A Catch 22

The latest shooting at a Connecticut elementary school has once again caused the debate on guns and gun ownership to flare up.  This time, it seems to be much worse because those murdered were very young children.  That does not lessen the deaths of those killed in previous mass murders, it simply makes it more painful.

I am a member of the NRA, but it does not mean that I am unwavering or unwilling to regulate my ownership and use of my weapons.  I was horrified by what happened in Connecticut, as I have been every time this has happened.  I have choked up and prayed for the victims as well as the shooters.  Still, it has not caused me to want to give up mine or take away anyone elses right to have a weapon.

I think there are several ways to better secure our children and even the general public without trampling the rights of gun owners or doing nothing.  The president has created a commission to look at what can be done to stem gun violence and end these mass shootings.  Personally, I believe they will happen no matter what is done.  Criminals will always find a way to do what they want to do.  But, I am with the president in seeing what can be done, but he needs to make a sincere effort to involve both sides of the argument in order to give legitimacy to what the commission finds.  Make sure the panel includes people from both sides and make sure the NRA has a seat at the table.  By doing that, you come up with a plan that is acceptable to the nation's largest gun-lobbying organization and its members will more readily accept the decisions made.

Ban vs. Regulate

As soon as the word "ban" is uttered by the anti-gun folks, red flags and loud bells go off in the offices of the NRA and in the homes of gun enthusiasts.  No one wants to be told they can't have something.  That has been true since childhood.  The main weapon that is mentioned to be banned is the assault rifle.  There are varying definitions of what an assault rifle is, but for simplicity, we will use the very basic definition that it looks like a military rifle, such as an M-16.  These weapons usually have a high capacity magazine of at least 20 rounds and fire one round with every pull of the trigger, without further actions of the shooter (a pump or bolt action).  It must be stated here that fully automatic rifles (the weapon will fire rounds as long as you keep the trigger pulled) have been illegal to own without special permission for many years.

Many people own these rifles simply for the "cool" factor.  They look cool and are really fun to shoot.  They take them to the rifle ranges and may use them for hunting as well.  Many people get them for home defense.  The anti-gun lobby often likes to state that anyone who owns one of these weapons has it only to kill people.  By owning one, a person is automatically going to become a mass murderer.  This is why the word "ban" scares the gun enthusiast.

Proper regulation is where the answer lies.  Do gun enthusiasts need to have high capacity magazines?  I would argue that they do not.  Yes, it is a nuisance to have to constantly reload at the gun range.  But if the gun regulation proponents will feel better with smaller magazines, then I can live with that inconvenience to keep my access to semi-automatic rifles.  Do I need to have a handgun with a 15-round capacity magazine?  My current handgun holds 7 rounds.  If I cannot defend myself with 7 rounds, 15 probably won't do any good either.  I don't plan on being in any gunfights where I need to fire that many times.  Banning handguns will not solve the problem.  The criminals will have them.  They banned handguns in New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC.  How's that working out for them?

We already have some pretty good laws on the books, but those laws need to be better enforced and may need to be stiffened a bit.  Guns shows are often blamed for making it too easy to get guns.  Stiffening gun show laws while still allowing someone to purchase and walk away with a gun in hand is important.  I had to have a background check when I purchased my AR-15 at the gun show.  I have heard that for others it was less so.

Right to Privacy vs. Right to Know

Mental health has been discussed a lot the past few days.  People often say, "you have to be crazy to do what that person did.  Only a crazy person kills that many people".  That may be true, but how do we know?  Every concealed carry permit application and every weapons purchase requires a person to answer whether or not they have any mental health issues.  And, of course, everyone answers "no" or they will be denied the purchase.

A person can be seen by a mental health doctor and be on no one's radar due to ridiculously restrictive (sometimes) privacy laws.  I propose this to assist us in keeping guns out of the hands of those whose mental health may be such as to making gun ownership a bad idea.  It would be a National Database that every mental health provider would have to annotate certain information on a potentially dangerous client.  The data base would only have name, SSN...nothing more.  Just the flag.

For those who are being treated with medicines for illnesses where mood swings, anger issues and other potentially dangerous symptoms, a "red flag" is checked in their medical record which would state that this client should not be allowed to purchase a weapon or be allowed to have a concealed carry permit.  I am not an expert, but such diseases as Bi-polar, Borderline Personality Disorder, multiple personality disorders, etc., would be on a list for automatic flags.

