Well, it's been a while since I last posted. I've wanted to, but no profound thought has surfaced to the top. I know, you're thinking that nothing profound has ever risen to the top with me. That might be more accurate than I'd like to admit. Nevertheless, something finally surfaced and I'm going to share it.
I have thought about broadening my subject matter in this blog. I've tried it before, but it didn't last. I always keep gravitating back to one thing. Why am I so hung up on politics? I love photography, but I couldn't get that to stick for more than one blog. I love my family, but even that was hard to maintain in any consistent form. I even tried lessons learned from life and failed there also. I guess there is only one thing left to do... politics. I just wish I was more insightful.
Well, all I have to share today is this. Mr. Obama is going to lose the election this November (2012). I agree with Rush Limbaugh... I think he will lose by a larger margin than the polls indicate at this point in the race. Mr. Obama will lose because he deserves to lose. Misguided policies and the lack of real leadership and free enterprise know-how have doomed him. True blooded Americans, who have noticed such political weaknesses in the president and have largely kept their suspicions to themselves, will overwhelmingly vote against him in the secret confines of the voting booth.
Yet, even though I truly believe all of that, Mr. Obama, in the end, will still claim victory. In his self-ingrained arrogance, Mr. Obama will see victory in defeat. Why? Because he will glory in the fact that he successfully duped the American people. He'll declare that Americans are stupid and easy to manipulate. All you have to do is feed them lies and deny accusations; carefully spin your message so it looks like you are there to help them; pin opposing messages as intolerant; and fine-tune the blame game... it's always the other guys fault.
The sad part about this scenario, which will play out later this year and into 2013, is that he'll be right. As I've written before, Mr. Obama got where he is by being a convenient American, Christian, and black man. He used these things to manipulate voters to back him and he has used Americans and American institutions ever since as his personal play-thing. Why? Because he could.
I hope we as a nation and a people learn something from all of this. Our country is precariously close to a cliff constitutionally, financially, and politically. We cannot afford to let this happen again. Basically speaking, wake up America! If we don't, there will be no America as we know it left to awaken.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
A Day to Remember
Happy Memorial Day! At least my celebration can be happy. I'm sitting in my own home that I was free to have had built and to buy, looking out a window at a tree that I was free to plant with my own hands, in a yard that I am free to trim and mow, and will later today be free to grill chicken and burgers while the kids freely play games in the yard. I'm sure the redundant words have already made the point I'm trying to make.
We get so caught up in the fun and games of having a day off from the regular requirements of life and often forget the reason for the day. There are many such days that we often forget about their real meaning and purpose. With each of them, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, etc. there is something to remember. Memorial Day is no different.
This was driven home to me recently in a conversation with my mother. She told me about an experience my father had on the USS Cleveland during WWII. My dad is no longer with us, and though he had told many stories about his experience in the Navy, he had never told this one. I guess he was either trying to forget a bad memory or shield his children from some of the worst parts of war.
They had received word of another vessel that had been attacked by Japanese war planes. The ship was disabled and had suffered horrific casualties. The Cleveland was dispatched to rescue and recover. They found it floating listlessly at sea. After survivors were brought aboard, a detail was sent to board the ship for clean up. My dad was assigned that detail. He reported to my mother that as they boarded the damaged vessel, death and destruction became immediately evident. Blood smeared the decks along with body parts strewn everywhere. Piece by piece they filled bags and then proceeded to wash the evidence of death off the decks and into the sea. Some really do make the ultimate sacrifice.
This experience apparently had a profound influence on my father. He told my mom that from then on he did all he could to become an officer so he could void such a detail in the future. He did eventually become a Chief Petty Officer, but never said whether he had suffered such a detail again. Obviously, war is a terrible thing and best to be avoided if possible. But sometimes there is no other option. My dad was a proud veteran. He fought in one of those wars that could not be avoided. He did his patriotic duty and survived as a patriotic American for the rest of his life.
So, again, Happy Memorial Day! If for just a moment, take a little time to remember what this day is all about. If nothing else, think about my dad and the many who sacrificed all for the freedom, liberty, and hope of this nation that we still enjoy.
And then, while you think of those who gave their lives for this most important cause... think of ways you can live for it.
We get so caught up in the fun and games of having a day off from the regular requirements of life and often forget the reason for the day. There are many such days that we often forget about their real meaning and purpose. With each of them, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, etc. there is something to remember. Memorial Day is no different.
This was driven home to me recently in a conversation with my mother. She told me about an experience my father had on the USS Cleveland during WWII. My dad is no longer with us, and though he had told many stories about his experience in the Navy, he had never told this one. I guess he was either trying to forget a bad memory or shield his children from some of the worst parts of war.
