Every Thanksgiving as is my custom, I search for reasons to be grateful. I confess this year it has been a stretch. Like many in my age group, the aches and pains are mounting up. Body parts are wearing out faster than the marble steps leading up to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa.
Not unlike those steps, years of repetitive human action extracts a toll on our bodies. What makes it disheartening is the first 70 years of my life were virtually pain free. No broken limbs. No surgeries, save for a tonsillectomy. Few visits to doctors and a handful of x-rays over those decades.
It is not as if I didn't prepare for the onset of lost youth. I exercised my entire life, beginning with sports at an early age. Until recently, I did 50 minutes of cardio training religiously, taking a few days off every month. I lifted free weights and worked on my core to build balance and strength.
As I watched others fight the ravages of advancing years, my pride swelled. That would never happen to me. I did the right things to avoid the pitfalls of inevitable decline. Good health was won through my hard work alone. That was enough to stave off the effects of too many birthdays.
In hindsight, my foolish pride was my undoing. I should have been giving thanks daily for the precious gift of good health instead of pounding my chest in celebration of what I had done to become fit. I have learned a humbling lesson: no one earns nor is owed absolute health.
When I reached seven decades, I endured my first surgery in 64 years to repair a torn rotator cuff. My recovery progressed well and within months I resumed my active life. At that point, I figured I was good until I was housed on the wrong side of the grass. I remained invincible.
Then this year brought a cascade of physical ailments. I noticed it was becoming painful to walk. X-rays and an MRI indicated I required a hip replacement. As the orthopedic specialist explained, "Your hip has just worn out." Not the worse news, but a reminder of my vulnerability.
About the same time knee pain forced me to walk with a limp. Osteoarthritis is the culprit. Injections offered little relief. The ortho doctor just winced and said, "It probably is related to your hip. It will get better after surgery." As comforting as that sounds, at that time surgery was five months away,
Pain morphed into a daily grind. Then a frequent neck and shoulder ache turned into a fiery torment. Another MRI and another doctor. Diagnosis: multiple degenerative discs in my neck and a pinched nerve. Sleeping, sitting and pounding my computer keyboard became challenging.
What followed next was rounds of physical therapy and physiotherapy on my hip and neck. My calendar was clogged, not with golf or outdoor activities, but with therapy, pain management consultants, doctors and more imaging appointments. For a once active guy, it is distressing.
I am not auditioning for a pity party. I could be undergoing much worse, a life-threatening disease for instance. Many friends are dealing with far more pain and crippling infirmities. I consider myself blessed to be able to carry on with my life, even if my issues have limited my mobility and stamina.
My regret is that I never fully appreciated my superb health that allowed a vigorous lifestyle. I was blessed then and still am. Health setbacks are part of life at any age. No one escapes them if their earthly existence includes too many revolutions around the sun. It is the universal truth.
Throughout my episodes, I am learning new traits. Patience; something lacking in my DNA. Endurance; life's journey is no sprint but a marathon run over a pothole pitted course. Humbleness; more awareness of others sufferings. Appreciation; especially for health care personnel.
I even find more joy in life's tiniest moments. A sympathetic pat on the back. A furtive glance of caring. An ear that patiently listens to my complaints. A nod from a fellow patient who understands the tribulation. A wife who bears the brunt of the mood swings triggered by bouts of pain.
My hip surgery is scheduled January 13th. Instead of dreading it, I am buoyed by each approaching day. Questions surround my neck issues. However, I am trusting a solution will be found. Whatever happens, I refuse to wallow in regret or allow uncertainty to rob me of the joy for each day of life.
All my training has prepared my body for surgery and recovery. Yet I take no credit for the years of good health. If I have learned anything, it is that we do not have full authority over our bodies. Without God, we can't even draw our next breath. That thought makes me thankful and at peace.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
Judge Sanctions Asian-American Discrimination
In a landmark case naturally ignored by the news media, a federal judge recently ruled the bastion of self-proclaimed student diversity, Harvard University, can legally discriminate against Asian-Americans. The verdict is a reminder of the insanity of race-conscious college admissions policies.
This breach of fairness and justice was so out of whack with American principles of equality that it is impossible to fathom how U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs, an appointee to the bench of President Obama, could ignore the plaintiffs compelling argument of discrimination.
As background, the lawsuit against Harvard was brought on behalf of more than two dozen plaintiffs by Students for Fair Admissions, a conservative legal activist organization. Their case claimed admission metrics used by Harvard were biased against Asian-Americans.