Those conditions being treated that are not necessarily dangerous, would get a "yellow flag".  A child being seen for anger issues stemming from abuse, a divorce of parents, etc., may get a yellow flag.  Perhaps a Soldier who has been discharged from the military being seen for PTSD would need a yellow flag if the doctor determines it is necessary.  Maybe he even needs a red flag.  A yellow flag could be removed by a subsequent visit to a doctor to make sure the issues are no longer there.  A youngster would be able to purchase in adulthood by having the flag removed.

Those who seek counseling for family issues, marital issues, etc., and are seen as being of no danger would have no flag entered.

To me, a mental health professional should have the responsibility and the ability to flag a person's record to keep them from being able to purchase a weapon.  Whenever a background check is done on a person, this database would be searched and a flag of either color would block the purchase of a weapon. 

We need to strike a balance between a person's right to privacy and society's safety.

Gun Free Zones

Gun free zones are a criminal's dream.  If you notice, the common thread between all of the recent mass shootings, they have all been in gun free zones.  By law:  Schools and partially places of worship; by Choice:  Malls, theaters.  When I see a sign such as that shown here, I ignore it if it isn't on the prohibited list by law.  If I walk into a theater displaying the sign,
and I have my concealed weapon, and my gun is noticed and they ask me to leave, I must.  If I do not leave, it is a trespassing violation, not a gun violation.  Therefore, until told otherwise, I will exercise my right to carry.  Someone like me could have stopped the shooter in Aurora, contrary to all the complaints that it would have caused more killing.  Everyone was on the ground!

I think the schools should not be gun free zones, at least for the teachers and administrators.  Here is how I see it.  If a teacher wants to be one of those who is armed, the teacher must be trained on his/her weapon and attend training on how and when to use it.  That gun, when it arrives at school, goes in a lock box on the teachers desk, or under it.  It stays there until necessary to use or the teacher goes home at night.  This teacher would be able to receive an extra incentive pay each month for being a "security teacher", and could also put that on a resume.  This would not be a requirement, but open to volunteers.

Another option would be to take some of the military members during this draw down and create a Department of Education owned security force.  Two former military (only open to them) who understand weapons and rules of engagement and how to follow orders, per school.  Arm them with a handgun and a rifle they can keep slung on their backs.  Right now, the policeman at the school isn't prepared or able to provide security for our kids.  When we create gun free zones, this is what we are telling criminals:

Obviously, arming anyone around our children should include extensive assessments to insure they are fit to be given such a responsibility.

School Construction & Access

School construction should also be looked at.  Currently, my middle-school child attends a school where I enter a door and can either turn left or right.  I turn left to go to the door to the office.  Turning right will take me into the heart of the school with no one noticing.  At my other son's high school, the front door is watched by a man in a wheel chair or a very large woman who tells you to sign in and take a sticker.  Once I have that I am free to roam about the school, the office is a long ways from that table.  The school is accessible from other, uncontrolled points of entry.

Most prisons are now constructed with the administration building completely separated from the inmates by a long corridor with locking doors.  Not to make our children feel like prisoners, but the school administration offices should be completely separated from where our children are attending classes.  Access to our children should cause us to have to get through that secure area controlled by someone whose job it is to control that access.  Schools could be retrofit with access blocking gates where hallways would allow easy access to our children in classes.

All this costs money, but if our President is serious about protecting our children, he will make it available.

Responsibility

Let's not beat around the bush here.  Responsibility must be placed where it belongs.  A responsible gun owner should not have his weapons used by his kid in a heinous shooting spree.  Hold that gun owner responsible too.  More education to people who buy guns is necessary so that they understand what they just purchased.  Everyone who purchases a weapon should be mandated to attend a gun class that shows them how to use it properly and how to take care of it, to include storage.

We had  a grade schooler take a .22 pistol to school just a few days after the Connecticut shooting.  He was arrested and will be expelled from school.  Nothing was said about what will happen to the parents.  If the gun was theirs, they too should be arrested and charged with child endangerment and/or other charges.  We need to stop blaming the responsible gun owners and crush the ones who are not.


The answer is not to crush a bug with a sledgehammer.  An honest assessment about many different issues at hand, when it comes to gun ownership, is necessary to strike a balance between what both sides think the 2nd Amendment says.  Responsible gun owners do not have a problem with regulation, if that regulation does not end up becoming banishment or make it impossible to own their guns.

Have a Very Secular Christmas!

