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Mountain View News Saturday, April 11, 2026 OPINION 
STUART TOLCHIN PUT THE LIGHTS ON 
CONFUSION 
Does anything matter or does everything matter to you or to me? 
Yesterday morning I read Robert Rech’s column which screamed that 
is our (yours and mine) responsibility “as citizens of this nation to 
say unambiguously that what Trump is now threatening is truly evil.” 
Reich urges all of us to Write. Phone. Shout. March. This must be 
stopped. Reich was referring to Trump’s threat to “wipe out a whole 
civilization”. 
Pretty disturbing stuff, don’t you think? I went out to sit on my back patio to think 
about what to do. As I sat, thoughts about Artemis II came to mind. They’re going to 
the moon. Will Mars be next? I looked up and saw several large birds flying together 
in beautiful coordinated concentric patterns. I don’t even know their names. Next, or 
simultaneously, I wondered about the effect of AI on the future. Is this the dawn of a 
new “golden age” for the global economy or is a threat to workforce stability and human 
livelihoods. 
The day before I had tripped over a curb and fallen to the ground. My wife had helped 
me up and I wondered if it was better not to walk while I still felt pain in my leg. Now 
I was angry at myself for worrying about my own pain when I had intended to think 
more about my responsibilities to the world or something like that. 
I thought of a conversation I had Monday with a neighbor who had replied to my articles 
and suggested that we meet. It was a surprising conversation in which the man revealed 
he had stage 4 cancer and needed soon to make important decisions about surgery or 
chemotherapy or just to let nature simply take its course. I asked the man how he would 
know what to do and he laughed and said, “God would show him the way”. He moved 
on to tell me that at a time when he was an Air Force pilot and was about to be ordered 
on a mission to bomb human beings, he made the decision to refuse such an order and 
resign from the Air Force. As a result of his refusal, he faced some sort of reverse court-
martial and loss of potential future benefits. I asked if now he regretted his decision 
and he said “of course not”. I asked how he was so sure, and he replied, “of course I was 
because God had shown me the way.” I did not have much to say to that but as I walked 
away from the neighbor’s house, the question of what it must be like to be certain that 
you are being led to do the right thing. 
I have always lived to question, argue, discuss, and ponder, but where has that left me? 
As I said at the very top of this article, “I am confused”. As I write this, I reflect back 
on the birds flying above and gain a little understanding. My own feelings well guide 
me just like the birds are guided, and humans, believers or non-believers, are guided by 
their own feelings to follow their individual paths. 
Existence is a miracle and a mystery that does not yield easy answers. Almost always we 
humans have the feeling about what is right and what is wrong. I think the only thing to 
do is what feels right in the specific moment and to not be concerned too much about 
what other people think about the path you are following. My path, as you can tell, is 
to write about things in an attempt to clarify and understand what I feel is of a benefit 
to myself and to anyone who reads my articles. 
After writing this article I understand that these are confusing times but that no matter 
our individual experiences there might be an underlying unity that is always being 
expressed. Personally, I feel that it is always worthwhile to focus on what we have rather 
than what we lack. I feel that this Trump administration will possibly be of benefit to all 
as we recognize the beauty of this 21st century world that is on the brink of so much that 
we can’t help but feeling confused. If you are not confused and have a path to follow, 
then go ahead and of course I wish you God’s speed. Meanwhile, I have to think about 
all the factors that have to date, fortunately placed me where I am, with or without God, 
such that I am free to ponder along with those of you who wish to ponder together with 
me. 
HOWARD Hays As I See It 
“If we really are committed to the destruction of an entire civilization 
then we have lost our own.” – Gerard Baker posting on X 
As I write this, we’re Trump: you have a week” 
still awaiting President 
Trump’s deadline – with Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, “Unhis 
threat to destroy like them, we’re hitting military targets”. 
“a whole civilization”. Jon Favreau posts in response: “You blew 
Monday on the South Lawn of the White up an elementary school”. 
House, he reiterated intent to commit war 
crimes – with the Easter Bunny at his side, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posts: 
to an audience otherwise engaged in egg “Back to the Stone Age.” Evan loves worf 
races and coloring. reminds: “Remember when they were going 
to save the Iranian people”. 
