Do Something for Yourself!

   A couple of days ago, I challenged you, "To love and to be loved," now I want you to do two things, every day for yourself. Remember that you are not at your best and are not able to help others, if you do not take care of yourself. It is not being selfish, it is how you can give to others.
   The first challenge is to meditate, at least once a day. Meditation is simple and can be accomplished in minutes. Jump on the Internet and you will immediately find meditation guidance. Try different leaders and types. Look under Chakras, also, for variety. I found both Chakras and Meditation on my Amazon Prime, but there are many sources to experiment with. Mix it up!
   Meditation is soothing, relaxing, and invigorating all at the same time. When I do mine I awaken to a whole new attitude and am completely refreshed, ready to take on the remainder of the day. Try it and let us know how you feel and successes.
   The second challenge is to learn something new each day. Some people think learning is only accomplished in the framework of a formal school setting. Wrong! I have learned something every day, as far back as I can remember. It is accomplished through reading most of the time. I love to read, whether it is my newspaper each morning, or a magazine, such as National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Eating Well, or my most recent book. I also learn from television. Watching news, history, movies and sports. Some of you may be wondering how with sports magazines or cooking magazines? Simple. These are my interests, also, and when I read them I learn something, I didn't know before. I feel, if a day passes by and in someway new information has not been added I have failed. My family, teases me about some of the information I come up with, but they also call me when they have questions.
   Begin this process, today. Don't push it off, thinking I'll start it tomorrow or next week. Start now. It takes minutes, but the habit and results will last a life time. Do it during the course of your routine. Learn that new fact! Mediate and rejuvenate your mind! There are no reasons, not to! Let me know how you are doing.

One Happiness

      "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved." This is, perhaps, the most famous line written by French novelist, George Sand. What some may not know is this author was actually, Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin. She used the nom de plume or pen name of George Sand, because no woman in the 1800's could ever have been taken seriously as a writer.
   Today I am going to take my writing down a new path. In the past it was pure politics and if truth be told, draining. Politics and History has been a fascination of mine, since elementary school and it will now return to its proper place. A hobby.
   Now the new direction. Love. Happiness. Spirituality. Peace. Nature. Meditation. Harmony. That is where I am placing my emphasis. This is to help my family, friends, readers and myself. I have to be healed if I am to help the people I love. There is a toxic atmosphere in our countries. In our states. In our cities. In our neighborhoods. In our homes. It is hate, indifference, bigotry, intolerance, hostility and a break down of decency. No more. From any direction. The time has come to replace the negative with the positive. To love and be loved!
   "There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved." That is my mantra! That is my goal! To Love and be Loved! Repeat this to yourself, as many times as necessary to push those negative thoughts and feelings out of your mind. To love and be loved! It sounds incredible, doesn't it? As you say the words, smile! Come on! Picture me in your mind right now, sitting at the desk, typing this with a smile spread across my face. Does that idea make you laugh! Good!  My grandchildren would tell you I look maniacal or deranged. I think of it as happy. To love and be loved! To love and be loved! That is the goal.                                                                                                                                   Start each day with this idea and then spread it. Smile and spread love to everyone you interact with. Smile it makes them wonder what you are up to? Smile and then happiness will follow. Show politeness. Hold a door open for someone. Give them the opportunity to move in front of you in traffic. That one is really hard, but wave them through. Say thank you. When your family comes home, look up from the tv, I-pad, phone or any other distraction and greet them. Give them a hug and a kiss. This may freak them out, some may be suspicious or even, ask what's wrong. That's ok. Make it a habit and everyone will look forward to it and so will you. You will feel better. Your friends and family will feel better. They will spread it on to their families and friends. See where I am heading with this? To love and be loved!
   To love and be loved. Tell people, you love them. This is easy for family to say to each other, but tell your friends, you love them. Let people know. We all share this wonderful life and world, so let love and kindness flourish. It will start to shed light on the darkness of hatred and then the hate will die in that glow. To love and be loved!
 

The Saddest Story Ever Told!

  Gather round and be prepared to be horrified and shocked. It has been a month, but the shock remains. I know that in order to move on I have to share this and heal.

  The sharp crashing sound is not one that I would normally expect to hear in my kitchen. My sobs were even less expected. It happened a month ago. It occurred so quickly and given my advancing years and loss of reaction time, it was inevitable. My first thought was to call 911. My second was to dive on all fours to the tile in the kitchen and start lapping it up, like a dog just brought into the house from a 30 minute run. Neither was a good choice!

  I stood frozen as if Elsa had laid her icy fingers on my wrist. The fluid spread out across the floor as my hope to save it diminished. The scene parades across my mind. It was only 4 months ago that we brought you into our house. We, mostly I, had enjoyed your company at first, but then you were banished to the pantry, to await the occasional cup of coffee. You were mostly forgotten and now I look back with shame, on your treatment.

