BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
Americans like to believe
that they are unlike the people
of Russia who succumbed
to the oppression of Communism,
Germans who surrendered
to Nazi rule, or Venezuelans
who gave in to Marxism.
They believe that the legacy
of fi ghting for freedom in
the Revolution, for the liberty
of all in the Civil War, and victories
over tyranny throughout
the twentieth century provided
the knowledge, courage
and tradition to avoid the fate
of others throughout the world
who fell to oppression.
Current events are dispelling
that comfortable illusion.
Equality under the law is
a central aspect of freedom
for Americans and the rejection
of that concept is characteristic
of authoritarian governments,
where leaders are
held to be immune from common
justice. But that concept
has been successfully challenged
by many signifi cant
politicians who have violated
laws with impunity. Providing
what amounts to immunity
from prosecution is a
hallmark of totalitarian regimes,
and has now become a
key characteristic of progressive
American politicians and
leftist activists.
An educational system
dominated by progressives
and leftists eliminated the
memory of the American legacy
of judicial equality from
their young. That problem is
exacerbated by Hollywood,
social media giants and corporate
leadership who in general
are dominated by those
with the dream of making a
treasure in the Chinese market.
They have sold their
souls to appease Beijing, and
do so by betraying distinctly
American ideals such as
free speech.
This altered paradigm rose
to exceptional prominence
during the Obama administration,
when whole portions
of the federal government
were unlawfully engaged for
partisan politics. That practice
also extended to individuals
who held signifi cant positions.
Hillary Clinton profi ted
from the sale of the basic ingredient
of nuclear weapons
to the Russians. John Kerry
continues to advise Iran on
how to evade U.S. policy.
A crucial step in replacing
a freedom-centric paradigm
with a socialist, authoritarian
model is destroying the
institutions that safeguard
personal liberty. Freedom
of speech, the right to bear
arms, the limitations on federal
authority, all of these crucial
provisions within the Bill
of Rights are under constant
and substantial attack by
the left.
BRONX TIMES R 20 EPORTER, AUGUST 7-13, 2020 BTR
The fi rst step is trying to
convince the citizenry that
they are not free, and require
an overwhelming change, an
absurd notion in the United
States, but one which the
left increasingly propagates.
Ryan Cooper, writing in The
Week, provides a clear example
of this socialist thinking:
“Americans are in fact an extraordinarily
unfree people,
oppressed and downtrodden
on all sides, and have generally
just sat and taken it.
This is in part because our
typical notion of freedom,
based entirely around the
ability of the individual to do
what he or she wants free of
government interference, is
a preposterous fi ction.”
New York City has proven
to be a prime testing ground.
Mayor Bill de Blasio — who
cheered on the Soviet Union
when it placed combat weapons
in Nicaragua and honeymooned
in Cuba — has moved
expeditiously, supported by
a hard-left dominated City
Council. He has unlawfully
used city property to advocate
progressive causes. Astoundingly,
he has decreed
that gatherings be banned,
except for those he politically
approves of. He has attacked
and demoralized nonpolitical
centers of infl uence, including
the police department and
religious institutions.
Delegitimizing duly
elected government is another
example. The Chaz district in
Seattle, which invaded and
occupied an entire community,
including a local police
precinct, was a direct challenge,
similar to the fi ring on
Fort Sumter. The refusal by
state and local government to
move against the Seattle Secessionists
speaks volumes
about the mindset of leftists
elected offi cials.
Crucial to the left’s success
is eliminating any center of infl
uence or power not subservient
to them. That explains
the ongoing vicious diatribes
against any politician, pundit,
or community leader, Democrat
or Republican, who differ
in their views. It also explains
the unprecedented assault
against religion. The wave of
arson against churches and
the rampant anti-Semitism are
due to this.
Pitting one segment of the
citizenry against the other is a
crucial step in the left’s drive.
Progressives have succeeded
most spectacularly in diverting
attention from their assault on
freedom by distracting the citizenry
through resurrecting
racial disputes that had been
largely abolished a half century
ago. Ben Shapiro writes:
“The philosophy of division
is a philosophy that derides
any notion of American unity
as a lie, and bathes that which
links us — Abraham Lincoln’s
‘bonds of affection’ and
‘mystic chords of memory’—
in acid, disintegrating our
ties and casting us all adrift.
