CenterlineRight

Thursday, March 5, 2026

The Sweet with the Bitter

It has become impossible for me to listen to President Trump for more than a few minutes at a time; his arrogance and braggadocio is so very tiring. I am a long-time Independent. And even though my fiscally conservative and socially moderate leanings push me towards the right, I occasionally see something attractive on the left…not the progressive left; but the old style, blue dog Democrat, liberal left.

Now if I (as an Independent) feel this way about Trump, it should come as no surprise that most Democrats have an automatic, knee-jerk inclination to oppose anything…good or bad…that comes from President Trump. The man certainly engenders a love/hate reaction. We saw the same syndrome from Republicans when Obama was president; but I honestly don’t believe the feeling was nearly as strong back then. Republicans certainly gave President Clinton a hard time during his first term…and he provided such an inviting target. But it was during his second term that our government enjoyed one of its greatest periods of productive bi-partisanship. Is it possible for that dynamic to repeat itself?

I fear that the moderates in the Democrat Party are a dwindling group; I truly hope I am mistaken. But regardless of their numbers, it would be an extremely positive political development for our nation if they…like me…could manage to somehow separate their disdain for the personal side of Trump from a common sense support for his policies and actions…the things that constitute the professional side of Trump. Personally, I consider the personal side the bitter and the professional side the sweet.

I believe there are some hard realities playing out in Donald Trump’s second presidential term. He is a lame duck and will not be running for re-election. No doubt, he will be heavily involved in selecting the candidate that will attempt to succeed him; but I am equally certain that he is far more concerned about his legacy than he is his successor. This political autonomy…hand-in-hand with Trump’s chaotic, non-traditional approach to the presidency…creates a combination that makes Donald Trump the type of president who has the potential to accomplish some remarkable goals…both legislatively and presidentially. He is uncommonly unshackled and uniquely independent to the point where he does not have to overtly concern himself with polls, popularity, or perception. It can easily be said that President Donald Trump is the right man, in the right place, at the right time.

First and most important in the presidential arena, at this moment, we should consider Operation Epic Fury…the merits and faults of that event. It is indisputable that Iran hates America. It has a long and storied history of brutally attacking our country and its global interests. It exports terror across the world. It cannot be reasonably deterred from obtaining a nuclear weapon; and upon obtaining that nuclear weapon…it will use it to aggressively expand their agenda of hate across this planet. War is hell and the loss of ONE life in war is ONE life too many. But the simple fact is that Iran was a ticking time bomb that was going to inevitably explode with horrific consequences if something was not done to stop them. There has been no president in recent memory willing to take the necessary steps…and risks…to accomplish that. There is no reason to think that our NEXT president would be willing to take that necessary action. Donald Trump is in a unique position to do that; he is willing to take the risk; and he has done it. Damn the torpedoes…IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

As a practical matter, much of Trump’s legislative potential will be impacted by the partisan composition of the Congress during his final two years. But if the Republicans can maintain congressional control, then Trump’s independence could portend some very positive changes in America. The continuation of his “peace through strength”, “America First”, and “aversion to forever wars” foreign policy inclinations would, in my opinion, be a very solid and beneficial development not just for our country, but for the planet at large. His efforts to shrink the size of our government and deregulate our federal bureaucracy could continue to pay dividends for the effectiveness and efficiency of our federal administration. It will also have the additional benefit of stimulating our economy. It is not unreasonable to believe that with a Republican Congress, he could pursue and accomplish comprehensive immigration reform within the next three years…on a bipartisan basis. Additionally, national health care reform would certainly be within reach. And if we are going to dream…why not go on out to the far end of the skinny limb and think about revamping our unsustainable Social Security System.

Of course these are huge asks…but why not dream big? Why not use the unique aspects and de facto independence of a final Trump term to reach for the stars in an attempt to solve some chronic ailments that are so troubling to our nation? Why not put Trump’s arrogance and ego to work in a positive direction? But if there is to be the possibility of this happening, then there must be resurgence in the moderate wing of the Democrat Party. Some degree of bi-partisanship is a necessary ingredient if these efforts have any chance at all. It won’t take a whole lot of Democrat votes, but it will take a few. Moderate Democrats must come to terms with the enticing pull of Trump Derangement Syndrome and learn…like I have…to take the bitterness of Donald Trump’s ego with the sweetness of Donald Trump’s agenda. Contrary to Democrat dogma…Donald Trump is not king and will not be president forever.

