Alice Kessler & Ellen Kessler — Twin Lives, Shared Stardom, and a Final Choice Together

November 20, 2025November 18, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

3–4 minutes

Alice and Ellen Kessler were born on August 20, 1936, in Nerchau, Saxony, Germany. From early childhood, they trained in ballet and performance, eventually emerging as a dazzling twin act in post-war Europe. They became known internationally for their synchronized dancing, singing, and television appearances. They found particular fame in Italy, where they were dubbed “Le gemelle Kessler”.

They appeared in films like Love and the Frenchwoman and Dead Woman from Beverly Hills . Their careers expanded beyond dance into acting.

Shared Career, Shared Life

For decades, they performed as a unit—twins inseparable both on and off stage. Their image of elegance, glamour, and synchronized precision made them icons of entertainment in the 1950s and 1960s. Their bond remained strong even as they stepped away from the spotlight, ultimately returning to Germany and settling near Munich.

Their Final Days & Decision

On November 17, 2025, both Alice and Ellen passed away in Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany, at the age of 89. Their cause of death is reported as assisted suicide. They made this decision together. It reflects how they had lived life: side by side.

The sisters had long ago expressed the wish to be cremated together. They wanted their ashes placed in a single urn, according to reports. They had indicated they no longer wished to continue their current life. They chose to end their lives together.

Why They Made That Choice

While the intimate details of their decision stay personal, the public record suggests the following contributing factors:

Age and quality of life: At 89, they faced the realities of aging. Having lived their whole careers, they wished to face death by choice rather than decline.
Deep bond: Their identity had been formed around always being together—professionally and personally. The decision to depart together echoes the unity they maintained for nearly nine decades.
Autonomy in the final act: In Germany, since 2019, medical aid in dying has been legal under certain conditions. This involves an individual administering prescribed medication themselves. They chose the timing, setting, and manner—affirming their autonomy to the end.

Legacy and Reflection

Alice and Ellen stay symbols of an era of variety-show glamour. They epitomize cross-European entertainment. Their twin synergy is unmatched by few acts. But beyond their performance, their final act raises profound questions about dignity. It also questions companionship and the nature of choice at the end of life.

Their journey is a full-circle narrative for fans, historians, and those intrigued by human stories. They start as childhood ballet students. They become international stars. Finally, they become co-authors of their own end. It shows how life can be lived. It also demonstrates how life can be shared and completed on one’s own terms.

Closing Thoughts Remembering The Kessler Sisters

How many partnerships in life are built to last so long, and so deeply?

The Kessler twins remind us of devotion not only to craft, but to each other. In their final act, they teach us something tender and unsettling. They reveal the power of choice, the weight of togetherness, and the mystery of closure.

Latest on the Kessler Twins’ passing –

NEWS BULLETIN. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2025

The Kessler Twins have left this world together.

Alice Kessler and Ellen Kessler—German twin sisters who performed as a variety entertainment duo—died by joint assisted suicide at their home in Gruenwald, Germany, on Nov. 17, according to the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS).

“They had been considering this option for some time,” the association, which advocates for the right to a self-determined death, said in a statement to NBC News. “They had been members of the organization for over a year.”

Explaining that those “who choose this option in Germany must be absolutely clear-headed, meaning free and responsible,” the organization noted that the sisters engaged in thorough discussions with a lawyer and a doctor before setting on this path.

“The decision must be thoughtful and consistent,” the DGHS added, “meaning made over a long period of time and not impulsive.”

Assisted dying is legal in Germany, with the country’s constitutional court ruling in 2020 that an individual has the right to end their life and seek help from a third party under certain circumstances.

MEMORIAL: VIDEO – NOT A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE

The Howard Family Intervention: When the All-American Dream Met the Algorithm

November 11, 2025October 29, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

4–5 minutes

The Howard family always seemed so functional to their neighbors in Bessieville. Their home glowed warmly in the evenings. The paint was always fresh, the hedges trimmed. To the outside world, the Howard’s — Frank, Lois, and their three boys — were the picture of American perfection.

Frank Howard worked as a supervisor at the local airplane plant. Lois split her time between home and the grocery store checkout. Their sons, Mark, Tim, and John, were the type of kids people admired. Others often said, “Now there’s a good family.”

So when Lois stumbled across the box in John’s room, she felt her stomach drop. Inside were pamphlets, flyers, and web printouts — literature no parent ever expects to find.

Frank walked in just as she was holding one, her hand trembling.
“Ann,” he said, “what’s going on?”

“I—I hope this is for a school paper,” she stammered. “I don’t know why he’d have this stuff. There’s so much of it!”

Frank thumbed through the stack. “Holy hell. Does he even know what this thing does to people? We raised him better than this.”

Moments later, Mark dropped by to visit. Seeing his parents in his brother’s room, he asked, “What’s up? You two look like you just found a body.”

Ann handed him a pamphlet. Mark’s eyes widened.
“Where’s he get this? Do you think he’s…?”

Both parents answered in unison: “No! God no!”

Before they speculate further, Frank’s phone buzzed. It was their middle son, Tim.
“Hey Pop, I’ve been calling the house — Ma not answering again? Everything okay?”

Frank hesitated. “We just have… a situation. Did you ever notice your brother getting into anything strange lately?”

Tim laughed. “What’d he do, join a cult?”

Ann shouted from across the room: “Yes! That’s exactly what it looks like!”

Within the hour, Tim was racing home. A few fraternity brothers were in tow. He called them his “Frat-Team.”

When they arrived, Frank showed them the contents of the box. One of the frat boys, a computer science major, said, “Let’s check his laptop.” Within minutes, they uncovered a disturbing digital trail. When they turned the screen toward Frank, he muttered, “I need a drink.”

By now, the grandparents had arrived. The house was full. They decided to wait for John’s return, convinced they “save” him from whatever this was.

At 8:30 sharp, the back door creaked open.
“Hey,” John said, stepping inside. “What’s with all the cars? Mom selling Tupperware again?”

“Sit in the yellow chair,” Frank said. His voice left no room for argument. “And don’t say a word.”

John sat, confused.
“Son,” Lois began, “are you… flirting around with extremists?”

John blinked. “What? Ma, I don’t think so.”

Frank held up one of the pamphlets. “Then what’s this?”

Suddenly, John’s tone hardened. His face twisted with anger.
“You people are blind! You sit here preaching love and tolerance while the country rots from the inside out. You call it compassion — I call it weakness!”

The room fell silent.

Grandpa Howard stood, slapped his knee, and gasped.
“My God — he’s a conservative!”

Grandma wailed, “Frank! Ann! You’ve got yourselves a Republican!”

Mark leaned back in his wheelchair, groaning. “It’s worse. He’s been indoctrinated. He’s deep into it — the algorithms, the podcasts, the memes…”

Ann sobbed. “How did this happen? We raised him right. We had PBS, not Fox!”

Frank gritted his teeth. “We can fix this. There’s a camp that reverses it. Teaches kids empathy again.”

The frat boys nodded. “Or we can bring him to a few Pride Parades,” one said. “Exposure therapy.”

That’s when John exploded. He cursed his family. He hurled coasters across the room. He shouted about “real patriots” and “fighting the deep state.”

No one noticed the faint red light blinking on one frat boy’s phone. They’d been recording the whole scene.

Moments later, two uniformed officers stepped inside — Toby and Rex. Toby, a family friend, looked bewildered.
“Good Lord, what’s going on here? Is he possessed?”

Rex shook his head solemnly. “No. I’ve seen it before. Same thing happened to my parents. They started watching those ‘news’ streams online. By Thanksgiving, they were threatening to burn our pronoun mugs.”

Ann gasped. “Oh sweet Jesus.”

Frank turned toward his son, voice trembling between rage and heartbreak.
“John, listen to me. We can still get you back. But we have to act now. Before it’s too late.”

John sneered. “Too late for what? To stop me from voting?”

And with that, he stormed out the door, leaving the room in stunned silence.

Grandpa finally muttered, “Well, guess the boy’s all grown up now.”

The family sat frozen — the hum of the refrigerator filling the void where laughter used to live.

In the background the local television news reported bloody attacks on black students leaving a GED Class that evening. The suspects identified as young white males. Who used Molotov cocktails yelling white power and God chooses a white America as they escaped on bicycles.

Outside, the streetlight flickered over the Howards’ perfect little home. It was still warm and still well-kept. Now, forever, it is just a little bit haunted.

The Island – A Serialized Dystopian Story * Chapter Seven

October 28, 2025October 5, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

2–3 minutes

Haven’s Reach: The Fracture Extended

By the time autumn winds rolled across Haven’s Reach, something in the air had shifted. The Council’s decrees were no longer whispered with unease. They were shouted from wooden platforms. The decrees were painted on walls and nailed to doors. “Obedience is Freedom,” one sign read. “Order Before All,” declared another. The rules had once been tolerated as minor irritations. Now, they pressed down like a boot on the neck of the people.

It began with curfews. Families were ordered indoors at dusk, lanterns extinguished by the ninth bell. Then came the bans. First, there was one on foreign books. Next, gatherings of more than five were forbidden. Finally, music played in public squares was banned. One by one, pieces of life that had once defined Haven’s Reach fell away. The Council insisted it was “for safety.” But everyone knew better—fear was safer for rulers than for the ruled.

Harper saw it most clearly when her younger brother, Eli, vanished. One evening, he was at the bakery kneading dough by her side. The next morning, his cot was empty. Blankets were folded neatly as though no one had ever lived there. Whispers reached her ears: Eli had spoken too freely about the Council in the market, and someone had reported him. Now he was “detained for questioning.” No one who had been questioned ever came home the same.

Harper’s grief sharpened into something more complex. She began wandering beyond her bakery’s door after curfew, listening at corners, watching shadows. That’s how she stumbled across The Quiet Ones. It was a ragtag circle of neighbors, merchants, and teachers. They took it upon themselves to preserve what the Council feared most: memory. They hid forbidden books in flour sacks. They scribbled children’s rhymes on the backs of ledgers. They whispered songs under their breath in defiance.

When Harper revealed her brother’s name, the Quiet Ones did not look away. An older man with ink-stained hands touched her shoulder and said,

“You’re one of us now, whether you meant to be or not. The fight isn’t about one boy. It’s about all of us.”

The fracture had come—not just between ruler and ruled, but within the people themselves. Some chose silence and survival. Others, like Harper, chose risk and resistance. Haven’s Reach was no longer simply an island under rule. It was a tinderbox, waiting for a single spark to ignite.

The Island – A Serialized Dystopian Story * Chapter Six

October 27, 2025October 5, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

1–2 minutes

Haven’s Reach: The Fracture

The Council had grown bolder. Every decree was sharper, every rule stricter. Posters lined the streets declaring “Silence is Loyalty” and “Order is Freedom.”

The town square, which once hosted songs and dances, now echoed with speeches warning against disobedience.

But in the shadows, the first cracks in the island’s facade appeared. Whispers of a hidden circle spread. These were citizens who refused to bow. They scribbled forbidden words in chalk on walls at night. They dared to question the Council’s iron grip. They called themselves The Quiet Ones.

Harper, a baker’s daughter, stumbled upon their meeting one night while searching for her missing brother. What she found shocked her: not rebels with weapons, but ordinary people with books, old radios, and forbidden songs. They weren’t plotting war—they were keeping alive the memory of freedom.

The Council had crushed the voices in the streets, but underground, Haven’s Reach was beginning to murmur again.

Top Financial Worries in 2025: What You Need to Know

October 12, 2025September 8, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

2–3 minutes

The Biggest Concern Facing People Today

We live in a world filled with constant change and uncertainty. One theme keeps bubbling to the surface no matter where you look: economic anxiety. Money-related worries top the charts of what keeps people awake at night. These concerns range from the price of groceries to the dream of owning a home.

What the Numbers Say

A Gallup poll from April 2025 found that:

60% of Americans worry “a great deal” about the economy.
59% lose sleep over healthcare costs.
56% are stressed about inflation.
Nearly half worry about Social Security and the federal budget deficit.

Globally, it’s no different. According to Ipsos, the leading concerns include inflation (30%), poverty (29%), unemployment (28%), and corruption (26%).

To make matters feel even heavier, 77% of Americans believe it’s harder to buy a home today. They feel it’s more difficult than it was for past generations. That frustration touches nearly every household—young people trying to buy, older adults trying to downsize, and families squeezed in between.

How It Touches Our Daily Lives

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This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. Rising rent, higher grocery bills, climbing medical costs—each of these chip away at security. Families cut corners, young people delay milestones like marriage or kids, and many retirees wonder if their savings will last.

Economic stress also spills into mental health, relationships, and communities. When you feel like you’re always one paycheck away from disaster, it’s hard to focus on thriving—you’re stuck surviving.

What You Can Do

While we can’t solve inflation or rewrite housing policy alone, there are small, powerful steps we can take:

_{^{The Mysteries of Financial Security.}}

Focus on control: Create a budget and stick to it. Even small wins matter.
Cut back strategically: Trim unnecessary expenses, but give yourself permission to keep the things that bring you joy.
Tap into resources: Community groups, food banks, and local organizations often have programs to ease the burden.
Stay connected: Talking about financial stress reduces shame. You’re not alone.

The Takeaway

The economy, healthcare, inflation—they’re big, intimidating problems. But your response doesn’t have to be. Focus on what you can control. Find support in your community. Remember: sometimes resilience comes not from having more, but from facing less with wisdom, planning, and hope.

This Is So True And To The Point “What We Call Hate” Defines Many Of Those We Sometimes Don’t Understand

October 1, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

What We Call Hate

GARY INDIANA CRIME RATES HIGHER THAN CHICAGO

September 5, 2025September 4, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

4–5 minutes

**^{_{Indiana Governor Michael Braun}}**

Why Isn’t Indiana Governor Mike Braun

Being Given National Guard Help?