Last night I was on a search for religious themed Christmas cards.  It has always been my preference to send religious cards instead of those with Santa, snow men, or simple winter scenes.  I like cards that wish you a Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays!

I went to three different stores before I found more than one option.  At a dollar store I found one box of 16 cards in a display that was quite full of cards.  At another store I found none.  Finally, at Target, I found a wall of cards...with only a few varieties of cards that wished the recipient a Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings.  Have we really secularized Christmas that much that we don't even want to have religious cards in the stores?  It is obvious we have turned this sacred holiday into a huge shopping spree, all about presents and getting more stuff we don't need.  We have pushed Christmas decorations and sales back to almost Halloween!!

I find it extremely sad that we have become such a politically correct nation and have given up so much to the vocal minority that we aren't even allowed to wish someone a Merry Christmas without getting a dirty look or risking our job.  If a Jewish person wished me a Happy Hanukkah, I would not tell them then have no right to do so.  If an atheist wants to wish me a Happy Holiday, that is fine.  Just don't jump down my throat when I wish you a Merry Christmas in return.

I would like to know why the United States workforce takes off December 25th? If Christmas is truly just a religious holiday, then those who don't want it in their lives, especially government, should just keep on working.

The reason for the season is obvious, it is a celebration of Christ's birth.  If you want to throw in Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and any other celebrations, go right ahead, but don't tell me my manger scene is offensive just because you don't like it.  If we keep pushing God out of our lives...we just might get our wish.

Keep Christ in Christmas!!  It's not just a Holiday, it's a HOLYday!

Worth a Thousand Words...and Emotions

A few days ago, a young lady named Lindsey Stone took a photo next to a sign near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.  What I am sure she at first thought was a clever and witty photo, has turned into a firestorm in social media and in the media. 

Here is the photo she took and posted to her Facebook page:

Being in the military, the circles I keep went ballistic with their anger and comments toward Ms. Stone.  At first, I agreed with many people who were outraged.  Then, I took another look.

I graduated with a BA in Journalism from South Dakota State University.  During my courses, especially the photography courses, we were taught that one of the purposes of a good photo was to elicit an emotion.  The picture of a cute puppy or a little baby makes most people give an "awwww".  The photo of a fireman carrying a small child from the rubble of the World Trade Center draws out rage and a desire to avenge that act.  However, the same picture may get a different reaction from different people.  That cute puppy may not get an "awww" from someone who hates dogs.  It may be dislike or simply a much more muted response.

In the case of this photo, from a strictly journalistic view of it,  I believe it is a brilliant example of a photo eliciting a strong emotion by its content and was superbly done.  The irony of the picture cannot be lost, this person has a good eye for photography.  I am sure, that Ms. Stone does not hold those feelings inside and did not realize it would become such a viral image.  I am sure there are others, whose opinion of the picture is that they agree with the picture 100%.  The great thing about this country is that we can have different opinions of the picture and freely share them.

We are quick to judge sometimes when all we need to do is ask ourselves, how does this image make me feel and why?  Sometimes, our reactions are better kept to ourselves, or shared without attacking the photographer.

Losing Your Point Within Your Words

Over the past few months, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has been an outspoken supporter of the same-sex marriage amendments that were on ballots across the nation, not just the one that was voted on in Minnesota.

Back in August, a Maryland state delegate wrote a letter to the Baltimore Ravens owner about comments Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo ha made in favor of a Maryland ballot initiative that would legalize gay marriage.

Delegate Emmett C. Burns, Jr. stated in his letter that the Ravens owner should "inhibit such expressions from your employee."  That comment urges a gagging of Ayanbadejo's freedom of speech and his letter was taken to task by Kluwe.

I have long admired Kluwe for his punting skills and I also admire him for having such conviction when it comes to a cause.  I can definitely relate.  What I do not admire him for is, the way he addressed the Delegate in his letter to him.  He wrote Delegate Burns a scathing letter (OK so far) that was so profanity-laced as to make it lose all credibility.  Kluwe is obviously a well-educated man who writes quite well, but his use of profanity caused me to almost ignore the points he was trying to make...and they were not without merit.

Below this story, in the comments section, was a well-written response from a Catholic Conservative who tried to explain why he was against gay marriage without being at all anti-gay.  He had commented that Kluwe's letter, with all of its profanity, actually came across as more hateful than the delegate's letter had.  He told of how he raises his children to respect everyone and not bully or call names, etc.  He focused on his teaching his children about marriage between a woman and a man and why he considered that the only proper marriage.  Again, it was well-written, respectful, and asked for Kluwe's response.

