A Couple of Observations

Much has been made of Melania Trump's convention speech apparently tracking an earlier speech by Michelle Obama. When you put the speeches side by side, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Michelle Obama's speech was, indeed, copied in part. Such copying of words, without giving recognition to the original speaker, is unacceptable. The New York Times made this their lead story in today's paper. I am sure glad that the Times wants to keep this front page news. Slightly different from one of the actual candidates being blasted, and essentially being called a liar, by the Director of the FBI. For that important story it was basically "nothing to see here, let's move along."

So, the Times accused Melania not only of "word-for-word repetition," but also of "borrowed themes." What? Ideas cannot be owned. They can not be copyrighted. And they can not be plagiarized. Both Melania and Michelle spoke of achieving one's goals through hard work. That is a universal theme. There is one important difference. The Trumps actually believe it. We see it in the way the Trump children all work; they work for their father, but they work. They are family oriented. I have not heard of problems with drugs, alcohol or the law. Think of other very wealthy families and their children. Compare Ivanka Trump with Paris Hilton. Two billionaire fathers. I'd say one clearly did a better job of parenting.

Listening to Donald Trump Jr's speech, it was obvious that Trump Sr encouraged his children to work. He taught them to learn from the people who actually do the work, not just the MBAs sitting in some distant office. Trump took his kids to job sites, and they learned from those workers. That gives a certain appreciation and respect for working men and women. I loved his line that "We didn't learn from MBAs. We learned from people who had doctorates in common sense...It's why we're the only children of billionaires as comfortable in a D10 Caterpillar as we are in our own cars."

I said that the Trumps actually believed Melania's words about hard work - contrary to the Obamas. Everyone remember Obama's thoughts on hard work and running a business? "If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." Or, "...if you've been successful, you didn't get there on your own." So much for Michelle's achieving one's dreams through "your willingness to work for them."

A final thought. Our oldest daughter got us involved in a show called "Orphan Black." In one episode, there is a child in the room with several adults. One of the adults mentions "Republicans." The child asks "what is a Republican?" And the adult replies to the effect that it's best not to tell her so as to not give her nightmares. This non-stop mocking of conservatives and Republicans is what passes for intellectual debate from the left. It also reflects the truth that unlike "classical liberals" (see the July 17 post) leftists (today's liberals) have zero tolerance for opposing viewpoints.