I used to get so many emails connected to surveys to fill out every month, and in most cases I take time to complete them. The political surveys are interesting.
“What political party are you affiliated with?” My answer was always none but when it comes to a follow up question like, “Even if you are independent as you claim, which one you are leaning toward?”
Yes, I didn’t hesitate to put leaning towards Democrats, but I never paid any donation, though I used to get emails almost every day for donation.
That doesn’t mean I hate Republicans. I liked Ronald Regan. I liked George Bush Senior, but I didn’t much like George W. Bush because of his starting a war with Iraq without having a proof of weapons of mass destruction. That way I find him partly a failure.
I don’t like war, because it kills people indiscriminately. In my adulthood I had a terrible experience in war-time situations in my native country.
Though we didn’t experience World War I and II, films, documentaries, books kept us well informed. What did we learn?
We had a number of regional wars. I can understand the Afghanistan war but why the Iraq war? Saddam Hussain was a dictator and not a good person at all, but this is to be determined by their own people.
One time the U.S. supported dictators around the world, even Saddam Hussain. Why should the U.S. intervene in some other country’s internal affairs whereas in most cases it goes against the majority of the people in that country. I don’t want to see American soldiers killed in foreign land with no strong interest of the USA.
Trump did one thing good for the country in winding up the U.S. military forces from Afghanistan and Iraq. What good was to be gained from keeping the U.S. military in those countries? First of all, there was no point in going to those countries.
Once Bin Laden was killed, the U.S. should have left Afghanistan. Similarly, once Saddam Hussain was killed, the U.S. should have left Iraq.
But I am afraid I find a new face of Paul Joseph Goebbels in this 21st century. Goebbels used to say, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Are we living in a lying era?
Two recent reports made me aware of certain honesty against dishonesty.
On Thanksgiving Day, Mr. Michael Flynn was pardoned by our outgoing President. As a president, he can do it. But what were the charges? Mr. Flynn lied to FBI.
I wonder for lying, one has to go to jail? Maybe if someone lies under oath it is a crime. I understand all the government hierarchies have to take oath. So, they are not supposed to lie in public.
I am happy with the second report regarding the ruling of President Trump’s appointee in Pennsylvania federal appeal court, Judge Stephanos Bibas, who not only dismissed Trump’s request to block certification but with a universal opinion, “Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here.”
I have been voting in our national elections since 2008 in Columbus. In the past, I asked polling agents, “You don’t check ID cards, how can you be sure I am Jiben Roy?” However, now it is required to show ID in Mississippi too. None of the Mississippians question about fraud in our state and federal election.
I am fine and very happy living in Mississippi. Maybe one day I will be unknowingly visiting the Lowndes crematory. Until then I will often try to say namaste to my fellow Mississippians.
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is royjiben@yahoo.com.
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