We are blessed in this space to have the flexibility to write on a wide range of topics. We are not confined to a narrow perspective.
For example, we received a call earlier this week to ask if we had plans to write on the life and recent death of 99-year-old actress Betty White. She died December 31, 2021 in her home in California and would have celebrated her 100th birthday January 17.
We extend our space this week to three items: The late Betty White, the tragedy and assault in an untimely manner on the U.S. Capitol building, which celebrates one year on the date of this week’s edition of The Voice, January 6; and information from the U.S. Department of Labor released earlier this week on child labor laws, human trafficking, and forced labor. All are relevant topics.
• Betty White, an actress, started in television in the late 1930s prior to television being available to the public as a test. She started in radio in the early 1940s and was involved in numerous television shows. Research reveals the names of her television shows, however, prior to a list of her many shows, which the public knows and understands, it should be important to know that she gave credit for her long life to her positive outlook on life. One spiritual piece quoted her as saying being genuinely positive helped her through life.
She was born January 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Ill. and she told People Magazine that she was born, “a cockeyed optimist. I got it from my mom and that never changed. I always find the positive.”
Fans might recall her roles in The Golden Girls (1985-1992), The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Betty White Show, The Love Boat, Mama’s Family, The Golden Palace, Ladies Man, That ‘70s Show, Boston Legal, The Bold and the Beautiful, Hot in Cleveland, and many more shows. She won Emmys along the way. Her positive approach and charm will live on and be remembered.
• Simply stated, the attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. January 6, 2021, was a tragedy. Inexplicably, supporters of the trashing of the Capitol building seek to justify the storming of the building as a non-event, as rational, as acceptable. It was none of the adjectives used by those who see the storming of the Capitol as acceptable. It will live on as a stain on the American story, as perpetrated by misguided, or, ruthless individuals, who were easily led into the violence, and saw it as acceptable. We must adhere to holding those responsible for the desecration of the Capitol Building. How anyone could think it was acceptable is counter-productive of the legacy of the United States. Anyone who played a role in the vandalism should be held liable. It is evident that many of those involved in the vandalism do not understand the United States is a democracy, the respectable approach to holding government accountable, and does not have value in our democracy. Justice delayed is justice denied and those who perpetrated the breach of the Capitol building were wrong, guilty, and must pay the price for their indiscretions. Simply stated.
Democracy must trump anarchy and must trump autocracy. Clear enough. We must move on in positivity and help those who do not understand democracy, nor want to understand democracy, to learn and understand. We can do it.
• The U.S. Department of Labor announced earlier this week, awards of $14 million in agreements to support a broad set of actions for two projects intended to negate and overcome forced labor, and human trafficking which affects more than 200 million children, women, and men, worldwide, according to the study by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The awards are helpful and come at a time that the pandemic makes it more difficult to navigate forced labor. Worldwide estimates are that 160 million children are subject to child labor, an expected increase by the end of this year. Human trafficking accounts for 71% of victims are girls and women.
The United Nations receives the first award to set a target for eradicating child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and modern slavery worldwide by 2020. It is a major goal, however, we must set priorities to be helpful in the reduction of forced labor.
• Clear and Concise, Week 1 Year 3: We have included a variety of elements in Clear and Concise for two years, from pleas for peace, good grammar, correct word usage, and showing respect to all persons who live on the planet. We can do it. We invite contributions for clear and concise from our readers.