Whoever the next president is and whichever national party they represent, they WILL NOT have the independence that Donald Trump now possesses. After serving two years of their first term and bathing in the adulation that goes with it, they will earnestly begin to campaign for their second term and everything they do will be tinged with political calculus. Our country has a small window…less than three years…to get some serious business done; business that will make the futures of our children, grandchildren, and planetary neighbors safer and more secure than they are today. The key to that possibility lays with the quiet groups of moderates in our national parties…the ones that reside in those small areas on either side of the CenterlineRight. THEIR VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD.

All things Operation Epic Fury…

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/03/in-the-room-with-steve-witkoff.php

https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/iran-war-widens-beyond-israel-tehran-middle-east/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/01/operation-epic-fury-and-the-fall-of-the-mullahs/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/03/the-case-for-epic-fury.php

https://reason.com/2026/03/05/yes-the-iran-war-is-a-war-of-choice-and-a-bad-one/

https://nypost.com/2026/03/04/us-news/ex-secretary-of-state-condoleezza-rice-says-trump-needs-to-take-care-of-iran-for-good/

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/nato-chief-rutte-to-newsmax-trumps-iran-mission-has-broad-allied-support/2026/03/04/id/1248354/

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/28/operation-epic-fury-trump-can-rely-on-past-democratic-presidents-for-the-authority-to-attack-iran/#more-241465

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/03/01/fight-or-flight-how-trump-boxed-in-congress-on-war-powers/#more-241501

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution-trump/

https://archive.is/QtqaU

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/02/marco-rubio-and-america-alone/

https://americanmind.org/salvo/operation-epic-fury-and-europes-crisis-of-resolve/

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/the-1400-year-old-sunni-shia-islamic-religious-split-is-shaping-the-iran-war/

How will the ongoing Middle East conflict impact “this” tragic war…

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/shelby-wilder-ukraine-russia/2026/02/24/id/1247274/

What exactly is the Trump foreign policy doctrine?

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/26/is-there-a-trump-great-game/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/03/trumps-way-of-war/

Why are the mid-term elections so important? Here are some examples that should make it very clear…

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/how-crazy-are-the-democrats-3.php

https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/03/02/media-ignore-arrest-14-year-illegal-alien-30-arrests-case

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/yes-fraud-can-and-does-invalidate-elections/

https://thefederalist.com/2026/03/05/north-carolinas-two-vote-race-is-exactly-why-the-save-act-is-so-necessary/

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/26/democrats-cant-seriously-believe-id-requirements-are-civil-rights-violations/

https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/biden-justice-department-awarded-grants-fulton-da-during-trump

https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/wedfani-files-georgia-prosecutor-coordinated-trump-case-closely

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/how-the-democrats-prosecuted-trump.php

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/26/bombshell-report-biden-fbi-spied-on-trumps-2024-campaign/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/another-joe-biden-fbi-scandal.php

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/27/jack-smiths-secret-orders-targeting-patel-and-wiles-should-alarm-us-all/

The main driving force for the upcoming mid-term elections will be the status of our national economy. I still believe that might prove to be an asset for the Republican Party. Illegal immigration will continue to be a central issue also. The mid-term elections can be a way forward…or they can be a way back…

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/the-real-state-of-the-union.php

https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/02/26/mortgage-rates-fall-below-6-first-time-2022

https://reason.com/2026/02/28/its-the-spending-stupid-3/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/03/illegal-immigration-a-winner-for-republicans.php

Rogue Federal Judges are destroying the integrity of our justice system. Something must be done to stop this madness…

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/05/americas-imperial-judiciary/

President Trump…Please shut up about tariffs! If you believe in them as much as you say…work them into trade deals. Do them in non-controversial fashion that does not create legal issues with the courts and Congress. Do them in a deliberate, transparent, manner but please…quit talking about them incessantly. They are not a winner politically and that is what actually matters at this point in time.

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/23/the-supreme-court-has-ruled-on-tariffs-but-who-will-ultimately-pay/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/justice-gorsuch-reminds-us-why-congress-matters/

https://reason.com/2026/02/26/the-4-economic-myths-powering-trumps-new-tariff-push/

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/trumps-stupid-and-vile-attack-on-supreme-court-justices/

Education…Education…Education…

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/04/degraded-schools/

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/24/anathema-in-the-university-mission-bari-weiss-canceled-at-ucla/#more-241228

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-destructive-diversity-mania-rages-on/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/what-do-employers-think-about-college-degrees/

The AI revolution is inevitable. Get on the train or be run over by it…

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/25/even-the-best-ai-scenario-is-the-end-of-everything-weve-ever-been/

Partisan politics and TDS have poisoned every aspect of our culture and society. In many ways, we have become a coarse and ugly nation.