  Sadly I realized something had to be done. I gathered the trash can and paper towels and started the morbid act of cleaning the liquid goo from the floor. Glass was mixed within your precious nectar. A total loss. After it was all cleaned and the mop had been run over it several times, I noticed that sweet fragrance lingered. I had to take the trash bag and get it into the garage. It was over.

  My bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream. The one we had bought at Christmas was gone. It was half full, not half empty. I want to be positive. There were so many flasks to fill. So many coffees to flavor. So many glasses to consume, and it was gone. I had knocked an extra large jar, thankfully plastic, of peanut butter off of the shelf and as it hit the Baileys the bottle split in half. I try not to curse the Gods and hope that the Baileys soaked paper towels and broken shards of glass found a good home, at the land fill. I pray this is so. In stead of flowers I ask that each one of you, after this is read, to hoist a glass of your favorite libation and remember that brief shining bottle that met its end too soon.

Where the Power Should Be Part II

Yesterday I started to talk about the power in America and how it was been stolen from the middle class. Today I want to look at what we need to do, to wrestle the power back. There has to be a meeting point when the actual split of power. The citizens have a great deal of say and the corporations and elite have a say. I feel the split should be around 75% for the people and 25% for the corporate world. It has to be more on the side of the people. That is what is meant by the beginning of the Constitution. WE THE PEOPLE, period. Nowhere does it address anything else but the people. The other phrase in the Preamble that is so telling, promote the general welfare, is about us all being in this life together. That is not socialism. It is about being ONE country. ONE people. ONE purpose. We are diverse, but we come together for a single cause when it makes us stronger.

When did we lose that togetherness? When did it become more important to win elections, then it was to govern America and make it better? We have fallen behind many other countries and are in danger of losing more ground. We used to lead in every category. Now the only thing we are better then the rest of the world, is making and fighting wars. Is this the legacy we want to leave for future generations?

So what can we do? It is most important to speak out and demand the changes that are necessary. We have to educate ourselves and each other on how our government works, how our elected officials vote and which direction they want to take us. We have to demand that the government seeks solutions, not just block every idea the other party has. That is not governing. Several years ago there was a popular Japanese concept that stated for every worker in Japan they had five ideas to make their jobs and lives better. At the time in America, we would get only one idea for every five people. I am sure that the number for Japan has gotten worse, as their ideas, started to dry up, but more importantly, I am just as certain that we have moved further away from that five to one ratio. Instead of just complaining come up with suggestions to make things better and force our leaders to implement them. 

You maybe thinking that they do not listen to us, but they have to. We have the votes and we have to keep them from stripping away voting rights for anyone. On election day we have to send messages loud and clear that stalemates are not acceptable. We have to call and e-mail them every time they are set to vote on something. Let them hear our voices loud and clear. They work for us! Will it make a difference? Absolutely, but we have to do it as ONE people. We have to stop attacking each other and go after the real enemy. The corporate and elite greed!

What else can we do? We could support unions and demand that right to work laws are abolished. This we can do by working together. Don't attack the unions. If there are certain parts of a union agreement that is damaging or corrupt, change that part. Save the majority of it. Work with it. Most of all, don't allow corporations to squeeze workers out, just to increase their profits.

There are other directions and areas we can certainly improve. I will add more thoughts on that tomorrow.

Where Should the Power Be?

I am still totally amazed when I listen to people and hear them make disparaging remarks about hard working Americans. The corporate, wealthy, elite have done an outstanding job of making middle class America, the problem. They have brainwashed and dictated to middle America that the economic problems here are our fault. Corporate profits are the highest in history! The stock market is the highest in history! The amount of wealth controlled my the elite one percent is the highest in history! Corporate welfare, in the form of tax breaks and credits are the highest in history! The amount of money kept offshore to avoid all taxes, is the highest in history! The military industrial complex is producing more then ever in history! The amount of money that lobbyists are spending is the highest in history! The cost to get elected to any office, whether local, state or federal is the highest in history! What does this all add up to? The people at the top are doing the best in history and the middle class and below are doing the worst, in history.

What made America great was the middle class. This was our strength and the mostly white, corporate, elite had the hell scared out of them. They saw their power diluted by the rise of unions and the idea that people could collectively bargain for wages and benefits. So about forty years ago they started a long and slow attack on unions (middle class) that is in full gear today. They had to use the facts that some union leaders were corrupt and the unions had to be destroyed. If we used the corruption theme to our corporate leaders or politicians, they would all be gone.

Look back at history and the rise of unions. As the unions grew strong, wages started to climb. Working conditions improved. Benefits improved. Workers had the funds to buy cars, houses and the newest appliances. They had disposable income left at the end of the month. They saved and they spent. The went on vacations. Ate out in restaurants. Sent their children to college. Life was good and getting better, except for the corporations and the wealthy elite. Something had to be done. Their gigantic profits were being wasted on the workers. They had to be smart and not appear to have a frontal assault on white, middle class.