Chicago is often spotlighted for its crime statistics. Yet, Gary, Indiana consistently ranks higher in many key crime metrics. This is true even when compared on a per-capita basis.

Chicago often dominates headlines for crime. Yet, FBI data and neighborhood crime indexes reveal a different story. Residents in Gary, Indiana, face significantly higher per-capita risks of violent and property crimes. According to NeighborhoodScout, Gary’s violent crime rate stands at roughly 1,180 per 100,000 residents—nearly double Chicago’s rate of 673.5.

President Trump reportedly plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago to tackle crime. If crime is really the concern, those service members should go just across the border to Gary. Decades of statistics show even higher rates staring them in the face. This report includes the data and sources to prove it. So the real question is: why isn’t the Guard going to Indiana? Maybe they know they can’t go back there.

Gary, Indiana — Higher Crime Rates Than Chicago

Violent crime in Gary is approximately 11.8 per 1,000 residents, or 1,180 per 100,000, significantly above national averages and surpassing Chicago’s violent crime rate of 673.5 per 100,000.Reolink Niche
Your odds of being a victim of violent crime in Gary are about 1 in 112. This is compared to Chicago’s overall violent crime rate.NeighborhoodScout
Property crimes are also markedly higher: a 1 in 35 chance in Gary versus substantially lower in Chicago.NeighborhoodScout

Why Gary Stands Out

Gary’s elevated crime levels have been well-documented over the years. These range from a ‘1993 Murder Capital’ billboard warning to recent statistics. Recent data shows some of the highest violence and theft rates in the nation.The Trace Macrotrends
Despite improvements in some categories, Gary remains one of Indiana’s most dangerous cities. It often exceeds Chicago in both violent and property crime rates.

Quick Comparison

City	Violent Crime (per 100,000)	Property Crime Odds
Gary, IN	~1,180	1 in 35 victims
Chicago, IL	673.5	Lower than Gary’s rate

There Is More To Review

Yes—Gary, Indiana, a smaller city just southeast of Chicago, has higher crime rates than Chicago on a per-capita level. Though Chicago may grab more headlines, Gary’s challenges with both violent and property crime are even more severe.

1. Gary, IN — Highest Crime in Indiana

Violent Crime Rate: Gary records approximately 11.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, making it the highest violent crime rate in the state Reolink+1.
Property Crime Chance: On an individual level, the chance of being a victim in Gary is 1 in 112 for violent crime. The odds are 1 in 35 for property crime. NeighborhoodScout.
Daily Crime Risk: Overall, you face a 1 in 27 chance per year of becoming a crime victim in Gary. Check more on Areavibes.
Safety Map Insights: Neighborhood safety varies widely. In central areas, residents face up to a 1 in 67 chance of violent crime. In safer southwestern zones, that drops to 1 in 137 Reddit.
Citywide Crime Index: Gary’s total crime rate runs at about 59.75 incidents per 1,000 residents, compared to roughly 33.37 nationally nextdoor.com.
Recent Trends: Encouragingly, Gary’s Police Department reported a notable drop in violent crime and fatal traffic accidents in 2024. They also noted increased proactive patrols in Gary, Indiana.

2. Chicago, IL — Larger Scale, Lower Per-Capita Risk

Comparative Crime Index (Gary vs. Chicago):
- Violent Crime: Chicago reports about 21% more violent crime overall. Still, because of its much higher population, the individual risk remains lower than in Gary BestPlaces.
- Property Crime: Chicago’s rate is approximately 30% lower than Gary’s BestPlaces.
Detailed Numbers (NeighborhoodScout): The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Chicago is about 1 in 167. In Gary, it is 1 in 112. Property crime risk in Chicago is about 1 in 29, slightly better than Gary’s 1 in 35 NeighborhoodScout Areavibes.

3. Lake County Overview

Lake County averages around 395 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. This figure is slightly higher than national averages near 360 per 100,000. Axios+1 Wikipedia+1.
Economic Impact: Crime-related costs, including emotional and tangible losses, are significant across the county.

Quick Comparison Table

Location	Violent Crime Risk	Property Crime Risk	Notes
Gary, IN	1 in 112 (high risk)	1 in 35 (high risk)	Among “most dangerous” cities in Indiana
Chicago, IL	Lower individual risk	Slightly lower than Gary	Larger scale but safer per capita
Lake County, IN	Slightly above average	Mixed	Crime concentrated in urban pockets like Gary

Summary

Gary, Indiana, has significantly higher violent and property crime rates—both per-capita—than Chicago. Despite Chicago’s national notoriety, individuals face greater personal risk in Gary.
Lake County overall carries elevated crime levels, but the burden is not uniform—it’s concentrated in areas like Gary.
Positive note: There are signs of progress, especially in Gary. Proactive policing has reduced violent crime. It has also improved safety initiatives.

About the Author:

Benjamin Groff is a former police officer and radio news anchor. He has hosted programs for CNN and ABC News affiliates in Colorado and Wyoming. His career in law enforcement began in 1980 and lasted more than two decades. This gave him firsthand insight into the criminal mind and public safety. Moreover, it provided him with an understanding of the human stories that often go untold. His writing draws on these experiences, blending street-level truth with a journalist’s eye for the bigger picture.

Branded You Are Now – Marked!

August 24, 2025August 12, 2025Benjamin1 Comment

When the law decides you no longer exist, freedom isn’t about where you live.

It’s about how far you’re willing to lose yourself to survive.

2–3 minutes

Getting Marked – Freedom at a cost

What if you belonged to a group that the government suddenly decided was a problem?

Not because of anything you did. Not because of a crime. Not even because of your beliefs. You were placed quietly and without your knowledge. The current leaders decided that the category was “unjust.”

Illegal.

It didn’t matter that you’d lived here your whole life. That your parents and grandparents had, too. It didn’t matter your race, your sex, your creed, your record. None of that mattered anymore. The only thing that mattered was that you had been identified.

The rules you thought protected you suddenly didn’t apply.

Your home wasn’t yours. Your job will vanish with a keystroke. The bank will empty your account without notice. You weren’t even a “person” anymore, not in the legal sense described by the Constitution you once believed in.

It happened so fast you couldn’t trace the moment when it began. At first, it was a news story about “reforms.” Then, “temporary measures.” Then, new identification cards, “to streamline services.” People told themselves it was nothing — until the cards became color-coded. Until the colors meant everything.

Now the world feels smaller every day. Friends stop calling, not because they don’t care, but because they’re afraid to be seen caring. Even strangers look at you differently, as if they’re silently choosing whether to turn away or turn you in.

You start making plans. Options. But they’re illusions. Leave the country? Borders are closed to you. Fight back? With what? Every avenue seems to end at the same locked door.

Then one night, in the quiet of your apartment, you find a letter slipped under your door. No name. No return location. Just a single sentence:

“There’s a way out, but you can’t take anything with you.”

Your heart pounds. Hope flares in your chest — real, breathing hope for the first time in months. You imagine stepping across a border, leaving all this behind, starting over somewhere no one knows your name.

But then the weight comes crashing back. You can’t take anything with you. Not your family, if they’re marked. Not your home. Not even the history that made you who you are.

The choice is yours. Stay and lose everything slowly, or leave and lose it all at once.

It’s hope. And it’s despair.

And tonight, both feel exactly the same.

Will you let this country get to this point? Is the United States already there? Is it too late to turn around?

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025

The Cost Of Doing Away With The Government

August 17, 2025August 7, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

The Cost of Cutting Costs: Where Are the Savings Going?

How Trump is starting to shape the job market

In recent years, the Trump Administration has made headlines for its policy stances. It has also garnered attention for the sweeping federal cutbacks. These cutbacks have redefined the size and role of the federal government. Thousands of government employees have been laid off. Hundreds of federal offices have been shuttered. A wide range of services — from healthcare to environmental aid — has been reduced or eliminated entirely.

The administration has championed these actions as part of a broader effort to “drain the swamp.” They aim to reduce federal spending and ultimately return power and resources to American taxpayers. The rationale has been clear. A leaner federal government would lead to significant cost savings. It would result in a more efficient use of tax dollars. But many Americans are beginning to ask a critical question: Where are the savings?

Massive Reductions, Unclear Results

Among the most significant cutbacks:

Layoffs: Tens of thousands of federal workers across agencies have been laid off or had positions eliminated.
Office Closures: Many government-run facilities have been closed. These include Social Security branch offices and rural USDA outreach centers. This closure reduces accessibility for millions of Americans.
Social Programs Slashed: Legislation was recently passed. As a result, funding for programs like Medicaid and Medicare has been reduced. Food assistance and global humanitarian aid are also affected. Preventive services and outreach initiatives that once supported millions are being dismantled or left underfunded.

These cutbacks, in theory, should have freed up hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal budget. Many believed this money would reduce personal tax burdens. Others thought it would be used to invest in infrastructure or support domestic economic growth.

Yet, for the average citizen, these savings have not become visible.

Where Is the Relief?

If the government is spending less, why aren’t Americans seeing a difference in their tax bills? Why are services harder to access, but costs stay the same — or even rise?

Economists point to several possible explanations:

Redistribution of Savings: Much of the money saved through cutbacks has not been returned to taxpayers. Instead, it has been redirected toward defense spending and border enforcement. There are also tax breaks for corporations and high-income earners.
One-Time Costs of Downsizing: Severance packages, contract terminations, and administrative restructuring often generate short-term costs that offset early savings.
Unseen Long-Term Consequences: Cuts to health and humanitarian programs will result in higher long-term costs. These range from emergency medical care to international instability.

A Shift in Priorities

The Trump Administration has often framed these reductions as a necessary reset. They see it as a chance to shrink government. It is also viewed as an opportunity to re-center American values around individual responsibility and self-reliance. Nonetheless, critics argue that the effects are disproportionately felt by the vulnerable. The elderly and rural communities are significantly affected. Those who rely most on public services are also affected.

Meanwhile, for those expecting an immediate drop in taxes, there is little evidence to support those hopes. The same applies to a boost in services funded by savings.

Conclusion: The Hidden Costs of Cutting

In the end, the administration claims victory in trimming government “fat.” Yet, the benefits of those savings stay largely invisible to the average voter. Instead, Americans are paying the same or more for fewer services. They experience longer wait times and less support.

The promise of efficiency has been delivered, but at a human cost. The American people are still waiting for their return on investment.

🔍 Report: “Cutbacks, Promises, and Missing Payoffs”

1. The Layoff Machine

Estimated decline: Over 275,000 federal civil-sector layoffs have been announced under Trump’s second term—roughly 12% of the 2.4 million workforce—comprising 58,000 confirmed cuts, 76,000 buyouts, and 149,000 planned layoffs en.wikipedia.org.
Net reductions: As of March, the Office of Personnel Management reported a single-quarter decline of about 23,700 jobs. This signifies a 1% drop. The federal workforce has been reduced to approximately 2.29 million reuters.com.
Legal rollback: A federal judge blocked mass layoffs at HHS. The judge deemed them “arbitrary and capricious.” This decision halted over 10,000 planned terminations en.wikipedia.org+3thedailybeast.com+3apnews.com+3.

“The American people deserve a government that is lean. It should be efficient and focused on core priorities,” OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell said. He framed the downsizing as a fiscal win reuters.com+6federalnewsnetwork.com+6foxnews.com+6.

2. Agency-by-Agency Fallout

Health & Human Services: Targeted a 25% workforce reduction—about 20,000 jobs eliminated—affecting the CDC, FDA, NIH, and CMS apnews.com.
National Science Foundation: Paused or canceled 1,600 grants. It slashed fellowships by 75%. It also dismantled peer-review independence—a move scientists warn will cost U.S. innovation and “a generation of talent” theguardian.com.
National Park Service: Permanent staffing fell by 24%. There were only 4,500 seasonal hires, which is far short of the needed 7,700. This resulted in maintenance backlogs and delayed emergency responses staffingindustry.com+3sfgate.com+3govexec.com+3.

3. The Savings That Never Materialized

DOGE’s bold claims: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced $160 billion in savings. They achieved this via contract cancellations, leases, and workforce cuts en.wikipedia.org+5en.wikipedia.org+5cbsnews.com+5.
Reality check: Independent analysts argue that actual cost reductions are closer to $80 billion, and note caveats:
- ~$135 million lost from disruption.
- Contract “savings” often overstated—e.g., a $655 million USAID contract cut was restated at just 35 cents reuters.com.
Budget context:
- Federal outlays rose by over $200 billion in Trump’s first 100 days. This amount was more than what was spent in nine of the prior ten years.
- Debt-service climbed too: $94 billion in interest payments in one month vs. $80 billion a year earlier reuters.com.
- DOGE’s savings amount to just 2.6% of discretionary spending—effectively negligible overall visualcapitalist.com.

4. Impact on Taxpayers & Services

Despite layoffs:

No direct tax relief for average Americans.
Essential services have been impaired: reduced access for Medicaid/Medicare beneficiaries, eroded scientific research, delayed park maintenance, weakened emergency response.
Budget cuts amount to a drop in the bucket. Mandatory expenditures like Social Security, Medicare, defense, veterans’ benefits, and debt interest consume around two-thirds of the federal budget. sfgate.com+1wsj.com+1.

5. Public Opinion & Potential Fallout

Public sentiment: 55% of Americans believe cuts to federal employees and services will harm the economy; only 31% disagree ourpublicservice.org+1cbsnews.com+1.
Economist takeaway:“To cut federal spending significantly, focus on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Interest spending must also be addressed,” notes AEIs Nat Malkus cbsnews.com.
- Even a 10% workforce cut yields only ~$25 billion per year—less than 1% of total federal outlays investopedia.com.

