Just when we thought it was safe to go in the water

To paraphrase a comment from the iconic blockbuster movie “Jaws”, “Just when we thought it was safe to go into the water:”. This refers to a time that people were terrified by a shark attack and then when the swimmers thought it was safe to go back into the water the shark reappeared. The same comment can be used today but not in the context of a mythical shark. Instead it should be directed toward our present day world of politics and anarchy we are presently witnessing.
Last week we witnessed a sickening display of anti-patriotism that would only be allowed in a free and tolerant nation. A display so revolting that in countries such as Iran or Russia the perpetrators would have disappeared into the darkness of the night only to have never been seen again. Torture was probable but death was inevitable. However, the shocking scenes at our beautiful capital followed by the snubbing of the leader of one of our most staunchest allies leaves many around the world scratching their heads in amazement.
The Prime Minister of Israel, the most important ally in the Middle East. visited the United States. A visit of a head of state usually dictates a formal welcome from the American leadership. In the case of the Israeli leader, Prime Minister Netanyahu, it didn’t happen. There was no President with a lovely well-dressed wife, nor a Vice-President who opted to go to a sorority gathering, nor a Secretary of State nor any senior leadership from the Executive branch of our government in attendance at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister. To add insult to injury, members of Congress that included the person that presides over the Senate, the Vice President, did not have the respect to be present for Netanyahu’s speech to the joint houses of congress. It is with the utmost pride to note that the Louisiana native and Speaker of the House of Representatives was present. Amazingly, the warmest welcome to the Prime Minister came from a past president of the United States at his home in Florida.
As bad as the appearance of snubbing a Prime Minister is, the lawlessness that occurred during the official visit is even more appalling. Scenes could be seen of the American flag being hauled down at Columbus Circle outside Union Station in Washington while protesters chanting Hamas slogans were seen at our noble Capital. So what happened to the flag at Union Station that is seen draping the caskets of fallen American servicemen; they were thrown on the ground and burned along side the Israeli flag. As a sign of total disrespect, the flag of Hamas was raised in its place. Never did I think we would see this again; not since the Viet Nam protests. Not only was our flag, the symbol of our country, desecrated but so were the statues that are the property of the United States Park Service and the American people. Spray painting the statue of Columbus with red spray paint with the word Hamas is not a way to win the hearts and minds of the typical American.
Some say that the burning of the American Flag is a freedom of expression that is guaranteed by the first Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. This has been upheld by the United States Supreme court and is a part of the law of the land; but there needs to be some clarification. If a protester goes to a store and purchases a flag and then takes it out and burns ut as a sign of protest, this is a legal act. But, if the protester tears down a flag that is flying at another person’s business or the flag is flying at a government entity or public location; the destruction of the flag becomes a crime of destruction of private or public property. This what happened at Union Station as the flag was the property of the U.S. Government and the crime is the destruction of this property. It will be interesting to see if anyone stands trial for this and if so and found guilty what the penalty will be.
Several weeks ago Donald Trump missed an assassin’s bullet by less than an inch. Then Joe Biden dropped out of the Presidential Race. Then for a moment, a very short moment, America looked inward and in retrospect reflected on what is truly important in life. All things come to an end and the embarrassment of an official state visit gone bad followed by the burning of a piece of cloth that represents so much to so many brought us back to where we were a month ago. And just when we thought it was safe to go into the water.
Now the unspeakable has happen to make the world even more dangerous. Hezbollah, the terrorist organization housed in Lebanon on the northern border of Israel fired missiles into a soccer stadium filled with children. Twelve children died and that night Israel launched its air attack on Hezbollah.
As for tearing down American flags. Go to France and tell the American spectators at the Olympics that they should give up their flags so that they can be burned in downtown Paris. That would be interesting.

God Bless America, God Save the Ukraine and Pray for Israel.