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OPINIONOPINION

Mountain View News Saturday, July 19, 2025

MOUNTAIN 
VIEWS

NEWS

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR

Dean Lee 

SALES

Patricia Colonello

626-355-2737 

626-818-2698

WEBMASTER

John Aveny 

DISTRIBUTION

Peter Lamendola

CONTRIBUTORS

Lori A. Harris

Michele Kidd

Stuart Tolchin 

Harvey Hyde

Audrey Swanson

Meghan Malooley

Mary Lou Caldwell

Kevin McGuire

Chris Leclerc

Dinah Chong Watkins

Howard Hays

Paul Carpenter

Kim Clymer-Kelley

Christopher Nyerges

Peter Dills 

Rich Johnson

Rev. James Snyder

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Jeff Brown

Marc Garlett

Keely Toten

Dan Golden

Rebecca Wright

Hail Hamilton

Joan Schmidt

LaQuetta Shamblee

STUART TOLCHIN

RICH JOHNSON

 

REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF

PUT THE LIGHTS ON


WHAT TRUMP HAS TAUGHT ME


If you are fortunate enough to spiral in (and out) of my orbit, 
patiently waiting for me to amaze, delight and wow you, I 
applaud you. Priceless, valuable and useless information is 
my specialty and it is on its way. In fact, I thank you for the 
privilege of trying to improve the quality of your life. You 
improve mine.

Acquiring useless information and passing it on is no easy feet…or is it feat? 
I forget, but let’s move on. I think it was Friedrich Nietzsche, the German 
philosopher who said we all have a niche…or maybe he said a Nietzsche (to 
which I say “gesundheit”).

I forgot what I was gonna say. Let’s take a quick 5-minute break while I 
gather my thoughts. I see them in a pile over in the corner. BRB!

I’m back and do I have a load of useless information to equip you for the 
week ahead. First up? The top ten karaoke songs of all time:

1. “Waterloo” by Abba

2. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

3. “My Way” by Frank Sinatra

4. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor

5. “Dancing Queen" by Abba

6. “Angels” by Robbie Williams (who?)

7. “Like a Virgin” by Madonna

8. “It’s Raining Girls” by Weather Girls

9. “Summer Nights” By Olivia Newton John and John Travolta

10. “I Should Be So Lucky” by Kylie Minogue

How many did you get right? Two songs by Abba. Way to go Finlanders! 
Speaking of music, have you ever wondered how fast rap singers rap? It kept 
me up nights for years. I finally found out. So, extra credit for counting the 
number of syllables. Okay, the “Fastest Rap MC” record is held by Ricky 
Raphel Brown (aka “NoClue”). The human phenom belted out 723 syllables 
in just over 51 seconds. 

Ever wonder what the word “karaoke” means in Japanese? “Ugh” is my first 
reaction. It keeps most of us up nights wondering. “Karaoke” in Japanese 
means “Empty Orchestra” (ooh, a good name for a band). First karaoke machine 
was invented in 1971. While we are struggling with words, what is 
Spotify’s most misquoted song of all time? Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”. The 
misquoted lyric? “Hold me closer, Tiny Dancer”, is thought by many to be 
saying “Hold me closer, Tony Danza”. Coming in second? The Clash’s “Rock 
the Casbah” is often sung as “Rock the Cat Box”. You can’t make this stuff up.

I’m sure you remember the film “Spinal Tap”. One of the classic movies. 
Well, what was “Spinal Taps” original name? They called themselves “The 
Originals”. When the band discovered another band was called “The Originals” 
they changed their name to “The New Originals”.

What was the original name of the duo “Sonny and Cher”? Are you ready? 
Here it comes: “Caesar and Cleo”.

And finally, from the rock and roll failure department. What bands never 
had a number one hit on the Billboard Top 40? 

Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, 
James Brown, The Grateful Dead, The Ramones, JJ Jukebox!

Two final factoids. Brian May, lead guitarist for Queen has a PhD in astrophysics. 
And finally, Gibson guitars and Rolling Stone Magazine consider 
Jimi Hendrix to be the number one guitar player of all time! (I wonder how 
far down the list of guitar players is Andres Segovia?)

Have a good week!

