Philosophy and fact

 There is philosophy and there is fact, they aren't always the same thing. I was as surprised as anyone to discover my interest in philosophy. Philosophy is the defined as the love of wisdom. Wisdom is described as fundamental truths. Truth is the facts. But as we all know that isn't always the reality. It is something we are exploring deeply these days. It is the basis for all this gender identity stuff we are struggling with as a society. I have said it before and will repeat it, the truth is whatever you believe it to be. I can't change that, only you can change your truth. I may be able to force compliance to my truth but that doesn't mean I changed yours. And that works both ways, with equal force and conviction. The serenity prayer closes with this line, the wisdom to know the difference. It's a distinction lost on far too many these days.

 The truth is we live in a world defined by those wielding the power and influence to control the actions of others. It makes no difference whatsoever if you elect those people or they simply seize power, the reality remains the same. Ideally, we would elect those that reflect our own philosophy. The Declaration of Independence is a philosophical statement. We modeled our government upon those philosophical statements. The Constitution was written to fulfill that philosophy. The Constitution is the law of the land, not the philosophy of those who composed it. It took about four months to compose as each delegate wanted to include their own thoughts and beliefs into that document. There was much discussion and debate; along with concessions. A method of altering that document was also included for future generations. Article five outlines that procedure. The law could be changed, but not the philosophy! 

 Nations are formed by those with a similar philosophy. That is true even when different religious beliefs/practices may exist among the people. That was addressed early on in the Constitution. Indeed, the establishment clause is contained in the first amendment. The realization being that government could influence the church or vice-versa. All of that had been witnessed in Europe and in the various settlements in the "new world." There were the puritans where government was very closely tied to religious practices, not attending church was a crime. There were other settlements where the church didn't exert so much influence on government. It's an argument as old as humanity itself. An argument rooted in philosophy. 

 There is philosophy and there is fact. They aren't always the same thing. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -" I subscribe to that very philosophy. For me that is fact. I'm not against changing the law to advance that philosophy. The first ten amendments to the Constitution ensure the rights of the people. Yes, that why they are called the Bill of Rights. The 13,14 and 15th amendments are collectively called the reconstruction amendments. They concern slavery, citizenship and voting rights. All the others concern government, not the people directly. Over eleven thousand amendments have been proposed. It's quite the difficult process as well as it should be. If it wasn't government could soon be like religions, the same belief but very different laws governing that religion. 

Tangible

 I have written about my stuff. What I mean is those material things that I value. Artifacts, antiques, mementos, souvenirs, bric-a-brac, tools, and some just plain old junk. I started to catalogue all of that at one time with the thought of explaining what it all is. My thought was that it would assign a value to it. What I really was trying to do was have others recognize the value I assigned. I have since come to realize that isn't going to happen. Whatever value lies in those things will be assigned by the one possessing them. That is the reality. I do not own anything of universal value. That is to say, no paintings, no jewels, no antiques, nothing of great resale value. Still, I do own some things that are priceless. That is the value assigned by me. 

 This may seem like an obvious thing to you but arrived as a bit of a revelation to me. I believe that is because of the way I was raised. There were always treasured items around my home growing up. This belonged to grandma and that belonged to grandpa. This was from Uncle Fred or that once belonged to an old friend. There was never an item that was considered valuable in a monetary sense. But I learned that those items were irreplaceable. All of those things were memories. You can't replace a memory. You can create a new one, but you can't replace an old one. Those things held that memory. I learned that is only true when the memory is shared. It is the sharing that imparts value. Sharing creates an awareness. It also creates a curiosity. What ensures the survival of a memory? That is a question I struggle to answer. Can we ever be certain of that? That is central to the idea of life after death, to religious belief, to the hope that life does not end but continues on. As long as our memories survive so shall we. Often expressed as, as long as our name is spoken, we are not forgotten. Memories are life.

