@genesimmons, I've been listening to and enjoying your music since I was a teenager, and in recent years I've listened intently to things you've said about your personal life, your family, and your political views. Wow. What a great American you are, Sir. 🫡🇺🇸
This is a photo of the man who married my mother, who adopted and raised me. He came from a poor Orthodox Jewish family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In 1943, as an 18-year-old young man, he was drafted and sent to fight the Nazis in Europe, which he did with distinction. Less than a year later, he was grievously wounded fighting in Colmar (now France), and spent the rest of his life as a 100% disabled veteran, with shrapnel still in his body from the waist down.
After spending four months recuperating, he trained to be an aircraft mechanic; unfortunately, the shrapnel in his body prevented him from doing any work that required a lot of standing. So, he became a watch repairman instead. That way, he could sit while he worked.
This was a man who had every reason to be hateful and bitter about the fate that befell him early in life. A man who could have understandably hated Germans with every ounce of his being.
But that's not who he was. That's not how he was raised.
A decade and a half after the war ended, he met my mother, who had grown up in a first generation American family on Long Island. Mom's parents had emigrated from Germany in the 1920s. Mom's first language was German -- not English. Mom was Lutheran, not Jewish. She was a divorced single woman in 1960 when she met my Dad, who not only married her but adopted me, too. Mom had a lot of "strikes" against her in 1960 -- but that didn't stop my Dad, who loved her with every ounce of his being for the rest of his life.
My father was never a "step father" to me; he was just Dad. My father. Mom and Dad are now buried together in Arlington National Cemetery. Gone, but NOT forgotten.
I write this because I firmly believe that we owe SO MUCH to our parents, who shaped who we are, how we think, and how we behave in ways that they themselves probably never anticipated, or imagined.
Your parents are undoubtedly smiling down on you from heaven, Gene.
@ClarityFTW@libsoftiktok@USPS What peril? Our great country is exceeding at all levels. Thise responsible must lose their jobs. What a disgrace from USPS emplyees.
@angeldadjoe@Gigiluvs2020@JerryNadler You are correct, Joe. I too witnessed that appalling display of indifference and disrespect to you and Jessica, your families, and your murdered daughters. Redoubled heartbreak; I’m so sorry for your loss.Those darling young ladies are forever in my prayers-NONE WILL BE FORGOTTEN
I was the father testifying that day for my Katie.
Jessica, the member who appeared to be sleeping during our testimony was @JerryNadler.
In my view, his conduct was emblematic of the indifference too many of us encountered that day.
While grieving families were sharing the most painful moments of our lives, he appeared to be asleep.
No parent should have to testify before members of Congress who cannot even remain attentive.
If Congressman @JerryNadler cannot stay awake and engaged while grieving parents testify, then perhaps it's time for him to step aside.
The American people deserve representatives who are fully present, especially when citizens are sharing the worst day of their lives.
But he wasn't alone. @RepJayapal, @jamie_raskin, and other Democrats on the committee who claim to represent the party of compassion showed indifference, disdain, and contempt not only toward me but, far more disturbingly, toward Jessica Gorman for having the courage to challenge them and expose the human cost of these policies.
The Gormans are a wonderful family.
They deserved respect.
They deserved to be heard.
What we witnessed that day from every Democrat was completely abhorrent, despicable and unacceptable.
@PaulDMauro Dear President, please advance her to something more in keeping with her amazing intellect and skills! You have some positions available..,,
100% correct. When I was at the Del Rio, TX Haitian bridge camp in 2021, many of the Haitians told me they had been living in Chile & Brazil for years before coming to the US illegally for economic (not safety) reasons. The Haitians were dumping & tearing up their Chilean documents at the river’s edge hide this fact from the US so it wouldn’t hurt their fraudulent asylum claims.
The idea that all these Haitians came directly from Haiti after an earthquake or assassination is false. Many of them were living happily and safely for years in South America until Biden’s open border policies became too attractive to pass up. Others also flew into the US via Biden’s CHNV mass parole program which was supposed to be for only 2 year humanitarian parole grants. Of course, most never left.