Saint or sinner? Hero or demon? Perhaps the right answer is neither one. In this modern world, we tend to canonize our idols. It is often seen as inappropriate to talk about their dark or negative side—to look at the whole person objectively. That’s a mistake. Should we applaud their virtues? Absolutely. Should we ignore their shortcomings? I don’t think so.

I’m a huge fan of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. For decades, we have sung both their praises. And rightly so. JFK started the Peace Corps. He brought charisma, elegance, and dignity to the White House. He had a vision for the space program and challenged the nation to reach the moon. He skillfully navigated the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

Martin Luther King energized America into embracing the imperative for racial justice. He was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He changed the world through peaceful protest. He had a dream. 

The other side of the coin on these two heroes is that JFK was responsible for the Bay of Pigs fiasco. And he was a notorious womanizer with numerous extramarital affairs throughout his political career. King’s constant sexual activities with women he met on the road shocked the FBI which had several tapes of wild and crazy incidents that happened during his travels. 

When he was president, Bill Clinton balanced the budget. He paid off $360 billion in national debt—something literally unheard of in this day and age. And then, of course, there was the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Then there’s Charlie Kirk and the horror of his assassination. There were many good things about Charlie Kirk. He was able to connect with young audiences and turned his organization, Turning Point, into one of the country’s largest political organizations which attracted young people to gatherings at high schools and universities across the country. 

But there was another side to Kirk as well. He criticized civil rights. He was against LGBTQ rights. He talked about the brain capacity of Black women. (Specifically, he said, “If we would have said that Joy Reid and Michele Obama and Sheila Jackson and Ketanji Brown Jackson were affirmative action picks, we would have been called racists. Now they are coming out and saying it for us…You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken seriously. You had to steal a white person’s slot to be taken somewhat seriously.”)  

Kirk called George Floyd a scumbag but said he did not deserve to die. He said some gun deaths in the U.S. may be worth it to ensure Second Amendment rights. He said abortion is murder and should be illegal, including in cases of rape. Just recently he said he hoped marriage would make Taylor Swift more conservative and encouraged her to reject feminism. He recommended that she submit to her husband. “Taylor, he said, “You’re not in charge.” 

The good news is that Kirk welcomed debate and the free exchange of ideas. There is tremendous irony in this when you consider any negative comment made about Kirk since his murder has caused outrage. 

J.D. Vance has proclaimed that any criticism of Kirk should be called out. He encouraged employees to let their employers know so that they could fire employees who had negative things to say about Kirk. (This is particularly ironic when the Commander in Chief regularly calls his opponents “scum.”)

So, let’s be honest. There were many good things about Charlie Kirk. He was a hero to many, but he was not a saint. 

The psychologist Carl Jung claimed that humans have unconscious archetypes. He said that humans love heroes because they overcome challenges and undergo profound transformations for the good of others. 

Other psychologists often opine on heroes. They give us hope. They energize and inspire us. They heal us and impart wisdom.

But there is also a danger in blindly making people heroes. Because no one is perfect, a hero will inevitably disappoint. Uncritical adoration can also cause people to excuse or ignore misbehavior. In political or religious contexts, blind faith can be used to manipulate, causing followers to disregard standards or decency. 

It is a sorry state of affairs when we no longer value objective analyses–recognizing pluses and minuses. 

Here’s what Martin Luther King had to say about hate and objectivity: 

“Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.” 

I long for the day when we seek the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 

Maria Grant, a former principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm, now focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

When you’re down and troubled during these turbulent times, it’s a good idea to take a deep breath and celebrate the many Eastern Shore treasures at our fingertips. Here are a few of those treasures to consider. Doing so just might brighten your day. 

The Eastern Shore has truly become a musical mecca. This season there have been spectacular concerts sponsored by Chesapeake Music, the Avalon, Gabriela Montero at the Ebenezer Theater, the Oxford Community Center, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and many more too numerous to mention. The wealth of such treasures given the size of the Eastern Shore is truly extraordinary. 

Hummingbirds are plentiful this season. It’s a joyous experience to witness their mating dances and the twirling whirling energy they emit. 

Parades of Canada Geese and Mallards forge their way down creeks and rivers, focused and driven to arrive at their destinations, and sightings of Great Blue Herons, Eagles, and Ospreys spreading their wings and soaring above us. 

Dinners with friends and relatives who celebrate their engagements, anniversaries, children, birthdays, and promotions. And speaking of dinners, we now have the opportunity to dine at a variety of interesting restaurants that offer culinary experiences on par with those found in much larger cities. 

