In my column today, I have a smorgasbord — society, politics, sports, language, music . . . Find something you like, here. Now let’s have some mail.
Two days ago, I had a post that mentioned Ksenia Khavana and her case. Ms. Khavana has dual citizenship: Russian and U.S. She lives in Los Angeles. On a trip back to Russia, to visit family, she was arrested — for treason. She is obviously in danger.
Her crime, specifically, was to have sent $51.80 to Razom for Ukraine. This is a wonderful civil-society organization, based in the U.S. (“Razom” means “together” in Ukrainian.) Ms. Khavana sent her donation on February 24, 2022, the day that Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A reader writes,
Dear Mr. Nordlinger,
Thank you again for keeping a spotlight on Ukraine and on a range of injustices. Just to let you know, I donated $51.80 to Razom in Ms. Khavana’s name.
Another reader writes on a different subject:
Jay,
I had the privilege of voting in the South Carolina Republican primary on February 24. I always thank the workers manning the polls. I met a lady there who immigrated to America from South Africa. She told me she worked at the polls to “pay back” America. “This country has been so good to me,” she said.
In recent days, I have had an article or two about antisemitism, or related to that subject. A reader writes,
Yesterday, we attended the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Fiddler on the Roof — complete with singers in costume who sang the songs and acted out many of the scenes.
During intermission, a high-school teen behind us said very loudly to his grandparents (as they appeared to be): “I would like this a lot more if there weren’t so many Jews.”
We were shocked. I should have said something right away, but when the performance ended — after the Jewish characters had been exiled — I turned around and said to the young man, “That would have been hard to perform without a lot of Jewish characters, don’t you think?” He just rolled his eyes.
As you have quoted many times, “You’ve got to be carefully taught.”
Yes. That Oscar Hammerstein line (from South Pacific) is ever relevant.
In a column last week, I noted that a speedboat, once belonging to George H. W. Bush, had been auctioned, for philanthropic purposes. I said,
I wonder whether the speedboat is a “cigarette boat.” I first heard that term during the Bush 41 administration. I don’t think I’ve heard it since. I also remember that he went marlin fishing — he liked to fish for marlin. Sounds like something you don’t do from a cigarette boat?
I have a lot to learn . . .
A reader writes,
Hi, Jay,
The term “cigarette boat” is alive and well, at least whenever my father is around. It’s even a brand name! Spending summers on the western shores of Ohio’s Lake Erie coast, you can see droves of them congregate at Kelleys Island, then roar around the Catawba Peninsula to make their way home at sundown. Whenever we hear that distinctive sound, my father and I go outside to catch a glimpse and to wish we were at the steering wheel.
My thanks to one and all. Again, for today’s Impromptus, go here.