And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that just typing in as the tag line for this column, for December 7, caused a bit of reflection.

That’s particularly true ... I almost wrote “in the wake of the past election” except for some the election apparently is still not over. The attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor that day in 1941 signaled the official start of World War II, which I maintain was the last war in which all of us were invested on the same side.

Contrast that to today, after a very divisive election which seemed to result in the election of Donald Trump by virtue of Electoral College totals, even though his opponent, Hillary Clinton, racked up a higher popular vote total.

Clinton said right away: “Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.” But maybe not so fast.

During the campaign, when Trump said he wanted to see election results before pledging to support the winner if other than himself, Clinton chastised him severely.

But now, behind the lead of essentially a non-candidate of the Green party, Clinton says a recount of key states she lost is in order.

Clinton’s lawyer says they don’t expect any change. Then why?

Well, Martin Luther noted that how a situation is judged “depends on whose ox is being gored.”

And Trump has countered with a charge of many illegal voters casting ballots for Clinton, also a case where proof appears to be lacking.

A headline on an op ed piece in one of the dailies caught my eye, apropos of comments I made here recently. A Grinnell (IA) College instructor wrote it. The headline read “Iowa can be classroom for progressives.” Based on what the guy wrote, it would be more accurate, as suggested, that college and university classrooms already serve that purpose.

The day after the election, he said, his students were sad; some were crying. And he cried!

I was taught by many in college, ranging from full professors with tenure to teaching assistants working on a higher degree. I can’t imagine any of them crying over events which were not personal to them.

Thanks to a change by my cable TV company, I was able to enjoy several successive showings of “All in the Family” one day over the holiday weekend. It should be required viewing for anyone under age 30. With Archie Bunker as the ultimate bigot, it teaches lessons about the stupidity and inanity of most prejudices in a way that is most palatable.

We could use that approach today.