 Actually, Trump has not taught me anything; but I have learned 
much during his administrations, especially this second one. Up 
until recently I existed in a state of casual indifference naively believing 
that no matter what political party was in power that they 
had the best interests of the Country and its entire population as 
their concern. Certainly, there existed partisan differences, but I 
naively believed that although political viewpoints differed America 
was always in honest well-meaning hands. I even believed Richard Nixon when 
he said he was not a crook.

 Today there is no doubt in my mind, President Donald J. Trump is not a good man. 
He willingly lies, misstating the truth whenever he believes that the truth is not in his 
interest. Although he proclaims his concern for the farmers and miners and workers 
in this country his only real motivation is an expression of an insatiable need for 
attention, power, status and wealth. Perhaps it is a search for love and believe me he 
will not get that from me.

 Currently, there are concerns about the existence of the Jeffrey Epstein client file. 
This file, arguably, would implicate Trump and high-profile associates connected with 
Epstein. Epstein, as you may recall, was an American financier who maintained a collection 
of underage teenage girls recruited to his island for purposes of sex trafficking 
and prostitution. Allegedly there exists a list of these high-level people which includes 
billionaires and royalty and ex-Presidents. The listed people would be subject 
to blackmail and there is conjecture that Epstein’s death by suicide while in custody 
was in reality a murder arranged by potential blackmail subjects. Trump’s possible 
involvement in suppressing this list is what interests his evangelical and religious followers. 
For me this is hardly the worst of the offenses, sordid as it is, connected to the 
Trump administration.

 What the Trump administration has revealed to me is that in American politics 
there is no real concern for public welfare and democracy or economic equality or 
disarmament and demilitarization or anything else that I care about. It has shown me 
that all the politicians care about is” winning” and maintaining their positions of status 
and even more possibility of future wealth. It is sickening but has led me to realize 
that everything I thought I understood was more imagination than understanding.

Much like just about everyone else I know I have lived my life within a state of casual 
indifference. Every four years or so we become more or less active in the political 
campaigns, but all the while we are busy vacationing and consuming and watching 
sports and generally being comfortably distracted. We all believe in education and 
being kind to others although we manage to mostly ignore the problematic situations 
of people without educations or housing or day to day security. Secretly, perhaps 
many of us believe that less secure people have no one to blame but themselves. They 
should have chosen to be born White or at least to Middle class parents who were not 
alcoholics or drug addicted and who cared about the future of their children.

 I know that sounds ridiculous but underneath it all that is what many believe. The 
entire Far Right perspective seems to say that people who are not wealthy and secure 
have only themself to blame. Trump’s policies are clearly intended to penalize the 
most vulnerable people and comfortably indifferent people as well. Really, if you are 
not a billionaire it is your own fault. You weren’t smart enough and didn’t try hard 
enough and probably didn’t care enough. I believe the concerns about abortions, and 
same sex-marriages, and non-binary people using bathrooms or playing sports are 
just distractions obliterating the truth of what is happening. The loss of Democracy, 
the loss of an important public voice, and the inevitable movement to Autocracy.

 Perhaps you don’t believe me. In truth, this is not the time to believe anybody; perhaps 
it never was! The major question for most of us is sadly,” | Will my family and I 
be comfortable”. Of course, the problem may be solved by not being connected to a 
family at all and just rooting for the Strongman to protect and provide for us. After 
all Superman is today the most popular movie but I don’t want to see it other than as 
a warning.

TAKE CARE-----I’m off to play golf.

Did not get to play. Golfing partner gave me the wrong date and time! Can’t believe 
anyone these days! 

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HOWARD Hays As I See It


“We don’t let the bullies control the schoolyard.” – 
Charlotte of Altadena

 

Following the news these days – and columns like this one 
– can often seem an exercise in despair. But last Saturday at 
Sierra Madre’s Memorial Park, I had one of the most encouraging 
experiences I can remember.

 The Democrats of Pasadena Foothills put on an event featuring eight middle-
schoolers and eleven from high school; each imagining they were running for 
mayor and delivering a three-minute campaign speech. Local officials were in 
attendance. Congresswoman Judy Chu offered an inspiring keynote on how 
her own journey began fighting (successfully) an “English only” ordinance 
in Monterrey Park and culminated with a congratulatory call from President 
Obama on being the first Chinese-American woman elected to Congress.