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/26/youre-not-alone-media-explore-how-seeing-american-flags-or-patriotic-displays-trigger-feelings-of-guilt-despair-shame-anger/#more-241343

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/28/i-do-solemnly-swear-how-profanity-has-taken-hold-of-american-politics/#more-241319

Saturday, February 28, 2026

The Hope of the World

Pray for Peace....May God abide with our leaders, our soldiers, and all those innocents afflicted by the conflict.

Sunday, February 22, 2026

The Buffet is Open

Even before the mid-terms occur in November, the leadership and presidential nominee race for each political party is revving up. It appears that Germany provided a stage for some early auditions.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/raves-for-rubio.php#google_vignette

https://americanmind.org/salvo/what-will-replace-the-old-order/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/how-marco-was-received.php

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/marco-rubio-munich-security-conference-donald-trump/2026/02/15/id/1246214/

https://jewishworldreview.com/michael/barone022026.php

https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/02/rubios-impressive-tightrope-walk/

https://justthenews.com/world/democratic-presidential-hopefuls-turn-decades-old-munich-security-conference-anti-trump

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/16/you-had-me-a-hello-newsom-and-aoc-go-to-europe-to-pitch-high-tax-high-regulation-policies/

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/the-california-affordability-problem-that-newsoms-fans-dont-want-to-talk-about/

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/22/the-new-olympics-candidates-vie-for-gold-based-entirely-on-style-points-in-american-politics/#more-241081

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qorZZt89dEs

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-andy-beshear-won-in-kentucky/

The upcoming mid-term elections might be some of the consequential in America’s history. The political environment leading up to that event is shaping up to be a tumultuous, no holds barred…free for all.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/02/17/virtually_all_countries_support_voter_photo_id__so_why_the_filibuster.html

https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/02/the-save-acts-virtuous-goals-are-not-worth-the-cost/

https://www.citizenscount.org/news/should-nh-adopt-ranked-choice-voting?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=6494418176&gbraid=0AAAAADt27-40OJLcU1BMQXCEugtoAqTDt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8_HZtKXekgMVZybUAR1mlz1UEAAYBCAAEgKwufD_BwE

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/16/election-2026-california-republicans-have-a-chance/

While DEI wokery continues to linger about, the Green New Deal madness has taken some very significant hits and appears to be ebbing in its enthusiasm.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/leftist-advancing-climate-policy-dei-and-esg-through-courts-seek-broad

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/18/trump-repeals-epas-endangerment-finding-preserving-affordable-energy-and-housing/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/20/waiting-to-exhale/

President Trump joyfully embraces his role as Captain Chaos, while his opportunity to make a significant and long-term conservative difference in the federal judiciary is slipping away. This is the cost of his lack of focus, scattergun leadership.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/james-rosen-newsmax-donald-trump/2026/02/17/id/1246446/

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/judicial-vacancies-and-the-senate-calendar/

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/no-new-appellate-vacancies/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/22/the-lefts-elastic-principles-on-judicial-authority/

National immigration policy, border control, and ICE will continue to be hot topics in the foreseeable future…as they should.

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/19/why-exactly-did-they-destroy-the-border/

https://americanmind.org/salvo/refuting-the-medias-latest-immigration-propaganda/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/nothing-but-contempt.php

https://justthenews.com/government/local/illinois-official-got-300k-donations-trucking-industry-while-agency-issued-illegal

As Venezuela seeks a new path, America ratchets up the pressure on Iran, and the USA/European relationship continues to evolve…China and Korea patiently stand by and watch…waiting.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/world-descends-carnage-spineless-leaders-170000332.html

https://nypost.com/2026/02/19/world-news/uk-blocks-trump-from-using-raf-bases-for-strikes-on-iran-and-he-is-already-retaliating/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/21/what-does-america-first-mean-in-iran/

https://elderofziyon.substack.com/p/the-new-palestinian-constitution

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/20/solving-the-north-korea-mess-that-biden-left-trump/

The Department of Justice dallies about with the inane relevance of the Epstein Files…meanwhile, the pervasive rot that existed within that Department when the second Trump Administration came into WDC continues to play its Machiavellian games and simply bides its time…knowing that presidents come and go, but they shall remain.

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/15/ro-khanna-and-the-impunity-of-wealthy-powerful-men/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/15/how-deep-is-the-deep-state/

https://reason.com/2026/02/16/the-fbi-bent-its-own-rules-to-spy-on-1100-sensitive-targets/

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/20/a-year-into-trumps-second-term-when-does-accountability-for-the-deep-state-begin/

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/20/cia-yanks-19-docs-compromised-by-leftist-activism-including-threat-assessment-targeting-traditional-motherhood/

https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/historic-cia-retraction-intel-reports-exposes-rot-political-bias-obama

Why can we not have a sports world that is immune from the poisonous, ridiculous, political polarization that has infected the entire planet?

