Here are this week's thoughts: wonders never cease; Gitmo; Hillary's failing sisterhood and other concerns; Switzerland's referendum; peace efforts in Syria; 21st century Marie Antoinette; Flint, MI and Mexico. 

Virginia McLauren, 106 years young.  From a recent story in the Washington Post:

As she picked cotton and shucked corn in the fields of South Carolina with her parents, it never occurred to the young Virginia McLaurin that she might one day eat in the same restaurants as white people. And the notion that she would live to see the country elect a black president, and that one day she’d be invited to the White House and clasp his hands and dance with him for all the world to see?

     But it did all came to pass and her grandson's call awakened her at 5 a.m. the next day to tell her that she was fast becoming an internet sensation! Later in the day, over lunch in a local NW D.C. restaurant, Ms. McLaurin watched the video clip in amazement on a friend's iPhone and "...seemed almost as amazed by the technology that was allowing her to relive it all. 'Where can I get one of these?' she asked about the smartphone video."
     The story  brings to mind what seems an appropriate change to that famous 1897 quote, "Yes, Virgina, there is a [God]." Do read the story and reflect on the changes seen by this remarkable woman.

Guantanamo closure. There was a time when America held the Soviet's feet "to the fire," inveighing against their infamous gulag, imprisonment without trials, forced confessions, "show trials," etc.  Today, the Gitmo population numbers 93 and the debate concerns not just detentions without trials, but the cost of keeping the prison in Cuba open. A law now prohibits spending tax money to  transfer these prisoners to any prison in the continental US or spending to build facilities here. As if a suspected (but not-yet-convicted) terrorist is somehow more dangerous than your run-of-the-mill convicted double murderer or serial rapist or serial DUI/hit and run driver.
     From an editorial in the Los Angeles Times, "The stain of Guantanamo on America's reputation exists not because prisoners are held indefinitely [abroad], it is a result of their being held without trial anywhere...In some cases, prosecution may be impossible because evidence was obtained through torture. Will the U.S. really hold them forever?"

Hillary Clinton's "women's problem."  When a 74 year-old white male captures an overwhelming percentage of the female vote in IA, NH, and NV, Clinton's message is most definitely not resonating with some of her intended audience. Moreover, that is "trouble" with a capital "T" when he captures 84%, then 83%, then 82% of the under-30 voters, a prominent component of Obama's 2012 vote total. The African American vote in SC and other southern states may well prove crucial for both Sanders and Clinton.
     Personal problems also continue to plague her candidacy.  "Trustworthy" is not a word associated with Secretary Clinton and many of her advisers and the Clinton Foundation, especially as the FBI investigation continues. The jobs and reputations of some very prominent administration officials could be jeopardized, beginning with the head of the FBI.

Even Switzerland is having anti-immigration thoughts. It is not only candidate Trump that frowns on immigrants.   

The hot issue in Europe on Sunday [Feb 28] is a proposal from the anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) on whether to subject any foreign resident to automatic deportation if convicted of a crime as serious as murder or an offense as minor as speeding....Under the SVP's draft law, foreigners would be automatically deported after completing their sentences for serious crimes like murder, rape and armed robbery, or for two lesser offenses committed within a 10-year span such as speeding or burglary.

Syria. The opening words of this morning brief from Foreign Policy give some indications of that troubled scene: "Almost 100 rebel groups have agreed to the partial, temporary ceasefire — provided government forces don’t attack them during the period, even under the pretext of targeting terrorism." Nearly 100 groups?? Undoubtedly each group has its own understanding of these preconditions. Most Americans do not appreciate the complexities of politics/religion in the middle east.

Marie said, "Let them eat cake." Tom Engelhardt, thinks it more apt to "Let Them Eat Missiles, and Other Myths of the American War Machine  The problem with US military strategy is that it doesn’t fix any of the problems it’s setting out to address." The Cold War ended, but not the arms race.

Lead poising, Flint and Mexico. Various state/local governments and federal agencies are concerned about lead in the drinking water in Flint, but the US has done little to lessen/halt the flow of lead-filled car batteries that flow from the US to the lead-recycling plants in Mexico. In fact, tougher US laws and laxer rules in Mexico have led to a 400% increase in the southward flow of batteries, with resulting lead contamination -- and all of its terrible consequences.

Thank you for reading. Only 21 days until spring is officially upon us, even though the tulips are beginning to "show" here in Denver City.