Point of View

Running Around Race in the Justice System by Angela Rieck

January 16, 2020 by Angela Rieck 1 Comment

Columnist’s note: I am writing a series of columns in anticipation of the February 2020 publication of Margaret Andersen’s book, Getting Smart about Race: An American Conversation.

After my first column, I learned about two organizations that are hosting conversations about race right on the Eastern Shore!

In this column, I want to gain more insight from Margaret about the justice system. As a psychologist, I know that perceptions are facts to people…period.

Historically the justice system was complicit by enforcing Jim Crow laws, looking the other way at lynchings, disproportionately enforcing laws for blacks vs. whites, handing out longer sentences for black people and disproportionately targeting blacks at road stops.

The justice system has improved since the 1960s especially in the south. But it is still not a justice system for African Americans. There are hundreds of statistics showing disproportionate treatment by race. Here are just a few (and not the most egregious). Black American men are six times more likely to be incarcerated in their lifetime than white or Hispanic men. Black Americans are jailed on drug charges 10 times more often than whites, despite similar drug usage rates.

There are half a million people incarcerated because they cannot afford to make bail, most of them are African Americans. Sixty percent of the people in jail have not been convicted of the crime but are jailed because they cannot afford bail. Most have been charged with misdemeanor crimes; riding a bicycle on the sidewalk (yes!), driving without a license, petty larceny, bar fights, resisting arrest, etc. To avoid prison stays of up to 18 months while awaiting trial, 90% plead guilty. For those who ARE able to POST bail, only 2% of the cases result in a jail sentence. To recap, of those who cannot make bail, 90% plead guilty but of those who can make bail, only 2% end up being incarcerated.

These are statistics. The human stories that have sparked the “Black Lives Matter” movement are painful. The most disconcerting to me was the Sandra Bland story: A police officer pulled her over for failing to use her turn signal when she moved over to allow him to pass. After refusing to put out her cigarette, he arrested her using brutal force. Unable to make bail and overwhelmed with depression, she committed suicide in jail.

There are dramatically different perceptions between the blacks and whites about law enforcement. Black parents feel they must “give the talk” to their children about how to stay alive if they are stopped by the police. Yet, whites believe that these incidents, while reprehensible, are isolated and reflect only a few “bad apples.”

Question: How can we have a conversation about these different perceptions?

Dr. Andersen: The first thing I would say is that whites need to be aware that the high rate of incarceration for people of color, men especially, is based on the longstanding stereotype of criminality among Black (and now, Latino) men. Since slavery, black men have been perceived by whites as threatening—a painful irony, given that white men engaged in far more horrid violence against black people than black people did against whites. This is all too easy for people to forget (or, worse, be unaware of). The stereotype of men of color as a criminal threat continues to influence the discrimination that black and Hispanic men face in the criminal justice system. At every stage of the criminal justice process, men of color are discriminated against–likelihood of arrest, discrimination in sentencing, discrimination in administration of the death penalty, and so forth. Even starting early in school, research finds that young, black and Hispanic men are more likely to be disciplined–even for the same behaviors that young, white men engage in.

Question: Why are black rates of incarceration so much higher than for whites? What can be done to fix this?

Dr. Andersen: Social policies that incarcerate people for rather minor offenses (three strikes, you’re out and mandatory sentencing for drug offenses) have contributed to the mass incarceration of people of color–including women of color whose incarceration rates have been increasing. One way to alleviate this problem is to offer alternative forms of sentencing. Sentences such as community service can be more effective and are less likely to result in repeat offenses.

Question: What can our society do to reduce racism in the justice system?

Dr. Andersen: We desperately need policies that offer jobs for those with a felony record. To permanently disenfranchise people because of past mistakes leads to a potential lifetime of unemployment–which can then force ex-felons into the underground economy and, potentially, more crime. I wish we had a culture that was more forgiving, especially considering that so much of the behavior that lands people of color into jail and prison is youthful misjudgment. Ask yourself if you would want some misjudgment in your younger days to change the entire course of your life! To deprive young people of opportunities for work (and participation in voting and other civic behavior) only invites further problems.

To me, the criminal injustice system is one of the most heartbreaking issues of our time. Last year the Chesapeake Film Festival premiered The Sentence. Now an HBO documentary, it told the story of Cindy Shank, a mother of 3, who received a 15-year mandatory prison sentence. In her youth, she fell in love and lived with a drug dealer. Although she never did or sold drugs, she was convicted for NOT reporting him to authorities. Six years after the incident, the authorities arrested and convicted her. The film chronicles her story as a mother of three young children (one of them, six weeks old). It shows the extraordinary damage to her and her family.