The immediate response, from a gay man, was the only time I had ever seen a respectfully written response to a traditional marriage view.  He kindly and clearly gave his counter to the post.

Unfortunately, the next response given was the usual, hatred filled degrading of the gentleman.  In response to the Catholic Conservative's post, he said that "hate is defined only as a failure to embrace progressive values, and that tone or language is irrelevant as long as you're on the right-minded side of an issue."  Well, I guess that eliminates other points of view then. I guess we are all expected to think alike and not have differing opinions.  By his statement, I guess I am a hateful person because I do not prescribe to a lot of progressive views.  That will make some of my former, liberal friends happy to hear.  Maybe, instead, liberals are hatefilled since I do not think they are on the "right-minded side of an issue".  Of course, that is crazy thinking.

I reflected on the anger and name calling involved in these letters and posts and in conversations I have had in the past where I have been called these types of names.  I concluded that the difference between me, or someone like me, and the liberal person, is that I have no real dog in the fight.  Let me narrow this a bit though.  The liberal person, or the progressive, must be homosexual for my conclusion to work.  You cannot just support the liberal view.

I am married, I have all the legal rights, etc.  I am not being told my love for someone is not valid in the state's eyes.  I have no emotional attachment to the argument I make for traditional marriage, at least not to the level that a gay man or woman may have.  I truly do understand the position taken in support of gay-marriage, but that doesn't mean I don't still feel strongly that traditional marriage should be protected and something other than same-sex marriage should be considered.  It simply means that I better understand why I, and folks like me, are attacked with such ferocity when we share and defend our views.  I still think that behavior is childish and self-defeating, but I understand why it happens. 

If only that anger could be calmed so as not to shut my ears or cause me to focus on something other than the issue at hand, such as Kluwe's letter had, then maybe my peers and I would be more willing to listen.  Hard to do when your view is under childish attack.

Four More Years...of Hope and Change

Last night, the people of our great nation re-elected President Obama in one of the most divisive, hotly contested, and closest elections in our nation's history.  Whether you voted for or against, agree or disagree with him, he is again our President.  I, for one, fall into the category who wanted someone else in office.  I disagree with so much of what he stands for.  He stumped quite often on "Hope and Change".  We seemed to get lots of hope, and little change.

Well, here are my hopes for the next four years:

1.  I hope this time he does at least some of what he promised and is able to bring our nation back together.

2.  I hope he respects the 1st Amendment rights of all religions, but in particular, my church, the Catholic Church, which he has seemed to have in his sights for a very long time.  (HHS Mandate, Obamacare)

3.  I hope he respects the 2nd Amendment rights of our Nation and does not go after the rights of people to own weapons or purchase ammunition.

4.  I hope he finds the "transparency" he promised in his first term and never followed.

5.  I hope in this term he does not pick and choose which laws he will follow and which he will ignore or direct his Department of Justice to ignore.  (DOMA, layoff notifications)

6.  I hope he understands that you cannot tax your way out of debt and must make responsible cuts in spending.

7.  I hope he understands America's place in the world and stops bowing to anyone and apologizing.  I have never heard any of the Muslim countries apologize to us.

8.  I hope he is able to get Congress to work together so he can leave office in four years with the country in a better place than we are now.

9.  I hope his wife, Michelle, is now truly "proud to be an American".

10.  I hope he someday understands that it is a baby growing in that mother, not a medical condition, and stops being the most pro-abortion president to ever hold office.

11.  I hope he is more truthful with us this time around and stops hiding behind his corrupt Department of Justice and executive privilege. (Fast and Furious, Benghazi)

12.  I hope Americans can stop twisting President Kennedy's words to sound like this:  Ask not what I can give for my country, but what can my country give me.  We have become an entitlement society.  Don't believe me?  Look at our kids and how they expect everything to be handed to them.  Often not willing to work for anything they want.

13.  I hope that I have been completely wrong about this man and all my fears about him do not come to fruition.

We are a Nation that was created UNDER GOD!  Let us remember that the Constitution guarantees us Freedom OF Religion, not Freedom FROM Religion.  If the government doesn't want religion interfering with it, than the government needs to stay out of religion.  If we continue to tell God to leave us alone and ignore him, he may just answer that request.

A Note to my Liberal Friends...Dare You Read?