In particular, the plaintiffs cited a metric called personal rating, which supposedly measures intangibles such as an applicant's kindness, empathy, self-confidence or leadership quality. The plaintiffs' evidence showed the metric penalizes Asian applicants due to unfair stereotypes.
At the heart of the issue is a practice many universities have concocted to enroll more Hispanic and African-American students by using nebulous or subjective measures to allow otherwise less qualified applicants to leapfrog others with proven academic achievements.
While admitting that Harvard's admission process could stand improvement, the judge's decision concluded: "That being said, the court will not dismantle a very fine admissions program that passes constitutional muster solely because it could do better." Her ruling is tacit approval of discrimination.
To understand the folly of the ruling, additional context is required. For instance, Asian-Americans make up only 5.6% of the U.S. population, certainly qualifying this ethnic group to be granted minority status. By comparison, African-Americans represent 13 percent of the population.
Some of you are huffing right now about the enslavement of African-Americans as the rationale for now granting this group favored status in admissions. But did you know Asian Americans were incarcerated in concentration camps in this country based solely on racial discrimination?
After Pearl Harbor, Democrat President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order forcing Japanese Americans to be relocated to camps in the Western U.S. as war hysteria and racial animus toward this ethnic group escalated. More than 120,000 citizens endured imprisonment.
The Census Bureau used data to pinpoint the location of citizens of Japanese origin to assist in the roundup. In 1988, Republican President Ronald Reagan signed legislation formally apologizing to Japanese Americans for "racial prejudice, war hysteria and failure of political leadership."
The mea culpa came appallingly late--43 years after the end of World War II.
During the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in the mid-1860's, Asian laborers from China and Hong Kong were recruited because few whites wanted to endure the back-breaking labor. Chinese workers received 30-to-50% less pay than their white counterparts.
Hundreds of Chinese laborers died from explosions, landslides, accidents and disease. Their white overlords worked the Chinese literally to death in many cases. They were considered expendable and thus were treated with excessive cruelty.
Concerned with growing Chinese immigration, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the only U.S. law to prevent immigration and naturalization on the basis of race. The legislation restricted Chinese immigration for the next sixty years. It was the ugliest form of discrimination.
Asian Americans have suffered racial discrimination at every level of society. Yet there appears to be no recognition by Harvard, Judge Burroughs or many Americans. The reason is America's political establishment, particularly Democrats, coddles blacks because of their clout at the ballot box.
In a stunning admission, Judge Burroughs wrote that eliminating consideration of race would cause the African-American student population to decline from 14% to 9%. She failed to point out that the Asian-American student population has remained nearly stagnant, thanks to race-based favoritism.
In fact, the percentage of Asians admitted to Harvard declined from 1992 to 2013. Meanwhile, the percentages of African-Americans and Hispanics have risen. So who is being discriminated against here? Apparently, facts don't matter to Judge Burroughs, the daughter of a Harvard graduate.
For the record, Judge Burroughs applied to Harvard and her application was rejected. If only, she had been Hispanic or African-American, she might have earned a degree from this hypocritical university. Sadly, an Asian American would have had even worse odds of admission than the judge.
This breach of fairness and justice was so out of whack with American principles of equality that it is impossible to fathom how U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs, an appointee to the bench of President Obama, could ignore the plaintiffs compelling argument of discrimination.
As background, the lawsuit against Harvard was brought on behalf of more than two dozen plaintiffs by Students for Fair Admissions, a conservative legal activist organization. Their case claimed admission metrics used by Harvard were biased against Asian-Americans.
In particular, the plaintiffs cited a metric called personal rating, which supposedly measures intangibles such as an applicant's kindness, empathy, self-confidence or leadership quality. The plaintiffs' evidence showed the metric penalizes Asian applicants due to unfair stereotypes.
At the heart of the issue is a practice many universities have concocted to enroll more Hispanic and African-American students by using nebulous or subjective measures to allow otherwise less qualified applicants to leapfrog others with proven academic achievements.
While admitting that Harvard's admission process could stand improvement, the judge's decision concluded: "That being said, the court will not dismantle a very fine admissions program that passes constitutional muster solely because it could do better." Her ruling is tacit approval of discrimination.
To understand the folly of the ruling, additional context is required. For instance, Asian-Americans make up only 5.6% of the U.S. population, certainly qualifying this ethnic group to be granted minority status. By comparison, African-Americans represent 13 percent of the population.