Neighbors who remain fully committed to improving the Chesapeake Bay by participating in the Oyster Recovery Partnership and the Maryland Oyster Gardening Program. Plus, many residents have created natural shorelines, and other environmental structures that prevent erosion and improve the health of native plants and fauna. 

Breathtaking sunsets with bands of pink and blue that are common occurrences on the Eastern Shore. And let’s not forget those lovely shimmering moonbeams that peek through tall pines.

Hardworking Maryland watermen who continue a long tradition on the Eastern Shore of catching spectacular blue crabs and oysters that make for scrumptious dinners. 

Speaking of watermen, The Chesapeake Maritime Museum is an Eastern Shore treasure that offers insights into our history, as well as an increasing variety of educational programs and activities for all. 

Participating in local book clubs that provide an opportunity to share various points of view with interesting people who have provocative perspectives on a variety of issues. 

The ability to explore tributaries, rivers, and streams through kayaking and boating expeditions. 

Plein Air art activities that highlight the tremendous artistic talent in our area, coupled with wonderful art museums, galleries and shows.

Local garden clubs that do spectacular work throughout the area, providing lovely arrangements on sidewalks and in parks and gardens. Our visitors last week commented on their abundance and beauty. 

The celebration and appreciation for civil rights abolitionists and social activists Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, both of whom offer inspiration that appeals to our better angels. 

The upcoming Waterfowl festival that attracts attendees from afar. My personal favorite offering is the dock dog competition, a truly enjoyable event which always provides an opportunity for laughter and awe.

I reside in Talbot County and apologize if I have not mentioned the treasure trove of wonders in other counties. The good news is there is so much to discover and explore. 

In short, let’s take a pause, celebrate the Eastern Shore, and agree that this truly is the land of pleasant living. 

Several events that have occurred in our country this year are disturbing. No doubt about it. As a result, many of us are participating in constructive initiatives to make our country a more welcoming and safer place to live. 

In these times, it’s also important to be thankful for the special things we have the good fortune to enjoy on the Eastern Shore. The author Marcel Proust once wrote, “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”  It’s also true that the wonders of the Eastern Shore provide a blossoming  boom. Let’s be grateful for it. 

---

Maria Grant, a former principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm, focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature. 

I often wonder how President Trump has the audacity to criticize others for misdeeds that he has been guilty of, sometimes on numerous occasions. Let’s review a few examples.

Mortgage and Bank Fraud 

Trump has asked the Justice Department to investigate mortgage fraud charges against a few of his enemies: California Senator Adam Schiff, Federal Governor Lisa Cook, and New York Attorney General Letita James. (Please note that he has not asked that Republicans with similar charges be investigated.) 

Trump and his company have been convicted of falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and conspiracy to falsify business records. He has overstated or understated the value and size of his properties to obtain more favorable loans (bank fraud) or reduce taxes owed. 

Classified Information

During his first campaign for president, Trump relentlessly accused Hillary of not protecting classified information appropriately because of her use of an unsecured email server when she was Secretary of State.

Trump has used his personal cell phone in the Oval Office and has taken dozens of boxes of classified documents to Mar-a Lago. This year, several of his officials used an unsecured messaging app to communicate highly sensitive information about a military strike.  

Election Fraud 

Trump has repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him because of election fraud. Just last week, Trump declared that when there are mail-in-ballots, you know there is fraud. 

Trump himself has voted by mail. After losing the 2020 election, Trump pressured the Georgia Secretary of State to find enough votes to overturn the election. Trump is now encouraging states to initiate redistricting efforts during an off-cycle period in hopes of creating more Republican seats so that he doesn’t lose the House to Democrats in 2026. He has also stated that he will outlaw mail-in ballots in upcoming elections. 

Golf 

When Obama was president, Trump posted scathing rebukes about Obama playing golf when there is important work to be done. “Can you believe that with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf. Worse than Carter.”  “I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf.” 

In this term alone, Trump has golfed more than 55 days–about 24 percent of his presidency.

Law and Order 

Following the murder of George Floyd during his first term, Trump called himself the President of law and order. This term, Trump promised to exile Americans who are repeat offenders. “We’re going to get approval, hopefully, to get them the hell out of our country, along with others.” 

On January 6, Trump urged his followers to go to the Capitol and give them hell. On his first day back in office, he pardoned more than 1,500 January 6 rioters. 

Project 2025 

During his September 10 debate with Kamala Harris, Trump proclaimed that, “I have nothing to do with Project 2025. I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it purposely. I’m not going to read it.” 

