Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Yesterday evening, Katherine and I watched Crusoe (1988), which I own on DVD. I must have seen part of this movie many years ago, because I had it on my list of movies to acquire. I checked many times during the past 32 years, and finally found it. The movie is wonderful! Long periods of silence; great music (by Michael Kamen); beautiful scenery; tense moments; impressive acting (by Aidan Quinn); a simple, comprehensible plot. I want to read the famous novel (by Daniel Defoe) on which the movie is based. Somehow, at the age of almost 63, I have not read it.

Here is the trailer.

Re “Amid warnings, Trump takes rosy view” (Page A1, March 25): Is President Trump forecasting his own fears by denying scientific knowledge of how best to survive this pandemic—through a rapid shutdown of the country—and instead predicting a more “beautiful” way would be for the country to open up and just be “raring to go by Easter”? In a virtual town hall on Fox News, Trump then proceeds to forecast that, should we not heed his warnings about “harming” our “flourishing economy,” we “are going to have suicides by the thousands. . . . You can’t just come in and say let’s close up the United States of America, the biggest, the most successful country in the world by far.”

Are we left to wonder whether Trump’s ever-ready slogan, Make America Great Again, is slipping away from him, and whether his fears of being dethroned by the pandemic, which is truly out of his control, feed his own panic?

We each must face our life-and-death situations, some easier than others. Yet it is together that we must unite to protect and provide for the whole.

Judith Kneen

Medford

Note from KBJ: President Trump will be re-elected, Judith. Write it down.

A peaceful scene along the bike trail. Click to enlarge.

Will someone please explain to the Fake News New York Times (ALL THE NEWS THAT’S NOT FIT TO PRINT) that the Democrats make it almost impossible for us to fill positions within government. They “maximum” delay even the best candidates, including Judges, leaving little time!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Here.

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Force equals too much; effort equals too little; being equals enough.

Here is Kurt Schlichter's latest column.

To the editor:

I read that one of President Trump’s advisors likened the coronavirus pandemic to an “asteroid” hitting the campaign.

There are many professional and amateur astronomers who track countless asteroids in our solar system and beyond. We are never surprised by an asteroid that could threaten our survival.

The emergence of COVID-19 in China was first reported last December. In February, the president called the Democrats’ criticism of his lack of preparation for the pandemic a “hoax.” He and his supporters in conservative media dismissed the seriousness of the virus as it ravaged China, Italy and Iran.

The only surprise was how unprepared this administration was. In any war, a general who similarly failed to prepare for battle would be relieved of his command. Now, the president says he knew all along how serious this problem really was.

I don’t know what it takes for Americans to see how stunningly unprepared this president is to lead this country. Sadly, with better preparation and containment, the stock market might not have been in freefall now.

Richard Wulfsberg, Studio City

Note from KBJ: Had it not been for President Trump, tens of thousands of people would be dead right now. Are you paying attention, Richard? Also, does repeating yourself ad nauseam make what you say true? You used all of the following words in one short letter:

• never surprised
• lack of preparation
• only surprise
• unprepared
• failed to prepare
• stunningly unprepared
• better preparation

Your letter reeks of desperation. The fact is, you have no basis to criticize President Trump. You should thank God he is our president.

This morning, in Arlington, Texas, gasoline was selling for $1.699 per gallon at a Shell station. What're y'all payin' in your neck o' the woods?