Attention Fellow Veterans ~
Due to recent discussions with a couple other Vets, and knowing about the passing of more of us each day, I thought I'd post these thoughts.
Our WWI Vets are gone now. We are losing more and more of our WWII Vets every day, and their numbers have really dwindled. Our slightly-older brothers-in-arms from the Korean War, are also getting older and they'll be following our WWII Vets home more and more. And for my generation, we Vietnam Vets are no spring chickens anymore either.
When our Veterans go to their final resting place, they take with them all their memories. If no one captures those memories on recordings or on paper, then no one can learn anything from what they could pass on.
I have started something of a journal, or book, for myself. I have no plans on marketing such a thing (although many do so with much success), but do want to have it printed off, at least for my kids, and their kids. I want it to tell MY story, and share my thoughts and memories. I want it to be here, long after I go home one last time. It is NOT a "hero's" story, but it is MY story or MY experiences and perspectives. In some ways, I can write, what I can not say aloud to anyone.
Everyone has to deal with their experiences in what ever way is right for them. But, my fellow Vets from all conflicts, I would encourage you to document YOUR thoughts and experiences, and keep them for those who will follow some day. With today's computers and flash drives, it is easier than ever to write such thoughts down and save them until YOU are ready for anyone else to read them. You (and I) don't have to be a "writer", you just write. Or, have someone you can talk to, write it down for you. And if you need to, made audio recordings and save those.
I would encourage all Veterans to do so. And for the record, I am still working on my own memories, and it's taking me more than 10 years, and I'm still not done. It hasn't been a constant effort, but when ever I can just sit quietly nto myself and add some lines. You too may have some things you can't say even to yourself yet, but don't let that stop you from starting, and putting down those things you have to say or share.
And with flash drives, you can write, then save, and keep it as private as you want it to be. But do not miss the opportunity to get your thoughts down. They are part of you. They may be lessons to be shared to others, after your passing, if not before. Only YOU can share those.
THANK YOU to all our Vets, past and present, on this Veterans Day.
God Bless you all.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Veterans Day 2011
To all those Veterans of today, as well as to all those who have come before - THANK YOU for your service and sacrifices.
While it is most usual for me to go off on some political tirade, this message will depart from that. With this Veterans Day, I will fly my flag, and say THANKS in any way I can. My family, my country, and I am free, because of the fight our Veterans have taken up for all of us.
May we all show our respect, and tell a person in uniform THANK YOU. God Bless our men and women serving today, and God Bless their families.
To ALL our Veterans of all conflicts - THANK YOU for YOUR Service.
While it is most usual for me to go off on some political tirade, this message will depart from that. With this Veterans Day, I will fly my flag, and say THANKS in any way I can. My family, my country, and I am free, because of the fight our Veterans have taken up for all of us.
May we all show our respect, and tell a person in uniform THANK YOU. God Bless our men and women serving today, and God Bless their families.
To ALL our Veterans of all conflicts - THANK YOU for YOUR Service.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Courage, Commitment, and Perseverance
Courage, Commitment, and Perseverance - Three words that, to me, describe a very special segment of WWII heroes. While those apply to so many, I am referring here to those men of the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group.
I first heard about the "Red Tails", as they were called, from my former father-in-law, Richard B. Sigle (R.I.P.), who had been a B-24 Liberator Pilot in WWII. He told me that no bomber was loss to hostile fighters, when the Red Tails were doing escorts. Wow.
Those men, those Negro Airmen of that day, had to endure so much in the segregated America, long before their introduction into the Army Air Corp. We know our history, but unless you were "colored", we can never know what they went through, or how they felt.
Yet, those men did endure the racist treatment, which continued when they entered the Air Corp. And they exceeded all expectations, persevered and attained their wings. They trained, they excelled, and they went on to serve their country, our country, in the European theater of war, and flew P-40 Warhawks, to P-51 Mustangs. The pilots and ground crews, were tasked with ground support and bomber escorts, while still bearing the brunt of racism. And that takes commitment and courage.
Those Airmen, later returned "home", only to find that America had not been any more accepting to them, as they had been before. Sadly, racism was still the way of things in even Post War America. All black Veterans, found the same America they had left to fight for, but they DID IT anyway.
We all owe a lot to Veterans of all wars, those men and women, who go into war zones for the continued struggle for our freedoms. But few Veterans know the rejection by those who held on to those racial beliefs. Sad, that such Veterans should be treated that way. No Veteran should be treated that way, but our Black Veterans of WWII went through things the rest of us can never imagine.