They had received word of another vessel that had been attacked by Japanese war planes. The ship was disabled and had suffered horrific casualties. The Cleveland was dispatched to rescue and recover. They found it floating listlessly at sea. After survivors were brought aboard, a detail was sent to board the ship for clean up. My dad was assigned that detail. He reported to my mother that as they boarded the damaged vessel, death and destruction became immediately evident. Blood smeared the decks along with body parts strewn everywhere. Piece by piece they filled bags and then proceeded to wash the evidence of death off the decks and into the sea. Some really do make the ultimate sacrifice.
This experience apparently had a profound influence on my father. He told my mom that from then on he did all he could to become an officer so he could void such a detail in the future. He did eventually become a Chief Petty Officer, but never said whether he had suffered such a detail again. Obviously, war is a terrible thing and best to be avoided if possible. But sometimes there is no other option. My dad was a proud veteran. He fought in one of those wars that could not be avoided. He did his patriotic duty and survived as a patriotic American for the rest of his life.
So, again, Happy Memorial Day! If for just a moment, take a little time to remember what this day is all about. If nothing else, think about my dad and the many who sacrificed all for the freedom, liberty, and hope of this nation that we still enjoy.
And then, while you think of those who gave their lives for this most important cause... think of ways you can live for it.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
All in the Family
Recently we had a family gathering at our house. All of our kids and their families came for dinner... all except our son and his family in San Antonio (but we even skyped them in for some of the festivities). It's always quite the experience to have the whole clan together like that.
Well, as usual, I was running late because of church meetings. Dinner was scheduled for 4 pm and I pulled into the garage at 5 pm. I hurried through the door into the kitchen hoping my wife had thought to save me some food. The first sight was the dining room table. Various family members sat visiting at the table having finished whatever had been served on their plates. I was crestfallen.
I hurried in to look for any leftovers on the kitchen counter. Luckily my wife had ensured that I'd have two of her famous beef enchiladas along with some trimmings. I settled in to a nice meal.
By then the grandkids were laughing and screaming and chasing each other around. Toys were scattered all over the house. My kids and their spouses had lively conversations going on. My wife was fully entrenched in the conversations also.
At one point I sat comfortably on a couch surrounded by my family. Though they were each busy doing something else, they were smiling; happy to be together. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw my granddaughter Jenna walking along as happy as she could be gnawing on my toothbrush. Somehow she had reached above her head into a drawer and pulled out whatever she could find. All I could do was smile and hope that she didn't come down with something from grandpa.
Now, I'm sure if anyone was on the outside looking in, they might think that what they were seeing was mass confusion. But not to me... it was simply family. Isn't family simply food, fun, chatter, games, joy, laughter, in depth conversations, supporting each other, spending time together, and yes, even sharing toothbrushes? I think so.
Well, all I can say is, I look forward to our next get together. I hope everyone has such moments in their lives. There is nothing like a real genuine family. No wonder one religious leader once declared: "The earth was created, that families might be" (Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 2000).
Well, as usual, I was running late because of church meetings. Dinner was scheduled for 4 pm and I pulled into the garage at 5 pm. I hurried through the door into the kitchen hoping my wife had thought to save me some food. The first sight was the dining room table. Various family members sat visiting at the table having finished whatever had been served on their plates. I was crestfallen.
I hurried in to look for any leftovers on the kitchen counter. Luckily my wife had ensured that I'd have two of her famous beef enchiladas along with some trimmings. I settled in to a nice meal.
By then the grandkids were laughing and screaming and chasing each other around. Toys were scattered all over the house. My kids and their spouses had lively conversations going on. My wife was fully entrenched in the conversations also.
At one point I sat comfortably on a couch surrounded by my family. Though they were each busy doing something else, they were smiling; happy to be together. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw my granddaughter Jenna walking along as happy as she could be gnawing on my toothbrush. Somehow she had reached above her head into a drawer and pulled out whatever she could find. All I could do was smile and hope that she didn't come down with something from grandpa.
Now, I'm sure if anyone was on the outside looking in, they might think that what they were seeing was mass confusion. But not to me... it was simply family. Isn't family simply food, fun, chatter, games, joy, laughter, in depth conversations, supporting each other, spending time together, and yes, even sharing toothbrushes? I think so.
Well, all I can say is, I look forward to our next get together. I hope everyone has such moments in their lives. There is nothing like a real genuine family. No wonder one religious leader once declared: "The earth was created, that families might be" (Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 2000).
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