After his election, Trump appointed Russell Vought, one of the key contributors to Project 2025, Office of Management and Budget Director. Other Project 2025 architects and advocates include Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff; Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary; Brendan Carr, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission; and Tom Homan, “border czar.”    

Here are only a few Presidential executive orders that are right out of the Project 2025 playbook.

Reinstate service members to active duty who were discharged for not receiving the COVID vaccine, restore their appropriate rank, and provide back pay. 

Reverse policies that allow transgender individuals to serve in the military. 

Coordinate the termination of all discriminatory programs including illegal DEI and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal government under whichever name they appear. 

Pursue the death penalty for all crimes of a severity demanding its use. 

It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes –male and female. 

The United States intends to withdraw from the World Health Organization. 

I hereby order a freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees. 

Expedite the permitting and leasing of energy and natural resources projects in Alaska. 

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations shall immediately submit formal written notice of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. 

No further U.S. foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the U.S. (Hence the disbanding of USAID.)

I could go on, but you get the drift. Every one of these executive orders, and there are literally dozens more, are right out of the Project 2025 Playbook. 

Fact checkers at The Washington Post documented 30,473 lies that Trump told during his first term, an average of 21 lies per day. Just last week, Trump lied about the price of gas, how much prescription drug prices had been reduced, inflation, the uniqueness of U.S. mail-in voting, the water he said he sent to Los Angeles, the 2020 election, the nonexistent monument law, the total amount of aid given to Ukraine, and claimed that Maryland Governor Wes Moore told him he was the greatest president in his lifetime. None of these statements are true. 

I remember attending a leadership seminar some time ago where the instructor talked about the dangers of the “do as I say not as I do” mentality. He said that a leader’s job is to inspire and motivate and when leaders engage in hypocritical acts of selfishness, irresponsibility, and lies, they fail to pay the leadership forward and can permanently harm the success of an organization as a whole. He said a leader’s job is to do everything in his or her power to put the entity and its people in a position to succeed. 

If that philosophy still holds true, and I believe it does, success for America is not right around the corner.

---

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature. 

I have loved Paul Simon’s lyrics and music almost all my life. I loved Simon & Garfunkel. And I loved Simon when he went on his own. I’ve had the good fortune to see him perform live many times. The time that was pure magic was when I saw him perform songs from his album Graceland which he performed with several South African musicians. 

When talking about Graceland, Paul Simon once told Harper’s magazine this: “It’s my favorite record. My favorite song that I ever wrote. This is it. This is the best I ever did. This is all perfect.” And he’s right. Seeing it performed live was a rare treat indeed. The rhythm. The talent of the South African musicians coupled with Simon’s clever lyrics was both mesmerizing and amazing. And it’s even more amazing when you consider that Simon released this album during the controversial and turbulent apartheid crisis in South Africa. 

The brilliance of that whole Graceland album is an example of what happens when cultures converge in a positive fashion and truly bring out the best in one another. Graceland won Grammys for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. 

I’ve often thought that some of the most beautiful, most talented, and smartest people in the world are a result of multi-racial marriages. Black and White. Indian and Asian. Asian and White. Hispanic and Black. The list goes on. Think Halle Berry, Keanu Reeves, Alicia Keyes, Mariah Carey, Barack Obama, Zadie Smith, Tiger Woods, James McBride.

Then consider Asian fusion food which offers exciting and innovative flavor combinations by blending various Asian and global traditions, ingredients, and cooking techniques. It’s appealing because it creates new tasting profiles from spicy to sweet and savory. 

Between undergraduate and graduate schools, I had roommates who were Black, White, Jewish, Gay, male, and female. It was the best experience ever. I learned to appreciate different cultures, foods, traditions, and more. 

When I lived in La Paz, Bolivia for two years, I learned about the discrimination of various Indian groups and saw its aftermath. I also learned to appreciate Pisco sour cocktails and learned how to cook sultanas and chicharrón. In short, the experience broadened my horizons. 

One of the many aspects I dislike about the current administration is its overtly racist mindset. Clearly Project 2025 implies that Whites are superior human beings, and the purity of the race must be protected. It’s not dissimilar to the Nazi eugenics focus. Immigration—even legal immigration—has become a dirty word to the MAGA base. 

J.D. Vance wants Whites to have more children so that mixed races don’t take over America. 

Haitians are eating our dogs and cats. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives which began to level the playing field are being dismantled.