 

But the stars of the event were these representatives of our next generation of 
leaders. Here are the notes I took: 

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

Advaith of Arcadia stressed the importance of volunteering for the community 
and support for programs on exercise and meditation. He told of his 
entering kindergarten without knowing English.

 

Allie of Pasadena also emphasized the importance of coming together as a 
community; coming together to help immigrants as well as victims of natural 
disasters.

 

Anika of Sierra Madre told how her father escaped El Salvador in the 1980s; 
now both parents are lawyers working for non-profits. She reminded us to 
appreciate our heritage – Sierra Madre being “Mother Mountain”; remembering 
the Gabrielino Indians who preceded us and the Chinese immigrants who 
helped build the Mt. Wilson trail. She also said that intersections in town 
could be made safer.

 

Charlotte of Altadena said her major inspirations are her single mom and 
grandparents from Ecuador. Her attitude towards current immigration actions 
is, “We don’t let the bullies control the schoolyard”. As for a guiding 
principle, it’s to “protect, champion and uplift others”.

 

Erena of Sierra Madre explained that “Every day, detail matters”; issues as 
small as an overflowing recycle bin at Sierra Vista Park or as large as protecting 
Mt. Wilson from fires – and everything in between.

 

Kietsai of Pasadena told of diversity classes, learning in Mandarin and Spanish 
as well as English. He emphasized the importance of community gardens 
– and of embracing communication technology.

 

Leon of Sierra Madre said he’d deal with bear attractions and develop a bear 
management center, in order to “protect you and your snacks”.

 

Mohsin of Arcadia detailed how debt and interest can affect both cities and 
families; citing a study showing that 34% of homelessness is caused by debt. 
He advocated for establishment of “financial empowerment funds”, and also 
acknowledged the problem of peacock poop.

 

HIGH SCHOOL

 

Angel of Arcadia told us that “Leadership begins with action” and called to us, 
“Let’s lead together!”

 

Daniel recalled that as one of an immigrant family of eight, “our apartment 
was always full of love”. He called for support and cooperation in re-homing 
families. He also said we need a watchdog calling out situations like the fired 
school superintendent walking away with a $1.5 million package, rather than 
that money being invested in students. “We’re done waiting!”

 

Ella of Pasadena also called for more funding for schools, saying we’ll all move 
forward “side by side”. She’s committed to the goal of being 100% carbon-free 
by 2030.

 

Emily of Arcadia made clear she wasn’t espousing Communism or any one 
system over another, but rather acknowledging that no system is perfect and 
that the important thing is to “ask the questions” because we “need to learn”; 
not just accept whatever “version based on fear”. 

 

Joehannah said yes, we need to tax the billionaires. She also said nobody will 
“steal the jobs”, they simply work harder. And – she announced her intention 
to become our first Chicana president.

 

J.P. of Pasadena declared that “nobody should worry about a safe, secure place 
to sleep at night” and promised to work towards a “nurturing, flourishing 
community for all”.

 

Mariah of Pasadena decried “people living in fear and uncertainty, regardless 
of immigrant status” and said kids should be focused on “learning and growing 
– not just surviving”.

 

Siddhi spoke of immigrant parents wary of being called “alien” in the USA, so 
they kept their heads down. “But that’s not freedom”, she says – now it’s “time 
to hold our heads high!”

 

Sophia referred to the Coogan law of 1939, protecting incomes of child actors 
from being drained by parents/guardians. Now, she says, similar protections 
are needed for those being exploited by internet influencers on TikTok, YouTube, 
etc. “Childhood must not be for sale.”

 

Tanya of Arcadia noted that “Labels don’t define us – representation does”, 
and that “nobody should have to change themselves just to be accepted.” As 
to that representation, it should be comprised of “not just different faces, but 
different journeys.”

 

Tiffany spoke to the experience of “lockdown drills, racism, bullying” – of 
worries about “whether we can afford college”. She advocated for “youth safety 
groups”, addressing such issues as mental health and violence prevention 
– and being a place where “it’s okay to say, ‘I’m struggling!’”.

 

It’ll be a few years before we’ll be able to actually cast votes for them. For now, 
it’s our responsibility to hold things together and protect our democracy in 
the meantime - so when that time comes, we’ll have that opportunity. I can 
hardly wait. 


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