 Step one, they started to convince the middle class that welfare queens were rampant. They were having babies just to get more money and then they could sit around, smoke cigarettes and live the high life, off of the hard working, white middle class. The realty was that for the few that did sit and receive a hand out there were so many more that were working, sometimes two or more jobs, to support their family. This diversion from the facts the elite, did very well.

The next step was to enact laws, such as right to work in states. The law makers were handed bushels of money and they in return handed companies the ability to fire people at will and pay them below poverty level wages. This is an ongoing success. They are still fighting the battle in some states.

Now they were armed with the laws to stop the unions from forming. This has been very successful at stopping the unions growth and currently, memberships in unions are at an all time low. Are the elite happy? No, they want to destroy all unions and are now assaulting the police, firefighters, nurses and teachers. They want to drive that stake through the heart of the unions and ultimately the workers of America. This is the POWER and they were not going to give it up.

What has been our response up to this point? We are actually supporting the corporations and the wealthy! Why? Why, are we attacking teachers? Why, are we looking to roll back our police and firefighters? Why are we not standing with the nurses? This is what has me completely stumped.
In my next post I will examine what we have to do to break this trend. Where we have to start moving to raise the American worker up.

President John Kennedy's view on Liberalism.

The other day, for the millionth time, I read conservatives viewpoints on Liberals. I was reminded of a quote by the late President Kennedy and decided to look it up and refresh myself, with how insightful he was.

A liberal, someone who looks ahead not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reaction, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil right and their civil liberties- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our politics abroad, if this is what they mean by a Liberal, then I am proud to say I am a Liberal.  JFK September 1960.

I look at the above quote and agree with everything said. I do not see anywhere in the definition of a Liberal where it states one single idea of giving away anything. It is about the promise of America that we will work together to solve the problems and issues that face us as a nation. The Conservative plan, driven by the Tea Party and large corporations, is that we are all on our own. I do not advocate for the Federal government to solve each problem, but I agree with President Kennedy, that we, the people should all care and help each American.

Currently the Conservatives, side with businesses and drive their agenda through them. The opposite should occur. They should be driving the nation forward through the people. Today we look at problems and say, "They should do it themselves." Do what ourselves? Educate ourselves? Produce our own food? Protect ourselves? Create our own businesses? Fight our own fires? Is this the definition of a country? A country is a team. There are individuals within the system and they have rights, but they also have obligations.

When we look back at our history, our best and most productive times were when we worked together. The colonization of America. The American Revolution. The establishment of the United States. The World Wars. When we brought America's economy back after the Great Depression. The Civil Rights movement. After 9-11 and after any man made or natural disaster. This is when America shines the brightest. Individuals working together, not all of us going our own separate ways. This does not diminish the single person, it strengthens them into an unbeatable force.

We are expending too much energy into fighting with each other. The debate should be had, but then we quit talking and start working. Rethink this part of Kennedy's speech: Someone who looks ahead not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reaction and someone who cares about the welfare of the people. Why should this be a Liberal idea and not the forward idea of all America?

The Real Scandal In Washington DC!

In recent weeks the Conservatives (Republicans, Tea Partyers, Far Right Extremists) in Congress have attempted to paint the Obama administration as: The most corrupt government in history, worse then Watergate, worse then Nazi Germany, worse then Fascist Italy and the list goes on.

The problem is that it is all, distractions. The IRS scandal occurred because of the convoluted tax laws that are vague at best and completely idiotic. The attack on our consulate was tragic, but unavoidable. In my opinion the closest to scandal we get is the attempt to strong arm the press, but that has occurred since the beginning of time.

Political problems, yes. Scandals, no. The real scandal in DC is a Congress, especially the Republican lead House of Representatives, that continues to get paid and yet do NO work. Think about your own job. Would your employer continue to pay you and provide a job if you showed up sometimes and once there accomplished nothing? Absolutely not. We would be fired. Right to work laws passed by Republicans in various states, permit employers to dismiss people for now reason, as long as that reason has nothing to do with age, gender, religion, race or nationality. Yeah, and try to prove that against a giant corporation. Here is Congress trying to repel Obama Care, what thirty some times. Remember, one of the signs of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Under that premise, most Republicans in Congress should be institutionalized, not trying to make laws.

The scandal is this. How many jobs bills have been passed and sent to the President for his signature? Zero. How many voter's rights bills have been passed and sent to the President for a signature? Zero. How many bills to protect consumers have been passed and sent to the President for a signature? Zero. How many bills to rebuild our infrastructure have been passed and sent to the President for his signature? Zero. How many bills to correct the immigration problem in the country have been passed and sent to the President for his signature? Zero. How many bills to address the corruption in government, that allows corporations and wealthy special interest to buy elections have been passed and sent to the President for his signature? Zero. How many bills to really protect our children and grandchildren from the effects of pollution have been passed and sent to the President for his signature? Zero.