To those Veterans, we owe so much to. As with all WWII Veterans, they too are part of that greatest generation. The respect those Airmen are getting today, while long overdue, is so deserving.
Personally, and while NOT a pilot myself, I love all things that fly. And the men and women who fly them have my deepest respect and admiration. I do not care what their color is, their heritage, or their gender. If you have been a pilot, specially a military pilot, my hat is off to you. To those who proudly served, in the face of racism, thank you for serving OUR country anyway.
(Thanks too, to my son, Major Matt Bayes, Kansas Air National Guard Pilot, and Southwest Airlines Pilot.)
If you haven't seen it, watch The Tuskegee Airmen movie, and also the PBS special of the same title.
I first heard about the "Red Tails", as they were called, from my former father-in-law, Richard B. Sigle (R.I.P.), who had been a B-24 Liberator Pilot in WWII. He told me that no bomber was loss to hostile fighters, when the Red Tails were doing escorts. Wow.
Those men, those Negro Airmen of that day, had to endure so much in the segregated America, long before their introduction into the Army Air Corp. We know our history, but unless you were "colored", we can never know what they went through, or how they felt.
Yet, those men did endure the racist treatment, which continued when they entered the Air Corp. And they exceeded all expectations, persevered and attained their wings. They trained, they excelled, and they went on to serve their country, our country, in the European theater of war, and flew P-40 Warhawks, to P-51 Mustangs. The pilots and ground crews, were tasked with ground support and bomber escorts, while still bearing the brunt of racism. And that takes commitment and courage.
Those Airmen, later returned "home", only to find that America had not been any more accepting to them, as they had been before. Sadly, racism was still the way of things in even Post War America. All black Veterans, found the same America they had left to fight for, but they DID IT anyway.
We all owe a lot to Veterans of all wars, those men and women, who go into war zones for the continued struggle for our freedoms. But few Veterans know the rejection by those who held on to those racial beliefs. Sad, that such Veterans should be treated that way. No Veteran should be treated that way, but our Black Veterans of WWII went through things the rest of us can never imagine.
To those Veterans, we owe so much to. As with all WWII Veterans, they too are part of that greatest generation. The respect those Airmen are getting today, while long overdue, is so deserving.
Personally, and while NOT a pilot myself, I love all things that fly. And the men and women who fly them have my deepest respect and admiration. I do not care what their color is, their heritage, or their gender. If you have been a pilot, specially a military pilot, my hat is off to you. To those who proudly served, in the face of racism, thank you for serving OUR country anyway.
(Thanks too, to my son, Major Matt Bayes, Kansas Air National Guard Pilot, and Southwest Airlines Pilot.)
If you haven't seen it, watch The Tuskegee Airmen movie, and also the PBS special of the same title.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Protesting the Rich?
The RICH, and the middle class -
Before I begin, let me make clear the following ~
I am not even near rich, or even comfortable. I am not supporting ill-gotten gains in wealth. I am not suggesting the rich be given special consideration in taxation.
I DO believe in reasonable tax reform, where everyone pays into the system (I like the fair tax, but several simplified tax plans could be better than what we have now.). And in no way, should criminal activity, such as fraud, be tolerated.
But this wave of blaming the rich (what IS rich?), is BS, and it's a serious diversion from the real problems in American economics and government.
But, what should we think about the RICH? Many (most?) of those protesting at Wall Street, would say we should arrest them (for what crime?) because they shouldn't have that wealth (really?). Funny, those people do so, by sharing their views and protests while using their Apple laptops, iPhones, iPads, and such. All made by one of the biggest and most successful companies out there!
The RICH, you know ... the ones Obama encourages many to hate ... buy stuff. Lots of stuff. And that STUFF, is made, maintained, and sold by people from all walks of employment. I say, in stead of vilifying the RICH, make stuff for them, sell stuff to them, maintain stuff for them! Make YOU money OFF them. Thousands upon thousands are doing that right now!
Just for fun, lets make up a RICH family. A RICH family who have earned their own way, but, let's say, designing and selling the best mouse traps the world has ever know.
The RICH family is a family of four. A 46 year old dad; his business partner wife, who is also 46 (high school sweethearts); a 17 year old daughter; a 16 year old son; two pure bred Irish Setters; and an African Grey Parrot. They live on 5 acres, with a pool, a 4 car garage, with a 5 bedroom, 4-1/2 bath, 3800 sq ft home.
Fred RICH, drives a Cadillac SRT.
Betty RICH drives a XC-90 Volvo SUV.
