Froth Slosh B'Gosh

The Neighborhood Comes Through

Seems like most of the people in my town are OK with refugee children.

Sara Cuadra Berg, 42, of Fox Chapel applauded Holy  Family's efforts. She came to the United States when she was 14 to escape  war-torn Nicaragua. She was taken in by local nuns.

“I am the face of the children coming to this country  ... This is your opportunity to say to a child, you are worthwhile,” Cuadra Berg  said.

“The good works of the Holy Family Institute and the  Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh have my full support,” Pittsburgh Mayor Bill  Peduto said in a statement.

We've always been a nation of immigrants, most of our forebearers came here seeking refuge from war, poverty or discrimination.  Immigrants make our country stronger, not weaker.  They are an asset, not a liability.

 

Even A Stopped Clock....

George Will.

 

Just Another Day At Work

Just My Two Cents

My degree is in history.  Specifically, US and English History, and I further specialized in military history. 

Now that typed, my particular interest is in the American Civil War, and in my opinion, Robert E. Lee is perhaps the most overrated general in existence.

For one, he was fighting a defensive campaign in an era where technology far outstripped the tactics of the time.  Rifles vrs. Napoleonic tactics gives the advantage to the defender. 

Secondly, his greatest successes were against some rather timid Federal generals.  And those successes were all tactical.  Strategically, their impact was near nil.

Thirdly, every time he went on the strategic offensive, he had his ass handed to him.  At Antietam in particular, McClellan should have ended the war THAT DAY, but he was too timid to strike the killing blow.

At Gettysburg, he made serious tactical and operational errors, allowing Meade to essentially defeat in detail every attack he mounted.

And finally, at the end of the day, he was, and remains, a goddamn traitor to his country.

<end rant>

 

Xenophobia In My Back Yard

I'm rather embarrassed of some of the people in my town today.

Emotions are running high in Emsworth, where the Holy Family Institute has  announced that it will take in up to three dozen child immigrants from Central  America who have crossed the U.S. border illegally.

The Catholic nonprofit will house the unaccompanied minors while they wait to  be placed with a family member or foster parents. The children will be under the  age of 12. Sister Linda Yankoski of Holy Family plans to hold a public forum at  7 p.m. July 29 to address area residents' concerns about the institute's  plans.

"A lot of community members are concerned about the disease and drug cartel  involvement these children could bring," said Emsworth Mayor Dee Quinn. "The  news was quite a shock."

Never mind that most of the "disease" concerns are totally without merit, a phantom created by the right-wing noise machine in order cast these refuges (and that's what they are) as "the other."  Luckily, Central America doesn't have Jenny McCarthy and does have universal health care, so their vaccination rates are actually better than ours. 

As approved and certified foster parents, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we get a phone call sometime in the future looking to place some of these children with us, and we will welcome them.

Maureen Dowd Is Just Horrible

Apparently, Chelsea Clinton committed the crime of making money while being a known Clinton, and we can't have that!

I seriously cannot remember the last time Dowd wrote anything even reasonably or remotely interesting.

Slogans

I think that's all the Republicans/conservatives have.  They scream that President Obama isn't doing enough to secure the border.  The President asks Congress for nearly 4 billion dollars to do just that.

And still, they complain.

Spelinng Opshunall

Seen on my way to work today, outside our local sleezy motel.

Right-Wing Sugar Daddy Croaks

Dickie Scaife is dead.

 

Happy Independence Day!

Please try to avoid blowing your fingers off!