 When I began to catalogue my stuff, to write a small passage of explanation, the hope was to satisfy a curiosity. I thought perhaps by satisfying that curiosity the value would be increased. If you know what it is, you won't discard it. That's the thought. I was trying to tell the story of the object, to give that object life so to speak. But now I realize I can't do that; I don't have that power. That is left to whomever inherits my stuff. The best I can do is share and hope for the best. The ultimate fate of my memories resides with others. That has arrived as a sort of epiphany. I wouldn't call it life changing, earth shattering or anything like that but a sudden realization certainly. Although I think more properly it is the acceptance of that, that is the epiphany. 

 In the meantime, I should simply enjoy my memories and not concern myself with what will become of them. I have no control over that. It's a strange feeling though. I feel an obligation to those memories, especially memories I became entrusted with. I don't feel such an attachment to my own memories. I have complete control over those. I do feel obligated to somehow preserve the memories that came before me. A debt to be satisfied. Tangible memories? Yes, I think that is what those objects are. Thing is, will they touch another when you are gone?  I sure hope they do. To be remembered, to be cherished. That happens to the living, not the dead. 

retired?

 I will have been officially retired from the U S Navy for thirty years this October. I served on active duty for twenty. I remember thinking that those twenty years would never pass, it was a long time. The last thirty however have just flown by. My mom always said the older you get the faster time goes by and I have to say she was right about that. Maybe that is because you are not anticipating anything and aren't in a hurry for anything to be over. That pretty much describes being retired for me. Each day is just another day and the things I celebrate are the things that are happening to others. Thing is, I'm perfectly fine with that. I do take genuine joy in seeing those that I love and care about succeeding. I don't need to go on vacations, I'm on a permanent one in my way of looking at things. There is only one big event left for me and I'm not anxious for that event to take place, I can wait, patiently. 

 Being somewhat of a practical person most of the time, I've found the older you get the fewer plans you make. Well except for planning when you are leaving the house. Should I drink another cup of coffee, it is a long drive and I'll have to use the bathroom. It really doesn't help much to go before you leave, the result will be pretty much the same. Coffee and beer are like miracle liquids. Drink 12 ounces and pee twenty-five. I find myself asking those questions like, should I take my pills with me, will it get dark before I get back, and does the car need gas. All things I never used to give a thought too. I don't make many plans to fulfill my dreams. Not like I used to years ago. Now I just enjoy dreaming them. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going to build a boat, a house, or travel around the world. I'm not going to be a famous author or rockstar. No, I've pretty much decided I'm going to be what I am. That doesn't mean I should stop dreaming though. 

 I think the hardest part about being retired is having the time to do whatever you want; for yourself. It is certainly something different that much is certain. Unless you were born wealthy or something you had to work your whole life. There were always places I had to be, things I had to do. Yes, I went to work to earn a living, that was the primary reason, but I also felt like they needed me as well. That was the reason I felt a bit obligated to show up for work even when I wasn't exactly feeling it. I mean beyond knowing I could get fired I did feel like I owed my employer that much anyway. At least show up. I always had something to do for others. 

 Now I could just volunteer, do charity work, and have others depending on me but I have no desire to do that. I will do that on my own time, when I want to, I don't want to feel an obligation to charity. For me that would pretty much defeat the purpose. I'm supposed to feel fulfilled by doing for others. That's what I have always been told. It's what I hear others say they experience when they volunteer for such things. I just feel a bit guilty when I do, like I'm doing that for selfish reasons. I want to feel good about myself. Thung is, I already feel alright, I don't require any validation of that. This time is supposed to be my time. The time I worked for all my life. To do the things I want to do. Turns out there isn't all that much I want to do.

 I retired for good when I was sixty-three. Yes, just as soon as I could. I'm a firm believer that a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. I wanted my social security payments! I've known a few that only lived a few years after being eligible, and some that were eligible but never received a thing. Wasn't going to happen to me. Today you could wait until you are seventy and receive the maximum amount. The life expectancy for a man in the United States is seventy-three! Doesn't seem like such a great idea to me, trust the science, right. Insurance companies play the odds and stake their business on those sorts of facts. Ever hear of an insurance company going broke? Even those that have done so did that through their own mismanagement and poor investments, not from paying out claims. Odds are I've got another three years. But I'm hoping to beat those odds, hey I buy lottery tickets too, call me an optimist. 

