I grew up being a supporter of Israel. That support and empathy for Israel and all Jews increased dramatically when I was one of the Instructor Pilots in the "Triple Nickel/555th Tac. Fighter Squadron" who helped check out the first Israeli F-15 Fighter pilots, in the mid-1970's. One of the things that all of us honored to be a part of standing up that first Israeli Squadron had reinforced was the realization of what every Israeli, and Jew in this world faces and must be, which Jay's statement captures: "Except maybe this: Eternal vigilance is wearying. It is unfair. One ought to be able to relax. To ease one’s vigil. But the world—and I’m speaking about its antisemites in particular—won’t allow it." The US must stand by Israel and also be "Eternally Vigilant" that our support never waivers.
Infirm is accurate. A big problem with being old (I’m a “young” 68) is that no one knows the speed or extent of the inevitable decline in their future. My mother was fine at 90 and severely mentally diminished at 91. Biden either didn’t know this reality of old age or chose to ignore it. I believed his statement of being a transitional president to the next generation of Democratic leaders meant he would not choose to run for reelection.
Excellent point - by not dealing with a serious question: it dealt with him.
Your morning notes have quickly joined the "Christian Art" posts of Father Patrick van der Vorst as my daily MMGA (make mornings great again) moment. Forgive the attempt at humor.
You’ll not be surprised I share your views on the past-perfect-subjunctive for counterfactuals and possessives before gerunds. The latter, alas, seems to be almost defunct.
The vision of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim in love testifies to the horror of hate, which inspired their killer. That such beauty, hope, and joy should be terminated in an instant offends every sense of decency and kindness in the human heart. That is why evil will never prevail.
As an eighty-something, I can identify with Joe Biden's desire to believe that "I can do it," but I must also testify to the reluctant recognition that "I can't." Neither, by the way, can his successor.
Thank you so much! Thank you for starting a Substack newsletter. Now I can converse with you more easily. I have always read your columns, articles, and reviews. I am a dinosaur by today's standards, too. I enjoy it.
I grew up being a supporter of Israel. That support and empathy for Israel and all Jews increased dramatically when I was one of the Instructor Pilots in the "Triple Nickel/555th Tac. Fighter Squadron" who helped check out the first Israeli F-15 Fighter pilots, in the mid-1970's. One of the things that all of us honored to be a part of standing up that first Israeli Squadron had reinforced was the realization of what every Israeli, and Jew in this world faces and must be, which Jay's statement captures: "Except maybe this: Eternal vigilance is wearying. It is unfair. One ought to be able to relax. To ease one’s vigil. But the world—and I’m speaking about its antisemites in particular—won’t allow it." The US must stand by Israel and also be "Eternally Vigilant" that our support never waivers.
Thank you, sir.
Infirm is accurate. A big problem with being old (I’m a “young” 68) is that no one knows the speed or extent of the inevitable decline in their future. My mother was fine at 90 and severely mentally diminished at 91. Biden either didn’t know this reality of old age or chose to ignore it. I believed his statement of being a transitional president to the next generation of Democratic leaders meant he would not choose to run for reelection.
Excellent point - by not dealing with a serious question: it dealt with him.
Appreciate what you say, Don.
Your morning notes have quickly joined the "Christian Art" posts of Father Patrick van der Vorst as my daily MMGA (make mornings great again) moment. Forgive the attempt at humor.
I like it! Thx.
“Had I but known…”
You’ll not be surprised I share your views on the past-perfect-subjunctive for counterfactuals and possessives before gerunds. The latter, alas, seems to be almost defunct.
Right on (and write on), Bill.
Dear Jay,
The vision of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim in love testifies to the horror of hate, which inspired their killer. That such beauty, hope, and joy should be terminated in an instant offends every sense of decency and kindness in the human heart. That is why evil will never prevail.
As an eighty-something, I can identify with Joe Biden's desire to believe that "I can do it," but I must also testify to the reluctant recognition that "I can't." Neither, by the way, can his successor.
Paddy B for President (in my book).
I need the name of that hymn! It's just what my soul needs. Thank you for ending on such a beautiful note!
https://hymnary.org/text/i_look_to_thee_in_every_need
Thank you so much! Thank you for starting a Substack newsletter. Now I can converse with you more easily. I have always read your columns, articles, and reviews. I am a dinosaur by today's standards, too. I enjoy it.
On the twenty-third of May in Twenty-Five: Hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous poet, Longfellow.
!!