📊 Summary Table

Cutback Type	Scale of Reduction	Estimated Savings	Caveats / Impact
Federal layoffs	~275,000 announced; ~23k net cut	$25–80 B annually	Disruptive, costly; limited fiscal effect
Agency-specific job cuts	HHS (20k), NSF grants (1.6k), NPS (24%)	Not fully quantified	Services degraded: health, science, park management
DOGE-reported cuts	Claimed $160 B	$80 B real impact?	Misdocuments, redistribution to defense/veteran spending
Overall federal spending	Up $200 B first 100 days	–	Outlays still increasing due to fixed costs and one-off obligations

🧾 Conclusion

The Trump Administration’s aggressive federal cutbacks have certainly shrunk parts of government. Yet, they haven’t translated into noticeable savings for average taxpayers. Most reductions target lower-tier programs instead of trimming the core federal budget. Mandatory spending, including defense, healthcare, pensions, and debt interest, continues unchecked. Meanwhile, disruptions to critical services—public health, national parks, scientific research—have been significant.

Bottom line: The headline of a leaner government resonate politically, but the economic reality for taxpayers is murky—and bleak. Unless cuts touch the big-ticket mandatory spending items, true budget relief remains elusive.

Recent coverage on Trump cutbacks

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you’ve got less than $10,000 in the bank, here’s the truth. You’re not cashing in on any of this. The deals and decisions being made right now will fatten the pockets of the top money makers—not yours.

What you will see is the fallout:

Higher grocery bills
Rising medical costs
More expensive fuel

By year’s end, everything you need will cost more, while your paycheck buys less. The framework isn’t built for you to win—it’s built for you to keep paying. And that is the bottom line!

SOURCES:

Recent coverage on Trump cutbacks;

Recent coverage on Trump cutbacks found at;

reuters.com

How Trump is starting to shape the job market

Today

theguardian.com

Scientists warn US will lose a generation of talent because of Trump cuts

Today

sfgate.com

‘Truly devastating’: National Park Service lost nearly a quarter of permanent workforce

Today

vox.com

Does Trump really not understand his huge bill cuts Medicaid?

Today

CELEBRATION OF LIFE ANNOUNCED FOR COUNTRY LEGEND JEANNIE SEELY

August 13, 2025August 7, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show” Set for August 14 at Grand Ole Opry House

1–2 minutes

A public Celebration of Life will honor Grand Ole Opry star and country music icon Jeannie Seely. It will be held Wednesday, August 14 at 10:00 a.m. CT at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Fittingly titled “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show,” the service will pay tribute to her unmatched legacy.

The event will be broadcast live on 650 AM WSM. It will also be available via livestream at: VIMEO. You can view it live there. Here.

Jeannie Seely passed away on Friday, August 1 at age 85, after complications from an intestinal infection. She held the record for most Opry appearances in history — 5,397 — a milestone unlikely to ever be surpassed.

Tributes from the Country Music Community

Many stars shared heartfelt words:

Ricky Skaggs: “She made nervous newcomers feel at peace. We can all take her lead and encourage the next generation.”
Pam Tillis: “She had grit, wit, talent—and she was cool.”
Larry Gatlin: “She was my champion and inspiration. I miss her already.”
John Anderson, Ray Stevens, Mark Chesnutt, Darryl Worley, Billy Dean, and others echoed similar admiration, love, and deep loss.

Legacy

Nicknamed “Miss Country Soul,” Jeannie Seely broke barriers for women in country music. She was the first woman to regularly host Opry segments. She is also a GRAMMY winner and a BMI-awarded songwriter. Additionally, she has been an Opry member since 1967. Her songs were recorded by legends. These include Merle Haggard, Dottie West, and Willie Nelson. She also shared the screen with Willie Nelson in Honeysuckle Rose. In 2022, she was honored for her historic number of Opry performances. A stretch of road near the venue was renamed the Jeannie Seely Interchange in 2024.

Instead of Flowers

Donations in Jeannie’s name are encouraged to pet-related charities or the Opry Trust Fund: opry.com/about/opry-trust-fund

To start viewing events from Jeannie’s life, visit her website here. You can see the music she shared, events celebrated, and the people she loved.

Going Into A Restricted Area While Wearing Metal – An MRI Nightmare

July 19, 2025July 17, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

A Man Entered An MRI Room That He Was Not Approved To Enter. It Nearly Killed Him.

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 Truth Endures©

2–3 minutes

The Necklace That Shouldn’t Have Been Worn: A Tragic MRI Reminder

“Do you have any metal on your body?”

It’s a question you’ve probably heard before entering a medical imaging room. It might sound routine—almost too simple to matter. But as one man in Westbury, New York, learned the hard way, ignoring that question can be deadly.

Earlier this week, a 61-year-old man walked into an MRI suite at Nassau Open MRI. He wasn’t a patient—he was a visitor. And according to reports, he entered without permission, unaware (or perhaps unconcerned) about the danger waiting behind the door.

Around his neck hung a heavy metal necklace.

That necklace would soon become a missile.

As the MRI machine powered up, the magnetic field—a force thousands of times stronger than Earth’s natural magnetism—ripped the necklace forward, pulling the man violently toward the magnet. The result was catastrophic. He suffered critical injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

You can read the full report here from the Miami Herald:

🔗 Visitor wearing necklace critically injured inside New York MRI room

Why This Happened—and Why It Shouldn’t Have

MRI machines are marvels of modern medicine. They allow doctors to see deep into the body without needing to cut it open. Yet, the science that powers them relies on an immense magnetic force.

That’s why medical staff ask the same questions again and again:

Do you have any metal implants?
Are you wearing jewelry?
Have you removed your belt, watch, or hairpin?

These aren’t suggestions. They’re essential precautions to prevent precisely what happened in Westbury.

The necklace that injured this man was an everyday item—something many of us wear without a second thought.

But in the MRI room, it was anything but ordinary.

A Reminder Worth Heeding

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder:

Always follow MRI safety guidelines. Always respect warning signs. Never assume a machine like this can be taken lightly.

The man who wore the necklace didn’t mean to cause harm. The laws of physics don’t care about intent. In an MRI suite, metal is never safe unless it’s been declared and cleared.

So next time someone asks you,

“Do you have any metal on your body?”

Don’t shrug it off.

Your answer will save your life!

You can read the full report here from the Miami Herald:

🔗 Visitor wearing necklace critically injured inside New York MRI room

The Grand Canyon Is Not for Sale—Unless Trump Says So

July 18, 2025July 17, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

The last time someone tried to sell the Grand Canyon, it was a scam. This time, it might be federal policy.

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 Truth Endures©

6–9 minutes

Developers Eye Grand Canyon’s North Rim

There is a quiet discussion about the concern. People are worried about the destruction of the structures at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim area. Especially if you mention whether Trump will arrange the sale of the property to an investor. Some prospective property companies are considering this, and they have shown interest in the area since it burned last week. The Sale Is –– Not Likely!

It’s doubtful that the U.S. government (i.e., the National Park Service, which manages Grand Canyon National Park) will sell off the burned North Rim properties to private investors. BUT there are always an exception!

“Selling the Canyon: What If the North Rim Was for Sale?”

Private investors will rebuild the lost structures by purchasing the property and assuming control of the North Rim. This would take the burden off the Federal Government. Additionally, it would bring a commercial attraction to the area, increasing yearly traffic compared to the current level.

_{^{Photo by Gizem Gu00f6kce on Pexels.com}}

We have seen with the Trump Administration that the members of his office do not adhere to general practices. These practices are important to ethical principles. They are not below ignoring court orders, laws, and regulations to do what they please. The Administration can obtain anything it asks for with the current House, Senate, and Supreme Court. If Trump asks for a clear title for the Grand Canyon Properties, he would get one. He wipes it from the National Historical Places Monuments list. He removes select pieces of property from the protections of the National Park System.

Don’t think he would, or should? Try stopping renaming a Military Base after a Civil War figure from the Confederacy. Try stopping a military parade on his birthday. Try stopping him from cutting medical insurance coverage for millions of Americans. Inform him that everyone is entitled to civil liberties and must be permitted due process through a legal hearing.

Then, say selling off property in a National Park will never happen. Many do not believe the House and Senate will support Trump’s actions. They will not give him the papers he needs. This includes doing what he wants with the smoldering remains of the North Rim. It also affects any National Park.

🇺🇸 Enter the Trump Administration

Federal law strictly prohibits the sale of national park lands. Nonetheless, recent administrations—especially under Donald Trump—have shown a willingness to test those boundaries. Presidential influence has set a precedent for reshaping public lands policy. Protections in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante have been reduced. Formerly protected lands have been opened to oil and gas leases. The Trustee of the National Land and Parks Service will face a force from the Trump Administration. Survival is uncertain if Trump and Company aim to dismantle it.

Sources close to high-level real estate firms claim interest has spiked since the North Rim Lodge was destroyed. The timing has raised questions among environmentalists. They wonder if the destruction of federal structures paves the way. An administration unconcerned with precedent or preservation will try a land transfer.

🏛️ Legal Hurdles (and How They Might Be Circumvented)

Legally, the sale of Grand Canyon National Park land is almost impossible under existing statutes. Some fear the standard rules no longer apply. This fear arises from a cooperative Congress. Additionally, an activist Supreme Court and a President with a record of executive overreach contribute to this concern.

There are those close to the Canyon who are saying – “It’s unlikely, but not unimaginable. In 2020, no one thought sacred tribal lands would be opened to mining. Yet it happened. If political winds shift hard enough, even the Grand Canyon is not be safe from the bulldozer.”

Speaking for the Nay side.

Why a sale isn’t feasible:

There are several points to consider. These points explain why the sale of land owned by the Park Service would not transfer to private ownership. This is due to certain reasons and should be considered. Anyone wishing to ought to consider them further.

The North Rim Is Part of a National Park
The North Rim once included the Lodge, cabins, ranger headquarters, and other structures. It is now part of a federally protected unit of the National Park System. That land is held in trust for the public and can’t be sold or transferred to private ownership.
The area is of Historic and Cultural Significance (does it matter?)
The Grand Canyon Lodge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982. It was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1). Federal law prevents the disposal of such historic properties without a formal and rare delisting process—something that’s practically unheard of.
Park Policy and Public Trust Doctrine now objects to sale or misuse of property.
The NPS mission requires preserving federal land for future generations. Selling land—even after a disaster—is contrary to this mission and the principles of public trust.
Federal Law on Disposal (would have to be changed.)
Federal agencies must prove the land is excess under laws like the Property Act. The Federal Lands & Policy Management Act also requires this. They must prepare environmental assessments. Agencies must also undergo public notice and comment before any disposal occurs. That’s a lengthy, bureaucratic process—and it rarely results in the sale of park lands.

What’s likely to happen instead:

Reconstruction & Restoration
Park officials and the State of Arizona are more focused on fire investigation. Governor Katie Hobbs is pushing for accountability. There is emphasis on environmental remediation and rebuilding. The North Rim will be closed for the rest of the 2025 season (2).
Congressional/Agency Funding
Efforts now will center on securing federal and state funding to rebuild the Lodge, cabins, ranger facilities, and other infrastructure.
Fire Response Review
Investigations are underway into the decision to let the Dragon Bravo Fire burn before it exploded. Arizona’s government has demanded a thorough, independent review (3).

^{_{Photo by Kurt Hudspeth on Pexels.com}}

In short:

The burned structures are integral parts of Grand Canyon National Park—they’re not eligible for sale. Instead, the focus will be on recovery, restoration, and rebuilding what was lost, all within the park’s management framework.

Nevertheless, I reserve this statement. We have observed this with the Trump Administration. The members of his office do not adhere to general practices that are germane to ethical principles. They are not below ignoring court orders, laws, and regulations to do what they please. The current House and Senate, along with the Supreme Court, support the Administration. This means the Administration can obtain anything it asks for. If Trump asks for a clear title for the Grand Canyon Properties, he would get one.

Editor’s Note:

I’ve always had something like a sixth sense—premonitions, you can call them. Strangely, the ones I write about never seem to come true. It’s the ones I keep to myself that have a way of becoming reality. – Peace!

On July 17th, a report came out from an Arizona Television News Outlet. The report identified the location as GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ (AZFamily). Arizona’s Family learned a crucial member of the crew was not called in promptly to help. The Dragon Bravo Fire blew up and burned dozens of buildings over the weekend.

As of Thursday, there is still no containment of the wildfire at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. Six hundred firefighters are working to put out the flames. The wildfire has grown to more than 11,000 acres.

Meteorologists are key to fire management. The Dragon Bravo Fire didn’t have one on scene until Monday. This was several days after the damage was done.

It adds to concerns about how the fire was handled after being sparked by lightning on the Fourth of July. In this case, aside from the actual flames, the weather played a significant role in the destruction.

Strong winds blew up from within the canyon and fanned the flames. Crews on the ground didn’t have an incident meteorologist with them over the weekend. This expert have been capable of warn them ahead of time.

For days, the National Park Service took a “confine and contain” approach. They allowed flames to consume the underbrush. At the same time, they protected the structures within the national park. Nonetheless, that changed on July 11. Firefighters reported that “strong northwest wind gusts were uncommon to the area. These winds jumped multiple containment features.”

Ultimately, the result was more than 70 structures destroyed by flames, including the historic lodge.

The entire report can be found by visiting here.

From the Pages of History: July 11, 1955 — “Nightfall Over Wichita”

July 11, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 Truth Endures©

1–2 minutes

Wichita, Kansas – July 11, 1955

The heat had been unrelenting for days. By the evening of July 11th, something darker than the weather was brewing in the Kansas sky. Just after 6:30 p.m., local news reports began buzzing with concern. A fast-moving system was developing west of the city. Radar, still new technology for military meteorologists, was showing rotation in those days it wasn’t shared like it is now.