Sandy RICH was given a 1992 Nissan Sentra for school, Dad's character builder
Sean RICH was given ... a ride to school
Fred loves golf, and belongs to a country club.
Betty loves antiques.
Sandy shows her dog on a national level.
Sean plays baseball, in school and on a summer league.
They all love in-home movies, and enjoy the surround sound fully equipped home theater system, with 72 " Plasma TV
Fred and Sandy hold weekend billiard challenges in their game room.
Betty takes in-home cooking lessons, in her large country kitchen.
Sean has leaned to bake pizzas in the brick-oven.
Okay, nice, uh! Yep, the RICH have what many would think of as a well to do live, and life style. They earned it, and at a rate of $1,200,000 a year, in earnings and investments. They are, by any standard normal people would say, RICH.
So, I ask ....
And how many people were involved in building that house?
What about the sub-contractors?
How about the suppliers of all the plumbing? The electrical? The appliances? The cabinets?
How many people work in the Cadillac and Volvo factories?
Or work in the sales room, finance department, service shop?
How many people work at the billiard company? Or the factory show rooms? Or the delivery and set-up crews?
How many people make the TVs, stereos, all the home theater furnishings?
How much gets spent in travel to all the baseball games (gas, meals, even over-nights)?
How much to maintain the Pure Bred Irish Setters, and travel for the dog shows?
How many people maintain the country club, and golf greens?
And HOW MANY PEOPLE, do the RICH's employ, pay, provide benefits to?
And how many people, collectively, design, build, supply, sell, and maintain all the RICH stuff?
(And how many of those protesting at Wall Street, will be hiring YOU?)
Protest REAL fraud and criminal conduct!
Protest bad government!
Protest wasteful spending!
Protest government elected officials and appointees who abuse their power, getting life-long benefits, when the rest of us have to follow laws and rules they don't!
But to Protest the RICH, because they have, and you don't, IS STUPID. Unless - SOCIALISM is your preferred form of government!
Before I begin, let me make clear the following ~
I am not even near rich, or even comfortable. I am not supporting ill-gotten gains in wealth. I am not suggesting the rich be given special consideration in taxation.
I DO believe in reasonable tax reform, where everyone pays into the system (I like the fair tax, but several simplified tax plans could be better than what we have now.). And in no way, should criminal activity, such as fraud, be tolerated.
But this wave of blaming the rich (what IS rich?), is BS, and it's a serious diversion from the real problems in American economics and government.
But, what should we think about the RICH? Many (most?) of those protesting at Wall Street, would say we should arrest them (for what crime?) because they shouldn't have that wealth (really?). Funny, those people do so, by sharing their views and protests while using their Apple laptops, iPhones, iPads, and such. All made by one of the biggest and most successful companies out there!
The RICH, you know ... the ones Obama encourages many to hate ... buy stuff. Lots of stuff. And that STUFF, is made, maintained, and sold by people from all walks of employment. I say, in stead of vilifying the RICH, make stuff for them, sell stuff to them, maintain stuff for them! Make YOU money OFF them. Thousands upon thousands are doing that right now!
Just for fun, lets make up a RICH family. A RICH family who have earned their own way, but, let's say, designing and selling the best mouse traps the world has ever know.
The RICH family is a family of four. A 46 year old dad; his business partner wife, who is also 46 (high school sweethearts); a 17 year old daughter; a 16 year old son; two pure bred Irish Setters; and an African Grey Parrot. They live on 5 acres, with a pool, a 4 car garage, with a 5 bedroom, 4-1/2 bath, 3800 sq ft home.
Fred RICH, drives a Cadillac SRT.
Betty RICH drives a XC-90 Volvo SUV.
Sandy RICH was given a 1992 Nissan Sentra for school, Dad's character builder
Sean RICH was given ... a ride to school
Fred loves golf, and belongs to a country club.
Betty loves antiques.
Sandy shows her dog on a national level.
Sean plays baseball, in school and on a summer league.
They all love in-home movies, and enjoy the surround sound fully equipped home theater system, with 72 " Plasma TV
Fred and Sandy hold weekend billiard challenges in their game room.
Betty takes in-home cooking lessons, in her large country kitchen.
Sean has leaned to bake pizzas in the brick-oven.
Okay, nice, uh! Yep, the RICH have what many would think of as a well to do live, and life style. They earned it, and at a rate of $1,200,000 a year, in earnings and investments. They are, by any standard normal people would say, RICH.
So, I ask ....
And how many people were involved in building that house?
What about the sub-contractors?
How about the suppliers of all the plumbing? The electrical? The appliances? The cabinets?