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/olympics-turn-political-as-us-athletes-speak-out-against-trump/

Just as our American culture made some terrible missteps in how we handled COVID, we are going to long regret many of the lunatic developments in the area of “trans”.

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/16/5-things-to-know-about-the-secret-wisconsin-school-trans-bathroom-policy/

As we pull back the ill-advised “mandating” of alternative energy sources in areas where they simply do not fit, we are discovering that there are indeed new opportunities in the energy sector that, when wisely applied, hold tremendous potential benefit for our nation and the world.

https://www.newsmax.com/us/u-s-nuclear-microreactor/2026/02/16/id/1246278/

Our government is far too large; it spends way too much money in the most inefficient ways imaginable; and neither national political party has the integrity to take an honest and transparent approach towards solving this curse upon our future generations. Regrettably, the only real difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is not how much they spend…but what they spend on.

https://reason.com/2026/02/19/u-s-to-spend-24-4-trillion-more-than-it-has-over-the-next-decade-report-warns/

https://www.newsmax.com/politics/congress-trump-spending-cuts/2026/02/17/id/1246404/

https://www.cnbc.com/2014/03/14/obamacares-problem-you-cant-fix-stupidcommentary.html

Friday, February 13, 2026

Save Us from this Damnable Virtue Signaling…and the Cycle of Life

2020 U.S. Census figures show us that approximately 10.2 percent of married couple households in America are interracial or interethnic. It is estimated that this number has increased since that date. Among interracial couples, the most common pairings are White-Hispanic at 42 percent; White-Asian at 15 percent; and White-Black at 12 percent. Of the interracial marriages, the most common are among same-sex couples at 31.6 percent as compared to opposite-sex couples at 18.4 percent. Based on the 2020 U.S. Census count, 8 percent of Americans consider themselves LGBTQ+; which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual. The 2020 U.S. Census figures also tell us that 57.8 percent of the U.S. population is White; 18.7 percent is Hispanic/Latino; 12.4 percent is Black; 5.9 percent is Asian; 4.1 percent is two or more races; and 1.1 percent is American Indian/Alaskan Native. The Hispanic/Latino percentage of our population has grown 23 percent from 2010 through 2020. They are the largest ethnic minority group in America and are expanding that position. These are the official government facts: https://www.census.gov/ .

It is estimated that Boomers (born 1946-1964) represent about 20 percent of the population. That would be around 67 million people. The Gen Xers came along in 1965-1980 and represent about 18 percent of our population. Those Americans born 1981-1996 are considered Millennials and represent about 22 percent of the population. That translates to roughly 72.5 million people…making them the largest generational segment of our American population. Gen Zers were born in the years 1997-2012.

Now I do not know who…or why…or what…contributes to the media advertising that inundates our daily lives; I have no practical experience in the marketing industry. No doubt, it is driven primarily by money; but it appears to me that one of the main elements in today’s advertising is style and messaging…as opposed to product information. I suspect that part of my dismay and puzzlement with such advertising results from the simple fact that I am a 73 year old Boomer and simply out of touch with the latter generations that populate the ad agency segment of the business world. Whatever the reasons might be, I must confess that the overwhelming majority of the advertising I see around me either makes no sense whatsoever, appears to be much more vested in image and presentation than the substance of the product or cause, and is often indecipherable to the point of not even mentioning or presenting the product or cause being advertised.

But here is the true mystery in this matter: Is not the purpose of advertising an effort to get someone viewing the advertisement to purchase a product, avail themselves of a service, or support a specific cause? If that is true…then why in the world would these corporations and businesses who spend millions (billions?) of dollars on advertising apparently ignore the aforementioned and following realities? It is estimated that the Boomer generation controls 51 percent of the wealth in this nation today; that would be about 85 trillion dollars. The Gen Xers and the Millennials…combined…control as estimated 10.6 percent of America’s wealth; that being about 17.5 trillion dollars. Excuse me if I am mistaken on this, but I have always understood that targeted purchasers of a product or a service should be those individuals who are financially capable of purchasing a particular product or service?

Once again, taking into account my inadequacy in the field of marketing and advertising…I will present for your consideration an explanation of this obvious conundrum. The corporations and businesses of America are largely controlled (managed) by Gen Xers and Millennials. These individuals make up the CEOs and advertising executives who ultimately determine the content of the advertising that we experience. These young, intelligent, ambitious folks are predominantly college graduates who are exiting an education system that is largely insulated from diverse ideologies and perspectives. It is a bubble environment where individuals tend to talk, debate, and discuss ideals among themselves; seldom venturing out to uncomfortable places or entertaining thoughts/ideas that run counter to what they are being taught by academia.