Trump pardons White supremacists who organized an insurrection and attacked the Capitol on January 6. He calls them Patriots. 

The U.S. National Park Service has begun scrubbing information from its exhibits about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. 

Trump accuses the Smithsonian of focusing too much on how bad slavery was and not enough on the “brightness” of America. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has spent a considerable amount of time scrubbing Defense Department websites of articles and images about Jackie Robinson and the Navajo Code Talkers; renaming Navy ships; leading a Christian prayer service in the Pentagon’s auditorium; organizing an effort to restore to West Point Military Academy a painting of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that shows him wearing his gray Confederate uniform and accompanied by a slave guiding his horse; restoring Confederate names of military bases; and reinstalling a racist Confederate memorial, at considerable expense, that had been removed from Arlington National Cemetery. 

Unlike this current administration, I do not feel that a “White Bread World” is a superior world. Rather, I celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion and mourn initiatives that do just the opposite. 

Maya Angelou once wrote: “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength. We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” 

Here, here! 

---

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature. 

We promise to end waste, fraud, and abuse. That was the relentless mantra of the current administration’s 2024 campaign. Exactly how is that promise holding up? Let’s review the current scorecard. 

Trump’s estimated golf tab for his second term surpasses $70 million. According to the website didtrumpgolftoday.com, Trump has spent almost 25 percent of his time on the course—about 61 days. The current $70 million total does not include the $600,000 recently revealed that the Secret Service is spending on golf carts and portable toilets. 

The tallies are in for Trump’s military parade. The Army (U.S. taxpayers) spent $30 million on the parade which covered the cost of hauling dozens of tanks and armored vehicles by train and truck from various military bases. About 7,000 soldiers converged on D.C. while a B-2 stealth bomber and dozens of helicopters flew overhead and Army parachutes sailed by. This tab does not include the cost of the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and local police protection. 

The recent federalized National Guard deployment to California cost approximately $134 million which covered travel, housing, and food for the troops. California officials from the Governor to the Mayor of Los Angeles proclaimed the whole exercise a total waste of money.

An analysis conducted for The Intercept claims that the price tag for Trump’s military surge in D.C. is at least $1 million a day. Other analysts claim that the cost will eventually run into hundreds of millions. Trump has stated that people are going out to dinner in D.C. for the first time in a long time. The data shows exactly the opposite. Reservations for Restaurant Week are down 24 percent compared to last year and down 31 percent on particular days after the Guards arrived. Baltimore, Chicago, and other Democratic cities with Black mayors could be next. (Also, the per capita crime rate is much higher in red states than in blue States. For example, Louisiana—the home state of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson—has a violent crime rate significantly higher than the national average by more than 66 percent.)

The estimated annual cost to run Alligator Alcatraz is $450 million with each bed costing approximately $245 per day. Two environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the facility claiming that the proper environmental reviews were not conducted. A U.S. District Judge has ordered a halt on any further construction while the suit is being reviewed and ordered Florida to wind down operations. Florida, of course, is challenging the order or may just choose to ignore it. 

J.D. Vance has taken eight vacations in seven months, including trips to Italy, India, Nantucket, Disneyland, Vermont, Greenland, and England. He also indulged in a $2,500 dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in San Diego and a kayaking trip in Ohio where the military was asked to raise the level of the Ohio river in an effort to improve his paddling conditions. 

Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, Melania Trump makes between one to three public appearances at the White House each month. She divides her time between Trump Tower, the White House, and Mar-a-Lago. According to Business Insider, her security detail at Trump Tower costs taxpayers more than $100,000 per day. Conservatively speaking, each of her flights to Mar-a-Lago cost at least $35,000. Before she officially moved to the White House in 2017, she had racked up flight costs of $675,000. Given her extremely low White House profile, one can surmise that her travel costs during these first eight months are in the millions.

Trump is spending $1.75 million on new furniture and decorating the White House. This amount does not include the $200 million he plans to spend on the new White House ballroom which Trump claims will come from private funds. The new ballroom will house as many as 600 guests. Call me crazy, but I’m not convinced having 600 guests at the White House at the same time is a good idea. Also, the annual maintenance and operating costs for the approximately 90,000 square foot ballroom will burden taxpayers for generations to come. (The current size of the White House is 55,000 square feet.)

As part of his retribution campaign, Trump has revoked secret service protection from more than a dozen people. But now Trump has ordered 20 bodyguards to provide 24-hour protection for FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Bongino, a former Fox News host and podcaster, is quite controversial. His protection is estimated to cost more than $2 million a year. Secretary of Defense and former weekend Fox anchor Pete Hegseth also is protected by dozens of military personnel.