How many people work in the Cadillac and Volvo factories?
Or work in the sales room, finance department, service shop?
How many people work at the billiard company? Or the factory show rooms? Or the delivery and set-up crews?
How many people make the TVs, stereos, all the home theater furnishings?
How much gets spent in travel to all the baseball games (gas, meals, even over-nights)?
How much to maintain the Pure Bred Irish Setters, and travel for the dog shows?
How many people maintain the country club, and golf greens?
And HOW MANY PEOPLE, do the RICH's employ, pay, provide benefits to?
And how many people, collectively, design, build, supply, sell, and maintain all the RICH stuff?
(And how many of those protesting at Wall Street, will be hiring YOU?)
Protest REAL fraud and criminal conduct!
Protest bad government!
Protest wasteful spending!
Protest government elected officials and appointees who abuse their power, getting life-long benefits, when the rest of us have to follow laws and rules they don't!
But to Protest the RICH, because they have, and you don't, IS STUPID. Unless - SOCIALISM is your preferred form of government!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Budget cuts and our Military
No doubt, our out-of-control spending by the government, MUST be curtailed. And I have no doubt that every government department and agency can find cuts that need to be made. Millions and Billions could be saved.
The Defense Dept. is no exception. I bet that if we just reduced all the waste (stupid spending on over prices for hammers, for example?), we could save a bundle, without cutting critical mission tools and forces. But - For all the things we take for granted, all the things we want as a nation, all the things we hold dear, would all be gone if either of two things happened.
One - If this government ... and I don't just mean Obama ... should advance any more control over our every segment of personal and private enterprise, we will have LOST our FREEDOMS. A tyrannical (read that as all controlling) government will stifle our freedoms, our enterprising thought, and our freedom to enjoy life without a BIG BROTHER looking over our shoulder and making every decision. It's been growing toward that for several decades, and the speed of that strangulation under Obama is very, very, unsettling.
Two - Without a strong military, we will find ourselves on the defense from those who would see us as weak, vulnerable, and defeatable. While the peace-nics would have us surrender our weapons to be a peace loving nation ... the truth is this ----- EVIL does exist in the hearts and minds of too many in the world. That EVIL is boundless in it's desire to destroy all it can, just because they can. EVIL needs no reason. EVIL can't be negotiated with. EVIL can't be trusted. EVIL can not be reasoned with. Because of that, EVIL can only be fought against, by forces stronger than what EVIL will have to use.
Which leads to ... STRENGTH THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER. And that firepower, must be so strong, so terrible, that it is obvious to all others, to defeat us would be impossible. And, to attempt to further the desires of those EVIL DOERS, we must be prepared to strike fast, and strike anywhere in the world. That takes a well armed, and well placed military.
Tighten down on multi-branch duplication of spending, but continue development of weapons systems and keep our military razor sharp, in hopes we don't need to them. Sorta like health insurance. Expensive, but near as much as being without it if a catastrophic illness comes along. Cut the waste ... but NOT our military might.
The Defense Dept. is no exception. I bet that if we just reduced all the waste (stupid spending on over prices for hammers, for example?), we could save a bundle, without cutting critical mission tools and forces. But - For all the things we take for granted, all the things we want as a nation, all the things we hold dear, would all be gone if either of two things happened.
One - If this government ... and I don't just mean Obama ... should advance any more control over our every segment of personal and private enterprise, we will have LOST our FREEDOMS. A tyrannical (read that as all controlling) government will stifle our freedoms, our enterprising thought, and our freedom to enjoy life without a BIG BROTHER looking over our shoulder and making every decision. It's been growing toward that for several decades, and the speed of that strangulation under Obama is very, very, unsettling.
Two - Without a strong military, we will find ourselves on the defense from those who would see us as weak, vulnerable, and defeatable. While the peace-nics would have us surrender our weapons to be a peace loving nation ... the truth is this ----- EVIL does exist in the hearts and minds of too many in the world. That EVIL is boundless in it's desire to destroy all it can, just because they can. EVIL needs no reason. EVIL can't be negotiated with. EVIL can't be trusted. EVIL can not be reasoned with. Because of that, EVIL can only be fought against, by forces stronger than what EVIL will have to use.
Which leads to ... STRENGTH THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER. And that firepower, must be so strong, so terrible, that it is obvious to all others, to defeat us would be impossible. And, to attempt to further the desires of those EVIL DOERS, we must be prepared to strike fast, and strike anywhere in the world. That takes a well armed, and well placed military.
