The Schloss-Blog has noticed that 'spite,' in all its ugly shapes and forms, is everywhere as we go into 2024. Me, I'm still holding out on my new year's resolution to return Cindy Crawford's phone calls, same one I make every year.
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How do you eliminate "spite?"
It's everywhere. It's in every word Donald Trump speaks (his campaign is his nasty and violent retribution tour).
It's in the Middle East, where Hamas has pledged to keep coming after Jews, after Israelis, no matter what. Even if there's a cease-fire. Even after the hostages have all been returned. Even after they stop stealing the humanitarian supplies from the Palestinians who need it.
You can kill Hamas terrorists, but can you kill the "spite" that drives them?
What a shame that it's "spite" instead of a peaceful resolution and the opportunity to live side by side in peace.
And democracy. People who protest for a cease-fire don't realize the "spite" that exists in the region.
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Talk about "spite," it's alive and well in Tennessee.
The moms of students at Covenant School, where three students were killed in a mass shooting, were rebuffed by the Tennessee legislature when they attended a forum on gun control and came away empty-handed when legislators, GOP dominated, refused to hear or acknowledge their pleas to consider legislation that would protect schoolkids' lives going forward.
Most of those moms are, or at least were, politically conservative and now have reality staring them in the face, as the legislators they helped elect turn a deaf ear to their pleas, aimed at protecting the lives of young Tennesseans.
Tell that to the moms of Uvalde, Texas. Parkside, Florida. And all the red states where Republican legislators refuse to protect their constituents from people who openly carry AR-15s and then use them to kill defenseless children.
You know, like Hamas terrorists do.
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Speaking of "spite," despite this having been the warmest year ever on Planet Earth, substantive legislation to protect the planet still is lacking.
Greenland, the one Donald Trump wanted to buy when he was president, is turning to mush. It's melting seven times faster than it was in the 1990s and its ice sheet is disappearing at a rate of 234 billion tons per year.
Another great investment that he and his sons would've made but been unaware of the financial balance sheet implications because we all know they never look at those. They just sign off on them.
And blame someone else.
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Yes, there's so much for which to be thankful: My family; my friends; my fraternity brothers and our upcoming reunion; the wonderful athletes who have stayed in touch and recall my coverage; my former students making significant contributions in their communities through their professional and personal commitments; and for me personally:
- Being a Radio Free Phoenix DJ
- The guidance of an older brother that helped catapult me to academic achievement and to a rewarding career;
- A career in sports that I only could have dreamed of;
- My grandson, the athlete, the fantasy football whiz and scholastic over-achiever;
- My daughter, who has become such a wonderful mom;
- And my Jocelyn's pending retirement, that will open up so much opportunity for us.
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I am thankful for all of you and wish there wasn't so much spite to have to write about.
But there is.
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Good night, Mrs. Calabash. Here's to you, Lori Jones Guthrie.
More Sunday night on my Radio Free Phoenix rock 'n' roll show.
Happy, blessed new year to you all.
(Joyce, Greg, Bill, Becky: Back those Bison).
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