The news is an awful bummer but I began subscribing to another positive news newsletter. I also focus more on the “fairer” of the newsletters, like the 1440 and the Skimm. I read Press Run, in which the author takes on the negativity of the mainstream press toward President Biden. I also read Reuters a lot for their impartiality.
As for why the news is generally a bummer:
1. Ukraine. The coverage of the carnage left behind by the retreating Russian army is truly horrifying. President Zelensky calls it genocide and it sure seems to be, but the Western countries seem hesitant to go that far. They do call Putin a war criminal, however. The Russians, of course, is claiming the footage of the bodies tied with their hands behind them and left strewn on the streets are a “hoax.” Yeah. My lyin eyes are deceiving me. Oh, it is so sickening.
2. The abuse and mistreatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson by the GQP. The Rethuglicans on the Judiciary Committee practically pranced about, shouting “We are racists!” There’s no shame anymore. Every single one of those GQP corrupted Senators voted against the most qualified person ever to be nominated to the Supreme Court. She far outshines trump nominees and yet she was mocked and interrupted by the thugs during the hearings. And every single one toe stepped to the “no female blacks on the Supreme Court.” And while the hearings were going on, the Chair, Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, didn’t object once to Jackson’s mistreatment. The only one to defend her was Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey.
3. The GQP continues to flagrantly break the law and get away with it. Those of us who believe in law and order are thoroughly depressed by the lack of consequences for the higher up law breakers.
In more positive news today, I saw on the Long Island paper, Nassau Daily Voice, that the Plattedeutsche Park restaurant was voted the best German restaurant on Long Island. I so remember the Plattedeutsche well and very fondly.
I went there when I was first dating Rich. His parents, grandparents and all his relatives were of German heritage so the Plattedeutsche was like a second home to them. Every year, the Park had Volks’ Fests and Oompah Fests. They were so much fun! There were games for the children to play; delicious bratwursts, knockwursts, hot dogs and potato pancakes to stuff a hungry self on; a loud, lively Oompah band and lots of dancing, drinking and singing. Every once in a while, folks would form a parade and march around the park. The fests were always packed and always filled with “gemütlichkeit”.
I’d taken German in junior high and high school but had forgotten most of it by the time I began dating Rich. I didn’t know what “gemütlichkeit” was and asked his grandmother. She answered that it wasn’t a real word but a combination of ideas conveying that everyone was experiencing good feelings together. Happy camaraderie. That certainly defined the spirit at the fests.
On special occasions, we’d always eat at the Plattedeutsche. This is where I learned to truly appreciate German food. I’d grown up with American/Irish meals and so I really enjoyed dishes like rouladen, sauerbraten, schnitzel, apfelkuchen, and many others. Family birthday parties and gatherings were always held in a private dining room at the Plattedeutsche. We stuffed ourselves.
Throughout our marriage, Rich and I went to the Plattdeutsche every year we lived in New York. When we moved to Maryland, we’d travel to Franklin Square to meet up with family to celebrate Oma’s birthday. Oma is German for grandma and that is what Rich’s grandmother was called. After Rich passed away in 2001, I went with our children to the Folks’ Fest. We couldn’t stay as long as we used to; it was too painful.
Now, twenty years later, all I remember is the good times and the great food!
No comments:
Post a Comment