Tighten down on multi-branch duplication of spending, but continue development of weapons systems and keep our military razor sharp, in hopes we don't need to them. Sorta like health insurance. Expensive, but near as much as being without it if a catastrophic illness comes along. Cut the waste ... but NOT our military might.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Terror threats in America
New Terror Threat America
Sadly, we are an easy target. Much easier than most people think. I won't go into the details, but I could easily devise a plan to terrorize America, using otherwise legal weapons, and a hand-full of faithful extremists.
First, when it comes to terrorism, we need to understand that it isn't just about the numbers that would be killed. It's about the numbers that "could be" killed. Terror is in the mind. And if someone can make us feel terrified, make us lose our feelings of being secure and safe, then terrorism has worked. Fear of flying and getting blown out of the air? Fear of mass gatherings, because of a suicide bomber? Fear of buses? Fear of a Islamic "looking" person? Any progress by those who hate us, to have us grow more fearful, will broaden terrorism in the minds of those targeted.
Personally, I think it's time for the modern day "Minuteman", and every willing American legally able to do so, should learn to shoot, and have a firearm safely close at hand. We might not stop a bomb with a handgun, but if just ONE of the soldiers at Fort Hood had a handgun at the ready, who knows how many lives may have been saved. (Major numb nuts KNEW they were unarmed!)
While our police and intelligence organizations are trying to deal with all the possibilities, in the end, it could come down to more people, like those on Flight 93, to make a stand and do what ever they can to stop such an act. Americans need to adopt that mind-set of those on Flight 93, like "minutemen", in our every day lives.
We can't just leave it all to those in uniform. We need to take some responsibility for our own safety and protection as well. If and when the crap hits the fan someplace, our first responders will have their hands too busy to answer individual calls for help. It will then be up to each of us, to protect ourselves and our families.
Sadly, we are an easy target. Much easier than most people think. I won't go into the details, but I could easily devise a plan to terrorize America, using otherwise legal weapons, and a hand-full of faithful extremists.
First, when it comes to terrorism, we need to understand that it isn't just about the numbers that would be killed. It's about the numbers that "could be" killed. Terror is in the mind. And if someone can make us feel terrified, make us lose our feelings of being secure and safe, then terrorism has worked. Fear of flying and getting blown out of the air? Fear of mass gatherings, because of a suicide bomber? Fear of buses? Fear of a Islamic "looking" person? Any progress by those who hate us, to have us grow more fearful, will broaden terrorism in the minds of those targeted.
Personally, I think it's time for the modern day "Minuteman", and every willing American legally able to do so, should learn to shoot, and have a firearm safely close at hand. We might not stop a bomb with a handgun, but if just ONE of the soldiers at Fort Hood had a handgun at the ready, who knows how many lives may have been saved. (Major numb nuts KNEW they were unarmed!)
While our police and intelligence organizations are trying to deal with all the possibilities, in the end, it could come down to more people, like those on Flight 93, to make a stand and do what ever they can to stop such an act. Americans need to adopt that mind-set of those on Flight 93, like "minutemen", in our every day lives.
We can't just leave it all to those in uniform. We need to take some responsibility for our own safety and protection as well. If and when the crap hits the fan someplace, our first responders will have their hands too busy to answer individual calls for help. It will then be up to each of us, to protect ourselves and our families.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
American 1st - the basis of all this
Let me start with this Disclaimer -
To be proud of ANY national heritage, is a good thing. Our roots are important. And hardly like anyplace else on earth, America is made up of people "up-rooted" from all over the world. That is one of the truly great things about America.
That said - I will say that it bothers me when people identify themselves as (anything)-American. I think it distracts from saying that they are an American...first and foremost. We, as citizens, should be Americans FIRST. In the current political climate, some might also add in Democrat-American or Republican-American! But, no matter what party affiliation, what ever religion (or none at all) one practices, what color they are, what gender they are, or where their family originated from ... if we are citizens, the we MUST be Americans FIRST!
As a nation, we can not risk a division that makes us appear fragmented and weak. Our differing views are part of what also makes us great, but to not appear as Americans first, is hurting us. Despots, like Chavez, come here and take advantage of such weaknesses and divisions and lure many into doubting who WE are... as Americans first.
Real Americans don't burn OUR own flag. Americans DO voice differing opinions and protest wrong doings and poor policies. Americans DO disagree and DO vote to make changes. But as Americans, WE need to be ONE NATION.
I liken America like a large bickering family. A family that may argue at gatherings, disagree on how to run the family farm, even fight among themselves. But let someone outside the family take a punch at any one family member.... and look out... the whole family will kick that outsider's ass! Right or wrong, that family will join in and get'r done! (The family will usually sort out the right or wrong in a later family fight!)