There is hope. There are movements to reform the justice system. The movie Just Mercy chronicles the work of Bryan Stevenson, a native son of the Eastern Shore, who has dedicated his life to defend those wrongly condemned and those who did not receive proper representation. One of his first cases was Walter McMillian, who was sentenced to die in 1987 for murder, despite eyewitness testimony proving his innocence.

Other organizations have been created to help. One of my favorites is the Bail Bond project, which posts bail for minor offenses (less than $2000); 50% of those lucky recipients get their cases dropped and only 2% receive jail time.

In the meantime, the more we know, the more we can understand. Dr. Margaret Andersen’s book, Getting Smart about Race: An American Conversation will be published this February 2020.

Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

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Guest Commentary: Why Buttigieg?

January 15, 2020 by Maryland Matters News Service 1 Comment

It was June 27, 2019. The spotlights streamed down on 10 presidential candidates standing on the Arsht Center stage in Miami. NBC had brought in an A-List group of moderators and, as the evening began, it was clear they came prepared to lead the candidates through back and forth discourse on the issues one would reasonably expect: health care, the economy, and immigration.

That was how it went for nearly an hour. Then, Rachel Maddow directed a question specifically to Mayor Pete Buttigieg. It was a custom-crafted zinger of the sort that haunts and keeps elected officials up at night. The kind that focuses everyone in the room and draws a bead of sweat even from those who didn’t have to answer. It was the kind of question designed to hold someone accountable for something unpleasant.

Political campaigns reveal character in two fundamental ways. First, in Presentation: the stories candidates tell about themselves and their platforms. Second, in Reaction: how candidates respond to unanticipated circumstances and things over which they have no control. Most do a pretty good job at the former. It’s the latter that separates the good from the great.

Before that debate, I was only marginally aware of Pete Buttigieg. But what I knew seemed solid. There was the resume, including Harvard, the Rhodes Scholarship and time at Oxford. There was the meritorious service in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Productive experience in the private sector. And there was the mayoral service. (Slight digression: Not only does mayoral service offer legitimate executive experience, but I’d argue, it’s an even more immediately-accountable situation than serving as President. Most mayors are accessible to their constituents almost all the time. Mayors don’t get to seclude themselves in the White House. They’re in line at the grocery store, at the next table at the local watering hole, cutting a ribbon at the town center.)So, when Rachel Maddow posed the question, I was generally inclined to like Mayor Pete – and I would’ve given him solid high scores on how he’d presented himself.And then there was Pete’s message and delivery — unifying, remarkably articulate. Even those of us in the political class, for whom oratory is a stock-in-trade, regard Mayor Pete’s skill as extraordinary.

Maddow spoke of festering racial tensions spurred by a recent officer-involved shooting in Buttigieg’s jurisdiction of South Bend, Indiana. She pointed out that, although African Americans comprise 26 percent of the city’s population, only 6 percent of South Bend’s police force at the time was black

“Why has that not improved over your two terms as Mayor?” Maddow asked.

“Because I couldn’t get it done,” Mayor Pete began, “my community is in anguish right now… A black man, Eric Logan, [was] killed by a white officer. I’m not allowed to take sides until the investigation comes back. The officer said he was attacked with a knife, but he didn’t have his body camera on. It’s a mess. And we’re hurting. And I can walk you through all of the things that we have done as a community – all of the steps that we took, from bias training to de-escalation – but it didn’t save the life of Eric Logan. And when I look into his mother’s eyes, I have to face the fact that nothing that I say will bring him back.

“This is an issue that is facing our community and so many communities around the country. And, until we move policing out from the shadow of systemic racism, whatever this particular issue teaches us, we will be left with the bigger problem: the fact that there’s a wall of mistrust, put up one racist act at a time; not just from what’s happened in the past, but from what’s happening in the country in the present. It threatens the well-being of every community. And I am determined to bring about a day when a white person driving a vehicle and a black person driving a vehicle, when they see a police officer approaching, feels the exact same thing; a feeling not of fear, but of safety. I am determined to bring that day about.” (Crowd applauds)

I had to rewind and watch it again. “Because I couldn’t get it done.” Did he just say that? Now he had my attention.

This was probably not Pete Buttigieg’s favorite moment of 2019, but I found it remarkable. I can’t recall seeing anything like it in such a high-stakes presidential debate in recent history. Why? Because Mayor Pete accepted accountability.

There it was. On this debate stage, during the course of several hours of candidate-after-candidate pivoting and launching into poll-tested talking points all specifically designed to channel those bright, streaming stage lights and reflect themselves in the most perfect possible radiance – and after decades of debates just like it: Pete Buttigieg was different.

