Miramar Air Show, Trash Pick-up, Immigrant Children and a Warning about Uber

Musing From the Old Broad

Last week I said that I was boycotting “In and Out Burger” and listed the various reasons for that action. This week I am boycotting the Miramar Air Show for a number of reasons. I realize that this will be an unpopular decision for many of you, but I have several strong reasons for the boycott, and glorifying war is one of the strongest.

I want to quote the “Veterans for Peace” comments because they can say it better than I can:

“ . . . we ask that you question why our government continues spending an increasing amount on the military while reducing spending on programs such as health, education, and infrastructure, programs that benefit out citizens. Our tax dollars can serve us better than by funding war and its implements.”

The money spent on this “free” event is obscene. The pictures of young children posing with rifles in their hands, glorifying war, is obscene. War is not a “pretty thing;” one wouldn’t know that when attending the air show.

There are often times accidents during the air shows; not too long ago there was a bad one in Reno and there were deaths. Why is it necessary? Why do we have to use these expensive airplanes for entertainment. Why not reserve their usage for the purpose they were designed for and not to waste gas and cost money. And just to throw out one more thing – the cost of those airplanes and the gas they use, would feed the homeless in San Diego for months.

No…you won’t find me at the air show.

On a different note entirely, I am copying a letter I just sent to the City Treasurer expressing my displeasure with the trash pickup system we currently are using.

“1 Enclosed please find a check to cover a new green trash can. To say I am angry is putting it mildly. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WHEELS COMING OFF THE CAN. THE DRIVER BROKE THE WHEELS OFF BY PUTTING THE CAN DOWN TOO HARD. If I were responsible for the breakage I’d have no qualms about purchasing a new one. However, of the three cans that I have, this was the only one that had no cracks, no broken lids, and was, more or less, in good condition. The charge for replacing this container is a complete rip-off as far as I am concerned.”

When I called to ask what to do with the green container on my front lawn and the wheels still on the pavement, the first thing I was asked for was the serial number of the can. I’m not sure what difference it made, but it was easy to find. And I can go pick one up on Miramar Place and it won’t cost me anything as long as I bring the serial number with me, but I doubt very much if a green trash bin will fit in my Toyota Camry. Like I said – a rip off!

And that brings me to the Immigrant Children that STILL have not been returned to their parents. Isn’t it interesting that the trash department keeps better records of their trash bins than the Federal Government keeps when they separate families from each other?

What I don’t understand is why the American people are still not angry about this separation. Where are the cries to return the children to their parents? Where is the outrage that these children are still in “cages”, treated poorly, fed worse, and crying for their parents? Where is the outrage that a child died while in “captivity”; that the government didn’t keep records of who these children belonged to? What is wrong with Americans today? Are we so content within ourselves that this no longer matters?

How sick this society has become.

And finally, a warning about Uber. This is a true story – beware.

I have foreign language students living with me to learn English. Several weeks ago my Japanese student and her friend called for two Uber cars to pick them up downtown and take to their respective homes. When Emiko got into the car she noticed that the ride had been cancelled. She asked the driver how that could be because she was sitting in the car. He apologized and said he hit the wrong button and accidentally cancelled the ride.

However, because it was his error he would take her home, free of charge. (She didn’t know there was no such thing as a “free ride!”) On the way there, he asked many personal questions; said many inappropriate things to her. When they got to her house he asked her for a hug. She said “no.” He then asked her to at least shake his hand. (It should be noted that Emiko is rather tall – close to 5’10” – and not a weakling.) As she stuck out her hand to shake his, he pulled her up to him; grabbed her breasts and ripped open her blouse. She hit him in the jaw twice, and, startled, he let go of her.

She ran to her door, got it open and got in. The following day, three days before she was to return to Japan, she called my student to tell her what happened and my student told me. I called the school to tell them but she had graduated the night of the incident, and they did not know how to get in touch with her because she had moved out of her host families house.

I told my student that this needed to be reported to the police department. She told me that when he “cancelled” her trip, Emiko lost all the information about who the driver was, the kind of car he drove, etc. I told her that Uber must have a record and again repeated that the police must be informed.
The two girls went to a restaurant on Convoy Street and while there and called the police. They were told that officers would meet them there within the hour.

Three hours later they left, and no officer had shown up. Emiko left for Japan the next day without the incident being reported. So, if you should ever get into an Uber – or Lyft for that matter – and you are notified that the trip is cancelled, GET OUT of the car. I would imagine that this driver has done this many times before, and until it is reported and he – or they – are caught, this will continue. Rider – Beware.

More next week!