We need to be like that large bickering family. We need to argue, even vigorously, those things that are important to us. But when any outsider takes a shot at ANY of us, we ALL need to take the fight to them. And when we do it, we ALL need to be waving OUR Flag in unity. (Another posting about OUR Flag later!)
Be proud of where you came from. Be proud to be an American. But in any case, be an "American 1st!"
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
If you choose to live here, as a citizen, with all the benefits America and our Constitution has to offer, then that Pledge must be a commitment and should be in your heart. If anyone has ANY allegiance to another country over America, then they need not be here! To them, I will say......GO HOME!
Be an AMERICAN 1st and above ALL others, or get the hell out!
To be proud of ANY national heritage, is a good thing. Our roots are important. And hardly like anyplace else on earth, America is made up of people "up-rooted" from all over the world. That is one of the truly great things about America.
That said - I will say that it bothers me when people identify themselves as (anything)-American. I think it distracts from saying that they are an American...first and foremost. We, as citizens, should be Americans FIRST. In the current political climate, some might also add in Democrat-American or Republican-American! But, no matter what party affiliation, what ever religion (or none at all) one practices, what color they are, what gender they are, or where their family originated from ... if we are citizens, the we MUST be Americans FIRST!
As a nation, we can not risk a division that makes us appear fragmented and weak. Our differing views are part of what also makes us great, but to not appear as Americans first, is hurting us. Despots, like Chavez, come here and take advantage of such weaknesses and divisions and lure many into doubting who WE are... as Americans first.
Real Americans don't burn OUR own flag. Americans DO voice differing opinions and protest wrong doings and poor policies. Americans DO disagree and DO vote to make changes. But as Americans, WE need to be ONE NATION.
I liken America like a large bickering family. A family that may argue at gatherings, disagree on how to run the family farm, even fight among themselves. But let someone outside the family take a punch at any one family member.... and look out... the whole family will kick that outsider's ass! Right or wrong, that family will join in and get'r done! (The family will usually sort out the right or wrong in a later family fight!)
We need to be like that large bickering family. We need to argue, even vigorously, those things that are important to us. But when any outsider takes a shot at ANY of us, we ALL need to take the fight to them. And when we do it, we ALL need to be waving OUR Flag in unity. (Another posting about OUR Flag later!)
Be proud of where you came from. Be proud to be an American. But in any case, be an "American 1st!"
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
If you choose to live here, as a citizen, with all the benefits America and our Constitution has to offer, then that Pledge must be a commitment and should be in your heart. If anyone has ANY allegiance to another country over America, then they need not be here! To them, I will say......GO HOME!
Be an AMERICAN 1st and above ALL others, or get the hell out!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Don't Feed the Bears
If you know anything about wildlife, then you know that humans should not feed them. And some wildlife, such as bears, can get downright deadly when you stop feeding them, and they're still hungry! (What is Dan writing about now? Keep reading.)
There are many issues to consider with regard to feeding wildlife, and all well documented. For example -
* When young wild animals are taught to depend on a human-provided food source, they may not fully develop essential foraging skills. Animals who are raised relying on humans for food may struggle to survive in the absence of that artificial food source when they disperse from their parents' territory.
* A constant, human-provided food source may attract many more wild animals to the area than would normally be found there. Who doesn't like a free meal? When food is readily available, animals will gather in abnormally large numbers.
* Often, the wild animals can become an incredible nuisance and people want to kill or remove them. Many people do not think about the neighborhood impact when they start feeding wildlife. Wild animals do not usually discriminate between one person and another, and will often start pestering neighbors. The animals may also cause damage to homes and property because they expect to be fed and have lost their fear of people.
* The best thing you can do to care for the wild animals, is to give them habitat, not handouts.
....................................
(Here it comes.)
Well, as we can see from today's news, the "wild animals" in Great Britain, don't like having their food (and other free shit - handouts) stopped. Never mind the tax-payers can't afford it any more. It seems to me, that the welfare state of giving people stuff, has spoiled many, and now, they are demanding, by way and violence and destruction, to have their way.
The USA is in danger of the same thing. Our welfare state (and growing socialist ways), have caused far too many people to EXPECT the handouts, and they don't care who's pocket it comes from! When we can't afford it any more, what will our own citizens do?
Oh ... By the way. Those business owners and citizens in the UK, could only rely on the vastly out-numbered and over-whelmed Police, because those citizens are NOT permitted to own firearms, even to protect themselves or their property. Thank God, and our Forefathers, for OUR 2nd amendment!
