Monday, November 14, 2016

Difference between a progressive, and a conservative in fewer than 600 words

Progressive, which is interchangeably used as liberal, is a dirty word in the US politics, thanks to the rightwing media that controls 99% of the air waves.

But what does the word progressive actually mean, and what differentiates him from a conservative?

A progressive is the one who is naturally inclined towards progress. He is open minded, ready to consider new ideas; he explores innovative solutions, and probes the unknown for the betterment of the society. A conservative on the other hand has closed mind towards anything novel and wants to hold on to the age-old practices, antiquated systems and traditions, and existing ways and means.

A progressive believes in the good of the society, and considers wellbeing of each and every member of the society as the paramount requisite for the wellbeing of the community at large. A progressive is a person whose central thought is uplifting the lot of the least member of the community, because he believes happiness doesn’t come from self achievement only if rest of the society is in deprivation. In one word a progressive is a selfless person.

A conservative’s basic thought process rotates around pushing personal agendas at the cost of the rest of the society. He does not care for other’s suffering so long he is successful. He believes triumph at any cost; to him end justifies the means, and his slogan is greed is good. He preaches – one shall lift up oneself with his own shoestrings, as long as it applies to others. In one word a conservative is a selfish person.

From the fundamental mindset of the progressive comes the idea of tolerance towards the minorities. The progressive believes in the right of the minorities, freedom of choice for the women, the transgender people, gays, lesbians and other people of difference. He wants to make the society inclusive of all the diverse group of people. He believes in welfare for the lowest of the lows, and social security for everyone. He wants Medicare and Medicaid to flourish. He believes healthcare is a right and so is education.

The conservative is intolerant of minority opinions. He doesn’t believe in the right of anyone who is different from him. He will force others to his views, using whatever force is necessary to subdue others. He is for exclusivity, and is willing to do whatever necessary to preserve his self-interest. The conservative wants to do away with the welfare and privatize the social security to kill it. He wants to put hole through Medicare and Medicaid to destroy them. He wants healthcare to become a business for profit and destroy free education.

A progressive wants regulations for he knows without those rules the industries will pollute, the corporations will devour each other and will end up in monopoly and fascism. Five media companies control America today. In most places there is one, or, two choices for the internet hosting companies, a handful of insurance companies play with the health of 350 million people. A progressive wants socialism for the people.

A conservative doesn’t want any regulation; he is for the deregulation of the existing businesses, so that profit can be maximized. The conservative wants to destroy EPA although it was created by a Republican President. He wants the Wall Street and Fed to control the finance of this country. He props up the Banksters and uses Lobbyists to do his bidding. A conservative wants socialism for the capital.



Saturday, August 20, 2016

Weinbach’s daughter and thirty Human Beings



Francine was someone’s daughter.

Did she have a sister? Or, brother? I do not know. Perhaps she did, perhaps she did not. But friends must she have had. And neighbors?

One thing she had for sure, and lots of them – students. For Stein was a musician and she had taught at the Julliard School.

What kind of person was she - Francine Stein?
Did her students hate her? Did anyone love her?
What kind of music did she play? Did she string a violin that cried loud through the starry starry nights when the world was sleepy and the only listeners were fairies and angels?

How was Francine when she was sixteen?
Twenty-one?
Thirty-five?

Was she the most beautiful girl of the world to someone?
Did her supple body warm someone else’s in a night of cold? Damp, or, rain?
Did she have any child?
Did she ever comfort a young tiny helpless creature in her loving arms?

I do not know answers to any of these, I only know, when she died she was alone.

And when the time of her burial came she was going to be alone but for a kind-hearted Rabbi, and her sensitive daughter, Ora Golda Weinbach.

Ora, the kind daughter of a kind rabbi had another idea.

Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach, a man of God, was to do the God’s service. He was to officiate at the suburban New York funeral at a cemetery in Orangetown, NY. Ora posted the following message on her Facebook page.

Huge mitzvah opportunity. A woman is being buried tomorrow who has LITERALLY NO ONE attending her funeral, other than the funeral home director and the rabbi (my father). Who would like to join me at the funeral? I will be leaving Teaneck at 10:45. Free lunch with the rabbi after. 

The response was heartwarming to Ora. A score and half people showed for the service to pay their respects to a woman who they never met. It was an act of human decency as one person commented.

Yes, this is the last bit of decency in an age of selfish, violent time that defies all odds and declares triumphantly: God your creation was not in vain.