He didn’t cast blame. South Bend has a police chief, a human resources office, a strong City Council and other layers of oversight of their police department. We heard none of that from Mayor Pete.

He didn’t point to some other jurisdiction, or someone from a different political party and say ‘well, what about them, and how they handled (insert similar situation) poorly?’

He didn’t pivot into a discourse of programs that he’s brought about to help turn South Bend around, although there’s plenty to point to on that score.

And he didn’t make excuses.

Mayor Pete acknowledged an uncomfortable truth. He took responsibility. The buck stopped there. That’s what leadership looks like.

Leaders embrace accountability, even when things don’t work out the way you’d want them to. They reflect. They listen. They learn. And they become better leaders.

(In fact, only a couple weeks later Pete rolled out his “Douglass Plan,” a set of initiatives meant to dismantle historically racist structures and systems, particularly in the areas of health, education and criminal justice. No other candidate has put together anything as thoughtful or comprehensive on the subject.)

That’s the moment when Mayor Pete caught my attention, and everything I’ve seen since has served to underscore these truths about his character.

My fellow Marylanders, we have the opportunity to support a rare and exceptional candidate in Pete Buttigieg. I hope you’ll give him a good look and join me in supporting him in the Democratic Primary here in April, and then for President in November.

— JUD ASHMAN

The writer is the mayor of Gaithersburg. Note: This piece reflects Ashman’s personal viewpoint and is not an official position of the City of Gaithersburg or the Chestertown Spy.

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The Consolation of Books by Jamie Kirkpatrick

January 14, 2020 by Jamie Kirkpatrick 2 Comments

I love to read. Not “like,” mind you; “love.” Reading informs me; relaxes me; restores me. It may well be that reading is just another form of escapism, but what’s wrong with that? These days, a little escapism can go a long way.

I’m a supine reader. Chairs are good for the short-haul, but if I really want to take off and go around the world, nothing beats the couch. Except the hammock (in summer) or maybe my bed. At the end of a long day—or, at this time of year, a short day—what’s better than crawling under the covers with a good book? My wife agrees; she says it keeps my hands occupied.

I can’t pinpoint when this reading habit began. I remember childhood stories but I can’t quite see who is telling them to me. I still have some childhood books on my shelves: “Winnie-the-Pooh” (all four books in the series, of course), The Velveteen Rabbit, and a large format edition of a picture book about a little wooden Indian in a canoe named “Paddle to the Sea.” A boy places his toy carving on a frozen hilltop in Minnesota and as spring finally reaches the northland, the snow melts and the tiny canoe slips into a stream that empties into Lake Superior and eventually makes its way into the Mississippi River where it bobs along until it finally reaches the sea. There is a new picture on every page and it was my game of delight to find little Paddle in each one. It never got old. (Actually, come to think of it, that book is no longer on my shelf; my grandson has it.)

In school, I read what I had to read, but with a few exceptions, I had yet to find true love in reading. Girls always seemed to get in the way. One of my great collegiate regrets is that for a survey course on 20th Century American Literature taught by a very popular professor, I finessed my way through the syllabus by reading the cliff notes version of great books by wondrous writers. The final exam consisted of very specific questions about each book we “read.” I failed the exam and spent the next summer making up the credit. My father was not pleased.

But I finally awoke to the joy of reading when I was in the Peace Corps. There are long, dark, cold nights in the high desert of Tunisia and there wasn’t much to do in my small village. So, I read by lamplight. I worked my way through the work of Nicos Kazantzakis; “Zorba the Greek” was fun but “The Last Temptation of Christ” pushed me to higher ground. I explored Arabia with T.E. Lawrence and Wilfred Thesiger. I plowed through Shakespeare and even the Bible, marathons of shear accomplishment more than pleasure. But with each word, each paragraph and page, each new story and plot, I was accumulating a treasure chest of vocabulary, voice, and yes, even knowledge. Now, all those late-into-the-night books are the dividend accounts from which I can draw (tax free!) as a writer.

These days, I tend to choose works of fiction except when David McCullough comes out with a new history or Malcolm Gladwell opens up a new perspective on the world by talking to strangers. I like to think I’ve discovered wonderful new writers like Amor Towles (“A Gentleman in Moscow”), Delia Owens (“Where the Crawdads Sing,”) or, most recently, Téa Obreht (“Inland”), but I have a feeling that a few million other readers can also lay claim to these new voices. It doesn’t really matter who discovers good new authors, I guess; good writing will eventually find its way into the light.

I’m thankful for many things in my life, but at or near the top of the list are eyes to read and places to find good books. I’m ok with libraries and big box stores but dusty second-hand shops (like The Bookplate in Chestertown and Vintage Books in Easton) are the jewels in my browsing crown. It’s where I go to find what I seek: in a phrase borrowed from Alan Furst’s new novel of World War II intrigue, “Under Occupation,” “the consolation of books.”