The Conservative Side of the Fence

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college.  Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be very liberal, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words, "redistribution of wealth".

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch conservative, a feeling she openly expressed.  Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day, she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs.

The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.  He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew.  She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?"

She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by.  All she takes are easy classes, she never studies and she barely has a 2.0 GPA.  She is so popular on campus and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0.  That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair!  I've worked really hard for my grades!  I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work!  Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree.  She played while I worked my tail off.

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the conservative side of the fence."
 
If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.  If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.  If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative is down and out, he thinks about how to better his situation.  A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.  Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.  A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and Jesus silenced.

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.  A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative reads this, he'll share it so his friends can have a good laugh.   A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".

So which side are you on?

Why Can't We Be Friends?

This isn't my first election season to have gone through in my adult years.  It is, however, the most hostile and divisive I have ever seen.  It has amazed me to see relatives, close friends, even people who hardly know each other, calling each other names, deriding and insulting each other.  The civility of political discourse has been horrible.  Shoot, we are all starting to act like politicians!!!

One particular friend of mine has had quite a number of his "friends" unfriend him on Facebook due to his political views.  Now, the only people on his page seem to have the same political beliefs as he does.  He doesn't like that, of course.  He likes to have the other point of view to an issue.  He will disagree, but always does so in a polite, mature manner.

Personally, I have been viciously attacked with profanity and other insults because of my views.  It seems that this election season, there is no discussion about issues.  It is cut and dry, you either agree with me or we can't be friends, or you are an idiot, etc.  There is no debate between people, only name calling and hostility.  I often wonder if those same people would act in person, the same way they do on Facebook.

My brother and I differ on our political views and which issues are important to us.  I vehemently disagree with him and he tolerates my views and comments.  The other night I asked him one question, "Why do you support the guy you support?"  He said he would answer me if I would promise not to talk politics with him anymore.  He told me, I disagreed...and now I will keep my promise.  The point is, we were able to discuss it, disagree...and still be brothers...be friends.  Too many, it seems, have gone to the extreme.

What I don't understand is how anyone, regardless of party affiliation, can put their support of a candidate ahead of a friendship, familial relationship, etc.  People who six months or so ago, were sitting down having a drink together, now won't even look at each other.  What has happened?  Neither of these candidates is such an awesome person, or deserve such loyalty as to cause people to turn on each other.

In less than a week, we will be past the election.  What then?  What happens to those friendships that were damaged or ended from this nasty process?  Let's hope that decency returns and those friendships and other relationships can be repaired.

Easy to Become Jaded

Today I have been thinking a lot about a lot of things.  It started out with being unfriended and blocked on Facebook by one of my wife's cousins.  I'm really not sure why, but I guess it is because she didn't like me telling her she was drinking the political koolaid.  She told me I was a racist.  When I asked why, I was told it was because black people drink koolaid.  I didn't know that, but I will be sure to tell my boys they are no longer to put down "white" on a demographics question.

Then it was thinking about the upcoming election.  This is the first one, in my memory, that seems to have so much riding on the result.  Maybe it is just because of where I am in my life.  I have different priorities now and I am much more aware of what is happening in the world and how it affects me.  I am genuinely fearful of the result if it doesn't go the way I hope.

I read the pleasant comments and shared things on Facebook and appreciate the lighter side of life and share in people's happiness.  But they are quickly followed up with nasty or rude comments about a story in the news or one of the political candidates.  For some reason, this election seems to have brought out the worst in people.  There is no discussion, only angry exchanges.

I sit and wonder what happened to the decency of the human spirit.  When did it become OK to call a person a racist because he thought a black quarterback in the NFL is a poor leader on the field.  When did it become OK to call a person intolerant just because they don't agree with your point of view.  When did it become OK to harass or ridicule a person because of their religious convictions?

I wonder what happened to our ability to laugh at life and at ourselves.  Today I heard a story of a father who wasn't going to allow his children to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" because of the bullying in the cartoon and how Lucy is so mean to people.  Really?  Remember Archie Bunker and George Jefferson?  Talk about racist, bigoted behavior!!  Now, you can say it was a different time when those shows were on.  But I cry BS!  People laughed at the jokes both ways, because everyone could see how ridiculous Archie looked and it was fun to see a black man be as racist as a white man.  We laughed at the horrible behavior and saw it for what it was...stupid.  Now, we have become so sensitive and politically correct that we don't dare step wrong.