You get the message. The Republicans in Congress do not care about the country, they only care about the next election. The are like David Copperfield. Distract people with smoke and mirrors while they do what the want on the other side. They should all be fired! We need people in DC, that will start to put the interest of America and the average citizen above everything else. Folks, the people we elect WORK FOR US. We pay their salaries. We need to adopt Mitt Romney's approach of, "Liking to fire people, who don't do their jobs." Call them. Write to them. Let them all know that they will not keep their jobs, because they do nothing for us. We are the bosses and yet we allow them to show up to work whenever they feel like it and while they are there it is always a coffee break. Now is the time to say, "YOU'RE FIRED."

Running Off At The Keyboard !

Elections do matter and it is quite evident when we look at Supreme Court decisions. No members of the court are elected, but having a President that nominates and a Congress that approves a justice has long reaching consequences. The Defense of Marriage act of 96, could be reversed, hopefully. The Voting Rights Act of 65 is being reviewed. In recent years Heller v DC in 08 is the center of gun rights. Elections do matter!

Looking at Supreme Court decisions, why are we still debating Roe v Wade. This was decided in 1973 and the right is still trying to chip away at women's rights.

Do you believe it is 2013 and we still have not figured out that women deserve equal pay for equal work. We are still debating the Violence against Women laws. That gays are a group of people and their rights are being ignored. Try as they may, old, rich, white guys are going  to loose their power and influence. It is only a matter of time and it scares the hell out of them.

Does anyone really believe that the Republicans in Congress are willing to work with the President on any issue. Issues that have historically been Republican are now poison to them. Why, because the "black guy in the White House" supports it. Can everyone say, racists.

Racism does exist in America and because they try and hide it, it may be more dangerous then ever. In the 50's and 60's everyone knew who the racists were. Today we have to look for them. Trust me they are there and we need to stop them.

Bigotry may be the better word. The current group of hate mongers, go after, women, gays, Blacks, Hispanics and anyone who supports an America, where everyone is truly created equal.

I happen to believe that the NRA and its true backers, the weapons industry, are just playing a waiting game. Let the public sentiment go dormant and they will win. What do they want? The ability to sell more weapons and ammunition to line their pockets with more gold. They do not care how many people die, or if weapons get into the hands of criminals. They make money each time an American is gunned down. Whether it is in the streets of Chicago, or the schools of New Town. Each weapon used and each bullet picked out the bodies, represent cash to them. Their mantra should be, "Let the blood and bullets flow freely."

If the cuts to spending go into effect, I guarantee the poor and middle class will feel the most distress. The wealthy and corporations have their stock pile of money. They really do not care about the rest of us.

Does anyone, beside Congress, have a job where you can do nothing, accomplish nothing, drive your company into bankruptcy, go on multiple vacations and still not only keep your job, but get paid? I think term limits and elimination of public funds in elections are in order. We cannot even fire the real, freeloaders.

The Pledge of Allegiance

A friend of mine, Marines, posted the, "Pledge of Allegiance" to my face book page and stated that she recited this and the, " Lord's Prayer" everyday, in school. I grew up at a time when this was the normal. We then went from the prayer to a moment of silence. We kept the pledge. I asked my eight year old grandson and they do neither. This is sad! The words to the pledge is something we not only should recite each day, but we should look at the words and bring our country back to actually believing them. I understand the conflict of church and state, however I do not believe the framers of our Constitution meant that nobody would be able to have at least their own thoughts during a moment of silence. What would be the harm?

My main reason for bringing this conversation up is the, "Pledge of Allegiance".

"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."

The original pledge was composed by a minister, Francis Bellamy in 1892. He was, and I find some irony in this, a Christian Socialist. More on this in a minute. It was formally adopted by Congress in 1942. The pledge has been modified four times over the years, the last in 1954 when the phrase, under God, was added. Sorry but I really enjoy the idea that a Socialist, which the right wing is so obsessed over, actually wrote the Pledge. They would set their hair on fire if they stopped long enough to read history. Anyway back to the words. All of the little tweaks that were done over the years, one phrase that has never been altered was, "one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all".

Does anyone really think about that part? Indivisible. That means united in purpose for the good of the entire country. What it does not mean is we cannot have a reasonable discussion about differences among us. It means that after the debate we come together and move America forward. We stop the politics and do what is best for the country. Have any of the people, who live on the fringe either way, far right or far left, taken the time to absorb this concept? I do not believe they have. We do not need extremist running the direction of the country. The debates have occurred. The election happened, whether the Republicans like the outcome or not. Now we need to come together and accomplish, govern America. Remain indivisible.