I’ll be right back.

Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer with a home in Chestertown. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. Two collections of his essays (“Musing Right Along” and “I’ll Be Right Back”) are available on Amazon. Jamie’s website is www.musingjamie.com.

Out and About (Sort of): Ethics, Again by Howard Freedlander

January 14, 2020 by Howard Freedlander Leave a Comment

Within recent months, two state legislators and a District of Columbia councilman have resigned after being accused of using public office for personal gain.

One, former Delegate Tawanna Gaines (D, Prince George’s County), has been sentenced for federal wire fraud. She used campaign funds for personal purposes. The other, Del. Cheryl Glenn (D, Baltimore City), has been charged with taking bribes for sponsoring legislation favorable to the medical cannabis industry. And DC Democratic Councilman Jack Evans used his office to gain consulting clients by supporting legislative actions advantageous to them. His colleagues resolved he should resign, and so he did.

Now let’s be clear: political office- holders are constantly helping constituents obtain government assistance in many matters of interest. That’s legal. That’s democracy. What’s illegal is expecting and extorting payment for these services.

I realize that some consider campaign contributions as legal bribery. I well understand that some justifiably bemoan the influence of big money in politics. However, for the sake of absolute clarity, I am referring only to explicit transfer of funds intended to influence a political action in a corrupt manner.

Some think that state legislators, now paid $50,000 for a 90-day session, plus incalculable time spent between sessions serving constituents and participating in legislative task forces, should receive greater compensation.

A member of the DC Council earns $140,000 annually.

How much is enough to avoid being susceptible to extortion?

Not too many years ago, a state delegate, Dan Morhaim (D, Baltimore County), who also was a physician, was found also to be a consultant paid by a company seeking a medical marijuana license. He had pushed for years to legalize medical use of marijuana. His peers reprimanded him. Shortly thereafter, he retired.

Some think that those accused of proffering bribes be fined $100,000.

Some believe that public officials found engaged in illegal behavior be charged with civil actions.

And some may take a different tack: corruption can’t be curbed. The human condition will never change; temptation is too great to resist. Corruption is unavoidable despite well-intended attempts to control behavior. Deterrence may be the best you can accomplish.

Back on my high horse (the same one I climbed on last week, if you recall). The 441st Maryland General Assembly convened on Wednesday, Jan.8,2020. Though it may not supersede the importance of education funding, ethics should be a primary subject.

A.K. Antony, a former defense minister of India and current member of Parliament, said.” There is no compromise when it comes to corruption. You have to fight it.”

What’s blindingly obvious is that trust in government Is sadly low. Politicians general receive low marks from the public. Cynicism grows like a contagion. Consequently, decisions made by our elected officials are viewed suspiciously by the public: was the legislation necessary, and who influenced it?

The public has become jaded. It believes that its elected representatives—local, state and federal—are out only for themselves, beholden to special interest groups with deep pockets. Access is available only to the wealthy and powerful—a common perception.

I ascribe honesty and good intentions to our politicians before I am persuaded otherwise. I’ve worked with excellent legislators on all levels.

I hope and trust that the Maryland legislature will work to eliminate the stench of unethical and illegal behavior. It should institute severe penalties to ensure that delegates and senator understand the career-ending consequences of accepting bribes by selling their offices to the highest bidder.

Annapolis should be the citadel of honest competence, not pervasive corruption. No sleight of hand. No graft. No culture of play to pay. No special favors.

Here’s to a legislative session that declares a moratorium on political corruption, that resolves to serve its shareholders by taking steps to encourage behavior free of illegal entanglements.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.

Harm and Probability by Al Sikes

January 13, 2020 by Al Sikes 1 Comment

Rising sea levels—resulting inundations. Extinctions—a serious blow to bio-diversity. Arctic ice melting releasing more carbon dioxide. And on and on.

It is important to keep in mind that these are not ideological theories but scientific ones supported by the analysis and trajectory of past and current data. The next time a politician minimizes the risks of climate change ask him/her whether they favor de-funding the scientific work done by the National Space and Aeronautics Administrations (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Climate change forecasts and consequences are not few in number. Yet, another kind of heat, political, often causes a quick thumbs up or down of a given study, chart or essay depending on the source. So here are readable summaries of key findings by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from which we all get our weather forecasts. https://www.climate.gov/climate-and-energy-topics/climate-projections-0

Devastated forests, acidic oceans, tidal inundation and, and; well I don’t want to roll the dice for my children, grandchildren and beyond. Which, of course, brings me again to the question of probability.