I call this strain of thought
‘Disintegrationism.’ In order
to argue that America’s philosophy
is wrongheaded, her
culture diseased, and her history
evil, Disintegrationists
…home in, in excruciating
detail, on America’s sins, …
but rob that history of all context
or subsequent history. Exploitation
is a feature of every
human society, and repeated
mistreatment by some groups
of other groups is a similarly
common feature…It is simply
undeniable that capitalism,
founded on protection of property
rights — the ideology of
the Founding Fathers — has
been uniquely successful in
spreading peace and prosperity
both domestically and
around the globe.”
Progressives, in their bid to
gain power, have threatened
individual rights as nothing
before in this nation has.
CIVIC CENTER
COMACTA
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Tired of the noises emanating
from our waterways
and nearby Rodman’s Neck?
The unimpeded low frequency
thumps of bass from our “waterway
nightclubs” and sequences
of rapid gunfi re can
travel one mile in under six
seconds. Our community is
appreciative that our friends
from City Island Water Safety
Committee and the 45th Precinct
Community Council
are altruistic stewards of
our community. Their longterm
efforts to improve quality
of life in our communities
warrant our support.
Two legislations were
climbing New York City’s bureaucratic
mountain when the
COVID-19 avalanche struck.
The young newcomer tumbled
down the slippery slope while
the old seasoned veteran,
near the summit, remained
ready to plant the banner of
success. The quest for a dedicated
NYPD Harbor patrol
in Bronx County has fallen
down, but not off, the precarious
bureaucratic mountain.
However, the decades long
journey to soundproof and
reconstruct the NYPD shooting
range at Rodman’s Neck
stands fully funded in the Executive
Budget for Fiscal Year
2021. Our communities must
strike while the iron is hot
and take pragmatic actions
that will quickly improve our
quality of life.
We must also multi task
— show that we can “walk
and chew gum.” It is imperative
that a collective effort by
our communities ensures the
banner of success for the Rodman’s
Neck Reconstruction is
fi rmly planted atop New York
City’s bureaucratic mountain
while the battle for the direly
needed NYPD Harbor Unit
in Bronx County wages on.
All area residents should call
and email Mayor Bill de Blasio,
Bronx Borough President
Ruben Diaz, NYPD Commissioner
Dermot Shea and our
entire body of local elected offi
cials to express desires for
these needed actions.
“If we want to keep and reap
the blessings of our fi ne quality
of life…we must endure the
fatigue of supporting it.” Community=
common-unity.
Community Footnotes:
The Spencer Estate community
appreciates the supportive
actions of our caring
Councilman Mark Gjonaj.
Team Gjonaj and the stellar
“Bronx Wildcats” have
conducted multiple cleanups
throughout our communities.
The Spencer Estate cleanups
included the drab DOT utility
triangle at the Ampere
Avenue/Middletown Road
convergence and neglected
over growths on multiple city
owned properties. Thank you
to Bronx Community Board 10
District Manager Matt Cruz.
Tired of an eyesore near Ericson
Place, Matt and staffer
Noreen Kilkenny took matters
into their own hands. Despite
searing temperatures, the dedicated
duo thoroughly cleaned
the area. We look forward to
rescheduling postponed community
walkthroughs with
Matt in the very near future.
Based on prior actions, we
are confi dent our top-notch
CB10 will come through for
our community.
Total transparency in the
Absentee Landlord dynamic
is essential to our quality of
life. We continue to work with
key staffers from the offi ces
of Senator Biaggi and Assemblyman
Benedetto to address
this thorny problem. Perspective:
the previously mentioned
Rodman’s Neck issue
went through the hands of two
mayors, two City Council leaders,
and three NYPD commissioners.
It will take patience,
persistence, and the support
of multiple communities to
achieve our goals.
Our community has traditionally
exhibited a “we are
family” attitude. Now is the
time to let it shine. Communicate;
make that phone call,
text message or email. Please
check on family, friends and
neighbors especially the elderly
and vulnerable. Any
area homeowner or renter
interested in membership to
the all-inclusive Spencer Estate
Civic Association inbox
George Havranek on Facebook
or send an email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com.
Remember: “inclusion
brings solutions.”
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
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