These are my thoughts, after a tragic loss of a young teen this week. To the young teen's family, who shall remain unnamed, my deepest sympathy.
A young life lost. Gone forever. This teen will leave behind many people, asking, "Why?" "What could we have done?" "What did we miss?" "Why didn't we see it coming?" Yet, those answers are also gone.
I didn't know the teen. My son did, as well as the others in the same class and in the same activities. My son is angry, and sad. Angry that his friend and classmate didn't say anything. Angry that he left so soon, and didn't have to. It makes no sense, and yet, sense, is what everyone is trying to make of it. What would drive someone so young and talented, to take their own life?
Teen suicide is not a new phenomenon, and that is terribly sad fact. For someone to be so low in depression or despair, to not see any other option, is, well, a very sad prospect to even think about. To not seek help. To not seek out someone to talk to. To not reach out to a help line. Something, else, but not this. But this is what is in the now, and this is a sadness no one expected, or was prepared for.
This teen left behind a loving, hard working mother, and siblings. This teen left behind caring classmates. This teen, at some moment in that young life, failed to see any other way. Failed to see he had people who cared, if only he had sought them out.
We all touch other people. We all do. In some ways, it is very obvious and overt. In other ways, we touch people with a simple smile or gesture that we may not even know. We are all affected, even in the smallest of ways, by those we meet in our lives. So too are the lasting impressions, good and bad, of those we come into contact with. This one missed the good impressions that were made on others he had touched. Missed too, are the impressions this teen could have made on others along the way. Sadly, he missed seeing there was another way.
The legacy of this teen who left his family and friends, will be in the music that still stirs the air, the smile when he was part of the group, and the love that he one time shared with those he cared about. But that legacy will also be shared with a memory that another teen missed out on what life could have brought to them. Their family and friends will go on to do what they must, without them. Because, in the end, this young life was lost, but the others he left behind must go on, because, life does.
Closing thoughts - The only time its too late to say a kind work, is when someone is gone forever. Don't wait to say to someone how much you care, or to say a kind word, or to just give someone a smile. Be kind. Be a friend. Love someone, more than yourself. It just could be the very thing someone needs that day.
Dan
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
What's at stake this election
Folks, as Americans, we need to be very careful who we vote for this year. More than ever before, the future direct of this country is at stake.
One one hand, we have a man with very little background. What we do know, is that he has spent more time on the campaign trail, than in his job as Senator.
We also know that he had a 20 year association with Reverend Wright, and what I saw from Rev. Wright was nothing short of racist and disturbing rhetoric about how evil America is, so much so, that he declared that "God damn America". For 20 years, Obama has sat in that church, and I am not convinced that just on the few occasions, did such uttering come out. Yet, until his "political" future could be at stake, Obama stayed with that guy.
We also know that he was helped, in the very beginnings of his political life, by William Ayers. Will Ayers was part of the Weather Underground, that was responsible for bombing of government buildings, and the killed of three police officers. He was never convicted, but has said that he helped with the bombings, and he has NEVER claimed regret. In fact, as late as 2001, has said he could consider it again! Yet, Obama has NOT distanced himself from Ayers, and has been involved in social/civic ventures with Ayers.
Maybe its just me, but trust me when I say this - No matter what "worthy" cause might be involved, if such a man were active in that group, I WOULD NOT BE. They could find someone else, and I could surely find another project. Hitler was very instrumental in developing the VW, for people to have cheap transportation. Would that excuse his war crimes if you wanted him on a transportation committee!
Obama has been active in helping ACORN. Now, as it really has been for years, that organization is deeply involved in voter fraud. The FBI is currently investigating ACORN, and it will be interesting to see if they prosecute anyone, but should.
What all this, and many other "associations" tells me, is that Obama has a combination of poor judgement, and strange bedfellows. With that, I am sick at the thought of who he would appoint as Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet members.
While I believe a "President Obama" would be dangerous, that would be compounded to even more dangerous levels by his appointments. And THAT, my friends, is what is at stake!
He didn't stand with his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, doesn't want to wear the Flag pin, and until the campaign, has done nothing for our Troops! Sorry,m but to this Veteran, that is just plain UN-American.
What is at stake this year? ....... AMERICA! That is a change we can not afford.
One one hand, we have a man with very little background. What we do know, is that he has spent more time on the campaign trail, than in his job as Senator.
We also know that he had a 20 year association with Reverend Wright, and what I saw from Rev. Wright was nothing short of racist and disturbing rhetoric about how evil America is, so much so, that he declared that "God damn America". For 20 years, Obama has sat in that church, and I am not convinced that just on the few occasions, did such uttering come out. Yet, until his "political" future could be at stake, Obama stayed with that guy.
