PLANNED ACTS OF VIOLENCE & RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

PLANNED ACTS OF VIOLENCE & RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
By Andy Weddington
Tuesday, 09 October 2018

To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task.  Sophocles

A commentary reader (not yet met) in law enforcement has family working in our United States Senate. 

That family wrote describing what was going on in Washington as to Judge Kavanaugh. In all their years never seen anything like it. Frightening. Some of that relayed to me on Saturday.

People - the people Michelle Obama challenged during the 2016 DNC convention "to go high when they [Republicans] go low" - against the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh heckled and harassed Senators, urinated on police officers, and defecated in the halls of Congress. 

The Obamas must be so proud. 

These were not impromptu protests but foul criminal acts of defiance - planned and funded resistance.

And based on lie(s). 

Came last night in email was Victor Davis Hanson's recent summary of Judge Kavanaugh's ordeal to confirmation. The doctor's take, as always, thorough but long. 

I wrote the sender that back in the day where I come from - what was once booming textiles and tobacco country - the good doctor's article could be summarized in a sentence: Dr. Ford is full of sh*t. 

One sentence came back: That's a fact, Jack! 

Disturbing about the attempted destruction of Judge Brett Kavanaugh is that United States Senators were involved beyond "politics." To believe otherwise naive and absurd. 

And big money fueled the foot soldiers. 

The name George Soros popped up, again. 

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee (D, TX) was recorded discretely handing Dr. Ford's attorney an envelope (which was quickly placed into an interior suit coat pocket) moments before Dr. Ford was sworn in for testimony.

Certainly the content not favorite barbecue recipes nor photos of grandchildren. 

Last evening I watched the ceremonial swearing in of Justice Kavanaugh. 

President Trump opened with welcome and offered apology to him and his family for what they had to endure. 

When will the Senators (at least one of whom merits investigation) apologize?

Never. 

Bravo to (the) Senators who found the moral (and physical) courage to confirm despite being heckled, harassed, and threatened with death.

Shame on the cowards. 

These past weeks seeing and thinking about the amount of destructive energy spent targeting a distinguished public servant heading for merited higher office has been disappointing and more so troubling. 

Disappointing as to the absence of basic civility from some unhappy Americans.

Troubling that that uncivil mob trashed the presumption of innocence. That should terrify everyone.

Weekend past I traveled, in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, for rally with family to celebrate an uncle's 80th birthday. [Arriving, the judge not yet confirmed.]

Though lots of people in the airport I noticed something - how orderly and clean.

Noted.

The party was the day following the judge's confirmation.

Politics not discussed. 

North Carolina (eastern) barbecue with all the complements. And cake!

Learn I did more about a family Marine's service during World War II. My late great uncle Bill was wounded/injured in China (while atop a telephone pole stringing/repairing wire and was strafed by Japanese pilot). Recovery required more than a year in hospitals and left him paralyzed from the waist down. 

He never received his decorations, most notably the Purple Heart. 

Now, as an unexpected random act of kindness (duty really), to pursue for his widow and sons. 

Back at the airport yesterday afternoon, and while walking through the new and beautiful rental car facility, the cleanliness noted. 

A figure caught my eye - a custodian in a sharp uniform manning a big floor broom standing near a bank of elevators. 

They had obviously just finished and moving to another floor.

Something about the cleanliness of the facility and that figure's posture (and in contrast thinking on that read the day before about the disgusting behavior of resistors in Washington) moved me to approach. 

"Pardon me, when was the last time a stranger walked up and gave you a xx bill?"

Look of surprise, "Sir, that's never happened."

"Well, it just did! I noticed - thank you for your work. Have a great day!"

With that came a big smile and thank you. Our encounter lasted less than a minute - off to check-in. 

Name, religion, politics, support or not for Judge Kavanaugh, nothing asked. 

A simple random act of kindness - letting a stranger know their contribution toward bettering life for the rest of us was noticed.

It would not have mattered who it was, it just happened this custodian a black female about 30 years my junior. Maybe she talked about it the rest of the day. That it will stay with her for a good long while better still.

My hope ...

1) Her faith in fellow man bolstered;
2) Others will follow the practice - for what's a few bucks once in a while to make someone's day. Be alert! Those moments obvious. Act!

That's one way we make allies and overwhelm antagonists. 

Mass - a Principle of War. 

Good guys (and kindness) far outnumber bad guys (with money). 

Mass the good guys.

The confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh - a fight win in a greater war.

Mass - celebrated before the birthday party. At offering, some "guys" gave; to help strangers. Good. 

"Birthday Boy" seated center in suspenders 

In rockers outside the USO we sat. 

Time to draw ... 

Woman on phone

7 x 5 in. graphite

... and, just before boarding, an adjacent gate. 

AA at C3

3 x 1.5 in. ink

Chilly and raining but it's good to be home.