When we put this edition to bed Tuesday night, we were all but certain that Thanksgiving morning would find us not so thankful as it seemed all but certain our son Arieh would be fighting a land war in Gaza.

The Wednesday morning and the storm clouds seemed to broken up.

Now on Friday our dread is gone.

“Come to my arms! My beamish boy!
Oh frabjous day! Callooh, Callay!” He chortled in his joy. Lewis Carroll

We would have thought story of Luciano “Lucky” Munoz to be ridiculous had we not heard similar stories, many similar stories, over the years.

Yes there are people who are that petty and that shameless and that arrogant to appoint themselves the thought police over anyone they can.

Despite living in this bastion of freedom somehow in some twisted evil way they come to the belief that there is such a thing as ‘crime think’.

The early 20th century writer Sinclair Lewis penned a truly awful book about a fascist takeover of America titled ‘It Can’t happen Here’.

But apart from a horrible plot and two dimensional characters the theme that we are only a couple of people and a few coincidences away from losing our freedom is true.

It can happen here.

In fact it is happening all the time.

The only way to stop it is to stand up to it.

Sometimes it is a little thing, sometime it takes a life time.

But easy or hard fighting bullies is always worth it, even if they win now and again.

 

We thank all of our dear readers for the kind thoughts we have received by e-mail, telephone and in person over our son Arieh now awaiting orders to either invade Gaza or stay at the border.

It is humbling to know how well thought of he is in his home town and we pass your well wishes on to him.

We are very proud of our young warrior and the commitment he made to protect the people of Israel.

Our prayers are with him and his comrades who may soon be called to begin a land war.

 

We would be remiss in not mentioning the passing of twinkies, ho ho’s and ding dongs even though we have long switched to buying Little Debbie’s snack cakes.

If anything the death of the 90 year old Hostess Corporation and the strange mourning surrounding it emphasizes the myth of permanence.

Except for a very small period of time from the late teens to early 20’s human beings don’t really like change.

We know we don’t.

But on the other hand all things change.

It is after all the nature of nature.

There was a time when Wonder Bread was revolutionary.

Now it is old hat.

We will raise a glass of New Coke to it.