Once they graduate and move into the world of career development, they carry this bubble philosophy with them. Constrained by the limited amount of exposure they’ve had to opposing or different thoughts and preferences, they ply their talents towards a form of advertising that is pretty much defined by the standards and elements of the bubbles which they have been…and continue…living in. They do impressive work…but that product is limited by their lack of vision or expansive thinking. Even worse than not realizing this deficiency in their understanding of how their messaging is received and who their marketing targets should be…it seems to me remarkable that someone in this advertising mix doesn’t point out this vacuum and rectify it.

I have two children…a late Gen Xer and an early Millennial. Both of them, like their generational friends and peers, are great individuals. I respect them; I love them and would lay down my life for them. They are smart, have good work ethics and morals, and are full of caring with big hearts. But I must say…there are times when they are totally clueless. They are of generations who have been, to a large degree, privileged. They are also of generations who have never really been tested in a significant way by wars, depressions, or severe deprivation; I hope they never are. But reality dictates there are some lessons in life that must be lived and cannot be taught; they have not lived those lessons. Even more grievous is the fact that many of them refuse to even acknowledge this gap in their understanding and for those who do…they ignore or discount the knowledge and wisdom gleaned from such adversity.

To cap off this discussion, it must be pointed out that it is entirely likely the ultimate decision makers in this process of determining what type of marketing or advertising we are exposed to in our daily lives…is predominantly a group of wealthy corporate board members or business owners who happen to be Boomers themselves. They would be the ones who put the Gen Xers or Millennials in charge of the marketing shop and turn them loose to their own ends. I don’t know about you, but that strikes me as being quite ironic. Why would these folks enable and endorse a form of marketing that does not seem to jive with their generational characteristics? I suppose at least a partial explanation for this is the fact that many of these folks are uber-wealthy and it is quite possible that the uber-wealthy simply don’t concern themselves with marketing or advertising. That is, of course…assuming it is not a marketing faux pas of such magnitude as to rock the company…ala Bud Light or Cracker Barrel.

Bringing this piece full circle, the upshot of the entire process to me is this: Excessive tolerance and virtue signaling have become personal traits of significant value to Gen Xers and Millennials. This is not intended as a judgment, but simply an observation. I believe this is due to that bubble environment that I alluded to earlier. To me…an avowed Boomer…virtue signaling is thin gruel and is the equivalent of talking the talk, but failing to walk the walk. Perhaps I, the typical Boomer, am the one that is out of touch and simply detached from reality. But I must say that based on my life experience, when one ventures out to emphasize style over substance and preening over production…one is traveling on thin ice and shaky foundations. I will leave with this note: After carefully considering the facts presented in the earlier part of this piece…does this type of virtue signal-driven marketing really make any business or financial sense?

If an alien visiting our planet for the first time based their impression of America solely on the media marketing and advertising that exists in our nation today…would they get an accurate impression of what America actually is? Are we really as shallow and pliable as the marketing universe assumes us to be? I think not. I hope not. It is not a reach to also submit that the out-of proportion detachment from reality that I have tried to illustrate in marketing and advertising also exists in America’s culture, society, and politics. Review those numbers once again and think about that.

Now we come to a time where I must indulge in a moment of self reflection. Do I…as an aging Boomer whose life is mostly in the rear view mirror…feel somewhat marginalized or ignored because the movers and shakers in this world…mostly made up of Gen Xers and Millennials…don’t really concern themselves with me or my generation? Perhaps a bit. Should I more readily acknowledge that the bubble inhabitants of Gen X and Millennial have no more…or less…empathy for my Boomer bubble than my generational co-habitants have for theirs? Most certainly, yes. Is it probably the case that I look back at them with a more thoughtful and analytical attitude than they assume when looking at us? Absolutely. Why do you suppose that is? Most likely because most of “their” lives lie ahead of them.

The Gen Xers and the Millennials now behave just as we Boomers did while we were chasing our careers, raising our families, and trying to figure out the world around us. We were then fully consumed by ourselves and the environment we fit into and interacted with; that was our bubble. No doubt, at that time and place, the Greatest Generation (1901-1924) and the Silent Generation (1925-1945)…in the last chapters of their lives…looked backwards at us Boomers with the same contemplative notions. Such is the gloriously colorful and texturally diverse tapestry known as America. Such is the cycle of life.