Some of you are huffing right now about the enslavement of African-Americans as the rationale for now granting this group favored status in admissions. But did you know Asian Americans were incarcerated in concentration camps in this country based solely on racial discrimination?
After Pearl Harbor, Democrat President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order forcing Japanese Americans to be relocated to camps in the Western U.S. as war hysteria and racial animus toward this ethnic group escalated. More than 120,000 citizens endured imprisonment.
The Census Bureau used data to pinpoint the location of citizens of Japanese origin to assist in the roundup. In 1988, Republican President Ronald Reagan signed legislation formally apologizing to Japanese Americans for "racial prejudice, war hysteria and failure of political leadership."
The mea culpa came appallingly late--43 years after the end of World War II.
During the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in the mid-1860's, Asian laborers from China and Hong Kong were recruited because few whites wanted to endure the back-breaking labor. Chinese workers received 30-to-50% less pay than their white counterparts.
Hundreds of Chinese laborers died from explosions, landslides, accidents and disease. Their white overlords worked the Chinese literally to death in many cases. They were considered expendable and thus were treated with excessive cruelty.
Concerned with growing Chinese immigration, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the only U.S. law to prevent immigration and naturalization on the basis of race. The legislation restricted Chinese immigration for the next sixty years. It was the ugliest form of discrimination.
Asian Americans have suffered racial discrimination at every level of society. Yet there appears to be no recognition by Harvard, Judge Burroughs or many Americans. The reason is America's political establishment, particularly Democrats, coddles blacks because of their clout at the ballot box.
In a stunning admission, Judge Burroughs wrote that eliminating consideration of race would cause the African-American student population to decline from 14% to 9%. She failed to point out that the Asian-American student population has remained nearly stagnant, thanks to race-based favoritism.
In fact, the percentage of Asians admitted to Harvard declined from 1992 to 2013. Meanwhile, the percentages of African-Americans and Hispanics have risen. So who is being discriminated against here? Apparently, facts don't matter to Judge Burroughs, the daughter of a Harvard graduate.
For the record, Judge Burroughs applied to Harvard and her application was rejected. If only, she had been Hispanic or African-American, she might have earned a degree from this hypocritical university. Sadly, an Asian American would have had even worse odds of admission than the judge.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Veterans Day: America's Forgotten War
By most historical accounts, it was the deadliest conflict in military history. More than 70 million soldiers and civilians perished. The savagery of World War I played out in muddy trenches, leaving lasting scars in Europe. But for many Americans, the century-old war has been long forgotten.
The last U.S. veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles, died in June, 1973 at the age of 101. His passing was barely mentioned in the news media. It was a sad reminder how little is remembered about the bravery of American soldiers engaged in the bloodiest war in modern history.
More than 126,000 American men sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom in the war. Another 234,000 were wounded. An estimated 50 million military casualties were recorded in the conflict that embroiled most of Europe and introduced the first use of large-scale chemical warfare.
America's entry into the war in 1917 changed the course of the conflict that had ravaged the European continent since 1914. President Woodrow Wilson committed U.S. forces to join with Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania and Japan, an allied coalition that had suffered staggering losses.
The allies were facing armies from Germany, Austria, Hungry, Bulgaria and Turkey. (Other countries sent troops but these were the major combatants.) Germany was first to unleash chemical weapons, using first chlorine gas and then mustard gas that inflicted horrific wounds and ultimately death.
The war ended on November 11, 1918, exactly 101 years to this day when Germany signed the armistice and the guns fell silent. Memories of the gruesome war are still prominent in many European cities, which have erected war memorials in the town centers to salute fallen soldiers.
However, in America there are few memorials or remembrances. While many Americans are familiar with World War II and Vietnam War heroes, most would be hard pressed to name a single one from World War I. However, perhaps America's most unlikeliest war hero emerged in that conflict.
His name was Alvin C. York, a Tennessee native and pacifist who registered for the draft as required by law, but scribbled on his draft card, "Don't want to fight." York had serious moral issues about war and had been advised by his pastor to seek conscientious objector status.
Although the Army considered his objections, York was drafted and sent to basic training. The 30-year-old York eventually had a change of heart after consulting Biblical sources during a visit to his hometown. He returned with a firm belief that God meant for him to fight in the war.
