Interesting, Perplexing Times In Which We Live As We Approach the Second Half of 2015

Interesting times in which we live. We are in quite a transitional time, which is difficult for many people. Globalization, rapidly changing demographics, pronounced shift left on social issues, end of two terms of an African American president, good possibility of woman president on the horizon, America's changing role in the world, extreme income inequity, disorder in many regions of the world, emerging rival super powers in the world, all combine to require seeing the world clearly and unemotionally, requiring unbiased pursuit of new solutions to problems of the much different world in which we find ourselves. I am reminded of the Einstein quote, "We can't our solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used to create them." And, I see clearly, that the same old 20th century political alignments, arguments, bickering will quickly deem us, individually and collectively as a nation, irrelevant. 


I am with Thomas Friedman, my candidate for best lead paragraph on a news article so far this year goes to Tom Goodwin, an executive at Havas Media, whose essay March 3 on Techcrunch.com began: “Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. Something interesting is happening.”


In order to continue to try and see, and more clearly understand, the environment in which the successful candidate for President will find themselves, here is an excellent, even critical, Thomas Friedman article, "Jeb, Hillary, Facebook, and Disorder."



~ Bob Godfrey

Tweet Goes Viral Showing SC Officer Helping White Supremacist in Medical Distress During KKK Rally at SC State House

Above is a powerful photo which son Rob, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of South Carolina, took with his cell phone during a KKK Rally at the SC State House this weekend, which continues to appear across the country, here at Philly.com. 

Below is his original tweet which went viral; 5000 retweets and counting at this point (photo was included):
Rob Godfrey @RobGodfrey: ·
"not an uncommon example of humanity in SC: Leroy Smith helps white supremacist to shelter & water as heat bears down."

As an aside, Officer Leroy Smith is Major Leroy Smith, Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and he sits on the Governor's Cabinet.  He is generally always in uniform, not coat and tie, working along side his fellow officers, so as to be perceived as an equal by them.

Such a poignant and inspiring image and tweet, as South Carolina continues to set an example for the nation of civility, forgiveness, and redemption.

Poignant Pictures During The Day Before and The Day of The Confederate Battle Flag Being Lowered

Lots of media around Columbia this week. But none of them noticed when Gov. Haley took an early afternoon walk on the grounds to observe the flag area, the day before the flag came down.......with son Rob. No words.

 

 

Gov. Haley, son Rob, and others doing a run-through before ceremony to take down the Confederate Battle Flag.  It's time. The war ended 150 years ago.

A Wonderful Old Country Hymn

A Great Day in South Carolina - Flag Removal Bill Signing