There are still good people out there, it is just getting harder to find them.  A good news story gets put online or on TV and people immediately look for something snarky to say.   We as a society seem to have given up on being nice to people.   Being polite has become too much work.  It is easier to simply be rude to people like they are to us.  The Golden Rule is alive and well...just now quite like it was intended.

Personally, I hope everything settles down a bit after the election.  As for me, I want to look for the positive in people and try not to be so jaded.  It is easy to do but it leaves you with an empty feeling.

So tomorrow, I will take pride in what God has blessed me with in my life and enjoy what He has placed in my life.  I will enjoy the beautiful weather and the changing colors on the trees.  I will see the beauty in people I meet and interact with.

Life is filled with choices.  Our attitude and disposition are affected by our choices.  Right now...I choose not to be jaded.

Be an Informed Voter...and VOTE!!

As we get closer to Election Day, the hype and the accusations and denials all get ratcheted up.  I read an article the other day that made the claim that it appears people are starting to ignore the "fact checkers" because people expect the candidates to skew information, bend numbers, and offer empty promises.

Now, though that may be unfortunately true, but it does not release us from the responsibility to be an informed voter.

I heard a woman on the radio today say that she was shocked that a family member was going to vote Democrat, since most of the family was Republican.  The elderly uncle, who had fought in WWII, told her that his father had always voted Democrat so he was going to as well.  In my opinion, that is just foolish.  Not just because he is voting Democrat, but because he is doing it for a foolish reason.  Let it be noted that I feel the same way regardless of party.  What if the candidate doesn't stand for what the uncle believes in?  Does the uncle even have issues important to him?  A person should never vote for a candidate because he is black/white, by religion, by ethnic background, or simply because he belongs to a particular party.  Like Martin Luther King said, you have to judge a man by the quality of his character, not by anything else.

I have always prided myself on educating myself on the candidate and voting for the person, not the party.  I recently sent in my absentee ballot and voted for a candidate from the opposite party because I knew him personally, knew his character.  I knew what kind of job he will do.

I think it is important that we find the issue or issues most important to each of us and then find out how the candidate stands on those issues.  Is there going to be a perfect candidate...no!  Are we basically picking the lesser of two evils...probably.  But then choose the candidate that best fits your idea of an ideal candidate and vote.  It is totally useless to say, "I don't agree with either one of them so I won't vote".  If you don't vote, you have abdicated your right to complain later on.  Don't disrespect our forefathers who fought for these rights by not exercising them.

At the end of the day...you should be able to look a person in the eye and tell them you voted for candidate X because of A, B, and C.  Hopefully none of those reasons will be for anything other than issues you believe in.  So educate yourself on the candidates by maneuvering through all the BS the media puts out...and VOTE!!

I'm Mark, and I approve this message.

A Mayonaise Jar and 2 Beers

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.

 

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

 

 

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else..
He asked once more if the jar was full.

 

The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

 

 

 

 

 

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

 

The students laughed …

 

 

 

 

 

‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car..
The sand is everything else—the small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

 

 

 

Have a great weekend everyone...go have a beer with a friend!

Proud of My Educated Future Voter!!



The man to the right is Henry Ayers, the owner of the
 dealership where we purchased our cars.

 Yesterday, Selena and I took the two youngest boys and our daughter and headed to the Mitt Romney political rally in Newport News.  The weather was nasty, but we had never been to a political rally and figured this might be the only time we will ever get to one for a Presidential candidate.

So, we packed up the boys and grabbed Anna's backpack and headed to Victory Landing Park.  We were woefully unprepared for the weather, all of us getting soaked to the bone, except Anna.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of her, snug as a bug in her covered backpack.

We were interviewed by the local CBS affiliate and ended up on the 11pm news.  I was also interviewed by ABC radio on our way out of the park.

It was a very cool experience, even if dampened by the weather.  Gov. Romney arrived early and cut his comments short due to the nasty weather.  He did not elaborate much on how he was going to accomplish his five points he has come to talk about, but I didn't expect him to.

My 17-year-old son, Daniel, has been having some very spirited debates with me about the Presidential race.  I tease him that he has been drinking the Liberal kool-aid because of the views he has.  But I am very proud of him.  He will never be an uninformed voter.  I may not agree with his views, but he at least has them, and stands by them.

