The headline reads simply “Funny Papers June 18 2025.” Below the headline there is a blank page where on the left margin, expecting to go to work, the cursor waits, and waits, and waits. A quick glance at the clock on the wall lets me know in four more minutes it will be an hour I have sat looking over handwritten notes and short cellphone videos lifted from various sources, and still the page before me remains blank. Now, if the present time, my clock reads 6:32 a.m., were Wednesday or Friday morning, I would not feel any real pressure. But this is Monday morning and the good folks down at the Rustler office need this copy no later than noon, so the pressure is on.
In last week’s column, I touched upon a quote, which contrasted the knowledge of opinion over the knowledge of empathy, the writer citing opinion as the lowest form of knowledge; that leaves empathy. Empathy is “the ability to understand and share the thoughts, feelings and experience of another,” we all have this capacity, but our personal experiences determine those we have empathy for and those we do not. It is usually desirable to have people in places of power who are capable of empathy, individuals who can understand the plight of those less fortunate and bring about changes to improve lives.
Here is that quote by Bill Bullard again: “The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.” (Mr. Bullard was dean of faculty at San Francisco University High School; a very learned man.) Now here is this quote: “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” That is the opinion of the man who gutted programs that will cause prolonged illnesses and ultimate death to hundreds of thousands overseas and here in America, especially our veterans. And he is billed as the richest man in the world. If you are one of those who believe Elon Musk is a benefit to mankind, I frankly find it hard to empathize with your opinion.
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“The whole world is watching” was the Sixties chant used by protestors during the Get Out of Vietnam marches when organizers knew national news media were filming and soon images would be satellited across the globe. And it made a difference as many cities overseas held anti-war protests in support of Americans tired of a seemingly endless and winless war. That quote was applicable last Saturday when two separate events were broadcast around the world.
One event was not limited to a single venue but took place in over 2,000 cities and towns across the United States and involved millions of protestors from all walks of American life. And like the 1960s, there were protests of support in cities in foreign lands because, again, the whole world has been watching events unfold in America; chaotic and unsettling events. By the end of Saturday, the No Kings Day protests were over with very few incidents considering the millions of people involved.
The other event the world watched was the dismal attempt of an out-of-touch leader to stroke his ego and bolster further support from his waning number of sycophants. Images reveal scarce crowds who left early, empty bleachers and a host of bored individuals, including the birthday boy and his trophy wife. The $45 million price tag for this spectacle of disgrace would have supplied thousands of homeless veterans with food and shelter. If you are one of those who continue to believe this man is a great leader, then I frankly cannot empathize with your opinion.
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Transportation is a bit of a hassle for me at the present time. I ride a bicycle, but right now I have three of them and none are in good working order; two unrideable. It is a long story of woe of no interest to anyone but me; the matter will eventually work itself out with time and attention. But some destinations can be reached sans bicycle, and for these there is the bus system. I had given scant thought toward attending the Saturday protest in Salinas but vetoed the idea as just too much hassle. Then they manhandled my senator and that was a compelling argument for joining with others in opposition to such governmental overreach.
I got lucky on what is usually heavy bus ridership day. I caught the bus near Safeway and arrived in Salinas with two minutes to spare for catching the Monterey bus. I spent about 90 minutes with some 4,000 other Americans exercising our First Amendment rights, after which I caught the Salinas bus and then, this time catching the bus back to KC with only seconds to spare. The round trip took a little over five hours and 30 minutes; well worth it to be part of something of such monumental importance as supporting constitutional law. I’m sure there are those of you who frankly do not empathize with my opinion.
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When my 18-year-old grandson was killed in a car crash last September in Oklahoma, I was unprepared, as anyone would be, and as that horrible week went by it became apparent, I was not going to be able to attend his funeral. So, for months, even with conversations and texts, the words that stuck with me, and still do, was my daughter Jenny saying, “Dad, I’m calling to let you know Weston has been killed in a car accident.”
Finally, the desire to be with my daughter, to hold her in my arms, was overwhelming and I booked a non-refundable flight to Florida. Then I got an infection and had to forego that trip, and the money. It seemed to me the day we would be together again might never happen. Not so. If all goes well that will change tomorrow.
Take care. Peace.