UPDATE: Turns out it’s another TACO 
(“Trump Always Chickens Out”) scenario. From Billifer: “MAGA being against the 
White House aides said Trump’s rhetoric Pope for saying God is against war, is so 
had been a “negotiating tactic” – though funny to me.” 
it’s unclear how further confirmation that 
the president’s words don’t mean anything White House spokesperson Karoline 
could be considered a “tactic”. What’s on Leavitt is quoted: “Some of the previous 
the record, for the world to see, is the Pres-leaders (of Iran) are no longer on planet 
ident of the United States threatening ar-Earth because they lied to the United 
guably genocidal war crimes if he doesn’t States and they strung us along in negoget 
his way. Under Article 51 of the Getiations, 
and that was unacceptable to the 
neva Convention, the threat itself is a war president, which is why many of the precrime. 
vious leaders were killed”. Jo responds: 
“This is an absolutely INSANE thing to 
Waiting on whatever the next develop-say out loud. We killed their leaders in the 
ment, here are some favorite posts from middle of negotiations because we didn’t 
the past couple of weeks: like the way they negotiated?!?!” 
“BREAKING: Joe Rogan says that he wants Republicans Against Trump quotes Com-
nothing to do with MAGA because it’s bemerce 
Secretary Howard Lutnick address-
come a movement of dorks and weirdos”. ing Trump at a cabinet meeting: “You are 
Jared Shult posts in response: “It’s always fixing everything with your policies. You 
been a movement of dorks and weirdos . have changed America and created the 
. .” golden age”. Zero Dark Twenty-Nine reacts: 
“These meetings will be studied for 
Jon Lovett posts: “In a surprise twist, the years. Grown men turned into pets byEpstein files released the attorney general.” Trump, and their own greed and cowardliness. 
It’s almost impossible to believe 
Responding to Todd Blanche thanking that humans can degrade themselves this 
Trump for appointing him Acting Attormuch. 
When I see this, assuming I’m done 
ney General, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) throwing up, I’m ashamed to be a human.” 
posts: “Congratulations AG Blanche. Now 
you have 30 days to release the rest of the Republicans Against Trump continues: 
files before becoming criminally liable for “Stephen Miller praised Trump for several 
failure to comply with the Epstein Files minutes. Then Trump turned to Kash Pa-
Transparency Act.” tel and said, ‘Kash, see if you can top that.’ 
Patel: ‘Mr. President, thank you for deliv-
News item: “(NYC Mayor) Zohran Mamering 
the safest country on God’s green 
dani’s administration has secured $1.8 Earth.’ . . .” This brought a response from 
million in restitution for 800+ NYC fast John Cleese (himself): “Hard to believe 
food and retail workers whose labor rights this isn’t a Monty Python sketch.” 
were violated.” K. reacts: “I’m so used to 
US politicians pretending to be powerless Rupar quotes Karoline Leavitt: “You althat 
this feels like a headline from another ways want to be the most well-read per-
universe”. son in the room, and I try to be every day. 
But Donald Trump always is.” That Blame 
President Trump is quoted: “We can’t take Guy asks, “How does he get people to act 
care of daycare. We’re a big country. We’re like this for him?” 
fighting wars. It’s not possible for us to 
take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, From Brian Allen: “MAJOR BREAKING: 
all these things.” Jeremiah Johnson notes: A federal judge just blocked Trump’s order 
“’We can’t take care of sick people or kids to end funding for NPR and PBS.” Tim 
because we’d rather use the money on war’ points out: “An OBAMA APPOINTED 
is a hell of a midterms pitch”. judge just saved NPR and PBS. That 
means your vote from 2012 is helping stopNewsWire reports: “Palm Beach Internacorruption 
and protect free speech FOURtional 
Airport set to be renamed ‘Donald TEEN years later. This is why you vote”. 