With liberty and justice for all. Is there liberty and justice for all? Is that why forty years after Roe v Wade we have extremist trying to become more invasive in women's rights. Whether it is about a women's rights to chose how her body is used, or the right to equal pay for equal work, is this liberty and justice? Living in a poorer neighborhood and having your children denied quality education and access to better paying jobs, is this liberty and justice for all. Having your voting rights trampled by a party, that instead of changing their ideas, they want to change the system, either by gerrymandering or changing election laws, is this liberty and justice for all? Is allowing an extreme, vocal minority that does not want gun accessibility changed, so we can stem the tide of violent crime and the slaughter of our citizens, liberty and justice for all. Is denying workers the right to organize and thus create better paying jobs, with better benefits represent liberty and justice for all? Of course the answer to all of the above is a resounding, NO. We need to look at these and an ever growing list of offenses by the extremist and remember those words. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. It needs to be recited every day, in schools and in our hearts. Indivisible with liberty and justice for ALL. These are truly words to run our country by.

This is Our Coronation!

Every four years, on January 20th, we have a national celebration that culminates with our President, starting either a brand new administration or continuing four more years of direction. In the United Kingdom, for example, they have a coronation of their monarch, but only get to observe the process, in most cases, once in a generation. Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne for sixty years. We have an opportunity to enjoy ours, so many times and this should be a chance for all Americans to watch and enjoy the democratic process and traditions.

I first watched on January 20, 1961. The principle at Hempfield Elementary School in Greenville, Pennsylvania, brought his television into the school and placed it on the stage in the gymnasium. I may have been one of the few third graders or even any child that was completely enraptured by the events of that day. John Kennedy was being sworn in as President, replacing Dwight Eisenhower. The television screen was not the gigantic projection screens we have today, but fortunately I sat near enough to the front, to get a good view of the black and white images on the tube. The President and most of the men on the platform, that day, wore top hats. I could not hear the sound very well, and would not have understood the words, anyway. That did not bother me as I was thrilled to be able to see the celebration. Over the years I have heard the words of President Kennedy and have been inspired to a greater love of the political process and America.

Kennedy's speech is more likely to be remembered for his, "Ask not what your country can to for you, ask what you can do for your country." However I have been more struck by this part of his speech. "Let every nation know...that we shall pay any price; bear any burden; meet any hardship; support any friend; oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."  This message was not only for Americans, but for people and leaders around the world. It signaled that though the torch had been passed to a new generation, we would continue our pursuit of freedom.

Many years have passed since then and I have attempted to watch as many of the inaugurations since. Today I have to go into work at three o'clock, but now we have various recording devices at our disposal and there is no reason to miss anything. The swearing in, even though it is a repeat from yesterday. The speech. The parade. There are traditions that have been in place for two hundred plus years an I want top see it all. Watch it and share it with a someone from the younger generation.We all should want to see it. Whether you voted for our President or not, you should want to participate in the process. It is a fulfillment of our Constitutional process and laws. It is inspiring. It is uplifting. It is American.

I want to end today's writing with a quote from another inaugural address. President Abraham Lincoln said in his second address on March 4, 1865, the following, "With malice toward none, with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nations wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle; and for his widow and his orphan- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Let us all work to follow Lincoln's words and strive, to make better and finish, the American dream for all.

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.

Why Stop At Arming Teachers?

As I start to write this I do want to say, this is not meant to make light of the terrible tragedy that occurred in Newtown, it is to point out the complete stupidity of the NRA and the gun toting members of our society. We are trying to protect our children from weapons by placing more weapons in their reach. There is a mad rush to arm teachers and have them take a course on gun safety, an oxymoron, and in the interim make us feel like we are doing something positive. Are we going to grade our schools and teachers by how they qualify on the rifle range?

Here is my take. Why stop at arming the teachers? Why not make sure everyone is armed. The ridiculous idea that the only thing that stops a, "bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun" should be taken to the extreme that the gun manufacturers want. Arm everyone.

Why not the janitors? We could empty the supply closest of all of the unnecessary items, such as mops and floor cleaner and stock it with the latest automatic assault rifles. the shelves could be filled with multiple clips of ammunition, so they would be prepared for any contingencies. Those closets are even large enough to house an RPG (rocket propelled grenade). Now we are talking some nice profits for gun and ammunition makers.

How about the lunch ladies. Instead of pots hanging down from the ceiling, they could have a supply of Bushmasters within arms reach. The mash potatoes would be a handy place to keep a fully loaded Glock. An armed intruder would never expect, Granny to reach into that mushy pile and draw down on them. It might even improve the taste of the lunches. Spaghetti with .30 caliber ammunition, anyone?

Let's not forget the school nurse and the office workers. They could get their concealed weapons permit and be packing through out the day. Better yet we could get them armed with M16A3's. This is the type of weapon used by the Navy Seals. Fully automatic and the good guys with a gun would be prepared.

Lastly what about the kids themselves? They already have amour plated backpacks. Now we can pack their lunches and the latest assault rifle, when we send them off to school each day. Then when that deranged, psychopath charges into the local school, they will be met with a hail of bullets. That is the ultimate, "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun."