We also know that he was helped, in the very beginnings of his political life, by William Ayers. Will Ayers was part of the Weather Underground, that was responsible for bombing of government buildings, and the killed of three police officers. He was never convicted, but has said that he helped with the bombings, and he has NEVER claimed regret. In fact, as late as 2001, has said he could consider it again! Yet, Obama has NOT distanced himself from Ayers, and has been involved in social/civic ventures with Ayers.
Maybe its just me, but trust me when I say this - No matter what "worthy" cause might be involved, if such a man were active in that group, I WOULD NOT BE. They could find someone else, and I could surely find another project. Hitler was very instrumental in developing the VW, for people to have cheap transportation. Would that excuse his war crimes if you wanted him on a transportation committee!
Obama has been active in helping ACORN. Now, as it really has been for years, that organization is deeply involved in voter fraud. The FBI is currently investigating ACORN, and it will be interesting to see if they prosecute anyone, but should.
What all this, and many other "associations" tells me, is that Obama has a combination of poor judgement, and strange bedfellows. With that, I am sick at the thought of who he would appoint as Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet members.
While I believe a "President Obama" would be dangerous, that would be compounded to even more dangerous levels by his appointments. And THAT, my friends, is what is at stake!
He didn't stand with his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, doesn't want to wear the Flag pin, and until the campaign, has done nothing for our Troops! Sorry,m but to this Veteran, that is just plain UN-American.
What is at stake this year? ....... AMERICA! That is a change we can not afford.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Commander in Chief
The economy.... Jobs.... Health care.... Energy.... Security
All important to the everyday lives of Americans. And there are plenty of people in Washington who think they have the answers. In truth, some combination of answers from many of them, on both sides of the isle, reasonable solutions can be found.
But in light of today's big issue, the economy and the Wall Street mess, we need to be ever vigilant to keep a sharp eye on our enemies. They are waiting for us to blink, so they can strike us again.
Every day, we have men and women, standing watch over our freedoms, the very freedoms that permit us to enjoy our lives, participate in the process, discuss openly - even in disagreement, all the options to fix our problems and make our lives better. And they stand watch, because there are those who want our total destruction. 9-11 was but just a small portion of what they hoped for, and still want for us today.
Our families watch their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers, go off to war, and other places to help deter war. America wants the security they help to provide. We need our soldiers, airmen, and sailors. And we need to ready, at any given moment, to strike those who would harm all of us.
In the wake of political promises and differences, for me anyway, I ask myself...When it really comes down to it, who do I want as my next Commander-in-Chief? All the other rhetoric aside, I don't want a "talker", and an appeaser. I want someone of action and decisiveness. When the threat is NOW, I want someone who will act NOW. All the other problems we face as a nation pale in comparison to the problems we'd have if we get caught being slow to react.
No matter what else is going on, we still live in a dangerous world, and I just don't have any faith that Obama and Biden will act when needed. As I suggested in a previous Post, "Can't we all just get along?", isn't a strong defense policy.
All the other messes take both parties to fix. It takes all of us to make them fix it right and hold them accountable. But in the end, I want a strong Commander-in-Chief who will act when we need it. Everything else is second to being safe, so we can be free.
Dan
All important to the everyday lives of Americans. And there are plenty of people in Washington who think they have the answers. In truth, some combination of answers from many of them, on both sides of the isle, reasonable solutions can be found.
But in light of today's big issue, the economy and the Wall Street mess, we need to be ever vigilant to keep a sharp eye on our enemies. They are waiting for us to blink, so they can strike us again.
Every day, we have men and women, standing watch over our freedoms, the very freedoms that permit us to enjoy our lives, participate in the process, discuss openly - even in disagreement, all the options to fix our problems and make our lives better. And they stand watch, because there are those who want our total destruction. 9-11 was but just a small portion of what they hoped for, and still want for us today.
Our families watch their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers, go off to war, and other places to help deter war. America wants the security they help to provide. We need our soldiers, airmen, and sailors. And we need to ready, at any given moment, to strike those who would harm all of us.
In the wake of political promises and differences, for me anyway, I ask myself...When it really comes down to it, who do I want as my next Commander-in-Chief? All the other rhetoric aside, I don't want a "talker", and an appeaser. I want someone of action and decisiveness. When the threat is NOW, I want someone who will act NOW. All the other problems we face as a nation pale in comparison to the problems we'd have if we get caught being slow to react.
No matter what else is going on, we still live in a dangerous world, and I just don't have any faith that Obama and Biden will act when needed. As I suggested in a previous Post, "Can't we all just get along?", isn't a strong defense policy.
All the other messes take both parties to fix. It takes all of us to make them fix it right and hold them accountable. But in the end, I want a strong Commander-in-Chief who will act when we need it. Everything else is second to being safe, so we can be free.
Dan
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