York was assigned to Company G, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division. Eventually promoted to corporal, York took part in the St. Mihiel offensive as the 82nd sought to protect the U.S. First Army's right flank. His unit was ordered to take a hill north of Chatel-Chehery in France.
As his unit inched forward, York and his fellow soldiers came under fierce German machine-gun fire from all sides in the surrounding Argonne forest. By mid-morning York's platoon commander was killed and he assumed command of the remaining seven soldiers to repel the German onslaught.
During the bloody encounter, York was credited with killing more than 20 Germans and silencing 35-machine guns. At one point, six Germans charged his position with fixed bayonets. York keep firing his rifle, relying on his sharp-shooting skills he honed hunting in Tennessee, until the Germans fell.
Eventually, the Germans surrendered and York and the few men left in his platoon captured 132 prisoners. For his gallantry, York was awarded two French medals for bravery and the allied commander called his achievement "the greatest exploit every accomplished by a common soldier."
His own country awarded him the Medal of Honor and promoted him to sergeant. He was honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. In 1941, his life was immortalized in the film " Sergeant York" starring Gary Cooper. After the war, York returned to his home in Tennessee.
Today on Veteran's Day, take a moment to remember those who have served our country in war and peace time. And say a prayer for those brave men, like Sergeant York, who fought to save Europe from being overrun by the forces of evil in World War I. They deserve to no longer be forgotten.
The last U.S. veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles, died in June, 1973 at the age of 101. His passing was barely mentioned in the news media. It was a sad reminder how little is remembered about the bravery of American soldiers engaged in the bloodiest war in modern history.
More than 126,000 American men sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom in the war. Another 234,000 were wounded. An estimated 50 million military casualties were recorded in the conflict that embroiled most of Europe and introduced the first use of large-scale chemical warfare.
America's entry into the war in 1917 changed the course of the conflict that had ravaged the European continent since 1914. President Woodrow Wilson committed U.S. forces to join with Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania and Japan, an allied coalition that had suffered staggering losses.
The allies were facing armies from Germany, Austria, Hungry, Bulgaria and Turkey. (Other countries sent troops but these were the major combatants.) Germany was first to unleash chemical weapons, using first chlorine gas and then mustard gas that inflicted horrific wounds and ultimately death.
The war ended on November 11, 1918, exactly 101 years to this day when Germany signed the armistice and the guns fell silent. Memories of the gruesome war are still prominent in many European cities, which have erected war memorials in the town centers to salute fallen soldiers.
However, in America there are few memorials or remembrances. While many Americans are familiar with World War II and Vietnam War heroes, most would be hard pressed to name a single one from World War I. However, perhaps America's most unlikeliest war hero emerged in that conflict.
His name was Alvin C. York, a Tennessee native and pacifist who registered for the draft as required by law, but scribbled on his draft card, "Don't want to fight." York had serious moral issues about war and had been advised by his pastor to seek conscientious objector status.
Although the Army considered his objections, York was drafted and sent to basic training. The 30-year-old York eventually had a change of heart after consulting Biblical sources during a visit to his hometown. He returned with a firm belief that God meant for him to fight in the war.
York was assigned to Company G, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division. Eventually promoted to corporal, York took part in the St. Mihiel offensive as the 82nd sought to protect the U.S. First Army's right flank. His unit was ordered to take a hill north of Chatel-Chehery in France.
As his unit inched forward, York and his fellow soldiers came under fierce German machine-gun fire from all sides in the surrounding Argonne forest. By mid-morning York's platoon commander was killed and he assumed command of the remaining seven soldiers to repel the German onslaught.
During the bloody encounter, York was credited with killing more than 20 Germans and silencing 35-machine guns. At one point, six Germans charged his position with fixed bayonets. York keep firing his rifle, relying on his sharp-shooting skills he honed hunting in Tennessee, until the Germans fell.
Eventually, the Germans surrendered and York and the few men left in his platoon captured 132 prisoners. For his gallantry, York was awarded two French medals for bravery and the allied commander called his achievement "the greatest exploit every accomplished by a common soldier."
His own country awarded him the Medal of Honor and promoted him to sergeant. He was honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. In 1941, his life was immortalized in the film " Sergeant York" starring Gary Cooper. After the war, York returned to his home in Tennessee.
Today on Veteran's Day, take a moment to remember those who have served our country in war and peace time. And say a prayer for those brave men, like Sergeant York, who fought to save Europe from being overrun by the forces of evil in World War I. They deserve to no longer be forgotten.
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