Two incomprehensibly tragic events occurred in America in the last 24 hours. At about 10 pm local time a limousine just burst into flames crossing a bridge in San Francisco. Five people, all women, were burned to death. No accident, just driving across a bridge. The women were going to a bachelorette party for one of the passengers. The bride-to-be and her mother were among those who perished. Hmm.

And today a 46 year old soccer referee died after being punched in the head last weekend by a 17 year old player. Ricardo Portillo had yellow-carded the player and was writing the incident up when the player blind-sided him with the punch. Mr. Portillo had been in a coma all week.

Things like this do not happen in America, surrounded by death though we are. Automobiles do
not spontaneously combust anywhere. I cannot remember anything like this happening before. There is a cause to this and it will be determined.

Nor, violent though we are, do sports officials get attacked in America. My God, if a professional player touches a referee he will be fined and suspended. And Mr. Portillo had been attacked previously! Had his leg broken! His family had begged him to quit. So America could not protect an American, working as a referee in youth soccer from repeat violence resulting in his death. Well then, America-does-not-work. Hmm hmm hmm.