Stay tuned for details about the July 4, 2026, Ultimate Fighting Championship that Trump plans to host on the south lawn of the White House. Trump claims this event could attract up to 25,000 spectators. Forget the optics of the whole concept of this event, but please agree that it sounds like a costly and time-consuming security nightmare. (I wonder how George Washington would react to celebrating Independence Day with a bloody mixed martial arts fight featuring two fighters in a cage on the White House lawn.)

Juxtaposing Trump’s lavish spending against cuts to medical research, Medicaid and Medicare, the National Park Service, university research, education, public broadcasting, the dismantling of USAID, and so much more, is a bitter pill to swallow. 

Then add to the excessive spending of this administration and the travesty of the government funding cuts, the massive amounts of wealth Trump is accumulating since he won the presidency. 

A New Yorker article estimates that Trump’s presidencies have brought him at least $125 million in extra profits from Mar-a-Lago. The same article estimates that Trump has made at least $27 million from campaign paraphernalia and his online store. (You can purchase a “Trump Was Right About Everything” cap for $34.99 at MAGA.com.)

Interestingly, Trump radically changed his position on cryptocurrency and promoted modifying its regulations. He and his family and cronies invested and profited substantially from this changed regulatory environment. According to Forbes, Trump has made more than $1 billion in crypto, which means his crypto holdings are worth more than any single real estate asset in his portfolio and even more than the combined value of Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower. 

I get this sickening pit in my stomach when I think about the vulnerable and critically ill who will lose support under this administration while the uber wealthy basks in tax cuts and conspicuous consumption. (Think Jeff Bezos’ $50 million wedding.) 

In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald writes, “They were careless people–Tom and Daisy–they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”

Sound familiar? 

---

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

When I was growing up and said something mean about someone, my mom would tell me to look inward and recognize my own shortcomings before criticizing someone else. 

Just admit, here and now, that Trump has a ton of inward soul searching to do. Why? Let’s take a brief look at a small fraction of the people Trump has criticized, mocked, humiliated, or for whom he has sought revenge and retribution. 

Ok let’s begin.

Politicians and States people. Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, James Comey, Jake Sullivan, Anthony Blinken, Letitia James, Judge Arthur Engoron, Liz Cheney, Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Adam Kinzinger. (Trump has also moved presidential portraits of Obama and the two Bushes to a stairwell not visible to White House visitors. In place of the space where Obama’s portrait formerly hung, Trump placed a painting of himself surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, PA. Biden’s portrait has not yet been completed.) 

Revoked Secret Service Protection. Dr. Anthony Fauci, John Bolton, Hunter and Ashley Biden, General Mark Milley, Mike Pompeo, Mark Esper.

Fired. More than a dozen prosecutors who worked on criminal cases against him; several senior justice Department officials; more than 12 inspectors general; the Kennedy Center Director; the Librarian of Congress; the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner, laid off more than 275,000 Federal employees not including contractors. (The Elon Musk dismissal deserves a whole separate column.)

Revoked Security Clearances. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman, more than 50 intelligence officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan. Trump also issued executive orders to limit certain attorneys’ abilities to access government buildings at several large law firms that worked on cases against Trump in the past—firms like Covington & Burling and Perkins Cole–stopping any consideration for future employment with the government, canceling government contracts, and preventing any company that uses such a firm from obtaining federal contracts. 

News Organizations. Trump kicked out AP reporters from White House briefings; ordered investigations into NPR, PBS, and Politico. Trump has called the press fake news, scum, dishonest, low-lifes, corrupt, dumb, clueless, and some of the worst human beings you’ll ever meet. Defunding of PBS and NPR is underway.

Performers, Writers, TV Personalities. George Clooney, Rosie O’Donnell, Taylor Swift, Jimmy Kimmel, Meryl Streep, Jimmy Fallon, Spike Lee, Anna Wintour, Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Moore, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Rihanna, Madonna, Stephen King, Snoop Dogg, Mark Cuban. Stephen Colbert. 

Colleges and Universities. Trump has cut funding at several universities with charges of antisemitism and ideological indoctrination, forced universities to pay millions to settle such allegations, and frozen billions of dollars of research funding. Affected universities include Harvard, Brown, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Duke, George Washington University, Northwestern, University of Minnesota, University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins University, University of California Berkeley, New York University, University of California Los Angeles.

