Thursday, April 2, 2026

No room at the inn

 "No room at the inn" refers to the Biblical account in Luke 2:7 where Mary and Joseph found no vacancy in Bethlehem for Jesus' birth, forcing them to seek shelter in a manger. This is the season for celebrating that biblical tale and fostering the rebirth of hope in the face of unprecedented challenges. 

Now, at age 88, having lived through many US presidencies, I don't recall any as contentious as the current Trump presidency. Donald Trump seems to deliberately seek out and foment strife and to change his mind on a dime, keeping not only his staff but US citizens and those of other countries always on edge, always apprehensive about what he might say or do next when waking up from a daytime snooze. Is his capreciousness due to a personal mental quirk or is it a worrisome sign of continuing cognitive decline? A slim majority of American voters actually chose him this time around, unlike in his first term when he won by a quirk in the American electorsl system allowing him to win election while losing the popular vote. Now we're stuck with him for almost 3 more years. 

Unlike most US presidents--or the presidents of many other countries--Donald Trump does not wish the best for all those living here in our national territory. In fact, he seems to want many of those actually living and working here among us to go elsewhere, never to return. For Trump, there is no room in the inn, metaphorically speaking, despite "Help Wanted" signs being posted everywhere, even here in little Berkeley Springs. Many folks of working age who could and would do those jobs are being deported. 

Donald Trump attended a Supreme Court session on challenges to birthright citizenship. After the court had adjourned, Trump posted on Truth Social: “We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!” 

Actually, about three dozen countries, most of them in the Americas, do guarantee citizenship to children born on their territory. And what about Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty? Think about Donald Trump's own mother, who was not born in this country. So maybe Mr. Trump is not a citizen here after all, not according to the requirements he wants to impose on others. 



Wash. Post, Trump’s gain with Hispanics is evaporating. Republicans should worry.


Hispanics are not going to support a change regarding birthright citizenship, since the current policy is why many of them are now here to begin with. 



Wash. PostJudge rules Trump order eliminating NPR, PBS funding is unconstitutional  This is proving to be still another setback for President Trump.


Wash. Post, Americans have little appetite for sending U.S. troops to Iran, polls show


Here again, although he was elected president, Donald Trump cannot bend US policy according to his will.



It's not Mt. Rushmore or a Nobel, but at least Donald Trump will have a local Florida airport named after himself.  



NY Times, Man convicted in murder of 13-year-old Bronx girl finally sentenced nearly 3 decades later

The long arm of the law has finally reached out and grabbed this guy, who probably thought he was home free.


Wash. Post,  Thieves steal works by Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse in less than 3 minutes


This happened in Italy this time. It's hard to know what thieves do with their musuem heists. Perhaps very wealthy people buy the works to be displayed in their private home collections?


Saudi Arabia is giving the National Zoo in DC $70 million to house rare, endanered Arabian leopards

Mr. Ye is back on stage after doing penance for antisemitic comments.
Ye (formerly Kanye West) has returned to the stage, performing a headline concert in Los Angeles on April 3, 2026, to celebrate his new album.



                         Josefina Aguilar, Mexican clay artist, has died at age 80.
                            


The last posting included this photo of the continuing Cuba blackout, due to failed oil deliveries from Russia. But help has finally arrived.

The Center for a Free Cuba, ever since 2022, has been calling on the international community to open a humanitarian corridor that directly provides assistance to ordinary Cubans in need, and "not for Cuba’s kleptocratic government to use for other ends."

 Canadian based NGOs are asking the Canadian government to urge Havana to legalize independent civil society to improve aid delivery.







No comments:

Post a Comment