t figure it out, or the one that idolizes him/her.

Media Lies – The Border Wall

It infuriates me when the Media out and out lies to make our President look bad. We all know that President Trump ran on the “We’re gonna build that wall folks, that I can tell you,” platform. 63,000,000 people supported that platform, me included. A secure border, with a country that disrespects our sovereignty, is a necessity. (Note: We don’t have a wall with Canada.) Trump is working very hard to make the wall a reality, and the News Media, for some unfathomable reason, is doing everything it can to stop it.

Last night I was watching CBS Evening news, which Trump bashed for at least 60% of the time, and a stalwart reporter came on to report on the wall and how it was coming along. She blurted out every negative thought she could concerning the wall and then ended with, “It could cost the American Taxpayer as much as 40 Billion (with a B) dollars…….Anthony.”

“Wow!” I said, “How can that be?”

Forty Billion dollars is $40,000,000,000. If we build the wall over every foot of terrain between the US and Mexico that would be approximately 2,500 miles. Do the math and that means, according to CBS News, the wall will cost the American Taxpayer $16,000,000 per mile. That is $16 Million dollars per mile. As a person who has spent his life in the construction business, I would kill to build every single mile of that wall. The reporting is misleading and irresponsible. Shame on you News Media. Shame on you.