With apologies to the forgotten source, this analogy makes sense to me. A doctor can diagnose an illness just as NOAA can accurately predict the weather for several days. A doctor can also predict troubles ahead if his/her patient is overweight and sedentary. Global choices of production, transportation, energy use and the like have altered atmospheric gasses in perilous ways. We, yes the global we, are overweight and sedentary.

Paris Climate Agreement

So, what should we do? Here again the literature is not sparse. There is no end of scientific journals, government agency studies and the like that point to ways we can mitigate the threat. And, of course, there is the Paris Climate Agreement that points to specific targets. There must be targets and initiatives that achieve their ends. The internationally agreed upon target of limiting global temperature increase to no more than a 2 degrees Celsius or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the result of careful analysis. America should be an active member of the Convention which led to the Agreement and use its targets.

Markets

The United States knows the power of markets. There is a carbon credits market—we should be a part of it. At its simplest, carbon emitters (for simplicity sake companies) are assigned acceptable levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Companies that emit less receive credits that they can sell to companies that exceed the limit. The force of financial rewards or penalties works.

Nuclear

I am all in favor of alternative energy incentives, but to meet ambitious goals we will need to use zero-carbon emission nuclear energy. It has always been passing strange to me that America has a nuclear navy but now resists civilian nuclear power generation. Since the Navy is well organized to manage a widespread nuclear program, I would be happy to put them in charge of a civilian one, a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) if you will. TVA is the nation’s largest government-owned power provider and among other things sells electricity to local power companies.

One thing to keep in mind, the worst power plant accidents in the United States were hydroelectric ones. Climate change threats, if taken seriously, need a comprehensive response.

Transportation

Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gasses and increasingly we buy things that are brought to our houses by trucks. China is already using drones for rural delivery. We should be doing the same.

Plus, all fossil fuel subsidies should be phased out. It will need to be done over some period of time so as to not drive up fuel prices rapidly with the likelihood of severe political backlash.

These thoughts are in no way exhaustive. Progress is being made in greenhouse gas recycling and sequestration, for example. What I do know is that if incentives are created for technologies that reduce greenhouse gases, American ingenuity will find solutions and build companies that cannot be currently imagined. Related investment, business start-ups and jobs will provide a significant economic boost.

But here is my fear. We are in the middle of a political brawl. Too many Republicans dismiss science as somehow a part of the other side’s playlist. And, too many Democrats suffer from Three Mile Island syndrome, notwithstanding minimal health effects and noted precautionary improvements since the accident.

Final Thought

A friend of mine recently used the word Staycation. I asked that it be repeated. I learned that it means a stay at home vacation. Maybe we need to think more about the wonders of our own backyards and the power of we.

We is a powerful pronoun, The power of we or if you prefer, concerted action, can move mountains. We have spent much of our energy seeking to dominate nature. We need a campaign to live with it.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al recently published Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.

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Snapshots of Daily Life: Mist by George Merrill

January 12, 2020 by George R. Merrill Leave a Comment

There are those of us who, through life’s exigencies, are forced to temporarily leave the sanctuary of Tilghman Island and regions surrounding Saint Michaels. We travel to the big city as some might consider Easton or the outlets in Queenstown. Personally, I find the drive a drag.

Still, it falls the lot for us to spend enormous amounts of time in a car. Household and personal needs will require us to go beyond this haven of tranquility in which we live. If we are young and strong we might like walking the road, at least partially. Some local health nuts and exercise freaks may be seen garbed in florid colors, swinging their arms with rigorous determination. They resemble boxers, not with gloves, but with water bottles firmly in hand, taking determined strides, and defiantly heading to unknown destinations. I’ve seen stalwart souls walk the road, not for exercise, but out of necessity. They carry shopping bags from Grauls back to town – some occasionally walk in the rain. I’ve picked up some. In any case, the St Michaels Road is a busy stretch.

I find driving the road tedious. It demands my full attention, or more accurately, numbs it. For an aging man who, for starters, has a limited attention span, and concentrating on the road takes all I’ve got. But in rare moments of deliverance, there are stunning exhibitions of natural beauty that dazzle me and make it all worthwhile. Driving early one morning to make an appointment in Easton became one such occasion.

Getting beyond the Philistine monuments to commerce that block the periphery of St. Michaels, and proceeding just beyond Grauls, the land begins opening up and I can still see the remnants of the region’s agricultural past. Its simple charm is the openness; its expansiveness has a way of reverberating through the spaces of our hearts, those interior regions where Buddhists tell us we find the boundless space of our being. For some, this might seem an overstatement, but I’ll still stand by it: being next to wide open fields is a liberating feeling. It evokes a sense of freedom and possibility. And It sure beats looking at big boxes.