There are many issues to consider with regard to feeding wildlife, and all well documented. For example -
* When young wild animals are taught to depend on a human-provided food source, they may not fully develop essential foraging skills. Animals who are raised relying on humans for food may struggle to survive in the absence of that artificial food source when they disperse from their parents' territory.
* A constant, human-provided food source may attract many more wild animals to the area than would normally be found there. Who doesn't like a free meal? When food is readily available, animals will gather in abnormally large numbers.
* Often, the wild animals can become an incredible nuisance and people want to kill or remove them. Many people do not think about the neighborhood impact when they start feeding wildlife. Wild animals do not usually discriminate between one person and another, and will often start pestering neighbors. The animals may also cause damage to homes and property because they expect to be fed and have lost their fear of people.
* The best thing you can do to care for the wild animals, is to give them habitat, not handouts.
....................................
(Here it comes.)
Well, as we can see from today's news, the "wild animals" in Great Britain, don't like having their food (and other free shit - handouts) stopped. Never mind the tax-payers can't afford it any more. It seems to me, that the welfare state of giving people stuff, has spoiled many, and now, they are demanding, by way and violence and destruction, to have their way.
The USA is in danger of the same thing. Our welfare state (and growing socialist ways), have caused far too many people to EXPECT the handouts, and they don't care who's pocket it comes from! When we can't afford it any more, what will our own citizens do?
Oh ... By the way. Those business owners and citizens in the UK, could only rely on the vastly out-numbered and over-whelmed Police, because those citizens are NOT permitted to own firearms, even to protect themselves or their property. Thank God, and our Forefathers, for OUR 2nd amendment!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Separation of Church and State
What a topic! Today, Governor Perry (of Texas) is drawn into that fray.
Not long ago, I was listening to a radio talk show, and this was the general topic. On the air, was someone representing the Freedom From Religion Foundation. They profess to be protecting the constitutional principle of the separation of state and church.
Now, as I often will do, I offer this disclaimer: I am NOT a constitutional or historical scholar. So with that, take what you wish from my words and viewpoints.
Being the simple man that I am, I tend to look at this subject in a simplistic way, trying to imagine what our forefathers were wanting to accomplish with our most precious national document. I also think we should not stray from the principles of that document, and instead, find ways in our modern world to go back and really apply those ideas and principles to our country today.
So, just what does the Constitution say about the so-called, "separation of church and state"? Well, as it was written, it states, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..." Well, I do not see today, anywhere, that our Congress (or Governor Perry) has established a religion. Where is it that the "state", by way of Congress, has established a religion? Where is it, that Congress, or any state or city, has established a religion? Does a prayer, establish a religion? Do the words, In God We Trust, establish a religion? And, who has been denied ANY governmental services, or even protection, because they were not of a particular religious persuasion?
If you look at the word, establish", one can easily find as part of the definition,
1 : something established: as a : a settled arrangement; especially : a code of laws b : established church
Wouldn't a government who would "establish" a religion (like the "church of England"?), have that same religion as part of some established order and cause its people to acknowledge their religion, before receiving some part of the government's graces in services, protection, or other benefits?
It would also seem to me, that there should be some kind of "harm" that such inferences to God in a public prayer, aside from just being offended, should be shown in a measurable way, before demanding that the inference be removed. The 1st Amendment does NOT protect people from being offended. And that, my friends and readers, is what this is really all about. Some people don't want religion in any public view and it offends them that God might be somehow lurking around, watching them! The fact is, no one has been harmed. No one has been denied ANY services or protection, because God somehow is mentioned in the public arena.
Our Founders, knew that men are weak and subject to corruption. Our Founders knew that it could only be by the guidance of a higher power, of a higher power of conscience of right and wrong, that people might....MIGHT....keep that higher power in mind when conducting ourselves with out fellow citizens. And our Forefathers WERE religious men. Not perfect or flawless, but believers of a Divine guidance. Where would we have been in that day, if their crafting of this nation, were not guided by some sense of a high power?
But my point is this. For over 235 years, there has been NO government established religion. NO ONE, is required in any way, to follow any particular religion, and NO ONE has been denied services or protections, or any of their constitutional RIGHTS, by anyone leading in a prayer, the mention of God in a public place, or the word God on our currency and landmarks. Sorry if that offends anyone, but if it does, then you offend me. But you have a right to follow no religion, if you wish. And for that, you WILL NOT be denied any of your constitutional rights. NONE!
