Page 56 - Sonoma County gazette September 2018

Enemy of The People?
Yes; I am still angry. That feeling has joined forces with frustration, amazement, confusion, incredulity and (yes) humor.
There are moments when I think the White House and Congress have entered a virtual reality time warp straight out of some science fiction mind trip. The images, words and positioning that flies out of the head mouth in Washington DC no longer shocks – but, rather, is in grave danger of succeeding. It is a repetitive cadence—a simple strategy—that threatens unconscious acceptance through that repetition. It is a how-to for developing a new and frightening normal. As ragged and presumptuous as it is, it is working well upon a strange and specific segment of our Citizenry.
There’s a risk here that we must not even momentarily ignore, and must never entertain. Which brings me to the title subject that I have been chewing on for weeks: The White House’s assault on the First Amendment, free speech and freedom of the press. (It wants to move my anger to rage.) A twisted individual uses—to his advantage—the very vehicle he pretends to deride! Do the following screamers, laughers, cynics, poster-waving, supporters of that dangerous wannabe monarch even realize that their actions and voices would be silenced if the provisions of the First Amendment were actually shut down? (What? No more yelling “Lock her up?” “Send them back?”)
It’s probably a virtue of my older age that I no longer have enough of
that youthful supply of huge passionate energy available, and can’t wholly process out my fair share of the kind of strong action that carried the women’s movement and the equal rights campaigns to success! I am left with what I can drum out on my laptop, one-on-one conversations and the usual letters and petitions... Free media “the enemy of the people?” How does he get away with that mantra? Free speech, dummy!
Where is Congress? Between denying his own country in several amazing ways, in the company of known enemies of the United States, and trying to tear down the First Amendment—where is the power of Congress? Where is the censure for behavior bordering on treason if not treason itself? Is there no one in the Senate or House (in his own party) who has the courage to remind that man of the oath he took and which he blatantly, religiously and regularly flaunts with disrespect? Are all meekly complicit and don’t give a damn who sees it?
Our children and grandchildren are watching... many have already been cheated by not having been taught our American history. They have been denied the challenging lessons we learned in Civics class—what our government is, how it works and for what it strives. Some have strayed so far that they join marches brandishing swastikas—with no comprehensive insight to what
it meant, means or does. The leadership fails twice: first denying them our history; second—through Congress’ inaction—allows a flawed leader to flourish while attempting to take away from them what they take for granted, and what they do not realize is at high risk.
I tried, in recent days, for a lighter Septembery column, but my heart is breaking for my country. And, anyway, someone else said it so right:
“Oh, it’s a long, long while from May to December, and the days grow short when you reach September.... when the Autumn weather turns the leaves to flame, one hasn’t got time for the waiting game...Oh the days dwindle down to a precious few –September, November... And these few precious days I’ll spend with you, these precious days I’ll spend with you.” (“September Song” by Willie Nelson)
November...You know.
By Date
Sep 6 ~ Aqus ~ Singles Seniors Social - Mix & mingle. Make new friends. Enjoy the evening. FREE; 5-630p, Aqus Cafe Foundry Wharf, 189 H St., Petaluma, 707- 778-6060, info@aquscafe.com
Sep 7,14,21,28 Senior Ballroom Dance ~ 1-4p, $8, Finley Community Complex, 2060 West College Ave., Person Senior Wing, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737, Billie Erkel, Heresbillie@aol.com
Sep 19 ~ Legal Consultations for Seniors and Family Members - 30 min. consults with elder law attorney. FREE, Preregister. 10-11:30a, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 1360 N. Dutton Ave., Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-303-1530, jfcs.org
Sep 22 ~ Big Bucks Bingo - 18 game sheets and hot dog BBQ lunch! $10, 10:a-2p, Steele Lane Community Center, 415 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737,
RESOURCES
Blood Pressure and Glucose Testing - Every third Thurs. by Empire College medical training program students. $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Associate Members, 3-4p, Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167 N. High St, Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, Dean Brittingham, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Need help getting to medical and social service appointments? Call 707-829- 2440, dean@sebastopolseniorcenter.org. $5, FREE for Wisdom Counts members, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N. High St., sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Rides to Medical and Social Services Appointments - Free for members of the Senior Center, Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main St., Cloverdale, 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Sep 10, 17, 24 ~ AARP Tax-Aide Tax Clinic
Help for seniors and others who need to file or amend their tax returns, By appointment only. FREE, 9:45a, 11a and 12:15a, Franklin Park Clubhouse, 2095 Franklin Ave,, Santa Rosa, 707-327-2401.
Sep 12 ~ Prevent Falls Training - Register now for a free, 8-week, fall prevention class. Bell Manor Apartments, 8780 Bell Road, Windsor, 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, djacoby@schsd.org
Sep 14 ~ Santa Rosa Recreation and Park’s annual Oktoberfest - Ages 50+ !Pre-registration required; $5-$10 11:30a-1:30p, Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707- 543-3737
Senior Social Clubs Contact Laurel Anderson at 707-525-0143 ext. 103, atlanderson@councilonaging.com
Santa Rosa Senior Social Club at First United Methodist Church, 2150 Giffen, Santa Rosa, Mon., Wed., and Fri. 9:30-2p.
Sonoma Senior Social Club at Vintage House, 264 First St. E., Sonoma - Tues. and Thur. from 9:30-2p.
Healdsburg Senior Social Club at St. Paul’s Church, 209 Matheson St., Healdsburg, Mon., Tues., and Wed., 9:30-2, Contact Roxanne Lemereis at 707-433-6161.
Sebastopol Senior Social Club at Sebastopol Senior Cntr, 167 No. High St., Sebastopol, Mon., Wed. and Fri. 9:30-2p.
Dining Sites Council on Aging 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-525-0143 Cloverdale ~ Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main St., Mon.-Fri., 12p,
707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Bethlehem Tower ~ 801 Tupper, SR, 707-525-0143, M.,W., 12p
First United Methodist Church ~ 2150 Giffen Ave., SR., 707-525-0143, Mon.-Fri., 12p Healdsburg Senior Center ~ 133 Matheson St., 707-525-0143 M.,T.,W., 12p
Rohnert Park Senior Center ~ 6800 Hunter Dr., Ste. A, 707-525-0143 Mon. - Fri., 12p Sebastopol Senior Center ~ 167 High St., 707-525-0143, M.,W., F., 12p
Silvercrest Senior Housing ~ 1050 3rd St., SR, Margaret DeMaria, 707-525-0143, 11a
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Sept 6 ~ My Care My Plan - Advance health care directives workshop. FREE, 1-3p
Sep 6 ~ TED Talks - Lively discussions, and big ideas. $5, FREE for members, 2-3:30p
Sep 21 ~ Speaking of Death - Where friends share in matters of life and death. $5, FREE for Wisdom Counts members, 3:30-5p
Zoë Tummillo has been writing about senior wisdom for the Gazette for many years. If you want to read more of her insights, visit SonomaCountyGazette.com for all her archived articles.
56 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/18
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