In no way is this a comprehensive revenge list. Such a list might resemble the length of War and Peace. Think about past presidents and how short most of those lists would be. Sure, they may have criticized their opponents or shot back at someone who criticized them, but never before has this country witnessed the vitriol that emanates from this administration. 

Martin Luther King once wrote, “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” 

If Trump took King’s advice and put a little love in his heart, it might go a long way to helping the nation begin the healing process. 

---

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

After I returned from my two-week European foreign affairs journey, my stateside friends asked me, “What’s the buzz in Europe? What are the Europeans saying about Trump?”

My response was, “They’re really not talking about Trump. They’re talking almost exclusively about Putin.”

In conversation after conversation, you get a real sense of how much the people in countries in close proximity to Russia fear Putin. They are genuinely worried. They worry about their safety. They worry about their freedom. And they worry that their country could be next should Putin move on from Ukraine.

While there, you are also reminded how few barriers there are between Russia and its European neighbors. 

One of the comments that former President of Poland, Lech Wałęsa, made is that “Poland doesn’t have great soil or a ton of minerals. What it does have is location, location, location.” Basically, Poland is in the center of all the countries that surround Russia, making it a pivotal piece of real estate. 

Last week we learned that Trump plans to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday. This announcement does not fill me with hope. Instead, I feel a sense of dread and despair. Trump has not yet invited Zelensky to this meeting. And how weird is it that the meeting is taking place in Alaska, once formerly owned by Russia? 

In my mind, it’s a sign of capitulation that Trump invited Putin to the States, given that Putin has not agreed to a ceasefire. There are good reasons that Putin has not been invited to the States in almost a decade. And whatever happened to the sanctions that Trump promised if Putin did not agree to that said ceasefire?

I would venture a guess that the rest of Europe does not have feelings of hope about this meeting either. What kind of diplomatic move is it when only one side of a conflict is invited to discuss peace? 

Sam Greene, professor in Russian politics at King’s College London said, “The symbolism of holding the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska is horrendous—as though designed to demonstrate that borders can change, land can be bought and sold. Never mind that mainstream Russian discourse maintains a claim that Alaska should be returned to Russia.”

The whole situation brings to mind the meeting that Trump had with Putin in Helsinki during his first term when Trump claimed to trust Putin’s explanations for a series of events as opposed to those of his own intelligence agencies. 

And then there’s the issue of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy and former real estate and golf buddy with absolutely no diplomatic experience, flying around to Gaza, Russia, and Iran.  

Not much progress so far in those areas. However, there has been progress in one other area. The two real estate/golf buddies have closed a cryptocurrency deal with Abu Dhabi, the wealthiest and most powerful member of the United Arab Emirates, which will reward both of them and their respective sons with mountains of profits. They’re calling it World Liberty Financial. 

So, ok, it’s not difficult to conclude that Trump is more interested in business deals rather than diplomacy. Now Trump is also in the midst of a serious campaign to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Want to garner favor with Trump? In addition to bringing him gifts gilded with gold, as Apple CEO Tim Cook did, you can nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, following the leaders of Pakistan, Israel, and Cambodia. 

John Bolton, who was Trump’s National Security Advisor in Trump’s first term and is now on Trump’s long enemies list said this about Witkoff: “He knows nothing about Russia, he knows nothing about Ukraine, he knows nothing about Iran. He knows nothing about nuclear weapons. What could go wrong?”

It is safe to say that virtually none of Trump’s ambassadorial appointments have diplomatic experience or deep knowledge about the countries in which they now reside. Just last week Trump nominated Tammy Bruce as the next U.S. deputy representative to the United Nations. Bruce is a former Fox News commentator with no foreign policy experience. Couple that with the expertise of Trump’s senior advisor appointments at State and Defense and you are not left with a sense that America is in good hands, so we can sleep soundly at night. 

Napoleon once wrote, “The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls the chaos, both his own and the enemies.” 

Frankly, I have never seen a more chaotic state of American diplomacy. It smacks of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. I’ve always been a fan of appointing people with deep technical expertise in the subject at hand. Otherwise, you just might find yourself on a ship that slowly begins to sink. 

---

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

When a thorny issue arises, the number one tactic in President Trump’s playbook has been to find the next shiny object. Develop an alternative story to feed the hungry mob. For the first time in a long time, that strategy is not working.

Trump can’t escape the public outcry to release the Epstein files—something both he and his minions campaigned on over the past few years. Rather than moving on to another issue, the outcry for releasing the Epstein files continues to grow stronger on both sides of the aisle.

So, what red meat has Trump tossed to the angry mob?

