Thoughts for the Day, July 14, 2025: There has got to be a better way.
It is time for Congress to step up and get immigration out of the executive and judicial branches
To quote the Who, “There has got to be a better way”
Per the Wall Street Journal, A federal judge blocked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from stopping and detaining people based solely on their skin color without probable cause and denying detainees the right to a lawyer.
Friday’s ruling by Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong dealt a blow to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles area by banning ICE officers from detaining anyone because they look Latino, speak Spanish or appear to work as farm laborers, day laborers or carwash workers.
The decision by the California judge comes in response to a class-action lawsuit, which accused ICE and Department of Homeland Security agents of racial profiling as part of their “detention and deportation dragnet” operations. The lawsuit said those tactics violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Our country’s border policies have been in shambles for most of my lifetime. It is time for Congress to step up and pass a comprehensive plan which both parties can live with and meet the needs of our country. Managing by presidential executive orders is not working as we go from one extreme to another depending on who is president. It is an embarrassment.
This is an important issue that benefits all the United States if it is done right. Immigration has been instrumental in our country’s success over the last 250 years. It is time for Congress to step up and deliver an immigration policy that will continue our success for the next 250 years.
*************************************************************************************************************
Live Aid, Forty Years Later
From multiple media sources. This weekend was the 40-year anniversary of the greatest television event in history. It was all in the name of helping people on the other side of the world simply because it was the right thing to do. The concert was Live Aid, a two-venue, 16-hour event that raised hundreds of millions for famine relief in Africa, especially in Ethiopia, where hundreds of thousands were starving to death.
Live Aid still holds the record for the largest viewership of a televised event, ever; 1.9 billion people in 150 countries watched a who’s who of stars perform hit after hit from stages in England and the United States, with a combined attendance of more than 161,000 concertgoers.
The line-up included Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin (a reunion), Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joan Baez, Elvis Costello, Sting, U2, The Who, Run-DMC, and Elton John, to name more than a few of the musicians. Phil Collins performed at both venues, taking the Concord from London to New York and then a helicopter to Philly. The best performance at Live Aid was by Freddie Mercury and Queen. The performance was memorialized in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. See my Video of the Day
The groundbreaking concert raised public awareness and generated such positive publicity that western countries donated surplus grain to aid the immediate crisis. According to an aid worker, “Humanitarian concern is now at the center of foreign policy” for the West. How our country has changed. Sadly, I am pretty sure that idea would not resonate with our current administration.
In a recent interview reflecting on Live Aid and its impact on feeding the hungry, Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof had this to say about the current U.S. policy to taking care of the hungry of the world.
“What is profoundly shocking is the cackling glee with which the Trump-Vance-Musk triumvirate went about declaring war on the weakest and most vulnerable people of our planet. America was always the most generous by far of all the countries. Why would great America do that, while the richest man on the planet cackles that we’re going to feed U.S.A.I.D. into the wood chipper? It is grotesque, it is a disgrace to the country…” This is my Quote of the Day
*********************************************************************************************************
The Tigers
If someone had told me at the beginning of the season that the Tigers would have the best record in baseball at the All-Star break, I would have questioned the person’s sanity. Yet here we are as the Tigers’ record of 59-38 leads all of baseball by one game, the American League by 2.5 games and Central Division by 11.5 games. With six players (plus the batboy) selected to the All-Star game including four starters for the American League, it reflects the Tigers’ status as one of the best teams in baseball.
However, the current four game losing streak has exposed some weaknesses that need to be addressed. Suddenly, the bullpen seems vulnerable as every one of the relief staff has had a bad outing in the last week. The defense has been strong all season, but during the last four games, the Tigers struggled to play a clean game on defense.
Hopefully, the team will use the All-Star break to regroup and get back to their winning ways.
*****************************************************************************************************
Project 2026 and 2028
Since project 2025 laid out the gameplan for the Trump presidency I have decided to develop my own version for the coming elections in 2026 and 2028. Beginning next week, I will outline what I am looking for from those who will be seeking my vote. I am calling it Project 2026 and 2028. I promise it will not be 900 pages.
*********************************************************************************************************
Quote of the Day: See above by Bob Geldof, organizer of Live Aid forty years ago.
Orchid of the Day: Tiger back-up catcher Jake Rogers who pitched the 9th inning of the Tiger’s blow-out loss to the Seatle Mariners on Friday. As he was coming off the mound, he asked the umpire to check his glove for foreign substance after getting the Mariner out to end the inning. Checking the pitcher’s glove is a routine practice of the umpires. Jake was offended that the umpire didn’t want to check his glove.
Onion of the Day: “A district judge is undermining the will of the American people. Law and order will prevail.” Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, adding that ICE agents are removing criminals. Someone needs to remind Tricia McLaughlin that arresting people because they speak Spanish and have brown skin is not the will of the people and it is certainly not lawful.
Question of the Day: Will the Tigers right the ship and maintain the best record in the American League for the remainder of the season?
Lyrics of the Day: We all know That people are the same wherever you go
There's good and bad in everyone. We learn to live when we learn to give each other. What we need to survive. Together alive
If you think you know the lyrics send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.
Video of the Day: Queen at Live Aid 1985
Feel free to share my blog with others. To receive the blog in your email, please use the subscribe button or send an email to me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com and I will start the process for you.