The NRA is thinking way to small. We could go from 300 million guns in America to 500 million in a heartbeat. The weapons manufacturers would be swimming in money, and isn't that what this is really about. It is not about protecting our children it is about profits for the real killers in America, the weapons industry, who will then funnel more money into the pockets of the NRA's leadership. Is anyone concerned about collateral damage. One of the points that I never hear is, with everyone shooting a weapon, how do you know which one is really the bad guy. Just start shooting and when the smoke is cleared, we can start the body count. I can hear the defense lawyers at the trails, "My client though the principle was the bad guy, she(he) had a gun!"

Yeah, this is the way to solve the problem. Arm everyone and let the shooting begin. So what if innocent lives are lost. We get the bad guy, hopefully. I don't know, but it does strike me that the real lunatics  are the people that are preaching the theory of arming more people.

20 Dead 6 and 7 Year Old Children! No More!!!

First I am not dismissing the deaths of the brave teachers and administrators at Sandy Hook on Friday. I will speak of them in another post. I want everyone to remember the numbers 20, 6 and 7, just as they remember 9-11. This represents the twenty, six and seven year old babies, who were brutally killed. We must remember and fight to save other children in America.

There is no easy solutions to this problem of violence that has escalated in our country. It will take many different approaches to stop the senseless murders that occur in mass or individually everyday in America. We must start with common sense and easiest point. Eliminate assault type weapons and multiple load clips. The second amendment is not absolute. It gives citizens the right to bear arms. It does not give them the right to have weapons of mass destruction and that is what these are. People that say we are infringing on their rights to target practice or hunt, need to take a hard look at exactly what these weapons do. My Grandfather was a hunter. He never carried an assault weapon. The idea was to bring down a deer and have the meat, not destroy it beyond recognition. Assault weapons and multiple magazine bans would not violate the second amendment rights and would be a beginning step in the process to cutting back on violence in our society.

Education is always a starting point. Education in safety of guns and ammunition will help. Education so people can get better jobs and feel good about themselves will help. Education on the way we treat and react to each other in society will help. Education on appropriate video games for children and society as a whole will help. Education on the fact that needless and wanton killings and maiming in movies will help. Lastly education on how to help and treat people with mental illnesses will help. It is a process. One without easy and quick fixes, but one that will move us in the right direction.

Funding for programs to treat and help the people among us that need and seek help for mental illness is essential. We have reduced the money that is there to give treatments to those in need. We spend enormous sums of money on wars and violence, now it is time to spend that money on healing. Funding for education, not just weapon safety but general education to allow our intellect to grow to the point when we reject violence as a way of life.

We need to look at the movie and gaming industry. The proliferation of violence DOES have a effect by desensitizing us to violence, murder and mayhem. What does not effect me does effect others that are sensitive and  vulnerable to these images. I know theses industries make a lot of money off of the violence in this media, but we must be aware that it is affecting us as a country and look to tone it down.  I admit to watching many of these types of movies over the years, but can I live without them. Absolutely.

Lastly gun control laws and enforcement of the current laws. We have to close loop holes and strengthen our laws. We must make gun owners responsible, even if their weapons are stolen and used by someone else. We must make gun and ammunitions manufacturers responsible to destruction their products do on our nation's people. They have to share in the blame if they make products that destroy. Currently they are not. They would join in the effort to make guns less available and less destructive, if they had a stake in the process, beyond making money off of the deaths of human beings.

I heard a quote by Abraham Lincoln this morning on "Morning Joe". Joe Scarborough, gave a wonderful opinion on this issues and used a longer quote from Lincoln. I am just going to use the end of it. Said Lincoln, " If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher." If we do not take the mantle of responsibility onto ourselves and change the violent direction of America we all are to blame for her demise.

I Can't Look Away!!!!

 I have to admit I could not pull myself away from the coverage on the killing of our children. I know today they will announce the names and probably show pictures of the innocent children that have been ripped from the arms of their parents, way to early. I watched the emotions of our President, but the most touching picture I saw last night was the one of a group of children holding hands and trying to close their eyes as they were lead from Sandy Hook school. The look of fright on their small faces, made me realize that they are and will continue to be victims for years to come. How do they erase the images and sounds from their young minds? I can only imagine how those parents felt as they heard the news, that a madman was firing shots at the elementary school. The thoughts that screamed through their minds as they approached the school and had to wait, to hopefully be united with their children. Lastly the realization that must have presented itself to the parents that anxiously awaited as each child was brought out and united with their parents, but theirs was not brought to them. The despair as they were lead into a separate area to receive the devastating news that their child would not be going home with them yesterday afternoon. My prayers and thoughts are with those parents now and I must find a way to support them, not just today, but going forward, to ensure this does not continue to happen. The hurt they must be feeling today! The utter senselessness of what happened and what they will feel, we cannot know, but only embrace them as best we, as a nation, can. We must stand with them and grieve with them and give them strength. We must also and most importantly join them in the fight, to come, to stop the slaughter of our children. Close your eyes and picture a child. It can be your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or even a child you know in your community. Picture this child. Picture smiling faces. Picture the innocence, that only children can possess. Listen to their laughter and how it makes you smile. Picture them as they smile, many at this age, are missing their front teeth. Picture them running and playing freely, with screams of delight. Picture them as they enjoy the Christmas presents that will be coming in the next couple of weeks. Picture them as they grow up, each year accomplishing more in school and in life. Picture them graduating, first from high school, and then college. Picture them as they find someone, fall in love, get married and then have children of their own. Now picture all of that being snatched away from, you and  them, in a few moments of terror and death. That is what happened yesterday.

