What Have You Done.

Just a little over a month ago, we watched the horror unfold in Newtown Ct. Their was shock, anger, grief and a voice of determination to never allow this to happen again. My question to everyone is what have you done since to have your opinion and voices heard. That is fine to have outrage, but if all you did at that point was to talk amongst each other, then nothing and I mean NOTHING will change. Somewhere in the not to distant future, we will have to suffer through another mass killing of people and possibly children. Why, because we lack the conviction and the will to stand up to the extremist chatter from guns rights groups to stop the massacres.

Yesterday the President put forth a beginning of common sense approaches to the violence epidemic in America. Immediately he was attacked from the right for wanting to destroy the Constitution and specifically the second amendment. What he proposed was looking into video game and film violence. Something the NRA proposed. He wants to close loopholes to try and keep weapons out of the hands of criminals. Something the NRA proposed. He wants to allow mental health experts be able to legally share information about potentially dangerous people, to keep weapons out of their hands. Something the NRA proposed. He is asking Congress to reinstate the military style weapons ban and to reduce the limit of high capacity magazines. Something that is supported by police and citizens around the country.

With these and other changes that we could look at in the near future we could make a difference and stop additional killings. The responses are attacks by Republicans and the NRA. Senator Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Steve Stockman, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, NRA leaders, FOX and many other organizations and individuals that can only oppose attempts to move us forward, while offering no solutions.

Now back to my original question. What have you done? The right is mobilizing and will try to drown out any reasonable changes. Yesterday I wrote, my two Senators in Florida, Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Marco Rubio. I also wrote my Congressman Alan Grayson. I sent an e-mail of support to the White House. The whole process took about 30 minutes. That's all, and for what? A chance to have my voice heard. A chance to tell my Representatives in Washington that I support the President on his efforts to reduce violence. A chance to tell the President to keep the fight going to make our children safe. What have you done. Do you have a few minutes to help protect the innocent people in America and possibly save lives? Do you care enough about others to take a few precious minutes out of you busy day to save people from the horrors of Sandy Hook? Do it and do it now! Don't wait. Let your leaders know that your vote will be determined by how they vote on this issue. Your vote will be determined by whether they sit on the sidelines or get involved to save Americans. Your vote cannot be bought, like the gun manufacturers try, as they become merchants of death. It is too important to stand by and allow others to dictate the results. Please do it now. Our children need your help!

We Have Become a Country of Extremist!!!

I told you I would never abandon my political agenda and I have not. Over the past month I have listened to the far right wing idiot machine and am sickened by the takeover of America by extremist. These are paranoid, neurotic, narcissistic people that somehow gained the attention of the public. Twenty, six and seven year old children have been massacred and all we hear is their whining about their second amendment rights. The President, Democratic Leaders and intelligent people across this country are not after the second amendment. We are after common sense solutions to an epidemic problem.

People, who believe that, black hawk helicopters are waiting to swoop down into their front yard and drag your family into the street, to kill them are suffering from some type of neurosis or psychosis. They should remove them selves from any contact with civilized people and leave the rest of us to solve the problem. The far right wing radio and media are fanning the flames of hysteria by predicting revolution. They expound on the value of hate to drive their listening audiences and it is working. The gun manufacturers are making millions of dollars and their profits are driven by unfounded fear and hate. People like Glen Beck, a megalomania in my opinion, are responsible for this hysteria. The NRA responds to the nuts on the fringe and ignore the average person. Their leadership is the marionettes at the end of the strings that are maneuvered by the gun and ammunition industry.  The money pours in, the paranoia spreads and the killings continue.

I know that throughout the history of our country the fringe has existed. They screamed their lunacy, but for the most part it feel on deaf ears. The problem today is this group of people have a megaphone and the constant shouting is driving our leaders. Steve Stockman a Republican Congressman from Texas, was running around, screaming he will bring articles of impeachment against the President, before Mr. Obama even introduced his proposals for gun legislature. Rand Paul from Kentucky was denouncing the President as trying to set himself up as a king or monarch, also without any idea of the Presidents agenda. Paul even stated he would leave no, "rock unturned", to stop the President. Does that include the rock that he and Stockman live under? Could we, please at least, hear what the President has to say before we start to attack him for it?

Folks, right now America is under siege. The extremist have taken our country hostage. They see conspiracy and subterfuge around every corner. They have to be stopped. Last week a former Marine wrote a letter to Senator Feinstein and denounced her attempt to place a new ban on assault weapons. He even stated " No woman could tell him what to own." He became the darling of the far right. I will thank him for his service and then suggest he get treatment for his mental health issues. This is the type of personality that becomes dangerous. They feel they have a right to do and say anything. They have a right to ignore laws and people that are legally elected to make those laws. They feel their rights are the only ones worth protecting. He swore an oath to defend our country and the Constitution. That oath extents to the twenty children and their families. What about their rights? What about the rights of other innocent people that are destroyed every year, by gun violence?

Keep your hunting rifles. Keep your hand guns for protection. Also find ways to blend your rights and protect the rights of others to live. Societies should find ways to move forward. Are we that fearful, are we that unintelligent, are we that unwilling, to find a way to stop violence without more violence. I happen to believe that the best way to move forward as a country is to find ways to settle our disputes and our differences, peacefully, with our intellect, not our weapons.  

My Grandson, Jayden Lifts Me Up.

The people who know me personally are aware that Jayden is my eight year old grandson. He has lived with us most of his life, starting at six months old. There are times that he stretches our patience, but ninety nine percent of the time he adds so much joy, life and love to our days. When I was recovering from surgery, he brought home a folder of his work done at school. I was going through the papers and found one that has since become a permanent display on my bedroom dresser. Here is the essay.

Heros are people that help you and save you. Heros are always there for you too. I have a hero. Do you have a hero like mine?

My hero is my grandfather. He is a hero because he looks out for me. He helps me with my homework and with a problem. He is always nice to me. He is the best hero and grandfather ever.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my hero.

Jayden Leavell
9/13/12

I know he misspelled the word heroes, but believe me I still loved the story. In a few years, when he becomes a teenager, I will pull this story out and remind him that I am his hero and he should never talk back to heroes.

I wrote about this for two reasons. One I am proud and touched that Jayden would write about me this way. We are best buddies and have been since he could talk and understand the words. The second is to reflect the change in America's Voice. This is an example of the stories I want to hear from my readers. In this case it is about how I was recovering from surgery and one part of the antidote is the love from my grandson. It illustrates how even an eight year old boy can lift the spirit of a sixty year old man. Look around yourself and see the love and spirit that surrounds you. It is there, all you need to do is pull back the veil of sadness and let it be revealed.