At 7:04 p.m., a Category F4 tornado touched down near the town of Udall, Kansas. It was the same town that had been devastated just two months earlier in the deadliest tornado in state history. This one skirted the more populated areas. Still, damage was widespread. Barns were flattened, power lines twisted, and wheat fields scraped bare. Miraculously, only minor injuries were reported. Many locals said they were prepared this time, keeping radios on and basements cleared after the trauma of May 25.

The Wichita Eagle published a late edition the next morning. The headline read

“Twister Brushes Wichita – City Spared, Farms Not So Lucky.”

A black-and-white photo captured a twisted silo lying like a crushed can under a red-orange sunrise.

Looking back, July 11, 1955, was a reminder that in the American Midwest, nature rarely knocks. It kicks in the door, and you learn to be ready.

There Are Different Ways To Preserve America’s Freedom – We Are Taught Lessons From The Past

July 4, 2025Benjamin2 Comments

The Day the Flag Stood Still: The Forgotten Fourth of July on Wake Island, 1942

On July 4, 1942, Americans back home celebrated Independence Day with cookouts and parades. Meanwhile, a small group of American civilian contractors and U.S. Navy personnel held a defiant but somber celebration under Japanese captivity on a tiny Pacific atoll called Wake Island.

Just months earlier, in December 1941, Wake Island had made headlines when a handful of U.S. Marines, Navy men, and civilian construction workers miraculously repelled a much larger Japanese force. This was one of the only successful defenses during the early days of World War II. But eventually, Wake fell. Hundreds of Americans were captured and held as prisoners.

Despite their grim reality, the spirit of independence didn’t die. On July 4, 1942, many had celebrated the day at home a year prior. A group of prisoners marked the holiday. They secretly stitched together a makeshift American flag from scraps of clothing and parachute fabric. They hid it under a floorboard in their barracks. That night, after roll call, they quietly raised the flag. It was up for just a few moments. That was long enough for the men to salute it and whisper a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The penalty for such defiance was death. For those men, risking their lives to honor the flag was worth it. The freedom it stood for—even behind enemy lines—justified their risk.

The flag was never discovered. The war ended in 1945. One of the surviving POWs smuggled the flag fragment home. He had sewn it into the lining of his jacket. It now resides in a museum in Kansas as a silent but powerful witness to patriotism under pressure.

Closing Thought:

Freedom isn’t always loud. It isn’t always celebrated with sparklers and song. Sometimes, it’s whispered in the dark. Saluted in secret. Hidden beneath the floorboards. And yet, even in those moments, it shines just as bright.

The Rebirth of Santa Barbara: From Ruin to Renewal

June 30, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 Truth Endures©

1–2 minutes

Dawn of Ruin and Renewal

The early morning calm in Santa Barbara was shattered at 6:23 a.m. when the earth quaked mightily beneath the coastal city. Buildings shuddered, bricks rained from rooftops, and the streets trembled underfoot. In those precious dawn hours, life had yet to stir—and that spared many. By daybreak, the death toll stood at a modest 13 souls, considering the scale of devastation (1).

Amid the wreckage, sailors from the USS Arkansas joined local workers to dig for survivors. They waded through rubble, their uniforms dusty and stained, hauling beams and calling out names. Looters probed the ruins for valuables, but guards—both Navy and civilian—kept vigilant watch (2).

Yet even as remnants of the old city lay in ruin, a vision for rebirth emerged. Spearheaded by Pearl Chase and other civic leaders, a movement to rebuild in a unified Spanish Colonial style began. The reconstruction led to enduring landmarks. It produced the iconic Santa Barbara County Courthouse, soon hailed as among America’s most beautiful public buildings (3).

Santa Barbara’s quiet elegance faced destruction in one fateful dawn. But the very next dawn laid the foundations of something more beautiful. The earthquake didn’t just shake buildings—it awakened a city’s spirit, forging an architectural legacy that stands to this day.

DONKEY MILK – YOUR NEXT BIG SUPERFOOD AND SKINCARE CRAZE! HEE HAW. SERIOUS!

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

donkey farming milk Health Benefits.Skin Care beauty Benefits Nature’s & donky Milk higest income

There is talk about the next big craze. Is it real? According to the report, yes!

Donkey Milk has plenty of nutrients and more! Visit the World Farmer Story to learn more!

Learn About The Lady In Mickey Gilley’s Song – The Girls All Get Better At Closing Time.

May 17, 2025May 17, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

‘I know Robert Redford, even Lola Hall…’

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 Truth Endures©

4–6 minutes

Lola Hall: Oklahoma’s Weather Girl Who Became a Legend

In the heart of America, television was becoming the central storyteller of the modern household. During this time, one woman in Oklahoma City quietly became a beloved figure. She was cherished across living rooms, farms, and small-town diners alike. Her name was Lola Hall, the poised and personable weather girl for KWTV Channel 9. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Lola transitioned from forecasting the weather. She began anchoring the morning news. She carved out a legacy of warmth, professionalism, and unexpected celebrity.

A Humble Start on Channel 9

Lola Hall wasn’t born into the limelight. She was raised in Oklahoma. She considered herself an ordinary woman. “I’m just a plain girl with a good work ethic,” she once said. She never imagined she would become a fixture in households across the state. She also didn’t foresee that her name would one day be immortalized in a hit country song.

She started at KWTV in the early 1960s. Television was still finding its footing then. Local personalities were becoming stars in their own right. Initially billed as a “weather girl,” a common term at the time, Lola did more. She did more than point at cloud symbols and smile at the camera. She brought a genuine understanding of weather patterns. Her calm demeanor during storms was notable. She had a natural charisma that made viewers trust her.

*^{_{The Weather Girl also known as the Weather Lady, and Lola Hall}}*

Lola quickly stood out not only for her delivery but for her grounded, approachable nature. She didn’t talk down to viewers or play a character. She was simply Lola — smart, steady, and relatable.

Rising to Anchor the Morning News

As her popularity grew, so did her responsibilities. By the early 1970s, Lola earned a promotion to co-anchor the morning news. This was a significant achievement for a woman in broadcasting. In that early morning slot, she became the face viewers saw as they sipped coffee. People watched her while packing school lunches. They prepared for long days on the farm or at work.

Her calm voice and natural empathy helped set the tone for the day. But it wasn’t a solo act.

Near the end of her career, she welcomed two of Oklahoma’s most trusted newsmen. Bill Haire and Wayne Lyle joined her on the morning show. Both were widely respected for their skill in agricultural reporting — essential content for Oklahoma’s large farming population. The trio became a necessary part of daily life for rural viewers. Farmers tuned in for weather and headlines. They also relied on Bill and Wayne for dependable reports on crop forecasts. Their reports covered market conditions and farming trends.

Lola, Bill, and Wayne worked together to form an Oklahoma morning news trifecta. They delivered information with clarity, sincerity, and a deep respect for their audience. They weren’t just broadcasters; they were neighbors.

A Country Music Cameo

But, Lola’s story wouldn’t be finished without an interesting twist. One of her career’s most surprising moments was an unexpected brush with country music fame.

_{^{Lola Hall, KWTV Channel 9′s beloved weather girl and morning news anchor, pictured during a 1970s broadcast. Her calm presence and signature charm made her a household name across Oklahoma.}}

During an interview with country star Mickey Gilley, Lola found herself momentarily flustered. Gilley, known for chart-topping hits and honky-tonk swagger, was in Oklahoma City promoting his music when he confessed on air.

He told Lola that back in his younger days, he grew up in rural east Texas. KWTV Channel 9 was one of the few stations they could pick up. And Lola Hall, with her grace and good looks, was a celebrity to the local boys.

“You were the hottest thing we’d ever seen,”

Gilley smiled, adding that Lola had made such an impression that he mentioned her by name in his song.

“The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time.”

For a brief moment, Lola lost her composure — laughing, blushing, and turning to the crew off-camera. It was a rare crack in her usually calm exterior, and viewers loved it. She quickly recovered, continuing the interview with her usual charm, but later admitted she was shocked.

“I thought I was just the girl telling them to grab an umbrella,”

She joked.

A Lasting Legacy

Lola Hall stepped away from the news desk eventually. She left behind a legacy built not on flash or fame. Instead, it was built on trust, relatability, and professionalism. During an era when women in broadcasting often had to work twice as hard, Lola rose through the ranks. Her long-lasting connection with viewers stood as a quiet revolution.

She may never have considered herself glamorous. She may not have thought of herself as remarkable. But, to thousands of Oklahomans—and at least one country legend—she was both.

You know it each time you hear the song and Gilley sings the line,

“I know Robert Redford even Lola Hall!”

Lola Hall wasn’t just the weather girl. She was part of the fabric of Oklahoma life. Her name, her voice, and her smile are still remembered by those who welcomed her into their homes each morning.

For a personal take on her career click here and be taken to an interview with Lola Hall!

To truly dive into the story of Lola Hall and other trailblazing women of the 1950s and ’60s, prepare yourself. They were often known then as “weather girls.” Grab your favorite refreshment and settle in. This captivating podcast offers a rich glimpse into their rise to popularity. Back in the day, we just called it a recording—but whatever the name, you’re in for something special.

Grassroots Movement Transforms American Politics

March 23, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

GROFF MEDIA 2024© TRUTH ENDURES IMDBPRO

Presented by benandsteve.com By: Benjamin Groff II©s

3–4 minutes

The Grassroots Movement for Economic and Political Justice

Arizona Rally March 2025 — _{^{Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mark a defining moment in American politics. Tempe, Arizona Rally 2025 Groff Media©}}

The recent rallies by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mark a defining moment in contemporary American politics. Across five rallies in three states, tens of thousands gathered. They made a resounding call for change. This signals widespread dissatisfaction with the current political and economic systems. The overwhelming attendance at these events reveals a deep-rooted movement. It is fueled by a demand for economic fairness. There is also a call for political integrity and grassroots-driven reform.

One of the key takeaways from these rallies is the rejection of Trumpism, oligarchy, and authoritarianism. The presence of thousands in North Las Vegas, Tempe, Greeley, Denver, and Tucson shows collective opposition to massive income inequality. Wealth inequality has left many working-class Americans behind. This movement directly responds to a political system. In this system, billionaires hold disproportionate power. They use their wealth to influence elections and dictate policy. The rallies were not simply campaign events; they were gatherings of individuals. They were determined to reclaim democracy from corporate interests. They also wanted to challenge political elites.

Moreover, the movement echoes historical struggles that have shaped the United States. Sanders draws parallels between this modern fight and past movements that have successfully challenged oppression. These include the abolitionist, labor, civil rights, and women’s rights movements. These historical precedents offer a blueprint for today’s progressive movement. They emphasize that real change arises when ordinary people organize. Real change occurs when they take action against systemic injustice.

A critical part of this movement is grassroots organization. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez stress the need to mobilize people in all 50 states through consistent engagement. Mobilizing thousands of people means not only attending rallies but also translating that enthusiasm into political action. Encouraging progressives to run for office at all levels is crucial. This includes positions from school boards to state legislatures. It is a core strategy to enact lasting change. Local elections, often overlooked in the national political discourse, hold immense power in shaping policies that affect daily life.

Additionally, the movement extends beyond electoral politics. It calls for strong communities where people support one another despite economic and social challenges. The emphasis on solidarity reflects the understanding that political change is inseparable from fostering a culture of mutual aid. It also involves building collective strength. The movement creates networks of engaged citizens. The goal is to counteract the feelings of loneliness that many experience in today’s economic landscape. It also addresses feelings of helplessness.

This movement does not overstate the urgency. Sanders highlights the significance of this moment not only for current generations but also for future ones. Climate change, economic disparity, and political corruption are existential issues that need immediate action. The message is clear: now is the time for mobilization, not despair. The fight for a fair and just society depends on ordinary people. They must be willing to challenge entrenched power structures. They must demand a system that works for all.

The rallies led by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez signify a pivotal moment in U.S. politics, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with inequality and a demand for economic justice. — _{^{Arizona, Nevada, Colorado,}}

In conclusion, the rallies held across Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado exemplify the strength of a growing progressive movement in America. The record-breaking turnouts illustrate a profound discontent with the status quo and a wish for systemic change. By organizing, running for office, and building community solidarity, this movement can redefine the future of American democracy. The path ahead is not easy. History has shown that when people unite for justice, they can overcome even the most powerful obstacles.

George Kalinsky A Man Of Pictures 1936-2025

January 17, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

GROFF MEDIA 2024© TRUTH ENDURES IMDBPRO

Presented by benandsteve.com By: Benjamin Groff II©

1–2 minutes

A Man Of Pictures 1936-2025 George Kalinsky Obituary — _{^{George Kalinsky}}

George Kalinsky was born in 1936 in Hempstead, New York. He was a renowned American photographer. His work captured some of the most iconic moments in sports and entertainment history. Finding Aids

His photography journey began serendipitously in the mid-1960s. He noticed Muhammad Ali entering the 5th Street Gym while on vacation in Miami. Intrigued, Kalinsky followed and was allowed to photograph Ali after a brief exchange with trainer Angelo Dundee. These images marked the start of his illustrious career. Interview Magazine

In 1966, Kalinsky became the official photographer for Madison Square Garden, a position he held for nearly six decades. He documented over 10,000 events throughout his tenure. He captured legendary figures like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Pope John Paul II. His work has been featured in major publications like Sports Illustrated, People, Newsweek, and The New York Times. Kalinsky authored ten books. His photographs were exhibited in esteemed institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. – From The Lens of George Kalinsky

Over the years, Kalinsky has received many accolades for his contributions to photography. In 2001, the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association named him International Photographer of the Year. He was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He received the Pratt Institute’s Legends Award in 2017. Wikipedia

George Kalinsky passed away on January 16, 2025, at the age of 88. His legacy endures through the timeless images he captured. These images continue to inspire. They evoke memories of significant moments in sports and entertainment history. Wikipedia

Sources

Special Air Mission 39: A Tribute to President Carter

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

Groff Media 2024© Truth Endures IMDbPro

Presented by benandsteve.com By: Benjamin Groff II©

3–4 minutes

The sun broke over the Air Force Base in Atlanta, Georgia. It cast golden hues across the tarmac as Special Air Mission 39 waited. Its polished surface gleamed in the light. The presidential seal on its side served as a solemn reminder of the journey it was about to undertake. Inside, a reverent hush filled the cabin. The crew prepared for their most crucial passenger. It was a man whose life had been dedicated to service, humility, and unwavering commitment—President Jimmy Carter.