The scenario that occurred yesterday also happens each and every day on the streets and in homes throughout America. EACH DAY, THIRTY  PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, ARE KILLED BY GUNS. THAT IS EACH DAY. OVER TEN THOUSAND A YEAR. This is a national disgrace and the time has come to stop the killing of our children and people. Name me one other thing, in which we have control, that takes that many lives each and every year. We do have the power to control this epidemic. We need to stand up for those beautiful little children that were taken from their families yesterday. We need to make our political leaders stand for them and start a real and meaningful control on weapons.  When the feeling of outrage starts to slip from your conscience, close your eyes again and picture the children that means so much to you.  Renew that anger. This is a fight we must win, to protect our children. I never want to be one of the parents, that has to rush to a school in fear and I don't want to be one of those parents that has to learn , their child is gone forever. I want the same for you and all parents everywhere. When we band together this can be accomplished. The fight from the gun industry and the NRA is coming. They have too much money involved.  Be ready for it and let's all stand together, united as one and fight for our children.

How Many More Children Have to Die For The NRA?

Yeah, I know that I am going to be accused of reacting too quickly to the latest shooting in America. So what! The idiots that run around shouting, "You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands, need to shut up and understand that gun proliferation has gone way beyond the breaking point. As I write this the death toll continues to rise, but even if it is one child, or one person the price is too high. We will hear the nonsensical phrase, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." I understand that the people pull the trigger, but the guns are placed into the hands of criminals and lunatics, by everyone that supports the NRA and weapons businesses in America.

We need controls on the number of guns in this country. We need controls on who gets these weapons in their hands. We need controls on people that display violent behavior. We need to quit pandering to the gun interest and start placing the welfare and safety of people ahead of profits and their idea of Constitutional rights. What about the rights of a small child to just attend school, safely? What about the rights of people to go to the movies or the mall without fearing for their lives. When do we start to look at the Preamble to the Constitution, where it states, "insure DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, provide for the COMMON DEFENSE, promote the general WELFARE," and say this is the cornerstone of life for citizens in America.

Everyday across America our people, young and old alike are gunned down in a hail of bullets. There are individual shootings like the recent one here in Florida where a man opened fire into a van with several teenagers in it, because they would not turn down their music. Drive by shootings happen on our streets daily. Hand guns and assault weapons are readily available and used. We all stand by and allow it to happen. As long as the killings happen in poorer neighborhoods, we look the other way. It is time to stop looking around and feeling safe where we live, because it is right next door. This is an Elementary School, today. They are talking about seventeen to twenty children, dead. These are innocent 5-11 year old children. Can you please, explain to me, why you have to have that weapon in your hand? To do what? Babies are dying and yet the gun industry, the NRA and our politicians stand around and claim, impotence. 

Everyone of us that supports gun rights. Everyone of us that works in the industry, making, selling or buying guns. Everyone of the millions of members of the NRA. Everyone of us that stands and spouts nonsense about the right to bear arms. Lastly everyone of us that remains silent. We all have the blood of our small children on our hands. Look at yours. The stain is there. Try to wash it away, but it will remain. Try to convince others of the importance of keeping guns in the hands of criminals and again look at the blood on your hands. IT IS THERE! IT WILL REMAIN THERE!
 We need to finally be able to wash the blood of our children from our hands, if they will come clean.

Welcome To The People Of Myanmar.

Over the last week I have seen a wonderful and fulfilling trend, the people of Myanmar have joined in to read America's Voice. To my other readers, that may not know, indulge me for a moment while I fill you in on the country of Myanmar. Some may know it as its former name of Burma, but many years ago it was officially changed to Myanmar. It is located in Southeast Asia, near India. A few weeks ago President Obama visited there and was very warmly welcomed by the citizens. Unfortunately they have a history of military rule and severe human rights violations. They are slowly working on reforms and in their most recent elections, that were monitored for the first time, Democracy groups made great inroads into elected office. Democracy advocate, Auug San Suu Kyi, an outstanding civil rights leader,  was released from house arrest and confinement a couple of years ago and she has been out front and instrumental in these gains. She was honored by the President on his visit and I hope that the reforms continue to take place as this country moves forward to civil rights and dignity for all of their citizens.

