Freedom of Choice

Super Tuesday is behind us now and the presidential campaign race is really heating up. I’m enjoying the media coverage of Election 2016, but something is missing. Something like a good candidate to cast a vote for.

I love how I always begin political columns by saying I’m not a political person. I just realized that’s not entirely true. I make sure I vote in every election (the important ones anyway). I believe a person’s right to vote is one of the most powerful rights we have in this country. But with the choices put before us this year, it appears many ballots are cast against a candidate instead of for one. For a lot of voters, November’s election is going to be an exercise in choosing between the lesser of two evils.

Front runner Donald Trump can do no wrong. His blustery rhetoric forces people to listen. But is he saying anything of substance? He’s entertaining to watch, that’s for sure. Is he all surface glitter with no framework underneath? He’s an outsider and some people are attracted to that alone.
Trump seems to be saying all the right things and even when he says the wrong things, it seems to work to his advantage.

Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz seem to be cut from the same cloth. Watching them struggle to get their voices heard over Trump's bombastic style makes for interesting television. I’m not a debate watcher, but I've tuned in a few times this year to see the fireworks. I wasn’t disappointed. There was a fine line between the Republican debates and the WWE’s professional wrestling broadcasts. The over-the-top antics of the candidates would be comical if there wasn’t so much at stake (like the future of our country).

Kasich is trailing so far behind I’m surprised he's still in the mix. I did see a speech he made on television that made me want him to be a pastor at St. Patrick’s church. I’d never miss a Sunday homily if he were at the podium. His heartfelt vision for America touched my soul. Too bad he doesn’t stand a chance of winning. Dr. Ben Carson was smart enough to take himself out of the running. (Of course he's smart, he's a doctor.)

Which brings us to Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Oy vey. Bernie’s sincerety is the polar opposite of Hillary Clinton’s smarmy entitlement. Bernie’s populist message strikes a chord with the infamous 99% (last seen nowhere). However, “When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose” is not the greatest campaign slogan. For years there has been talk of the inevitability of a Hillary Clinton presidency. Who didn’t love the Clinton years the last time around? Hillary is determined to have her voice heard, but her shrieking, shrill tone is a turn off for many. Imagine the debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The decibels will be off the scale. Keep your remote in hand to adjust your television volume before your speakers blow out.

America needs a candidate to emerge to unify our country instead of dividing it. We need someone to offer hope and change – for real this time. I don’t like the choices I’m presented with this year. I don’t want to waste my vote by voting against someone. I’m not about to write-in “Mickey Mouse” to protest the election. I can only weigh all sides of the issues and pick the candidate I feel will do the best job representing my views. I just wish the pickings weren’t so slim. Where is Ross Perot when we need him?

Make A Wish

Happy Birthday To Max, Ellie & Matt

February 2016 is a month of significant birthdays in my world. No offense to Washington and Lincoln, their days are important too, but the birthdays in my family take precedence over presidents.On February 20th, my youngest son Max turned twenty-one years old. He’s come a long way from his tumultuous arrival into this world 21 years ago on a snowy February morning in the emergency room of the New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham. He was born on a Monday President’s Day holiday making the day even more special. He was also born one month earlier than expected. He’s always been ahead of his time. As a baby, he barely crawled. One day he just stood up and started walking. A short time later he was riding a two-wheeler. There were no training wheels on Max’s bike; he never needed them. His difficult middle-school experiences turned to triumph by the time he reached high-school. He excelled in the Stoneham Jazz Ensemble under the guidance of Mr. Grammer. Max will be a senior at Berklee College of Music in September, where his love for improvisational jazz has become his focus. His dream of becoming a music instructor has already been realized. In March he will begin teaching jazz courses for Brookline’s Adult Education Program. Max claims he doesn’t like to celebrate his birthday but that’s fine . His mother and I will always celebrate for him. We are thankful for every moment we share with this incredibly talented young man.

This weekend also marked the 30th birthday of my godchild Matthew Scott. Thirty years ago my wife and I were blessed to become godparents of this amazing child. Matthew is from a close-knit Portuguese family. It was quite an honor to be welcomed into their world. Welcomed is an understatement. I was sincerely touched when I learned my godchild's middle name was Scott. It took me a long time to believe he was actually named after me. Matthew entertained my wife and I every visited his hometown of New Bedford. Our godchild has always been special to us. We were stunned when we heard news of a horrific car accident almost took his life when he was just sixteen. He fought hard to come back and thanks to his positive attitude, he made it. Today he works as a counselor for troubled youths helping them overcome problems of their own. I'm very proud of Matthew Scott and the man he has become. If we could only keep him away from motorcycles we’d all rest a little easier.

On Tuesday, my granddaughter Eliana Rose celebrated her first birthday. She was born one year ago on Academy Award Sunday, at the stroke of midnight just as the Oscar was presented to Birdman for Best Picture. I was at the hospital for her birth. When I held her in my arms, I looked down at her and forgot all about award shows. I realized a star was born right before my eyes. I’ve been watching her ever since, amazed at her first steps, her first words, her singing, her dancing. This tiny little soul has filled my heart with so much love it is immeasurable, even though she’s only been a member of my family for a short time. Her beauty leaves me at a loss for words, and that’s something that never happens to me. Ever.

These three people are all the proof I need that miracles dohappen. To a small extent, I feel I have helped shape their lives. They have no idea of the profound influence they’ve had on mine. May all their birthday wishes come true.