From his earliest days at the Naval Academy, James Earl Carter Jr. was shaped by discipline, honor, and an unrelenting drive to do his best. Those who knew him often remarked on his quiet determination. His former Navy colleagues remember him as a man of integrity, always putting the welfare of his team first. Carter navigated the complexities of submarine systems in the Navy with steady resolve. He also tackled global issues from the Oval Office with the same determination.

The engines roared to life for Special Air Mission 39. This was what President Carter had once known as Air Force One. At that moment, the memory of his long journey sharpened. Memories of his enduring journey came into sharp focus. Here was a man who had never sought power for power’s sake but had wielded it to uplift others. In the years after his presidency, Carter’s service reverberated across communities. He built homes for people experiencing homelessness. He mediated peace in war-torn nations. Additionally, he battled disease through the Carter Center. His legacy was not confined to history books but lived on in the lives he had touched.

The flight crew gathered for a moment of silence before departure. Captain Emily Harrington, a seasoned pilot who had long admired Carter, addressed her team.

“Today, we honor not just a president but a man who believed in the power of service. Let’s give him the journey he deserves.”

As the plane ascended, the passengers—family, close friends, and select members of his administration—reflected on his unwavering faith and commitment. Rosalynn, his beloved late wife, was his partner for more than seven decades. She was waiting for him at their Plains, Georgia home. She also waited in Jimmy’s heart, where their journey had begun. Jimmy would be back. He had business in D.C. to take care of first. President Carter would fly there with the family. He would lay in state at the Capital Rotunda. He would attend a state memorial service. Later in the week, he would return to Plains, Georgia. He would be laid next to Rosalynn at their place of burial.

The flight path traced the arc of his life. It went over the rural farmlands of Georgia. The soil there had nurtured his love for community and the values of hard work and compassion. The Naval Academy in Annapolis, where young Jimmy had set the course for a lifetime of service. Over Washington, D.C., where he had walked into the presidency with a promise to lead with integrity.

As SAM 39 descended, the crowd gathered below to pay their respects. They came not just to honor a president. They came to honor a man who had reminded the world that authentic leadership lies in humility. True leadership also involves an unwavering commitment to doing what is right.

The plane touched down with grace, its engines whispering to a stop. The door opened, and the honor guard stepped ahead to carry Carter to the Rotunda. The air was heavy with gratitude, sorrow, and pride. A man who had given so much of himself had completed the second leg of his journey. There was only one more leg left in the final part of his last journey.

In the quiet stillness of that moment, a quote from Carter’s own words have echoed in the hearts of all there:

“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”

Quote Reference: Congratulations Jimmy Carter – Bryan Strawser. http://bryanstrawser.com/2002/10/congratulations-jimmy-c/

The Sunday School President – THAT THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT WASTED AND IGNORED.

January 5, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

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2–3 minutes

A warm Sunday morning in Plains, Georgia seemed tailor-made for reflection. At the Maranatha Baptist Church, a small congregation gathered in quiet anticipation. This wasn’t an ordinary Sunday service—it was one led by Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States.

Even decades after leaving the White House, Carter stayed true to the values that shaped his life. These values were faith, humility, and service. Carter taught Sunday School to anyone who wanted to listen every Sunday that he was capable. Visitors from all over the world made the pilgrimage to Plains. Some traveled thousands of miles to hear wisdom. This wisdom was not shared in a grand hall. Instead, it was delivered in a modest church that held no more than a couple hundred people.

Jimmy Carter, then in his 90s, shuffled to the front of the sanctuary, a quiet determination in his step. He greeted the crowd with a humble smile, his voice steady and welcoming. His lesson was simple yet profound: loving your neighbor, no matter their background or beliefs.

“When Jesus said to love your neighbor,”

Carter explained, his blue eyes twinkling,

“He didn’t put any conditions on it. He didn’t say only if they look like you or vote like you. He meant everyone.”

The audience was a mix of locals and travelers. They hung on his every word. Their hearts and minds were stirred by the profound simplicity of his message. The room was filled with a palpable sense of awe. This was not due to the titles Carter once held. Instead, it was because of his unwavering commitment to living the values he taught.

When the lesson ended, Carter didn’t rush off. Instead, he stayed to shake hands, take photos, and share stories. These personal moments hold the most significant importance for him. He listened as much as he spoke. This is especially meaningful for a man who had once navigated the complexities of global politics.

One visitor, a young man from Chicago, nervously approached.

“President Carter, what made you keep teaching Sunday School after everything you’ve accomplished?”

Carter smiled warmly.

“I’ve been a farmer, a naval officer, a governor, and a president. But teaching Sunday School reminds me of who I truly am—a servant of God. Titles come and go, but the love we share with others lasts forever.”

That was Jimmy Carter. He believed that service didn’t end with a term in office. He thought that humility wasn’t weakness. Even the simplest acts of kindness can ripple through the world. For Carter, life’s most outstanding achievement wasn’t in power or prestige. It was in the quiet and steady work of lifting others up. He demonstrated this belief through his work with Habitat for Humanity. He also promoted peace and human rights. Additionally, he was committed to public service long after his presidency.

As the church emptied, a sense of peace lingered in the air. This was a testament to the legacy of a man who lived his faith with every breath.

Sunday school class with Jimmy Carter: What it was like

THE LAST RIDE FOR THE MAN FROM PLAINS GEORGIA

January 4, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

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2–3 minutes

In the early hours of January 4, 2025, a somber hush fell over the rolling plains of Georgia. The sun shone gently over the landscape. A motorcade departed from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus. It bore the flag-draped casket of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. The journey marked the start of a six-day tribute. It honored a man who dedicated his life to service, peace, and humanity.

The procession moved through Carter’s hometown of Plains, passing by his boyhood home in Archery. Here, the old farm bell tolled 39 times. Each chime resonated with the years he had served as the nation’s leader. It symbolized each year of his presidency. Family members, including his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, accompanied the casket, their faces reflecting both sorrow and pride. Former Secret Service agents had once protected him. They now served as pallbearers. They honored their final duty to the man they had revered.

Along the route, admirers gathered. Some held flowers. Others wore commemorative pins. They were all united in their wish to pay homage to a beloved figure. The motorcade continued to Atlanta. There, Carter’s body would lie in repose at the Carter Presidential Center. This arrangement provided the public with the opportunity to offer their respects.

On January 7, the casket will be transported to Washington, D.C., where President Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. A state funeral is scheduled for January 9 at the Washington National Cathedral. Dignitaries will honor his legacy there, including President Joe Biden. The funeral will be a solemn event. There will be a military honor guard. A close family member will deliver a eulogy.

Carter’s journey will reach its conclusion after the national ceremonies. He will return to Plains, Georgia, for a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Rosalynn. This is the place where his remarkable journey began. It would now conclude there.

As the week unfolds, the nation will ponder on the life of a president who remained a humble servant. Jimmy Carter’s final ride is not just a passage from life to death. It is a testament to a legacy that will endure in the hearts of the people he has touched. This marks the end of a remarkable journey.

The Nation Honors Former President and man Jimmy Carter!

References:

New York Post

Former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral procession begins in Georgia

Today

Politico

Jimmy Carter’s 6-day state funeral begins with a motorcade through south Georgia

Today

AP News

Jimmy Carter’s flag-draped casket is on its way to Atlanta as the 39th president’s state funeral begins

Today

“The Peanut Farmer and the Minnesota Senator”

January 3, 2025January 4, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

Peering through the Oval Office Window: A Look Back

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2–3 minutes

In the summer of 1977, President Jimmy Carter leaned back in his chair in the Oval Office. A pensive smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Across from him sat Vice President Walter Mondale, poring over a stack of briefing papers with his trademark focus. One man was a farmer from Georgia. The other man was a lawyer from Minnesota. The two couldn’t have been more different in background. Yet, their partnership was rooted in a shared commitment to serving the American people.

“Fritz,”

Carter said, using Mondale’s nickname,

“you ever think we’re trying to do too much at once?”

Mondale looked up, his brow furrowed.

“Every day, Mr. President. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying.”

The two had agreed early on that their administration would focus on transparency and morality in government. It was a lofty goal, especially after the shadow of Watergate. Carter gave Mondale an unprecedented role as vice president. He granted him full access to meetings and decision-making processes. Mondale had a seat at the table in all major discussions.

That day’s agenda included preparations for the Camp David Accords. Carter knew the stakes were high. Peace in the Middle East was a dream worth pursuing, but the path was challenging.

“I’ve been thinking about how we can get Sadat and Menachem (Begin) to see eye to eye,”

Carter mused, tapping his pen on his desk.

“I need you to be my sounding board, as always.”

Mondale nodded, adjusting his glasses.

“They both trust you, Jimmy. That’s the key. You have a way of connecting with people, even when the odds seem impossible.”

Carter chuckled softly.

“Must be the peanut farmer in me.”

Over the months, the two worked tirelessly. Mondale often acted as a mediator in Congress, navigating the political complexities Carter sometimes found frustrating. When the energy crisis hit, Mondale suggested convening regional governors to gather diverse perspectives.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, they found themselves alone in the Rose Garden. The air was warm and scented with magnolias, and the stars above were unusually bright.

“Fritz,”

Carter said, breaking the silence,

“I couldn’t do this without you. You keep me grounded.”

Mondale smiled, a rare expression of pride crossing his face.

“You’d manage, Jimmy. But I’m glad I’m here to help.”

Their friendship, forged in the fire of challenges and the weight of leadership, became a hallmark of their administration. Though history would judge their tenure with mixed opinions, their mutual respect and dedication to principle left a lasting legacy.

As the years passed, Carter and Mondale’s bond endured. At their core, they remained two men dedicated to the idea that leadership meant service, not power. They carried this lesson beyond the White House walls.

A lesson that needs to be passed on increasingly so now!

Jimmy Carter: A President’s Quiet Resolve

January 1, 2025January 4, 2025BenjaminLeave a comment

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2–3 minutes

_{^{Jimmy Carter}}
– _^The **_{^{Carter Center}} _^Photo**

Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He brought a quiet and deliberate resolve to the Oval Office. Carter was a former peanut farmer and Georgia governor. His presidency was shaped by his outsider status. He was known for his Southern charm and deep sense of morality. This quiet resolve was tested by the significant challenges he faced, but it never wavered.

Carter inherited a nation grappling with inflation, an energy crisis, and a faltering trust in government post-Watergate. Undeterred, he tackled the energy crisis head-on. He donned a cardigan during televised addresses to encourage Americans to conserve energy. He also urged Congress to pass legislation for renewable resources and energy independence. His solar panels on the White House symbolized a progressive-thinking approach that would resonate decades later.

On the international stage, Carter championed human rights, placing them at the core of U.S. foreign policy. His leadership during the Camp David Accords remains a hallmark of his presidency. It was a historic peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. This significant achievement demonstrated his commitment to diplomacy and peace. It marked the first time an Arab country formally recognized Israel.

Yet, Carter’s term was also marred by challenges. The Iranian hostage crisis cast a long shadow as 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days. The crisis tested his patience. It also tested his diplomacy. The eventual release of the hostages coincided with Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. This became a bittersweet moment in his legacy. Carter showed resilience during this crisis. It proved his unwavering commitment to his duties as President.

Carter served only one term. His presidency reflected his unwavering belief in doing what was right. He did this regardless of political consequences. His tenure laid the groundwork for a post-presidential humanitarian service life, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize decades later. This continued commitment to the greater good is a testament to the lasting impact of his presidency.

Jimmy Carter’s time in office was not marked by soaring rhetoric or overwhelming popularity. Still, it was defined by integrity, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to the greater good.

Jimmy Carter: The Country Music President

December 31, 2024Benjamin2 Comments

Groff Media 2024© Truth Endures IMDbPro

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2–3 minutes

The year was 1977, and Jimmy Carter had just taken the oath of office. A peanut farmer from Georgia, he brought a unique sensibility rooted in his Southern upbringing and a deep love for American culture, particularly country music. This unique combination of his Southern roots and his love for country music not only shaped his personal life but also influenced his presidency, allowing him to connect with the struggles and joys of everyday Americans.

When he stepped into the White House, Carter made it clear that the arts, especially music, would have a place of honor in his administration. He often reminisced about listening to gospel and country music on the family radio back in Plains, Georgia, where the soulful twang of artists like Hank Williams and the Carter Family resonated with the struggles and joys of everyday Americans, a sentiment he deeply shared.

One evening, during a White House dinner, Carter invited Willie Nelson to perform on the South Lawn. The night was balmy, and as the country star strummed his guitar under a canopy of stars, Carter took the opportunity to speak.

_{^{White House Photo – Carter Library}}

“Country music,” he said, “is the heart and soul of America. It tells the story of our struggles, faith, and hope.”

Carter’s admiration wasn’t just lip service. He actively promoted the genre, ensuring it received the recognition it deserved as an integral part of American culture. He invited artists like Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton to the White House. He even arranged for country music showcases at international events to share a slice of Americana with the world. His unwavering efforts significantly influenced the genre’s rise to mainstream respectability during the late 20th century.

But Carter’s legacy extended far beyond his love of country music. He brokered the Camp David Accords, a landmark peace agreement between Egypt and Israel that demonstrated his diplomacy skills and commitment to global peace. He championed human rights globally, making them a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. He also pushed for energy conservation, installing solar panels on the White House roof long before climate change became a widely recognized issue.