To my point of bringing this into play. It is humbling to know that people there, are taking the time to read my writings and learn more as they strife to become a free society. In America we take the freedoms that are given to us by the Constitution for granted. We need to stop and realize that something we wake up to everyday. freedom, is something that many people around the globe are fighting and dying for every day. Here we argue over paying a fair tax on our income. We have companies, through greed, denying people a fair and living wage. We have many benefits but have stopped fighting to improve life for the poor, elderly and children, because we want to protect what we have. In countries like Myanmar they are fighting and dying just to have basic human rights.

My next hope is that the people that have read my words will spread this to others around their country and more importantly share their thoughts and stories about their struggles with my readers. I know that I want to hear and know more about your country. Education leads to understanding. Understanding leads to solutions.  I sincerely invite you to write back and comment to all of us here. You have a long history that started, much like the United States,  and were a colony of Great Brittan. We have a common beginning, and most importantly a common goal. The goal of freedom and rights for all citizens of the world. Please, if you can share with all of us.   

John McCain Still Can't Believe He Lost!

    What is up with John McCain these days? I feel that he is still bitter that President Obama beat him and now he had to watch as the President got re-elected. It must have brought back the stinging feelings and it has become too much for McCain.
He has been drumming up a conspiracy theory over the past couple of weeks and yet all he is doing, is looking pathetic. On Wednesday he complained about us needing more information on Benghazi and then he turns around on Thursday and skips a meeting where information was given to members of Congress. When a reporter asked him about missing the meeting he snapped back, "That he was a Senator and did not have to answer questions."
    McCain has called the terrorist attack on the consulate in Benghazi the worst intelligence failure in America's history. Maybe he forgot about the 9-11 attacks and the failures by America's intelligence community then. What about the various attacks on U.S. consulates and embassies starting with Karachi, Pakistan in 2002, when 12 people where killed and 51 injured. More attacks happened in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Where was John McCain and his outrage. After 9-11 the Intel from various agencies around the world suggested there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There were as many other agencies that said there was no evidence of WMD. Many people from the Bush administration were out convincing everyone that the weapons were there. So far none have been found. Ten years trillions of dollars and thousands of lives later still no weapons. Maybe John needs to rethink some of his rhetoric.
    John has called into question Susan Rice and her intelligence and ability to be Secretary of State. Where was he when Condi Rice and Colin Powell were using intelligence information to push us into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Silence is all he has on that subject. We need to find out what happened in Benghazi. Not to find a scape goat. Not to hang someone out to dry. Not to punish people. We need to find out what happened so we can prevent it from happening again. We need to find out so we can protect our people around the globe, as best we can.
    John McCain wants to find a way to attack our President. That is all this is. The bitter vitriol of an old man that failed to accomplish what he felt was his right, the Presidency of the United States. John, YOU LOST. Get over it. You served America proudly in uniform and as a Senator. It is time to move on. All you are destroying, is your legacy. I feel pity for you, but your time has come, to retire. Go sit on your porch in Arizona and dream what could have been and allow the rest of us to fix problems in America.

Freedom Is In The Eye Of The Beholder!

According to the dictionary, freedom is liberation from slavery or restraint from the power of another.

According to the far right, freedom is what they believe it should be. We each have certain freedoms that we hold more dear then others, but the Republicans are trampling on freedoms and we are just allowing it to happen.

Voting is being restricted in many states, by Republican controlled legislatures. They are using the ruse of voter fraud as the reason when the truth is they are trying to rig the election. They have restricted or put in place new ID laws that are for the purpose of electing more Republicans. The result is they are taking away the rights of millions of legal voters. Imagine if someone introduced a bill, at either state or federal level, that would restrict or take away the rights of millions of gun owners. The level of defiance would be astounding. The screams of, "Only from my cold, dead hands," would be deafening. Yet the right is sheepishly following the directive to take away Constitutional rights, for which there is no problem.

Women's freedom to control their own bodies has been under attack for years and is now reaching a crescendo of attacks. The Republicans, again, are looking to bypass the freedoms of the women and the advise of doctors to achieve their religious driven goals. They scream, religious freedom when the government states, that universities that have women working for them, should have insurance companies pay for birth control. However they conveniently are silent when a women is told that even though she does not want a procedure and her doctors states it is unnecessary, she has to give up her freedom and allow a medical devise to be inserted into her body. All of this is done because the fervent right wants their religious believe of, no abortions, to be implemented.

It has gone so far that we have an idiot, Congressman from Missouri,whos name I will not mention, that wants to have a fight about the degree of rape. The President stated it quite clearly and simple, yesterday, for all to understand. "Rape is Rape." Women's freedoms are really taking hits from Republicans and the far right. We all need to stand against the ideas put forth by the right and not allow women's rights go backwards.

This is just two examples of the freedoms that the right want to take from us. One is guaranteed by the Constitution and the other is guaranteed by the laws including the Supreme Court. The next time some moron from the right screams about gun rights, just ask them where they stand on voter's rights and women's rights. I am quite certain they will try to either change the subject or only talk about the rights they care about. The right to kill someone with a gun.