Trump accuses Barack Obama of treason and claims he should face criminal charges. 

Trump revives unfounded allegations that Beyonce, Oprah, and Al Sharpton were paid to campaign for Kamla Harris and claims they should be prosecuted.

Trump opens an investigation against Jack Smith for violating the Hatch Act because he claims his actions were politically motivated. 

Trump sues Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion for what he claims is a false story about Trump’s lewd birthday card drawing that he sent to Epstein on his 50th birthday. 

Trump starts a campaign for Coca-Cola to use real cane sugar. 

Trump starts a campaign to change the Washington Commanders name back to its former racist Redskins name.

Trump positions nuclear submarines near the Russian border.

Trump calls Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell a “stubborn moron” and urges the Board to take control. 

Trump fires the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Erika McEntarfer because he claims she falsely reported job numbers that made him look bad.

And when asked why he broke off a friendship with Epstein, Trump claims it was because he stole employees from Mar-a-Lago. It was never about stolen employees. It always comes down to real estate with Trump, and this was no exception. And, by the way, it was Maxwell who lured Virginia Giuffre away from Mar-a-Lago—not Epstein. 

The fallout between the two occurred over a real estate deal that Trump bought from under Epstein. Epstein bid $36 million. Trump bid $40 million for a property in a bankruptcy auction. Trump made minor cosmetic repairs to the estate and then sold the property to a Russian oligarch for $96 million a few years later—a transaction questioned by many at the time.

Trump has always campaigned as an outsider who wants to protect the common man, using an “I’ve got your back” mantra. This whole Epstein fiasco is about Trump protecting the insiders or elites—a club of which he is a member. To calm the maddening crowd, he may toss in some grand jury testimony about Epstein which won’t quell the beast. That testimony is a small segment of material and far from representative of the mounds of material in the Epstein files. 

For years, Trump has worked under the auspices of assigning blame to others whenever possible. He campaigned on stopping the Ukraine/Russia war on Day One. He campaigned on lowering prices. He campaigned on reducing taxes for the masses. And he campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. The Ukraine/Russia War is raging. Prices are up. Taxes are being reduced for the elites–not the masses. And the Epstein files have not been released. 

A growing number of MAGA loyalists feel betrayed. This time the buck may stop with Trump. Stay tuned.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.  

I just returned from a foreign affairs journey which included visiting Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Poland with lectures by an academic, a journalist and author, a former ambassador, and the former President of Poland, Lech Walesa. 

One of the subjects discussed in these lectures was the happiness, or some might say contentment, of the Danish people. Exactly why are Danes ranked so high in happiness year after year? Several reasons account for these continually high ratings.

First, even though they pay some of the highest tax rates in the world, Danes feel a strong sense of security. They don’t have significant worries about healthcare, childcare, and education, all of which are heavily subsidized by the government. They also receive generous unemployment and social security benefits. 

Second, Danes have a long history of democratic stability which is reinforced by Denmark’s constitutional monarchy. For the most part, Danes trust the government which translates to shared responsibility for societal wellbeing, low corruption, and efficient public services. Danes strive for peaceful conflict resolutions and focus on improving living conditions for their citizenry. 

Third, Denmark has one of the lowest income inequality ratings in the world. It also ranks second in the European Union on the Gender Equality Index. In short, there is not the monumental wage gap such as the one found in the U.S. between the extremely wealthy and the average worker. Nor does Denmark have a huge disparity in wages between men and women. 

Fourth, Denmark is widely recognized as having a strong commitment to environmental issues, particularly in relation to climate change and sustainability. Denmark has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a green economy. More than 63 percent of new passenger cars in Denmark are electric vehicles. 

And finally, there is also something called hygge in the Danish culture which emphasizes coziness, comfort, and togetherness. The focus is on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, appreciating the moment, and relishing simple pleasures. 

Let’s contrast that happiness criteria with what is currently happening in the U.S. The U.S. has dropped to 24th place in the 2025 World Happiness Report, its lowest position to date. Americans under 30 are particularly affected, ranking 62nd in this age group for happiness. Reasons for this drop in happiness include rising political polarization; increased loneliness and isolation; a decline in perceived social support; and increased stress and anxiety. 

Under this administration, Americans feel less secure. Thanks to the “big, beautiful bill,” Medicare and Medicaid benefits are being slashed, and healthcare costs are rising. Given the tax cuts to the super wealthy, U.S. income inequality is increasing not shrinking. And rather than democratic stability, this administration has chosen a divide and conquer approach. 