After leaving office, Carter’s achievements only grew. He founded The Carter Center, dedicated to promoting democracy, fighting disease, and mediating conflicts worldwide. His work eradicating diseases like Guinea worm, even in his post-presidential years, demonstrated his enduring compassion and determination to make the world better.

As for country music, Carter’s genre promotion left a lasting legacy. Many country artists credited him with helping to elevate their art to a global stage. Even decades later, when asked about his presidency, Carter would smile and say,

“If I could broker peace and get people to tap their feet to country music, then I’ve done my job.”

Jimmy Carter’s presidency may not have been perfect. Still, his love for the arts, his commitment to peace, and his tireless work for humanity made him a leader whose legacy resonates far beyond the Oval Office.

Jimmy Carter and the Little Peanut Stand

December 30, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

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2–3 minutes

The summer in Plains, Georgia, was hot and humid. Young Jimmy Carter, no more than ten years old, sat under the shade of an old pecan tree. Beside him stood a makeshift wooden stand crafted from spare planks his father had discarded. A hand-painted sign read, “Peanuts 5¢ a Bag.”

Jimmy’s father, Earl, suggested selling peanuts after the latest harvest.

“You’ll learn the value of hard work,”

Earl had said, his weathered hand resting on Jimmy’s shoulder.

“And how to talk to people. That’s important.”

Jimmy took the advice seriously. He woke early each morning to bag the peanuts. He carefully measured each part to guarantee every customer got their money’s worth. Then he’d march down the dirt road to the little stand. He would sit there until the sun dipped low in the sky.

On this particular day, business was slow. The air was thick with the buzz of cicadas, and Jimmy’s mind wandered as he stared down the empty road. He thought about the world beyond Plains. It was a world he’d only glimpsed in books. Travelers passing through town also told him stories about it.

As he mused, a car sputtered to a stop nearby. It was an old Ford, its green paint faded and dust-caked. A man stepped out, dressed in overalls and a straw hat. He approached the stand with a friendly smile.

“Afternoon, young man,”

the stranger said, his voice tinged with a twang.

“How much for a bag of those peanuts?”

“Five cents, sir,”

Jimmy replied, standing up straight.

The man chuckled.

“You drive a hard bargain, but I reckon it’s worth it.”

He handed Jimmy a shiny nickel, and Jimmy passed him a bag of peanuts in return.

The man lingered, munching on the peanuts as he leaned against the car.

“You’re Earl Carter’s boy, ain’t ya?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, you got his knack for business. Ever think about what you wanna do when you’re older?”

Jimmy hesitated, then spoke with quiet determination.

“I think I’d like to help people. Maybe be a farmer like my dad, or –– maybe even something bigger. Like a teacher or someone who solves problems.”

The man nodded thoughtfully.

_{^{Jimmy Carter was a teenager then. He was number 10 in a group portrait of the Plains High School basketball team. The photo was taken in Plains, Georgia, around 1940.}}

“That’s a fine ambition. Keep that kindness in your heart, boy. The world can use more folks like you.”

Jimmy smiled, his youthful confidence bolstered by the stranger’s words.

Years later, as President of the United States, Jimmy Carter often recalled that summer by the peanut stand. There, under the pecan tree, he first learned the value of hard work. He also learned humility and the simple power of connecting with others. These were lessons that would guide him throughout his life.

The stand was long gone. But, the spirit of that little boy with big dreams remained. It was forever rooted in the red soil of Plains.

Learn more about Jimmy Carter in photos. Got to the source for photos used in this writing by clicking here.

Exciting News! benandsteve.com and our media links are thrilled to be featured on Medioq – Happy Thanksgiving…

November 27, 2024Benjamin1 Comment

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November 27, 2024

1–2 minutes

Happy Thanksgiving, And Wishes For Bright Holidays, Wherever You May Be!

benandsteve.com is going places—online and in life. We are proud to announce that we are being listed by Medioq, which connects news and information sites and exchanges information with you online.

“Exciting News! We are thrilled to be featured on Medioq, a premier platform connecting individuals with top-notch media, news, and broadcasting companies worldwide. Explore our profile to stay informed, entertained, and associated with the latest news and updates: https://www.medioq.com/XX/Unknown/1582006558765140/Galaxy8News

Pehr Gustaf Gyllenhammar, Former CEO and Chairman of VOLVO –––– ––– April 28, 1935 – November 2024 –––

November 21, 2024November 21, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

November 21, 2024

2–3 minutes

Pehr Gustaf Gyllenhammar, a visionary Swedish businessman whose leadership and influence extended across industries and continents, passed away in November 2024 at 89. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, on April 28, 1935, to Pehr Gyllenhammar Sr. and Aina (née Kaplan), Pehr G. Gyllenhammar was a man of profound intellect, ambition, and a global vision that inspired many.

Gyllenhammar is best remembered for his transformative tenure as CEO and chairman of Volvo from 1970 to 1994, during which time he led the company through a period of dynamic growth and innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the automotive and industrial sectors. His bold attempt to merge Volvo with Renault in the 1990s exemplified his forward-thinking, even as it marked the end of his career with the company.

Beyond Volvo, Gyllenhammar’s career spanned various leadership roles, including Aviva’s chairman and Rothschild Europe’s vice chairman. A fervent advocate for European industrial collaboration, he co-founded the European Round Table of Industrialists, promoting cooperation among the continent’s leading companies.

His contributions were recognized with numerous accolades, including France’s *Ordre National du Mérite* in 1980 and the *Legion of Honour* in 1987. In 2001, he was named an Honorary Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple in London.

Gyllenhammar’s intellectual curiosity and political engagement made him a public figure beyond the boardroom. An early proponent of social liberalism, he championed the Scandinavian model of governance and was a vocal advocate for European unity. His political views and engagement with social issues often influenced his business decisions, making him a unique and influential figure in both the political and business spheres. At one point, he was even considered a potential leader of Sweden’s Liberal People’s Party.

He balanced his professional endeavors with a rich personal life. He married Christina Engellau, the daughter of Volvo’s former CEO, in 1959 and shared nearly five decades with her until her passing in 2008. Together, they raised four children—Cecilia, Charlotte, Sophie, and Oscar—each of whom carved out successful paths in the arts, business, and design. Later in life, Gyllenhammar found love again, marrying Lee Welton Croll in 2013, with whom he welcomed a child in 2016.

A man of deep conviction, Gyllenhammar exemplified leadership and resilience, leaving an indelible mark on the business world and the communities he served. His resilience in the face of challenges is a testament to his character and the impact of his legacy. He is survived by his wife, Lee, his five children, and a legacy that will inspire future generations.

A private family service will honor his memory. The service, which will be held at a private memorial, and will be a time for family and close friends to share their memories of Gyllenhammar and celebrate his life. In place of flowers, the family requests donations to causes reflecting Gyllenhammar’s dedication to innovation, education, and European unity.

Parallels Between the Chinese Exclusion Act and Modern Immigration Concerns: Lessons from History –– The Danger Of Losing Immigrants

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

November 20, 2024

You can also refer to the NPR Story America’s first major immigration crackdown and the making and breaking of the West for additional insights and related material that complement this story, offering a deeper exploration of the subject.

3–5 minutes

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 marked a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration history, becoming the first significant federal law restricting immigration. It targeted a specific ethnic group driven by economic fears, racial prejudice, and political populism. A review of this historic legislation, alongside the context of its enactment, reveals striking parallels to modern immigration debates. Both historical and contemporary issues illustrate how economic anxieties, cultural misunderstandings, and political opportunism can drive restrictive immigration policies that may ultimately prove disastrous for society.

The Role of Immigrant Labor in Economic Development

In the mid-19th century, Chinese immigrants, despite facing systemic discrimination and being blamed for economic problems, played a crucial role in building the American West. Their resilience and determination were evident in their instrumental role in constructing the transcontinental railroad, tackling some of the most dangerous and demanding jobs in brutal conditions. However, when the Panic of 1873 led to widespread unemployment, populist sentiment scapegoated Chinese immigrants, claiming they were stealing jobs from white workers.

A similar narrative exists today. Immigrant labor is fundamental to the agriculture, construction, and technology industries. Despite this, immigrants are often vilified during economic downturns, accused of taking jobs or lowering wages. This cyclical pattern of scapegoating undermines the reality that immigrants frequently perform jobs that native-born workers are unwilling or unable to do, driving economic growth and innovation. Restrictive immigration policies, such as deportations or bans, risk damaging these essential industries and the broader economy, much like the exclusion of Chinese workers stunted specific sectors in the late 19th century.

Cultural Backlash and Populist Politics

The transcontinental railroad’s completion in 1869 symbolized a remarkable technological achievement but also marked a turning point for Chinese immigrants. Their presence sparked a cultural backlash as they settled in communities like Truckee, California. Fueled by racial prejudice and populist rhetoric, white workers and politicians pushed for their exclusion, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act. This act institutionalized xenophobia and created a precedent for racially biased immigration policies.

Today, cultural anxieties continue to shape immigration debates. Concerns about preserving cultural identity and fears of “otherness” fuel resistance to immigrants. Particularly from Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Politicians often exploit these fears to rally support, pushing for restrictive measures such as border walls, travel bans, or mass deportations. Such actions not only marginalize immigrant communities but also foster division and xenophobia, hindering social cohesion.

Economic Consequences of Restriction

The long-term economic impacts of the Chinese Exclusion Act highlight the dangers of restrictive immigration policies. By limiting a vital workforce, the law hampered industries reliant on immigrant labor. The exclusion of Chinese workers also set a precedent that discouraged innovation and adaptability in labor markets, contributing to stagnation in certain regions.

Policies that limit immigrant contributions to the workforce have modern parallels. For example, restrictive visa programs and deportations threaten industries like agriculture and technology, which rely heavily on immigrant talent. Moreover, these policies can exacerbate labor shortages, driving up consumer costs and reducing the global competitiveness of U.S. industries. History demonstrates that economic growth thrives on diversity and inclusion, not exclusion.

Lessons from the Past

The Chinese Exclusion Act teaches us that targeting immigrants as scapegoats for economic or social challenges is a shortsighted and counterproductive strategy. Immigration is a cornerstone of American prosperity, fostering innovation, cultural richness, and financial resilience. Policies driven by fear and prejudice, rather than informed analysis, risk repeating the mistakes of the past and should be considered.

Today’s immigration debates echo the populist rhetoric and exclusionary measures of the late 19th century. However, we have the benefit of hindsight to recognize that such policies often create more problems than they solve. To avoid a similar disaster, today’s policymakers must approach immigration with a focus on integration, economic opportunity, and respect for human dignity. By learning from history, we can build a more inclusive and prosperous future, where all individuals feel valued and respected.

America at a Crossroads

November 19, 2024Benjamin4 Comments

November 19, 2024

1–2 minutes

America is at a turning point, a moment so profound that many may not see the year’s end without facing life-altering consequences. These changes aren’t their fault. They stem from forces more significant than any single person or group—forces set in motion long ago.

The nation stands on the brink of challenges unseen in living memory. No vote, no leader, no hero can steer us away from what’s coming. The roots of our crisis lie in greed and unchecked ambition, planted by individuals we know and trust—people we’ll sit across from at holiday dinners, unaware they helped build the road to this moment.

As the months unfold, our choices are narrowing. The lives we’ve known, filled with freedom of association, laughter, and uninhibited conversation, are under siege. Soon, those liberties may be reshaped or stripped away entirely, dictated by legislation crafted by those who believe they know better.

Imagine a world where our words must align with an official narrative, where dissent is no longer tolerated. Our daily connections—jokes, debates, and chatter—become whispers of a bygone era. Communication will be monitored, censored, or stifled entirely. Freedom of thought, once a cornerstone of this great land, will be reduced to a memory.

And yet, it is worth remembering:

We let this happen.

Or rather, “they” did.

Those who wielded their votes, believing in promises that veiled agendas, have delivered us to this precipice.

It is “they” who must now reckon with what “they’ve” done to the “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.”

But reckoning is not enough. As the storm looms, let us not resign ourselves to despair. Let us remember who we are and what we stand for. Even as the path ahead grows darker, there remains a flicker of the courage, resilience, and unity that built this nation. We must nurture that spark, which may guide us back to the light.

South of The Border Down Mexico Way, There Isn’t What They Say There Are…

November 5, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

I want to delve into the Border Issue, a topic that often dominates national news and political discussions. As a resident of Mesa, Arizona, and a frequent traveler across the state, I’ve never encountered the dramatic scenes that the media often depicts. There have been no families from Central America camping in my front yard or streams of people crossing into nearby towns. This stark contrast between media portrayals and my personal experiences is a puzzle that I’m eager to explore.

It’s interesting to note that I know individuals who firmly believe in these media portrayals. Some have even ventured to Mexico, confident that the Border Patrol would ensure their safety. Upon their return, I eagerly inquired about their experiences, expecting tales of chaos. To my surprise, they described the areas as eerily quiet—almost like ghost towns. They reported no issues crossing the border and found the most challenging part of the journey to be the drive itself.

Despite these personal accounts, the news continues to show what’s framed as thousands of people crossing the border here in Arizona. While I acknowledge that some may exploit entry points or policies, I struggle to find evidence of this on the ground. It raises questions: where are these images and reports coming from, and are they truly reflective of the situation here?

Unpacking ‘Make America Great Again’: What MAGA Overlooks in Its Vision of the Past

October 31, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

The fall of 2024 found a vibrant small community town hall filled with locals from every walk of life. The walls became lined with a diverse array of familiar faces of the neighborhood—retired teachers, young activists, military veterans, and longtime friends who had lived through decades of change, some of it hard-won, others bittersweet. On the stage, with a sign reading “Let’s Talk About Greatness,” stood a panel, each holding their idea of what that greatness looked like.