Before I conclude, I will say that "I" DO NOT want our government to dictate what religion (or no religion) I must follow. We sure don't need a religion or government that dictates that we cut off your head for following some other religion. Or be denied rights, because we didn't follow some government supported religious doctrine. We can see that in bombings elsewhere! Our government has not, and should never, dictate a religion to follow. THAT would be an establishment!
As it stands today, if Governor Perry wishes to "invite" people to join him in prayer, isn't that HIS right? Does his holding of a government office preclude HIS right?
God Bless You!
Dan
Not long ago, I was listening to a radio talk show, and this was the general topic. On the air, was someone representing the Freedom From Religion Foundation. They profess to be protecting the constitutional principle of the separation of state and church.
Now, as I often will do, I offer this disclaimer: I am NOT a constitutional or historical scholar. So with that, take what you wish from my words and viewpoints.
Being the simple man that I am, I tend to look at this subject in a simplistic way, trying to imagine what our forefathers were wanting to accomplish with our most precious national document. I also think we should not stray from the principles of that document, and instead, find ways in our modern world to go back and really apply those ideas and principles to our country today.
So, just what does the Constitution say about the so-called, "separation of church and state"? Well, as it was written, it states, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..." Well, I do not see today, anywhere, that our Congress (or Governor Perry) has established a religion. Where is it that the "state", by way of Congress, has established a religion? Where is it, that Congress, or any state or city, has established a religion? Does a prayer, establish a religion? Do the words, In God We Trust, establish a religion? And, who has been denied ANY governmental services, or even protection, because they were not of a particular religious persuasion?
If you look at the word, establish", one can easily find as part of the definition,
1 : something established: as a : a settled arrangement; especially : a code of laws b : established church
Wouldn't a government who would "establish" a religion (like the "church of England"?), have that same religion as part of some established order and cause its people to acknowledge their religion, before receiving some part of the government's graces in services, protection, or other benefits?
It would also seem to me, that there should be some kind of "harm" that such inferences to God in a public prayer, aside from just being offended, should be shown in a measurable way, before demanding that the inference be removed. The 1st Amendment does NOT protect people from being offended. And that, my friends and readers, is what this is really all about. Some people don't want religion in any public view and it offends them that God might be somehow lurking around, watching them! The fact is, no one has been harmed. No one has been denied ANY services or protection, because God somehow is mentioned in the public arena.
Our Founders, knew that men are weak and subject to corruption. Our Founders knew that it could only be by the guidance of a higher power, of a higher power of conscience of right and wrong, that people might....MIGHT....keep that higher power in mind when conducting ourselves with out fellow citizens. And our Forefathers WERE religious men. Not perfect or flawless, but believers of a Divine guidance. Where would we have been in that day, if their crafting of this nation, were not guided by some sense of a high power?
But my point is this. For over 235 years, there has been NO government established religion. NO ONE, is required in any way, to follow any particular religion, and NO ONE has been denied services or protections, or any of their constitutional RIGHTS, by anyone leading in a prayer, the mention of God in a public place, or the word God on our currency and landmarks. Sorry if that offends anyone, but if it does, then you offend me. But you have a right to follow no religion, if you wish. And for that, you WILL NOT be denied any of your constitutional rights. NONE!
Before I conclude, I will say that "I" DO NOT want our government to dictate what religion (or no religion) I must follow. We sure don't need a religion or government that dictates that we cut off your head for following some other religion. Or be denied rights, because we didn't follow some government supported religious doctrine. We can see that in bombings elsewhere! Our government has not, and should never, dictate a religion to follow. THAT would be an establishment!
As it stands today, if Governor Perry wishes to "invite" people to join him in prayer, isn't that HIS right? Does his holding of a government office preclude HIS right?
God Bless You!
Dan
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Debt and the Jobless rate
Seems to me, the only jobs Obama and friends care about, are their own.
From my point of view, all the new debt added by Obama and buddies, could have been used better to actually help businesses add more workers and inspire real jobs. But more entitlements, and to major businesses and banks DID NOT add real jobs. Money handed out, with basically NO conditions set on the use.
Just how many real jobs ...in the USA ...could a TRILLION dollars created? Or even that first $700 BILLION?
The man has NO idea what he's doing. None.
From my point of view, all the new debt added by Obama and buddies, could have been used better to actually help businesses add more workers and inspire real jobs. But more entitlements, and to major businesses and banks DID NOT add real jobs. Money handed out, with basically NO conditions set on the use.
Just how many real jobs ...in the USA ...could a TRILLION dollars created? Or even that first $700 BILLION?
The man has NO idea what he's doing. None.
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