Our debate last night centered on the fact that he claims that Romney has no details in his plan.  Essentially, according to Daniel, this means he has no plan.  I, on the other hand, don't expect a candidate to give me great details in his plan.  I believe that it is too hard to keep promises that are too detailed.  I do not need to know "how" Gov. Romney is going to skin the cat, just tell me which cats are getting skinned.  Give me enough detail to know what it's about, and I am good to go.

Taxes seem to be Daniel's rallying topic, and my least worried about.  But it is a good example of my point.  I do not care which loopholes Romney is going to try to close, just that he is.  I want to allow him the leeway to close whichever ones he can and not be hamstrung to close those he "promised" he would.

I am also proud of Daniel for choosing something that he believes strongly in and educating himself on it.  This is where he and I really differ on the issues that are most important to us.  Where Daniel is most interested in fiscal issues, I am more focused on the social issues.  I worry more about Pro-Life issues, religious freedom and gun ownership issues.  Daniel appears to be more of a fiscally liberal individual and worries less about social issues, especially those that do not affect him directly.

I have a great deal of respect for my sorrowfully misguided son.  He will never vote for a candidate based on skin color, ethnicity, or religion.  And thankfully, because I don't agree with whom he would vote for, he won't be able to vote this year!!!

When My Little Lion Found Her Roar!

This past weekend we went to Washington, DC to visit my older daughter at her university.  We picked her up and took the Metro in to go to the National Zoo.  It is quite a nice zoo, even if a bit on the hilly side. 

As we walked around, my baby girl, Anna, took in everything BUT the animals it seemed.  She looked around, but it was hard to tell if she was really focusing on the animals I was trying to point to.  Was she really seeing the little monkey in the tree, or was she staring blankly into the glass enclosure.  The orangutans and gorillas were a bit easier.  After all, they were right up front and I could easily see her focus on them and smile.

It is challenging to get a one-year-old excited about the zoo.  She just isn't quite "there" yet.  But, when we got to the Great Cat exhibit, she seemed a bit more interested.  I started to point to the lions and do a "rowr" for her.  "Anna", I said, "The mommy lion says 'Rowr'".  After a few times of repeating my "rowr", she gave me a very faint "rowr".  After a few more times, she put a bit more volume in her "rowr" and even got some growing going.

Having young children is such a blessing, but observing them as they learn and pick up on new experiences has got to be the best part of being a parent.  My little Anna Banana is growing up fast and is finding herself.

Look out world, Anna has found her "ROWR"!!

ACT! for America

A few weeks ago, Selena and I listened to a presentation from a member of ACT! for America which talked about how radical Muslims are beginning to infiltrate our country by way of stealth jihad in order to reestablish their caliphate which ended in the 1920's when Turkey disbanded it. 

Now I have never been any type of a conspiracy theorist, but I have always believed that this is something that people should know about.  This is not an anti-Muslim post.  Many just want to go about their business, but over 25% of them are radicalized in that they want to destroy the infidels or subjugate them.  Did you know that the United States used to be subjugated to Muslims shortly after our birth?

The Barbary Pirates were Muslim and for many years we paid tribute to them in money so they would not attack our shipping.  It was Thomas Jefferson who ended that practice when he became President and the result was the Barbary War.  You can find that in the Jefferson Papers.  I am sure that now most history books fail to show that the Barbary Pirates were Muslim.  It is their practice, stated in the Koran, to either kill infidels or subjugate them.  They must become Muslim or pay money...read it for yourself in the Koran.

Last night, we attended a seminar given by the founder of ACT! for America, a Christian Lebanese woman by the name of Brigitte Gabrielle.  Her home was bombed in the 1970's as the Muslims took over Lebanon and killed the Christians.  History books don't show that anymore either.  She spoke mainly on the Muslim influence on our education system.  How the history books are being rewritten by Muslim "advisers" and "experts" who remove the negative words against Muslims.  The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Hamas, and Fatah are no longer taught to be terrorist organizations.  They still do the same things they did when I was in grade school and we called them terrorists.  Now, they are fighting for a cause.  OY!!!

Have you heard of CAIR?  They are the Council on American-Islamic Relations.  Sounds nice doesn't it?  Did you also know that many of its umbrella organizations fund raise for the terrorist overseas?  Many of its leaders have been connected to terrorism.  The President of the United States currently has, as his advisor on Islamic matters, a member of an organization under CAIR which has been connected to terrorism.