Jared, a man in his late sixties with a MAGA hat perched atop his head, leaned forward as he spoke, –––

“I want my kids and grandkids to grow up in a country that feels strong, proud, and united—like it was back then. We all knew our neighbors. Families were close-knit. There was a sense of American unity.”

Dolores, a retired history teacher, nodded beside him. But as the crowd listened, some exchanged looks. –––

“So, Jared, I get what you’re saying,” a young local journalist interrupted Lena. But when we say ‘back then,’ do we mean the same thing?”

Jared paused, looking thoughtful, as Dolores took the microphone. –––

“We tend to remember the good and forget the rest,” she said gently. I remember growing up in the fifties and sixties. It was stable and ideal for some of us, but not everyone. This ‘great’ past we want to go back to meant certain people couldn’t vote. Others had to hide who they loved. And women—our dreams were seen as distractions to a family.”

There was a hush as Dolores’s words hung in the air.

“I don’t think Jared meant that,”

––– came a soft voice from the audience. It was Naomi, a single mother and community organizer.

“But when we say we want to ‘Make America Great Again,’ we have to ask—for whom? The history we’re returning to was not the same experience for everyone.”

The community members exchanged glances. Jared turned back to the crowd. –––

“I respect what you’re saying, Naomi,”

he replied, genuinely thoughtfully. –––

“When I say ‘greatness,’ I’m not talking about racism or inequality. I’m talking about hard work, pride, patriotism—things that feel like they’re slipping away.”

Naomi nodded understanding, fostering a sense of mutual respect and value for each other’s perspectives, highlighting the importance of open and respectful dialogue in the community.

“But the word again implies that we want to go backward,”

––– Lena pointed out.

“And, for me, that’s concerning. I love this country and respect what’s gone into making it better. I mean, we have interracial marriage, legal protections for LGBTQ+ people, voting rights for everyone.”

––– Lena paused, looking at Jared.

“To me, that’s American greatness—now.”

As the meeting unfolded, the debate deepened. Various members shared stories of progress and hardships. Kayla, a small business owner, spoke about her pride in balancing work and motherhood.

“When I hear traditional values, I think of something different than my grandmother might have,”

––– she said.

“My values include family, hard work, women’s rights, and equal opportunities.”

Another voice said,

“Look, I served in the military, and I believe in protecting this country,”

––– said Tom, a retired Marine and a man with a thick gray beard.

“I fought for an America that moves forward and doesn’t leave anyone behind. ‘Greatness’ is complex—strong enough to protect everyone’s rights.”

The meeting wrapped up with the group realizing that “greatness” was many things, each person’s version holding personal meaning. Dolores took the microphone one last time:

“Maybe we can remember this—our vision of a truly great America embraces both the good of the past and the advancements we’ve made. To build greatness, we don’t go backward. We keep moving and evolving, ensuring that each generation has the opportunity to contribute to a better America, instilling a sense of hope and optimism in the audience for the future.”

The room echoed with nods of agreement, and as the townspeople filed out, they carried forward a renewed understanding: that the road to greatness was not paved with nostalgia alone but with a willingness to grow beyond it.

The term “Make America Great Again” has a different meaning, and it stands on the grounds that to make America Great Again, there has to be the revoking of rights that have been attained by groups over the last fifty years. Those groups include blacks, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, the LGBTQI+ Community, and others. Because of that angle, this space will discuss the topic in the November 1st, 2024 posting.

Understanding the range of meanings attributed to “Make America Great Again” offers insight into the complexities of contemporary American identity and the societal debate over what “greatness” truly entails in an evolving multicultural landscape.

NASCAR FIGURE And Family Man Walter Ballard Sr. Funeral Services Planned For Nov.

October 30, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

Walter Harvey Ballard, Sr., a pioneering NASCAR figure and beloved family man, passed away surrounded by loved ones. Born on January 12, 1933, in Summerdale, Alabama, he was the second of six boys raised by Bernice Louise and Victor Ballard, Sr. Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Rose Ballard; his second wife, Katy Ballard; and his daughter, Anna Marie Lorenzo.

Walter is survived by his children, Wayne and Catherine Henton, Walter Harvey Ballard, Jr., Clinton and Christine Ballard, Stony and Jerry Ann Ballard, Danny and Kim Ballard, and Lee-sa Krapish. He also leaves behind five devoted brothers and their wives: Carlos and Martha, Donald and Merry, Victor and Linda, Harold, and Rita, and Ernest and Beverly, along with fifteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Leaving home at a young age with only a ninth-grade education, Walter forged his path, beginning with service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he served as a Sergeant in France. Following his military service, Walter channeled his ambition into building a successful career around his love of automobiles. He earned NASCAR’s first Rookie of the Year title in 1971 and, despite health challenges, remained deeply involved in racing as a team owner. Walter’s influence extended beyond the racetrack; his wife, Katy, co-founded one of the first NASCAR ladies’ organizations, underscoring their shared dedication to the sport.

To honor Walter’s commitment to helping others, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Wounded Warriors Project, two causes dear to him.

Walter’s life will be celebrated on Monday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m. at James Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Northlake Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held before the service from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at James Funeral Home.

Walter’s memory will be cherished by all who knew him. He was a devoted father, a trailblazer in NASCAR, and a man of strength and kindness.

The world is going to POT, and we are watching it go!

October 28, 2024October 28, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

My dad and grandfather are gone now, but neither would support a liar, cheat, rapist, insurrectionist, dictator, or someone who supports one, or generally speaking, a creep or ‘weirdo.’

There are other reasons you can look at as well. For instance, a candidate such has a sexual offense judgment against him, and he is under indictment for countless federal crimes; in the last year, one of the candidates was in the air, flying, on their way to being arrested, just as much as he was campaigning at one point.

One or more of those reasons would have been reason enough to consider looking into the person’s background. And three to four, would have been reason enough to reject a person all together. Someone who was strongly running for public office would have been rejected. Now, the GOP considers it a qualification required for all Republican candidates.

The candidates have endorsements from KKK members. They boast about, a presidential politician having endorsements from dictators. They wallow in such markings, and candidates publicly brag about laws they will violate first, if elected. And this makes them the most qualified candidate. Going as far as boasting about becoming a dictator. Going about telling people this is the last election they will have to worry about voting in.

Why? Does that mean the Constitution is going to get ripped apart, shredded, and there will no longer be a United States where the people choose its leaders? It appears it doesn’t matter to the people who are numb and following this character. They appear to have zoned out of reality.

My grandfather, father, uncles, aunts, and even a few dogs and horses I’ve had would not have allowed the goings on to persist. The greatest generation has died chiefly off; fewer of them now than ever are living, which sadly shows in our world. They were the ones who knew what happens when the world that falls to fascism. When reality hits and the world dies. It is beginning as America will turn grey; it will become a black-and-white construct of anything anyone remembers of its being, if these destructionists are permitted to have their way with the country. We only hope enough voters come to the polls and and vote, and save our America!

My dad had a favorite saying: the older I got, the wiser he’d get. And he was right; I wish he were here to help us out of this madness!

**JD Groff At Rest And Getting Wiser Every Day!**

When 20,000 Americans Held a Pro-Nazi Rally in Madison Square Garden in 1939 – Now It’s Happening Again…

October 27, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

Information Produced and Presented By Organizations Other Than Groff Media 2024

Above, two-time Academy Award nominee Marshall Curry presents A Night at The Garden, a film that revisits a night in February 1939 when “20,000 Americans rallied in New York’s Madison Square Garden to celebrate the rise of Nazism — an event largely forgotten from U.S. history.” As we described it back in 2017, the film documents the following scene:

What you’re looking at is the 1939 “Pro-American Rally” (aka Pro-Nazi Rally) sponsored by the German American Bund at Madison Square Garden on George Washington’s 207th Birthday. Banners emblazoned with such slogans as “Stop Jewish Domination of Christian Americans,” “Wake Up America. Smash Jewish Communism,” and “1,000,000 Bund Members by 1940” decorated the great hall.

New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia—an Episcopalian with a Jewish mother—considered canceling the event, but ultimately he, along with the American Jewish Committee and the American Civil Liberties Committee decreed that the Bund was exercising its right to free speech and free assembly.

A crowd of 20,000 filled the famous sports venue in mid-town Manhattan to capacity. 1,500 police officers were present to render the Garden “a fortress impregnable to anti-Nazis.” An estimated 100,000 counter-demonstrators were gathering outside.…

The most disturbing moment in the short film comes at the 3:50 mark, when another security force—the Bund’s Ordnungsdienst or “Order Service” pile on Isidore Greenbaum, a 26-year-old Jewish worker who rushed the podium where bundesführer Fritz Julius Kuhn was fanning the flames of hatred. Valentine’s men eventually pulled them off, just barely managing to save the “anti-Nazi” from the vicious beating he was undergoing.

Made entirely from archival footage filmed that night, A Night at The Garden “transports audiences to this chilling gathering and shines a light on the power of demagoguery and anti-Semitism in the United States.” You can learn more about the film and the 1939 rally at Marshall Curry’s web site.

Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or other xenophobic rallies being held this weekend in Madison Square Garden is purely coincidental, of course.

Toni Morrison Lists the 10 Steps That Lead Countries to Fascism (1995)

Fascism!: The US Army Publishes a Pamphlet in 1945 Explaining How to Spot Fascism at Home and Abroad

MAGA Is Not The First To Attempt And Bring Down America. A Populist Movement Nearly Destroyed American Democracy Over 110 Years Ago, But Our Democracy Prevailed

Over a century ago, the United States grappled with a political movement that closely resembled today’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, a populist uprising spearheaded by former President Donald Trump. Like MAGA, this earlier movement thrived on populist discontent, nativist sentiments, and rejection of the established order. If not kept in check, it could have reshaped American democracy in ways that might have undermined its democratic institutions, a peril we must remain vigilant against.

One of the most significant instances was during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, a man with intricate political loyalties. In 1912, Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party brought populist elements into the political mainstream, appealing to working-class voters who felt marginalized by the two major parties. While Roosevelt was not anti-democratic, his charismatic leadership style and his ability to rally crowds around a strongman image set a precedent for future political movements that would seek to undermine democratic norms.

Simultaneously, the rise of the “America First” movement and the Ku Klux Klan spanning the 1920s showed how easily populist rhetoric could veer into exclusionary nationalism and nativism. The Klan’s widespread influence reached local, state, and federal government levels, promoting an agenda that sought to disenfranchise non-white citizens, immigrants, and anyone considered “un-American.” This movement found an audience among rural and working-class Americans who felt left behind by the rapid industrialization and modernization of the country.

At the heart of these movements was a profound distrust of the government, elites, and institutions—just like the anti-establishment fervor that fueled the rise of MAGA. These movements aimed to “restore” a vision of America rooted in racial and social hierarchies, often using violent rhetoric and intimidation to achieve their goals. Had these populist forces gained more traction, they could have severely damaged the democratic foundation of the country, ushering in a more authoritarian regime.

It took concerted efforts from citizens and political leaders to resist these dangerous movements and restore democratic norms. In some ways, the lessons from over a century ago echo loudly today: unchecked populism, especially when it flirts with nativism and authoritarianism, can bring democracy to the brink of collapse. However, this history also reminds us of our power to shape the future of our democracy, offering hope and inspiration for positive change.

Today, as MAGA remains a force in American politics, it is crucial to remember that the battle to preserve democracy requires vigilance. While populism can express legitimate grievances of people who feel left behind, it must not be allowed to erode the institutions enabling democracy to function. History teaches us that democracy’s survival depends on our ability to balance widespread anger with reasoned leadership and respect for the rule of law. We all have a role to play in this ongoing struggle, and our vigilance is required to maintain a true Republic of the People!

A Letter From An American Adresses Fascism – First Alerting American troops To Avoid It In 1943! Today Americans Are Voting For It!

October 27, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

You can read more by Heather Cox Richardson Letter’s From An American here.

Beginning in 1943, the War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater of World War II. Titled Army Talks, the series was designed “to help [the personnel] become better-informed men and women and therefore better soldiers.”

On March 24, 1945, the topic for the week was “FASCISM!”

“You are away from home, separated from your families, no longer at a civilian job or at school and many of you are risking your very lives,” the pamphlet explained, “because of a thing called fascism.” But, the publication asked, what is fascism? “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze,” it said, “nor, once in power, is it easy to destroy. It is important for our future and that of the world that as many of us as possible understand the causes and practices of fascism, in order to combat it.”

Fascism, the U.S. government document explained, –––

“is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state.” “The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people.”

“The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires; hence—democracy must go! Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.” “Fascism treats women as mere breeders. ‘Children, kitchen, and the church,’ was the Nazi slogan for women,” ––– the pamphlet said.

Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose…. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by false promise of security. The propaganda glorifies war and insists it is smart and ‘realistic’ to be pitiless and violent.”

Fascists understood that “the fundamental principle of democracy—faith in the common sense of the common people—was the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by the elite few,” it explained, “[s]o they fought democracy…. They played political, religious, social, and economic groups against each other and seized power while these groups struggled.”

Americans should not be fooled into thinking that fascism could not come to America, the pamphlet warned; after all, “[w]e once laughed Hitler off as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.” And indeed, the U.S. had experienced “sorry instances of mob sadism, lynchings, vigilantism, terror, and suppression of civil liberties. We have had our hooded gangs, Black Legions, Silver Shirts, and racial and religious bigots. All of them, in the name of Americanism, have used undemocratic methods and doctrines which…can be properly identified as ‘fascist.’”

The War Department thought it was important for Americans to understand the tactics fascists would use to take power in the United States. They would try to gain power “under the guise of ‘super-patriotism’ and ‘super-Americanism.’” And they would use three techniques:

First, they would pit religious, racial, and economic groups against one another to break down national unity. Part of that effort to divide and conquer would be a “well-planned ‘hate campaign’ against minority races, religions, and other groups.”