For the season, it was warmer that particular morning. The sun was edging its way above the trees as mist began materializing maybe thirty feet high on either side of the road. I was driving southeast into the sunrise. The developing moisture in the cold air, precipitated by heat from the sunrise meeting the cool earth generated the early morning mist. The mist was illuminated by the sun’s back lighting, so it glowed the way light shines through translucent glass.

The trees, which of course I knew full well were rooted in the earth, I now saw otherwise. It was as if they were growing like hydroponic vegetation, not from somewhere rooted in the earth, but levitating from the surface of some water in which they’d been floating. Their branches appeared as though they were lines drawn from a charcoal pen on a silver canvas.

I proceeded along the road. These ghostly apparitions came and went, but why they appeared in one field and not another wasn’t clear to me. The display did this much for me that morning; the normal tedium of that drive dissipated as some of the mists did, but alternately enchanting me all the way until just shy of the Easton bypass. Unexpected differences lend spice to life.

If I had to abandon the wilds of our rural shore and trek to the big city, this was the way to go.

The drive from St. Michaels to Easton, although it varies some, is effectively a west- east trek, or the other way, an east-west drive. Coming east in the early morning points me directly into the rising sun. I’ll find myself frequently flying blind since such brilliant light obscures my ability to see the scenery in detail or even see it at all. Coming west towards the evening sun, the same sort of thing occurs; creating moments when I can see nothing but a sheet of pure light.

It’s curious how light’s properties are associated mostly with what they illuminate for us; ‘shedding light’ on things is common parlance. How this same light is just as able to blind us as it is to illuminate our path is paradoxical. I have thought of this before in other connections; that is, how darkness and shadows we think of as obscuring our landscapes, keep us from seeing what we wish to, but in fact reveal what we do well to see. Experience has led me to believe that in the last analysis, shadows are as important to seeing the big picture and to apprehend the whole landscape, as is light.

I’d note here that the regulation of climate differences forms the mists that delight us. Mist is tiny droplets of water suspended in the air, formed when warmer water in the air is rapidly cooled, causing it to change from invisible gas to tiny visible water droplets. Temperatures must have sufficient differentiation for the phenomenon to occur.

I see immigration for America in a similar way; peoples of sufficient differences –– whether they are color, nationality, ethnicity, language and unique skills –– when brought together in common cause create a new and vibrant landscape for us all.

I suppose it’s a little like the day I had to leave my usual and familiar comfort zone –– my sanctuary just outside of St. Michaels –– and travel the road to another place: then I could see clearly how the regulation of differences creates new and infinite possibilities.

It’s a beautiful thing, really.

Columnist George Merrill is an Episcopal Church priest and pastoral psychotherapist. A writer and photographer, he’s authored two books on spirituality: Reflections: Psychological and Spiritual Images of the Heart and The Bay of the Mother of God: A Yankee Discovers the Chesapeake Bay. He is a native New Yorker, previously directing counseling services in Hartford, Connecticut, and in Baltimore. George’s essays, some award winning, have appeared in regional magazines and are broadcast twice monthly on Delmarva Public Radio.

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McCarthyism…Trumpism? By Angela Rieck

January 9, 2020 by Angela Rieck 1 Comment

PBS American Experience aired the story of McCarthyism this week. I was struck the similarities to our current environment.

McCarthyism began and was fueled by fear—fear of communism. The Eastern European countries and China became Communist regimes. North Korea invaded South Korea. From America’s perspective, its enemy, communism, was spreading like a virus. In our own country, some intellectuals, believing that greedy, rapacious capitalism was the cause of the depression, dabbled with Soviet-funded communism as a solution. The conservative press printed sensationalist stories about the spread of communism into America.

Trumpism was created and is fueled by fear—fear of losing our standard of living. So, he made immigrants the bogeymen. Many Americans have experienced a downturn in their standard of living while Wall Street has gotten richer and richer. High paying, skilled jobs have been moved offshore by greedy capitalists, leaving low-paying service jobs. Wages are declining and many fear that the cause is undocumented workers who are willing to work for lower wages. These Americans perceive that they are ignored or mocked. The conservative press prints outrageous stories about immigrants, their detrimental impact on society and how they are taking over America.

Enter Joe McCarthy. He was a failed junior senator, lacking a moral compass and worried about re-election. In a speech he gave at the Wheeling Women’s Republican club he claimed to have the names of 205 communists working in the government. It was a lie, but the conservative press picked it up.

Enter Donald Trump, a failed businessman lacking a moral compass. With over 3500 lawsuits brought against him, having declared bankruptcy, most of his empire came from selling his brand. Trump claimed that immigrants were coming to rape, murder and steal our jobs. The conservative press reported supportive stories while the mainstream press ridiculed him.

