MY GRANDMOTHER Marija Mattia Vulic’ BABAROVICH 1863 to 1953

MY GRANDMOTHER Marija Mattia Vulic’ BABAROVICH 1863 to 1953

Comments 0 Comment

The year I graduated from high school in Anacortes, Washington, my maternal grandmother Marija Babarovich died. Her story of immigration is one of great courage and sacrifice that I have described in writing about my mother. But, on the annversary of her death I want to reprint it again. She was born September 21, 1863 in Splitska, Brac, Croatia and died August 8, 1953 in Anacortes, Washington. I remember her vividly. A tall erect woman with hair piled high on…

Read More Read More

DONALD TRUMP AND NONSENSICAL FALLACIES

DONALD TRUMP AND NONSENSICAL FALLACIES

Comments 0 Comment

There is a virtual unlimited supply of nonsensical claims and arguments that have been made by president Trump, but two of the recent are truly noteworthy for being logically inconsistent and just plain absurd. One involves his recent attacks on mail in voting as fraught with the risk of fraud and manipulation.  His claim in a tweet, in capitals for emphasis, was: ""MAIL-IN VOTING WILL LEAD TO MASSIVE FRAUD AND ABUSE." He further claimed: "IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO THE…

Read More Read More

THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS

THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS

Comments 0 Comment

In 2008 a television miniseries about John Adams, his political life and his role in the founding of the United States was televised. Actor Paul Giamatti played the role of John Adams. It is a reminder of what an enormous undertaking the Revolutionary War was against such a formidable United Kingdom. The people who were responsible for the founding of this country. were extraordinary. The documents they created, the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States are unique….

Read More Read More

MARY THELMA BABAROVICH LUVERA 1905 – 2000

MARY THELMA BABAROVICH LUVERA 1905 – 2000

Comments 0 Comment

On an early Friday morning, July 7th 2000, my mother Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all, she was born on December 28, 1905 and was ninety four years old when she died. She had been in failing health for some time. Her passing was, in fact, a personal blessing to her as she had been ready to meet her maker for some time. She and dad…

Read More Read More

MY GRANDFATHER NICOLA LUVERA 1860 -1956

MY GRANDFATHER NICOLA LUVERA 1860 -1956

Comments 0 Comment

My paternal grandfather, Nicola Luvera, was born in Valanidi, Calabria Italy November 23, 1860 and died in Anacortes, Washington on July 4, 1956. His father, Paolo Nicola and mother Rosa Luvera were sheepherders and sharecroppers in Gallina Italy. Grandfather worked with his father until he was 16 years old when he moved to Reggio Calabria where a cousin Antonio working in a slaughterhouse. He was able to get a job with his cousin and lived with their  family for four…

Read More Read More

SEATTLE MAYOR DURKAN AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE ARE STILL “MISSING IN ACTION” – LIKE NERO FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS

SEATTLE MAYOR DURKAN AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE ARE STILL “MISSING IN ACTION” – LIKE NERO FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS

Comments 0 Comment

Unless you have been living in a cave, everyone knows about what was called the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" (CHAZ)" and is now known as the "Capitol Hill Occupied protest (CHOP)." The city area involved originally covered six city blocks and a park. Protesters of the George Floyd killing created it on June 8th.The Seattle Police Department blocked the protesters access to this area of the city who wanted access to the city police precinct building located there. The police…

Read More Read More

WHERE’VE YOU BEEN?

WHERE’VE YOU BEEN?

Comments 0 Comment

Ken Burns created a PBS documentary "Country Music" in 2019. The documentary includes the story behind the lyrics of the song, "Where've you been?" The song was released in 1989 and recorded by country music singer Kathy Mattea. It was co-written by her husband Jon Vezner. Among other awards, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1990. Mattea was awarded the Grammy for Best Country Performance for her recording. The song is a story about Edwin…

Read More Read More

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CONDUCT AS CITIZENS & SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CONDUCT AS CITIZENS & SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS

Comments 0 Comment

Mondays killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis was another in a long list around the country of questionable killings by police officers of citizens, especially African American citizens. The death of George Floyd caused by police officer Derek Chauvin is particularly incriminating. It clearly shows an intentional and unnecessary killing of a citizen who was not armed nor resisting arrest. The video shows a man with his arms handcuffed behind his back while the police officer kneels on the man’s…

Read More Read More

THE SHOCKING SCENE OF LOOTING, GRAFFITI, BURNING AND VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE

THE SHOCKING SCENE OF LOOTING, GRAFFITI, BURNING AND VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE

Comments 0 Comment

In 1999 the World Trade Organization held a convention in Seattle. But, the convention meeting was quickly overshadowed by street violent protests outside the hotels and convention center. There was rioting, damage to buildings and violence from a crowd estimated at some 40,000 people. The event lasted over several days and became known as the "Battle of Seattle." Yesterday's Seattle riots resulted in more damage and destruction then the Battle of Seattle. The largely peaceful protests started at about noon…

Read More Read More

STOP CLAPPING

STOP CLAPPING

Comments 0 Comment

Catherine Rampell of the Washington Post wrote a column “Don’t ever be the first to stop applauding.” It dealt with the standing ovations for Joseph Stalin out of fear of stopping to applaud his speeches. She describes the consequences for being the first to stop applauding. She recounts this from Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s “The Gulag  Archipelago” an illustration of this truth:  "At the conclusion of the conference, a tribute to Comrade Stalin was called for. Of course, everyone stood up (just…

Read More Read More