Sam Ruthe. In the early 1960’s, I happened to be home from college and decided to attend a track meet at my old high school, Wichita North. I was uncomfortable attending the meet because one of my biggest disappointments in high school was my failure to qualify for the state meet in the high jump my senior year.
When it came time for the mile run, friends advised me to watch a young runner from Wichita East high school. His style at that time was more flailing than smooth but he ran a good time. Little did I know that he would go on to be the first high school runner to break the four-minute barrier in the mile. Only ten years earlier in 1954, Roger Bannister was the first person to break the barrier.
The high school runner was Jim Ryun. He had a highly successful career as a distance runner. He still holds the world record at some distances for junior runners.
That history is my background to an amazing performance last week. Sam Ruthe, a 16-year-old from New Zealand, set a new world record for the fastest mile run by an under–18 athlete. He crossed the finish line in an extraordinary 3:48.88 minutes at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston on Saturday. He outpaced a field of professionals to win the invitational heat on an indoor track.
The World Record is 3:45.14. Sixteen years-old on an indoor track and only 3 seconds off the world record is an incredible performance. He thinks he can do better. He had just arrived from New Zealand and was running to get the rust off. I am in awe. As someone who has flown a 14-hour flight to New Zealand, I looked forward to his future events.
Open borders. As you know I think of myself as center-left politically. I am also committed to dialog.
On the issue of border control, I am very critical of how Biden/Harris managed border control from 2020 to 2024.They did not do a good job. I support efforts by the right to deport criminal elements that entered during that time.
Having opened the discussion with criticism of my side of the aisle, and complimenting the other side, I will now offer two criticisms of the other side.
First, the mantra by some people that Biden/Harris had open borders is incorrect in my opinion. The borders were not open in the sense that many want to think.
Biden/Harris did not handle the extraordinary SURGE in people crossing the border, but the borders were not open for anyone and everyone. Newsweek is a center-right magazine. In an excellent article they give data for denials at the border and deportations. Starting with the last year of Trump’s first term and the beginning of the COVID threat, the evidence shows an increase in denials and deportations that continued upward and was maintained throughout the next four years. Biden/Harris denied and deported hundreds of thousands of people. They mismanaged the tremendous growth, but the borders were not open to anyone and everyone. The article is a good read. Comparing Biden and Trump’s Immigration Policies in 12 Charts – Newsweek
Second, I continue to support deportation of illegal immigrants particularly those with a criminal history. I continue to believe there are ICE agents and Border Patrol agents who are well trained and good at their job. I am against protests that are violent or destructive. However I reject thuggery, racial profiling, mistreatment of US citizens and more errors by some agents. I am particularly disgusted by the failure to admit and accept the consequences for mistakes and the attemptsby people in charge to justify wrong behavior.
Thomas Sowell. A high school classmate of Jeny has recently posted quotes by Thomas Sowell on Facebook. All of them favored the right.
Thomas Sowell is a conservative for whom I have deep respect. I have found his writings to have a sound understanding of history and economics. He has grounded his views in data and offered them as arguments never as name-calling disparagement. He has never been mean-spirited, vindictive, hateful or untruthful.
After reading her posts I decided to Google and see what Sowell says about the current administration.
First, he is currently critical of the way tariffs are being conducted. Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Thomas Sowell Criticizes Trump’s Beautiful Tariffs Instituted April 2, 2025 — YAME
Second, he spoke regarding Trump as a person in the 2016 election. He was not a fan. https://www.lenconnect.com/story/opinion/columns/2016/04/11/thomas-sowell-why-donald-trump/31990185007/
I could not find evidence that he has changed his opinion and I looked. I welcome an update.
This and That
“Voters want fairness, and they want fixes, but very few of them want anarchy. Democrats have a real opportunity to lean into ending ICE abuses without falling into the trap of appearing to oppose the constitutional enforcement of immigration laws.” Steve Israel, former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Making America Healthy again is not working for measles.
Good News
Touching
He Knew He Only Had Days Left. A Restaurant’s Kindness Made His Final Meal Special
The freezing weather brought out heartwarming behavior.
‘She Felt Like A Rock’: Man Saves Homeless Woman Found Frozen Outside
Tow Truck Driver’s Split-Second Decision Saves Man Trapped In Icy Culvert
‘This Is What Community Looks Like’: Snowplow Vigilante Clears Streets For Free
Sadly my Camillias did not make it through the second cold snap.
Peace
Jerry
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