J. Trump International Airport’ after De-
Santis signed off on the change Monday.” And finally, NBC News posts: “9-year-old 
Hayden responds, “But a single rainbowboy who made a plea to be released from 
sidewalk in Orlando leading to the Pulsean immigration detention center duringnightclub had to be taken down because ita call with Ms. Rachel so he could attend 
was ‘too political’.” his state spelling bee has been freed with 
his family, their lawyer says.” And this re-
The Wolf Of All Streets imagines this sponse: “9-year-old who pleaded to be re(
timely) dialogue: “Trump: you have 48 leased so he could attend his state spellinghours to comply; Iran: nobody cares; bee. What a country we have become.” 
RICH JOHNSON 
WHAT IF, IF ONLY AND ONLY IF 
I know I’ve written about this before, but please… indulge me. When is the last time you took 
a risk? We all have lingering regrets at not taking advantage of past opportunities. Why? Why?
Why? 
Congratulations if you overcame inertia, acted on a dream or desire and found fulfillment in your 
accomplishments. Undoubtedly you risked failure in your desire to achieve. Failure is also a key 
component to success. Historical track record not so good? Believe me, you’re not alone. Keep 
going! 
Would you believe Dr. Martin Luther King got a “C” in his public speaking class? His acting upon a key “what if ” 
challenge made him one of the most influential people of all time. To coin a phrase, he had a dream. 
Michael Jordan didn’t qualify for his high school’s varsity basketball team. Imagine that? Wait, it gets better lol! 
Possibly basketball’s greatest player Michael Jordan said this: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. 
And that is why I succeed. (Don’t ask him about his short lived professional baseball career.) 
Sylvester Stallone wrote 30 screenplays that were rejected. As an actor, 1,500 talent scouts rejected Sly. He ended 
up doing okay lol. His first film “Rocky” won an Oscar for best movie of 1977. 
“If ” is such an interesting word in the English language. No success will ever be achieved without someone starting 
a sentence with the word “If ”. 
Well, out of the gate the above title has three declarative phrases followed by a question. 
IF I do this, then what will happen? 
WHAT IF and ONLY IF I do this refers to the decisions that lie in front of us. 
IF ONLY I did this refers to regret over something already done. (We should never dwell too long on regretful “if 
only’s”. Just long enough to learn from the mistakes and jump back to “if ” and “what if ”. 
Confused? Me too. 
“Living with regrets is like driving with your eyes on the rearview mirror - you’re bound to crash.” Unknown“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” Vince Lombardi“There are two types of pain in the world: pain that hurts you and pain that changes you.” Unknown“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone.” Johnny Cash“Don’t look back – you’re not going that way.” Mary Engelbreit“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Church 
For those of you (like me) who miss Corfu Restaurant, starting Friday, April 24th Vic and Amy Satamian, owners 
of Corfu Restaurant, and their partners George and Natalie are sponsoring a weekly Friday night bingo party with 
the sole purpose of benefiting local organizations who provide valuable services to the community. The cost to 
play bingo will be $35 per person. Food will also be served. To kick it off, this first week Vic and Amy are providingfood free to every paying bingo player. The weekly event will take place at the YMCA located in Sierra Madre at 
611 East Sierra Madre Blvd. Doors open at 4:00pm and the games begin at 5:30pm. This weekly event will generate 
proceeds donated back to different organizations within the city. Fire Department, Police Department, Girl’s 
softball league, the library, and other noteworthy organizations. 
Finally, on April 25th (Saturday) yours truly (that means me) and fellow JJ Jukebox bandmates Mike and Steve 
will be performing our “soft rock” acoustic concert at Moffett’s Pie Shoppe in Arcadia. Mike, Steve and I perform 
a “Crosby, Stills and Nash” like acoustic concert. Songs from the 60’s and 70’s with tight harmony vocals. The 
concert will be from 6:00-8:00pm. Moffett’s is in Arcadia on South Baldwin Avenue, one block south of Duarte 
Road (Southwest corner of Baldwin and Naomi). The corner shopping center with CVS Pharmacy and Aldi’s 
store. Moffett’s is hiding in the corner next to Aldi’s. 
Have a good week. 
