THE GROWING RUDENESS IN POLITICS – AND IN EVERYDAY LIFE

THE GROWING RUDENESS IN POLITICS – AND IN EVERYDAY LIFE

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Civility once served as the glue of a democratic society. Disagreement was often passionate, but it was restrained by the belief that all opponents were not enemies. Today, that restraint has become increasingly absent, both in politics and in daily life by the example and conduct of Donald Trump. President Trump has made insult-driven rhetoric acceptable by a frequent use of mocking nicknames and personal attacks toward opponents, journalists, judges, and even former allies. At the same time, he has…

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HAS ANYONE SEEN A MODERN DIOGENES?

HAS ANYONE SEEN A MODERN DIOGENES?

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Diogenes, a Greek philosopher (4th century), was said to have walked through Athens, in broad daylight, carrying a lit lantern, claiming he was “looking for an honest man.”  It’s clear he would have found few to meet his standard of truth and honesty. Politics has always had its share of not speaking the full truth. What feels newer, and far more corrosive, is the growing comfort some politicians now have with simply abandoning the facts altogether, particularly when courts or public…

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WILLIAM TAYLOR: COACH, MENTOR AND INSPIRATION FOR ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

WILLIAM TAYLOR: COACH, MENTOR AND INSPIRATION FOR ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

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On January 24, 2002, William “Bill” Taylor died in Anacortes. He was one of Anacortes’s most successful basketball coaches in the history of the school.  As a coach & teacher, he was also a positive influence in so many students’ lives, including mine. He was a great coach and mentor to me. I’ve published a full account of my high school relationship with this great coach and his profound influence in my life: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/01/william-taylor.html . In addition, I published a background…

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PHYLLIS MARIE LUVERA ENNES 1928 – 2013

PHYLLIS MARIE LUVERA ENNES 1928 – 2013

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My sister Phyllis died on January 7, 2013. She was the oldest of the three children, leaving Anita Mayer and me surviving. Phylllis was born to Paul and Mary Luvera in Anacortes on  January 29, 1928.   She graduated from Anacortes High School in 1946 with honors and attended the University of Washington, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 1950. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. In 1953, she earned the State of…

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ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT  1910 -1985 AND FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT  1910 -1985 AND FLIPPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946

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Lita’s mother and my paternal grandmother died on the same day, December 20th,  but thirty nine years apart. Lita’s mother, Elizabeth Catherine Barnett was an extraordinary woman. Very bright, wise and gifted in so many ways. I’ve written about this remarkable woman many times. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/my-mother-in-law-elizabeth-barnett-1910-1995.html  It was my privilege to have known her. She was very intelligent, wise and a great judge of people. I loved her like my own mother for her many qualities and her understanding. This…

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AESOP WROTE A FABLE ABOUT DONALD TRUMP

AESOP WROTE A FABLE ABOUT DONALD TRUMP

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With the possible exception of the New Testament, no works written in Greek are better known than Aesop’s Fables. For at least 2500 years, they have been teaching people of all ages and every social status lessons on how to choose correct actions and the likely consequences of choosing incorrect actions.  Aesop wrote a fable about vanity leading to self-destruction in his tale about a raven and a swan: “A Raven, which you know is black as coal, was envious of…

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THE TEN UNWANTED GIFTS OF GROWING OLD

THE TEN UNWANTED GIFTS OF GROWING OLD

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Medical articles and the internet discuss the “stages” of aging. However, they are in reality learning to endure the unwanted consequences of growing old.  The older we get, the more consequences there are. John Mortimer, the creator of “Rumpole,” died at age 85. He wrote about the indignities of dying: “Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The aging process is not gradual or gentle. It rushes up, pushes you over, and runs off laughing. No one should grow…

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PAUL NICHOLAS LUVERA SR. – HE LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1898 -1990

PAUL NICHOLAS LUVERA SR. – HE LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1898 -1990

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My father Paul Nicholas Luvera Sr. was born on March 25, 1898, and died in Anacortes, Washington, on November 4, 1990, at the age of 92. I delayed publishing this because of the timing of this year’s presidential election. You can see more details of his extraordinary life athttps://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/11/dad-1.html for a complete history of his life. Dad was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. His father and oldest brother left for Canada, where they…

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TRUMP HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO GIVE BILLIONS TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, SO WHY IS CONGRESS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT?

TRUMP HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO GIVE BILLIONS TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, SO WHY IS CONGRESS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT?

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The U.S. Treasury has announced that it is providing Argentina with a $20 billion currency swap, essentially an emergency credit line that constitutes a large-scale rescue of a failing economy. The US Treasury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, has defended the $20 billion currency swap as a legal and strategic move to stabilize Argentina’s economy, which is seen as “of systemic importance” to US interests. Bessent is a close Ally of  Russell Vought, head of the White House Office of…

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THE UNCOMFORTABLE NEWS REPORTS THAT SUGGEST THE RISK OF WAR

THE UNCOMFORTABLE NEWS REPORTS THAT SUGGEST THE RISK OF WAR

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There has been a gradual but clear increase in news and events that remind us of War. Recent examples include the unification of China, Russia, and North Korea, as well as India looking for alliances not involving the United States. The image of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un together at Tiananmen Square was a masterclass in political theatre, a chilling and unambiguous declaration for many in the West of a new anti-Western axis. US President Donald Trump has…

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