In addition, our current President has stepped away from global climate actions, ramped up domestic oil and gas production and removed incentives for electric vehicles. Specifically, this administration has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement; declared a national energy emergency and doubled down on oil and gas production; proclaimed that endangered species cannot be an obstacle to energy development; revoked Biden’s goals on electric vehicles; and eliminated a push for environmental justice.

And as to the Danish concept of “hygge”—you know working on enhancing coziness and togetherness—that is not happening here. Rather, this administration vilifies its opponents whenever possible. The concept of unity and togetherness has left the building some time ago. 

So, there are good reasons that Americans do not feel calm, content, and cozy. Many of us wake up with pits in our stomachs over the damage being done to this country. We wonder how long, if ever, the ship will right itself. 

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” Somehow, I don’t think such a goal is on this administration’s radar screen. Retribution has taken its place leaving in its wake only pain and sorrow. 

Is there still hope for America to be the shining beacon on the hill? There is. But Americans must rise up and meet the moment. Americans must seek factual information. They must do the research on various candidates’ positions in the 2026 elections. And most importantly, they must vote. Close to 90 million Americans did not vote in the 2024 election. It was the closest election since 1968. Trump defeated Harris by 1.5 percentage points. 

A well-informed constituency that seeks truth and treats various political points of view with respect and dignity—not crude and rude debasement–and one that does appropriate due diligence on important issues may eventually lead to a happier America. So carpe diem America. Our democracy depends on it. 

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the eastern shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature. 

Just when I thought things couldn’t get much worse, they did. Our fearless leader had the brilliant idea of creating a migrant detention center in the environmentally precarious Florida Everglades. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis got on board quickly—surprise, surprise. 

The center will house up to 3,000 undocumented migrants while they await due process (so they say) before they are sent out of the country. It will cost $450 million annually for the state to operate the facility. That’s right–$450 million each year. Florida provided the initial $450 million needed to create and operate the center and will seek reimbursement through FEMA. (FYI, FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Does it sound like an appropriate use of funds to you?)

Trump claims that it’s okay to disrupt the Everglades fragile ecosystem because there already is an airport there. As usual, he is wrong. In 1968, planners envisioned a large airport but backlash from conservationists stopped the construction after just one small runway was built. The backlash inspired the Florida Everglades movement and the creation of several environmental watchdog groups. 

Let’s quickly review just how special the Everglades are. 

The land is sacred to several Native American tribes that reside in 15 villages within the preserve. 

Often called a river of grass, the Everglades are 86 percent wetlands surrounded by the Big Cyprus National Preserve. (Note the word Preserve.)  Nine distinct habitats coexist in the Everglades, including cypress swamps, sawgrass marshes, and the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western hemisphere. 

The Everglades are the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist in the same habitat. They are a haven for many endangered species, including the Florida panther, the West Indian manatee, and breeding grounds for tropical wading birds and home to 350 bird species. 

One in three Floridians rely on the Everglades for their drinking water.

A coalition of environmental groups has filed a lawsuit claiming that the detention center did not undergo any of the environmental reviews that Federal law requires. Let’s watch what happens next. 

In the few short days of its existence, the center has already flooded. (Just last week severe flooding killed at least 82 people in Texas.) Hurricane season is right around the corner, and it is unlikely that the center will meet hurricane codes. The risk of mosquito-borne diseases is significant. Heat and humidity in the area can charitably be described as brutal. Add to all that, a location that is virtually inaccessible to lawyers and family members. 

Trump could care less about environmental issues. He has rolled back some of the nation’s key environmental safeguards which will profoundly affect the air we breathe and the water we drink. He has gutted funding for the agencies involved in the Chesapeake Bay restoration, including funds that restore and protect native species such as oysters, blue crabs, and striped bass. 

Beside the horrific environmental implications of this center, one must also consider the racist overtones. Several studies have shown that racial resentment has contributed to Trump’s political ascendance. Clearly many of Trump’s claims smack of racism. He claimed that Obama wasn’t a legal American citizen. He said Haitians were eating the dogs and cats. He called Mexicans rapists. He said Harris was a DEI candidate. He said migrants murdered hundreds of women and girls. He tells nearly all-white crowds they have good genes. And now he is sending primarily Black and Brown migrants to what many claim resembles a German concentration camp. 

I must admit all the July 4th celebrations rang hollow for me this year. It no longer feels like the land of the free and the home of the brave. There is no “crowning thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.” Instead, the land that I love is being destroyed piece by piece. Wake up America. 

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.