Our country currently supports and cheers for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.  They are the ones who created a plan to resurrect the Muslim Caliphate.  They came about in the 1920's, five years after Turkey ended the existing caliphate.  Google caliphate and you will see what it is.  The Muslim Brotherhood controls al Qaeda and all the other terrorist groups around the world.  There are currently 44 small wars with radical Islam going on around the world, yet the media only talks about two, with some coverage on Yemen and Somalia.

We need to wake up, America.  The battle is here already...and not a shot needs to be fired.

"Who Stole My Church"...A Review

I just finished a book today that was titled, "Who Stole My Church".  I read it over the past few months during my lunch break and found it to be quite interesting.  The book is based on a church that is battling amongst it members about a name change.  A small group of members is organized and meets weekly.  During that time, they learn a lot about how and organization, in this case a church, must change and adapt over time.

As I read the book, I could see some parallels with the Catholic Church and how though the traditions and teachings need to remain the same, some methods of doing things could use some fresh air.  I also saw some likenesses to my Knights of Columbus group.  Our Council has quite a few older men in it.  These men have done so many wonderful things and really made the Council what it is.  But, change is scary to some of them and they do not want to fail now where something failed before.

I would recommend this book for anyone, but especially someone who may be dealing with a group that is struggling to find themselves or adapt to change. You will gain some helpful insights.

Are We Asking Too Much of Teachers?

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:

"Let me see if I've got this right.

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.

'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.

'You want me to do all this and then you tell me...I Can't Pray!"

It's Officially Gone to the Dogs!!



Malachy the Pekingese

Seth Wenig/AP

 The scream was piercing..."Nooooooooo!!!!"

As they announced that Malachy, the Pekingese, had beaten out those renowned and stately breeds such as the German Shepherd, the Doberman Pincer, and the stately Irish Setter (a personal favorite of a friend of ours and she shows them), her scream of displeasure and disbelief about woke all the children.

"That thing looks like an Ewok from Star Wars", she exclaimed.  I have, in fact, seen pictures today that showed that if you combined Chewbacca with an Ewok, you would get Malachy.

Not being overly opinionated about dog shows, and yes there are some things I am not opinionated about, I really didn't care which dog won.  I did, however, have to agree that this is not a great choice.  I understand that Malachy met all the criteria in his class and is a fine specimen of a.....dare I say it?....dog, but his class is the "Toy" class.  How can the "Big Dog" of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show be a dust mop from a class that doesn't even have a real use other than to dust hardwood floors.

Well, Malachy won and that is all there is to it.  It may not be my idea of a dog and definitely not my wife's, she is a German Shepherd fan, but you have to admit, even Malachy looks better than some of those other breeds.  Besides...look at that face....that is his face, right?

Congress shall make no law...

...respecting an establishment of religion.  So states the beginning of the first sentence of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  I think it can be agreed upon that this amendment has always been a magnet for debate.  What does it truly mean and debates like that.  One thing that I think the vast majority of Americans will agree upon is that it keeps the government from telling religions in America how they will practice their religions.

The big news maker right now is the mandate being handed down by the Administration through the Department of Health and Human Services stating that all individual and group health insurance plans cover and subsidize contraception, sterilization procedures and pharmaceuticals that even result in abortion.  This includes all hospitals, universities, etc. that have a religious affiliation.  If providing these services goes against the teachings of that religion, then how can the government demand they provide them? 

This is not a debate about abortion or birth control or whether they should or should not be legal.  This is about the government telling a religion that they MUST do what the government says, even if it is against their beliefs.  The government is infringing upon that religion's right to practice as they wish.  Being from a Catholic background, I can only relate this to the government telling the Catholic Church that they must have female priests.  It would be the same for other religions, Jewish, Muslims, etc, being told them must do something that is totally against their beliefs or practices.

I am sharing two articles written by the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bishop David A. Zubik.  Though his articles specifically speak from a Catholic point of view and focus on the abortion issue, the problem here is shared by all religions.  It is also not only the Catholic Church that fights against abortion, others do as well.  And the ability of government to dictate to a religion would not stop at health insurance.  It could easily spread to other issues, such as female priests. The bigger issue is that of government dictating what a church does in regards to it's teachings and beliefs.  Please read these, they are very good.

http://diopitt.org/bridging-gap/hell-you

http://diopitt.org/hed-checking-air-outside

If we allow our government to trample all over the first of our Constitutional rights, how do we stop them from lining them all up to take a fall?  This is a call to action.  Contact your congressmen and women and the president.  Tell them not to mandate what a religion will do, especially against their basic beliefs.