Happy 2019 --A poem

Dear Friends from near and far

Hope that the Year’s returns have earned you many a cigar.

While most of the time I try to recap events of the year

This one was filled with really very much cheer.

I feel it incumbent on me to express with resolve and resolution,

the sad case of our society’s devolution.

 While all of us do use social media to an extreme

The effect of all the algorithms has had an effect most obscene.

No longer are we free agents of thoughts and reading

We simply consume what the digital dealers are feeding.

Every article we read dictates the next

True of every verse, sentence,  and text.

Hence our world does rapidly politically polarize

All we care about are opinions we prize

After all, how else can media our eyeballs retain

If we had to think—our brains to strain.

So in the morass of mediocrity

One becomes engulfed by left or right orthodoxy

For instance, in spite of whatever the President may say

Our response must always be yes or no way.

What happened to-- you may have a point

Not always everything need be out of joint.

A further decline that I see

Can be found in issues judiciary.

Judicial bias is as old as the hills

Yet courts are intent, on electorates, to impose their wills.

The sweeping adulation of liberal or conservative

Seems to forget the body politic is alive.

Most of us are content with a Constitution and a Bill of Rights

When coupled with respect of the other, imbues citizens with freedom and intellectual delights.

(In Israel the lack of a Constitution and use of Basic Law

Made the courts think they were G-d—a tragic flaw)

Yet as judicial activism has reared its head

And respect for the other is nearly dead,

The war on the composition of judges and high courts

Has forced upon all of us unintended contorts.

The liberals scream foul play

Yet they, for decades, did make much hay

The conservatives now want their turn

And to some it makes their stomachs churn.

The ebb and flow of these events,

Leaves some content and others with laments.

Maybe learning tolerance is a good thing

Especially when coupled with alternative opinion respecting

Yet I take much pride in Democratic systems working through this chore

More Americans and Israeli voted than ever before.

This in itself is a great victory for all to see.

It ensures us political dialog and declares that we are truly free.

Now one must temper the tantrums, titillations, and political machinations

If we are to forge new decades of growth for future adulations.

Much can be said for the year gone by

For me, truly, time did fly.

We ended late year on a high note,

Our daughter on whom my wife and I dote,

Celebrated her bat mitzvah with family and many a classmate

Reading from the bible and bird watching in the hula valley until very late.

The year closed with her learning to tithe

Giving new coats for winter to the poor who would have none otherwise.

I was very proud of her choice-- she picked and bought them herself.

Pulling out many a style and size off many a shelf.

In the summer we took a long trip to the USA

About two months the length of our stay.

We started in Atlanta to celebrate my father’s retirement from Emory

I guess it’s time—he will soon be eighty.

We saw friends, Commencement, Coca Cola, The Muppet Museum, and the Aquarium too

Then on to Miami for family and alligators, and the ocean so blue.

From there we travelled to Dallas-- Benjamin and family to see

Houston, NASA, and Galleria Ice skating glee.

Our travels did indeed continue to Las Vegas and the wonders of the desert sands

A caravan to rent and then roam were in the plans.

For three weeks we did drive through the majestic West

Grand Canyon, Monument, Lake Powell, Antelope, and Yellowstone---the best.

Driving to see the Sequoia trees in Caleveras Park.

I’m glad Noah didn’t find them for his ark.

San Francisco and Silicon Valley with their shimmering lights

Seeing old friends, FibroGen, Houseboats, Japanese Tea Garden—all special delights.

From there we traveled to Boston again family to see and meet

The Charles River, Harvard, Boston Gardens, and New England—a special treat.

Providence—Brown University (my old school),Larchmont, and my grandparents grave,

New York City, Philadelphia and DC we did not for the next trip save.  

The Big Apple was truly a joy to show my daughter dear—much to her elation.

Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, Time Square, and  Broadway (Anastasia and Once upon an Island) all come with highest recommendation.

Philadelphia -- family and the Liberty Bell.

Makes one feel how patriotism does in America dwell.

DC was an amazing city wherein the 4th of July to observe.

Museums galore, the White House, and even the concert and fireworks did as our sendoff serve.

We spent the rest of the summer in Lausanne in massive rest and recovery.

Leading to some interesting personal artistic discovery.

We would observe Shabbat during the whole trip.

Giving us a chance to see communities which one might otherwise sadly skip.

The experience and friendships enrich the soul.

It’s amazing what one can learn over a chicken soup bowl.

Business is going well despite some challenging situations.

I hope 2019 brings us all joy, happiness, and no altercations.

May Peace, harmony, wealth and prosperity us all find.

May we remember to help others—do something kind.

May we all serve beacons of light

May we not be indifferent to another’s plight.

May we be blessed to see our families grow

And may we also have excellent cash flow.

Do come and visit sometime soon.

We live in Israel—not on the moon.

All the best

Philippe

+972 508 762 098