Joe McCarthy loved the limelight. He held televised hearings to harass and destroy the “elite” government insiders, accusing them of being members of the communist party. When he lacked evidence, he lied. His supporters marched in the streets. Aided by the conservative press, he searched for other high-profile government insider “communists” to humiliate and destroy.

Donald Trump loves the limelight, believing that any press was good press. He lied and harassed people on the election trail, creating the “lock her up” slogan about his opponent. His supporters marched in the streets, carrying obscene signs about his opponent and immigrants. The conservative press supported his accusations.

Joe McCarthy craved the spotlight. He investigated over 600 people in 15 months. He used lies, innuendo and outrageous statements to make the front page.

Donald Trump craves the spotlight. He uses lies, attacks, rumor, innuendo and outrageous statements to get attention.

What brought down Mr. McCarthy? Most of us believe that it was Edward R Murrow’s broadcast condemning McCarthy and his tactics. That awakened many, but it mostly spoke to those already opposed to McCarthy.

McCarthy’s downfall came when he went too far. He attacked the Army, Eisenhower’s “club”. Eisenhower had been content to ignore McCarthy; he wasn’t willing to lose the support of McCarthy’s followers. But after the attacks on the Army, Eisenhower worked with the senators to hold televised hearings to investigate McCarthy, shining a light on his misstatements, lies and innuendos. Still, his followers continued to support him. Ultimately, moderate fellow Republicans decided that “enough was enough” and courageously risked losing the support of his voters by censoring him. After that, McCarthy lost his spotlight and declined into alcoholism.

What have we learned from this? We have learned that the human condition does not change a whole lot, even as we think that we are getting more sophisticated. When fear is the motivator, bad decisions follow…always. But mostly, we learn that the press can’t fix this, only moderate members of Trump’s own party can. They must decide “enough is enough” and no longer fear his supporters. They must be the change.

Let’s hope they will.

Let’s hope that it is not too late.

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What’s Next by Craig Fuller

January 8, 2020 by Craig Fuller Leave a Comment

Beginning a new decade seems like the right time for serious reflection. And, over this holiday period just passed I did a good deal of reflection. For those on the planet over several decades, the perspective can be more than a little mind expanding regarding the path taken.

In my case:

1950 – It all started in 1950 and I arrived on February 16, 1951

1960 – Happily, one of a family of four living in Arcadia, California…soon to move to Walnut Creek, California

1970 – Into my freshman year at UCLA moving from a major in psychology to a major in political science

1980 – Engaged in a presidential transition after the election of Ronald Reagan as President which took me to the White House for eight years

1990 – Outside of government, enjoying the second year of the George H.W. Bush administration having served four years as his chief of staff while he was vice president and seeking the presidency; and, I entered my second year as the president of a wonderful public affairs firm in Washington, D.C.

2000 – Just beginning my tenure as the president of a large health care related association in Washington, D.C…..and, the initial version of FIRST MONDAY is launched

2010 – Entering my second year as the president of the world’s largest general aviation association based in Frederick, Maryland…flying 400 hours a year in all types of aircraft

2020 – Living with Maggie, my Weimaraner, on Trippe Creek in Easton, Maryland

So, during the holidays, what I reflected on most was the blessing of health and happiness after leading an interesting and fulfilling life up until now. And, like a lot of friends, I asked, “…what’s next.”

When looking at the mosaic of decades, I must confess that at the beginning of each I could never have forecast where I’d be ten years later. That in and of itself is a bit daunting when pondering the “what’s next” question. Still, a worthy inquiry I think, but it must be tempered by the knowledge that the effort relates more to focusing on a direction than on predicting a point upon which one will land in ten years’ time.

There certainly is a freedom as this decade begins quite unlike anything in my past, or at least if feels that way. Blessed with resources and great friends, the options are many.

As I reflected on this question of what comes next, two words became central to my thoughts: discovery and connection.

Discovering something is beyond just an experience. And, if you are fortunate, the “that which is discovered” becomes core to living your life for some extended period of time, if not throughout your life.

I discovered at a very early age that I loved being near water. Living in Southern California, the Pacific Ocean drew me early on as a young swimmer, as crew on a sailboat, as a scuba diver trained at UCLA and this attraction continues to this day.

On a family vacation while in high school, I discovered the thrill of flying in a small airplane. Today, I have a logbook describing nearly 6,000 hours of flying that includes piloting business jets to back country flying in two-seat aircraft. And, my interest in the promotion of aviation continues with business involvements involving flight simulators and the development of electric powered training aircraft.

