–The political jury is out on anything after 1970. It takes 50 years for everything to shake out. Notes:
Truman:
A-Bombs ended WWII and the Berlin Airlift–Unbelievably tough calls. He drove home (he loved driving) from to Missouri after leaving office – class act. Also proof that a college degree is not necessary.
Eisenhower:
Really accomplished a lot. Ended the Korean War. Began the Interstate System. Send the Screaming Eagles to Little Rock Central High; and warned of the Military-Industrial complex. I still like Ike.
Kennedy:
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” — huge back then. Finally decided to go to the moon, and we did. “Ich bin ein Berliner,” and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Probably a good president for the time.
Johnson:
Benefited from Kennedy’s assassination which helped many Great Society programs to become law – some have proven good, some so-so at best. Vietnam then sunk him.
All four of these presidents militarily served their country.
My general view of politics – and it has never changed – relates back to my early years. We had a garden which was watered manually with a bucket from a shallow ground well. To enrich the garden’s life “buffalo chips” from a nearby cattle pasture were added to the water. I was always and still am amazed how often the largest and lightest chips floated/float to the top!
With respect to religion, like many, I have relatives, friends and acquaintances of many beliefs and values. I grew up in a fairly strict setting at home and regionally. Today I consider myself a littler moderate with a very curious belief that there is something out there much bigger than we are capable of comprehending. Our DNA is scientifically said to be older than Earth. Fossilized bacteria was discovered in Mars meteors on Earth. There are constant telescopic discoveries of potentially habitable planets. A Harvard professor says “…show me that Oumuamua was not an alien probe.” There are a few Navy pilots who would say the same thing.
One of my daily rituals is to put in a good word for my “Person(s)” of the day. They can be anyone I know, knew or not. If i know you, you may have been my “person of the day” or it can be anyone observed or unknown — fame is not required. This week I am going down to country road I grew up along remembering family after family. It really put things in perspective.
Next up, one favorite positive addiction.
“Buster”