Second, they would deny any need for international cooperation, because that would fly in the face of their insistence that their supporters were better than everyone else. “In place of international cooperation, the fascists seek to substitute a perverted sort of ultra-nationalism which tells their people that they are the only people in the world who count. With this goes hatred and suspicion toward the people of all other nations.”

Third, fascists would insist that “the world has but two choices—either fascism or communism, and they label as ‘communists’ everyone who refuses to support them.”

It is “vitally important” to learn to spot native fascists, the government said, “even though they adopt names and slogans with popular appeal, drape themselves with the American flag, and attempt to carry out their program in the name of the democracy they are trying to destroy.”

The only way to stop the rise of fascism in the United States, the document said, “is by making our democracy work and by actively cooperating to preserve world peace and security.” In the midst of the insecurity of the modern world, the hatred at the root of fascism “fulfills a triple mission.” By dividing people, it weakens democracy. “By getting men to hate rather than to think,” it prevents them “from seeking the real cause and a democratic solution to the problem.” By falsely promising prosperity, it lures people to embrace its security.

“Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance,” it warned. Freedom requires “being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of his democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened.”

Notes:

https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=armytalks

War Department, “Army Talk 64: FASCISM!” March 24, 1945, at https://archive.org/details/ArmyTalkOrientationFactSheet64-Fascism/mode/2up

Former Chief Deputy A.G. Charles Brandt Dead At Age 82

October 25, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

Charles Brandt, a former Delaware chief deputy attorney general and author of I Heard You Paint Houses, the book that inspired the acclaimed 2019 film The Irishman, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 82.

Brandt, who lived between Lewes, Delaware, and Sun Valley, Idaho, passed at Delaware Hospice at St. Francis in Wilmington. His daughter, Jenny Rose Brandt, a registered nurse and his primary caregiver, shared that he died due to complications from multiple chronic health conditions.

I Heard You Paint Houses, Brandt’s work of narrative nonfiction published in 2005, explores the life of Frank “Big Frank” Sheeran, a towering World War II veteran and former president of Teamsters Local 326 in Wilmington who also worked as a Mafia hitman. Brandt spent five years interviewing Sheeran, who, in those conversations, confessed to the killing of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa. Hoffa disappeared in 1975, and his body has never been found. Sheeran’s chilling accounts, shared in detail with Brandt, suggested he felt freed to speak as those he once feared were no longer alive.

The movie went to the big screen in The Irishman, directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The epic film, which runs over three hours and garnered 10 Academy Award nominations, brought widespread attention to Brandt’s extraordinary insights into Sheeran’s life and his ties to organized crime.

Charles Brandt leaves behind a legacy in law, literature, and film, his work casting light on some of America’s most notorious mysteries.

Concerning Remarks by Former President Trump Regarding Military Burial and Generals

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

A recent news segment broadcasted by MSNBC-TV News says that former President Donald Trump reportedly made a controversial remark regarding the cost of burying a Hispanic woman he described as a “f–King Mexican” who had been killed and mutilated at a Texas Army base by a fellow soldier. The burial expenses reportedly amounted to approximately $80,000. Trump allegedly expressed frustration, saying it cost “too fucking much money” to provide the soldier with a proper burial.

This statement, if accurate, raises significant concerns about the former president’s attitude toward the treatment of military personnel, particularly those of Mexican heritage, as well as the costs associated with honoring fallen soldiers. The issue transcends one demographic and speaks to broader implications about how different groups—Mexicans, military members, and their families—are treated and respected within the national discourse.

_{^{John Kelly says Trump is a Fascist!”}}

In addition to this disturbing comment, the report also highlighted another alarming remark by Trump, where he expressed a desire for military generals akin to those in Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. Given its historical connotations, this remark should be receiving widespread attention in both mainstream and military-focused media, especially during a presidential election cycle.

However, despite their gravity, these statements have not dominated headlines in the way one might expect. The lack of focus on such inflammatory remarks is concerning, particularly given their implications for how a future Trump administration might handle military leadership and diverse communities.

These statements deserve heightened scrutiny from Spanish-speaking news outlets, military programs, and even women’s rights advocates, as they touch on crucial issues of race, leadership, and the treatment of soldiers. The implications of a leader aspiring to emulate Hitler’s generals, combined with dismissive comments about the costs of burying a soldier, suggest dangerous intentions for the future should Trump get re-elected.

The absence of widespread discussion on these matters is troubling, as the importance of holding political leaders accountable for their statements must be balanced, especially when they potentially foreshadow harmful policies.

The Damning Implications of Donald Trump’s Threat of Mass Deportations on Americans

Former President Donald Trump has once again put mass deportations at the forefront of his political agenda, threatening to implement a sweeping policy of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants if he gets re-elected. This proposal raises numerous concerns about the economic, social, and moral ramifications for the United States, with devastating consequences not only for immigrant communities but also for the country as a whole.

Economic Fallout

Mass deportations would have a profound negative impact on the U.S. economy. Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to various sectors, including agriculture, construction, hospitality, and healthcare. Removing millions of workers from these industries would lead to severe labor shortages, driving up production costs and potentially creating inflationary pressures that affect all Americans. Businesses would need help filling vacancies, especially in labor-intensive jobs that many Americans are unwilling or unable to take on. The ripple effect would result in reduced productivity, increased costs for products and services, and a contraction in critical industries, including food production and construction.

Additionally, undocumented immigrants contribute billions of dollars to local and federal taxes each year, including sales and property taxes. Their removal would shrink this tax base, creating budgetary shortfalls for essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The cost of enforcing mass deportations—estimated to be in the hundreds of billions—would burden the federal government and taxpayers.

Social Impact

The human cost of mass deportations cannot be understated. Deportations would tear apart families, many of which include U.S. citizens. An estimated six million U.S.-born children live with at least one undocumented parent, and these children would face traumatic separations that could lead to long-term psychological harm. Communities, particularly those with large immigrant populations, would experience destabilization as families and social networks get disrupted, potentially altering the fabric of our society.

The fear and uncertainty generated by the threat of mass deportations would create a climate of mistrust between migrant communities and law enforcement, causing it to be more challenging for authorities to solve crimes or maintain order in immigrant-dense areas. Many undocumented individuals contribute to the community fabric by volunteering, attending schools, and participating in religious and civic organizations, and their forced removal would erode these social bonds.

Moral and Political Implications

Mass deportations also raise profound moral questions about America’s identity as a nation built on immigration. For centuries, the U.S. has stood as a beacon of hope and opportunity for people fleeing persecution, poverty, and violence. Deporting millions of people en masse, many of whom have resided in the U.S. for decades, sends a harsh message that contradicts these ideals. Such a policy risks deepening racial and ethnic divisions, stoking xenophobia, and inciting further polarization in an already divided political landscape, threatening the unity of our nation.

Politically, Trump’s plan for mass deportations is likely to galvanize opposition not just from immigrant rights groups but also from many sectors of society, including businesses, religious organizations, and community leaders who recognize the humanitarian and economic risks of such an approach. The request is likely to face legal challenges as well, potentially sparking a constitutional debate over due process, civil liberties, and the limits of executive power, offering a glimmer of hope for the preservation of our democratic principles.

Broader Impact on National Security and Foreign Relations

Mass deportations could also have negative consequences for national security. If immigrants are too afraid to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement, it could undermine efforts to fight human trafficking, drug smuggling, or other criminal activities. Additionally, the U.S.’s standing in the global community could get tarnished as other nations criticize the harshness of the policy, straining diplomatic relationships with key allies, particularly in Latin America.

Conclusion

Donald Trump’s threat to implement mass deportations would have dire consequences for Americans. It would inflict severe economic damage, cause profound social harm, and challenge the nation’s moral fabric. Rather than solving immigration issues, such a policy would exacerbate existing problems while undermining the values of inclusivity and opportunity that the U.S. has long championed. The broader national and international fallout from this approach would have far-reaching effects on the country’s domestic stability and global reputation.

End

MAGA Is Not The First To Attempt And Bring Down America. A Populist Movement Nearly Destroyed American Democracy Over 110 Years Ago

October 19, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

Over a century ago, the United States grappled with a political movement that bears striking similarities to today’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, a populist uprising spearheaded by former President Donald Trump. Like MAGA, this earlier movement thrived on populist discontent, nativist sentiments, and a rejection of the established order. If not kept in check, it could have reshaped American democracy in ways that might have undermined its democratic institutions, a peril we must remain vigilant against.

One of the most significant instances of this was during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, a man with intricate political loyalties. In 1912, Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party brought populist elements into the political mainstream, appealing to working-class voters who felt marginalized by the two major parties. While Roosevelt was not anti-democratic, his charismatic leadership style and his ability to rally crowds around a strongman image set a precedent for future political movements that would seek to undermine democratic norms.

It took concerted efforts from both citizens and political leaders to resist these dangerous movements and restore democratic norms. In some ways, the lessons from over a century ago echo loudly today: unchecked populism, especially when it flirts with nativism and authoritarianism, can bring democracy to the brink of collapse. However, this history also reminds us of our power to shape the future of our democracy, offering hope and inspiration for positive change.

Today, as MAGA remains a force in American politics, it is crucial to remember that the battle to preserve democracy requires vigilance. While populism can express legitimate grievances of people who feel left behind, it must not be allowed to erode the very institutions that allow democracy to function. History teaches us that democracy’s survival depends on our collective ability to balance popular anger with reasoned leadership and respect for the rule of law. We all have a role to play in this ongoing struggle, and it is our vigilance that will keep democracy alive.

You can also find a more information concerning this subject at Salon.com click here.

There Goes Patti McGee! Skateboardings First Lady! (1945-2024)

October 18, 2024BenjaminLeave a comment

There Goes Patti McGee – An Essay

Patti McGee was not just a skateboarder; she was a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a symbol of inclusivity in a sport rapidly emerging in the 1960s. Her journey, which began with a skateboard built by her brother, evolved into a legendary career that broke barriers for women in skateboarding and cemented her place in history as one of the most iconic figures in the sport. She was not just a name in the history books but a person with a passion for skateboarding that was infectious to all who knew her.

Despite the challenges and the sport’s male-dominated nature, Patti’s resilience and determination shone through. Her first skateboard, a humble creation from her brother’s wood shop project, began a journey that would see her rise to national prominence.

In 1964, Patti won the Women’s National Skateboard Championship in Santa Monica, California. Her smooth style, grace, and technical ability on the board distinguished her as a force in the early skateboarding community. Her victory was a breakthrough moment for women in the sport, demonstrating that skateboarding was not just a boys’ game but one where women could excel and lead.

Patti’s career reached heights when she became the first professional female skateboarder, sponsored by Hobie Skateboards and Vita Pak. She traveled the country, performing skateboarding demonstrations, showcasing her talent, and spreading the love of the sport to a broader audience. Her influence was undeniable, helping to popularize skateboarding during its first wave of mainstream attention between 1959 and 1965. As a spokesperson and ambassador, she promoted the sport with passion and determination, ensuring that girls and women also saw skateboarding as a place for them.

In 1965, Patti made history again, becoming the first female skateboarder to appear on the cover of Life magazine. Her iconic photo, smiling while riding a skateboard in mid-air, is still considered one of the most memorable images of early skateboarding culture. Patti’s presence in the media helped legitimize skateboarding as a serious sport, and her charm and skill made her a role model for countless young skaters.

Patti’s contributions to the sport were officially recognized in 2010 when she became the first woman inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. Her induction was a celebration of her achievements and a reminder of her lasting impact on the sport and the many skaters who followed in her footsteps. Patti’s legacy is a testament to the importance of inclusivity, showing that skateboarding is for everyone, regardless of gender.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Patti’s impact on the skateboarding community was profound. She continued to inspire new generations of skaters, sharing her love for the sport and advocating for the inclusion of women. Her spirit, determination, and dedication to her craft left an indelible mark on the skateboarding world, connecting her to skaters of all ages and backgrounds.

Patti McGee passed away on October 16, 2024, after suffering a stroke and subsequent complications. Her death marked the end of a remarkable life that helped shape the skateboarding world. As a champion, a role model, and a pioneer, she will be remembered as the matriarch of skateboarding, someone who paved the way for women in the sport and left an enduring legacy of passion and inclusivity. Her absence leaves a void in the skateboarding community that will be felt for years.

Obituary: Patti McGee (1945-2024)

Patti McGee, the world’s first professional female skateboarder and an iconic figure in skateboarding history, passed away on October 16, 2024, following complications from a stroke. She was 79 years old.

Born on August 23, 1945, Patti grew up in the United States, where she developed a love for skateboarding early in life. She first gained national recognition in 1964 when she won the Women’s National Skateboard Championship. Her victory established her as a pioneer in the sport and a role model for future generations of female skaters.

In 1965, Patti became the first woman to appear on the cover of Life magazine, an iconic moment that showcased her talent and helped popularize skateboarding. That same year, she became the first professional female skateboarder, sponsored by Hobie Skateboards and Vita Pak, traveling the country to perform and promote the sport.

Her contributions to skateboarding were formally recognized in 2010 when she became the first woman inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. Patti’s induction was a crowning achievement in a career filled with groundbreaking moments, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the sport.

Throughout her life, Patti remained a beloved figure in the skateboarding community. She inspired skaters of all ages and advocated for women’s participation in the sport. Her passion, talent, and dedication left an enduring legacy that will continue to influence the skateboarding world for years.

Patti goes on before her daughter, Hailey, and countless friends and admirers in the skateboarding community. Her life is a remembering of her exceptional achievements, vibrant spirit, and commitment to promoting inclusivity in the sport she loves.

We are grateful for Patti McGee’s life and legacy. She was a true pioneer, a legend, and an inspiration to all who followed in her footsteps. Missing her presence in the world will continue forever, but her legacy will continue to roll on, just like the wheels of the skateboards she rode so gracefully.

May she rest in peace.