While at UCLA, I came to appreciate art. I also developed an interest in history. Today, I find myself engaged in both on the Eastern Shore of Maryland serving on the boards of the Academy Art Museum and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

I also delight in photography and discovered a strong interest in photographing waterfowl here on the Eastern Shore as well as images from trips throughout the world. While government and business have taken me to well over sixty countries around the world, I now have a chance to really spend time in the places that are new as well as returning to places I desire to discover more thoroughly.

Clearly, one directional theme for the decade ahead of me is discovery!

As suggested, though, discovery is associated with the other concept I thought about, that of connection. Up until the later part of last year, I would have thought this meant a focus more on connecting with my brother in California and great friends now spread around the country. And, it most certainly does mean that. However, probably the best possible connection occurs with someone with whom you desire to share discoveries. And, in my case, the opportunity for such a connection is by far the best discovery at year’s end. Unexpected and wonderful and very much in the making, a connection with someone equally interested in sharing discoveries makes the beginning of a new decade look pretty exciting.

We will see what comes next, and with any luck at all, future commentaries will share a bit more about the discoveries ahead.

The best to one and all in this new year! May your discoveries and your connections be exciting and meaningful!

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

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Op-Ed: Ten Reasons Why a Biden/Klobuchar Ticket Makes Good Sense by Maria Grant

January 8, 2020 by Maria Grant 8 Comments

All signs indicate that a moderate ticket is the preferred solution to beat Trump in November. Many Americans—even staunch Democrats—are nervous about a leftist candidate. They’re wary of the repercussions of too much change at once. And, at the end of the day, they believe in a capitalist America where ingenuity and hard work can mean the sky’s the limit. A Biden/Klobuchar ticket is consistent with these values.

Here’s why.

They are both moderate Democrats who stress the importance of reaching across the aisle to unify the country.

Klobuchar is a senator from Minnesota. Minnesota is next to Wisconsin, a pivotal state in the next election. Some pundits say it’s the most important to win. Biden is originally from Pennsylvania, another crucial state in this election. He set up his campaign headquarters in Pennsylvania for that reason. If Democrats can win Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2020, they have a much better chance to win nationally.

Biden is the most popular candidate with African Americans. The Black vote is crucial to winning. No other candidate scores as high as Biden with minorities. Klobuchar resonates with Midwesterners—voters who went in surprising numbers for Trump in 2016. Midwesterners trust Klobuchar because unmistakably she is one of them. Klobuchar has also done an effective job of reaching out to rural communities. When she ran for reelection in Minnesota, she campaigned in every rural community in the state. To date, she has done the same thing in Iowa.

Klobuchar is a woman. Many women are more motivated than ever to get Trump out of office. Sixty-three percent of US women have negative feelings about Trump. They also think it’s past time that a woman is elected to national office. This combo would be extremely attractive to that segment who yearns for a female President.

Klobuchar is 59. Biden is 77. Biden might run only for one term. That would position Klobuchar to run for president in 2024. Her experience as vice president would provide comfort for those still leery about voting for a woman president.

Both Klobuchar and Biden have a reputation for getting things done in the Senate. Both have passed more than their share of bills. Klobuchar is ranked first among current Senators in the number of bills passed with more than 100 under her belt. During his long Senate career, Biden sponsored a myriad of bills, including the first climate change bill, and was widely viewed as a master of bipartisanship (although some past positions will present problems given present-day mores about overly tough crime bills, etc. ).

Both Biden and Klobuchar have that “no malarkey” thing going for them. What you see is what you get. They exude sanity, decency, wholesomeness, and human kindness. You sense that they would make well thought out decisions that align with strategies honed from well-informed and well-qualified people in their administration—something that is sorely lacking today.

Both Biden and Klobuchar have similar points of view on healthcare. They want to build on Obamacare, not destroy it. They believe in an incremental approach to fixing the healthcare dilemma in America which is much more in line with what most Americans want. Importantly, neither has had to change their position on healthcare—they got it right from the start of their campaigns.

Biden and Klobuchar are in sync on most other issues: education, climate change, income inequality, and the need for civility in government. Their views are more in line with the way a majority of Americans feel about these issues.

Finally, let’s face it. This country is hungry for stability. We are “all stocked up on crazies” as Jack Nicholson said in As Good as It Gets. The Biden/Klobuchar ticket offers such stability in spades.

Many who read this article will counter that other candidates also offer these moderate qualities: Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Booker, and Bennet come to mind. It’s early in this election process. There is no doubt that surprises will be in store, and other credible combos will emerge. But It’s not too early to think about what a winning ticket might look like and continue to emphasize strengths that can lead to victory.

Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement from Deloitte, she has focused on writing, music, reading, travel, gardening and nature.

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