DICK POLMAN 
TYRANTS THRIVE WHEN PEOPLE ARE ‘FUNCTIONALLY 
ILLITERATE’ ABOUT DEMOCRACY 
The big question that will animate future historians – assuming that this country has a 
future – is how voters in the world’s oldest democracy inexplicably hired a sociopathic 
madman to run it into the ground and destabilize the global economy. 
It’s surely a combination of many factors – disaffected working-class whites, the polarizing 
impact of social media, a wimpy Democratic party – but I’d put the decline of civics 
education near the top of the list. Back in 2021, a nonpartisan group called Educating for 
American Democracy really nailed it: 
“Civics and history education has eroded in the U.S. over the past fifty years…Dangerously low proportions 
of the public understand and trust our democratic institutions. Majorities are functionally illiterate on our 
constitutional principles and forms. The relative neglect of civic education in the past half-century – a period of 
wrenching change – is one important cause of our civic and political dysfunction.” 
In other words, if Americans in our public schools aren’t taught about fundamental stuff like the separation of 
powers, they’re more likely to follow a fascistic pied piper. If they aren’t taught to understand and respect the 
rules of democracy, they’re more likely to be putty in the paws of demagogues who smash the rules and tweet 
mentally-ill swill like “Open the F–kin’ Strait, you crazy bastards.” 
A 2024 report by the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy laments schools no longer 
prioritize teaching “the hard facts of government, nor the skills and values of citizenship.” The report concludes 
that “declines in civic literacy have corresponded with a decline of trust in government…a lack of civics knowledge 
goes hand in hand with a lack of trust in government institutions – research has shown that these states 
reinforce each other.” 
I don’t want to numb you with numbers, but here are a few shockers. According to a 2024 poll from the U.S. 
Chamber of Commerce, more than 70 percent of Americans would fail a basic civic literacy test. The Annenberg 
Public Policy Center says 36 percent of Americans can’t name the three branches of government, and only34 percent know freedom of the press is guaranteed in the First Amendment. 
I fondly remember being taught civics all year long in Massachusetts elementary school. In fact, we couldn’t 
advance to fifth grade unless we proved ourselves to be budding good democratic citizens. Among the tests, we 
had to correctly name all nine members of the Supreme Court. But today, at last check, only 31 states require 
just a half-year of civics education – only in high school – and a mere 8 states require any civics in their middle 
schools. 
The long goodbye to civics began in the late 1960s. The traditional nonpartisan goal was to assimilate all students, 
to teach them American democratic culture, but critics called it “Eurocentrism” or “cultural imperialism,” 
and said that it ignored diversity within many communities. Rather than take flak, educators deemed it prudent 
to just back off. 
The anti-civics mindset has since accelerated, thanks to the increasing emphasis on STEM education: science, 
technology, engineering, and math. I have no problem with that quartet, but the obsession is over the top. 
Federal money for STEM education has “skyrocketed,” according to the O’Connor Institute, while “the same 
funding for civic education has plummeted,” from an annual $150 million in 2010 to less than $5 million at the 
end of Trump’s first term to $23 million in Joe Biden’s last year. 
George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, enacted in 2002, was also a major villain. It tied school funding to 
test scores in math and reading, so teachers started teaching for the test. Civics was not a NCLB priority. The 
damage was obvious by 2007 when a national education study found that the sparse instructional time devoted 
to civics had been further cut by 32 percent. 
It’s too late to reverse the damage that has already been done – the fascist warlord is well ensconced – and even 
if educators were to suddenly rediscover the value of teaching civics, major obstacles would impede the effort. 
Because everything and everyone are so polarized, a renewed emphasis on teaching the separation of powers 
would offend parents who worship dictatorial executive power. Plus, any discussion of current events would be 
a minefield. And any attempt to teach the importance of separating fact from fiction – a basic tool for any budding 
citizen – would risk blowback from those in the community who wallow in lies. 
All we’re left with are the warnings that state what is glaringly obvious. This one, for instance: “We have come 
to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside. In our age, when social media can 
instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the public’s need to understand our government, 
and the protections it provides, is ever more vital.” 
So wrote John Roberts, near the tail end of Trump’s first term. Wise words indeed. Too bad he’s been part of the 
problem. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com