 Well time flies when you're having fun that's what I've always been told. I guess it is true because time sure is flying by. I'm beginning to understand what those old people were talking about. Enjoy the moment because that moment won't be back. All you really have in this world are family and friends. Those are the things that matter the most. You are whatever you leave behind. Be careful not to liter! 

it takes money

  It takes money to make money. It's an old adage and one that holds a great deal of truth. It doesn't mean you should simply take money from the wealthy to give to others so they can create wealth of their own. And that philosophy is the cornerstone of Bidenomics. This idea that the economy will be built from the middle out and the bottom up. Yes, it sounds good, makes for good press and some will believe it. Those on the bottom love the idea of that. It sounds like a guarantee of success. The successful people, those that have accumulated wealth and prosperity will by legislation ensure that. They have to pay, and you don't! Well not until you make a great deal of wealth then the policy would apply to you. But not to worry, you will never be that successful is the underlining message. It's the same message Obama proclaimed. " You didn't build that." Someone else helped you and you only succeeded because of that. You can't do it on your own. That is always followed by a long list of reasons and past injustices that prevent your success. Everything from education to culture is preventing you from succeeding. You can't do it on your own! You don't need the rich folks though; you just need their money! That is the heart of Bidenomics. Dependence upon legislation is a small price to pay for success. As the legislator I'll give you whatever I feel you need and should have, but you can't have more than that, that belongs to me.

 I read a quick guide to Bidenomics. I'm not well versed in economics and understand little of high finance. I'm just the guy in the middle. But I do understand common sense and know that you can't have it both ways. You may not like the boss, but he signs your paycheck. I know that counting the coins in my neighbor's bank isn't putting any in mine. If I want his money, I have to get him to spend it. I do that by creating a demand for whatever product/service I'm selling. I know you can't spend your way out of debt. I know that charity begins at home. I also know that I can't do any of that by legislation. I can't simply make demands and expect them to be fulfilled. I have to earn that. The purpose of government is to govern the actions of people. Government is not to rule! The founding fathers established our republic on that premise. Remember taxation without representation? That applies even when your elected officials, your representative, decides to fund charities, give your money away to other nations, or otherwise spend your tax money on anything that does not benefit the American people. Bidenomics does exactly the opposite of what our founding documents propose. 

 Here is the article I read and based a good deal of this essay upon. https://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2021/04/08/Quick-Guide-Bidenomics You may want to read that for yourself. 

privilege or power?

  The Hunter Biden plea deal is on hold. It appears there has been some shady things going on with the defense team. The judge is aware of that and has taken appropriate action. As we all know this whole thing is a high profile, political game. If Hunter Bidens daddy wasn't the president, or had been a senator, we most likely wouldn't have heard anything about any of this. That isn't to say what he has done should be dismissed or overlooked in any way, just that the general public wouldn't hear anything about it. And my feeling is if the Bidens still had a lot of money, a deal would have been made. I say that in response to some things I have read where there are those proclaiming it is white privilege. I have to disagree with that altogether. In my feeling it is the privilege of wealth and power. The race of the individual doesn't enter into this scenario.

  What we are talking about here are very wealthy people, highly politically connected, and what happens to them will affect many others in their same social status. It is the birds of a feather flock together mentality. The fact that this flock of birds are white birds doesn't change a thing. There are many examples of wealthy, connected people of every race getting a "deal." Fact is, with enough money, power and influence you can get away with just about anything. O. J. Simpson is a prime example of that, and all he really had was fame. Sure, he had money enough to hire a team of lawyers, lawyers that saw an opportunity to increase not only their wealth but their notoriety. That happened in 1995 and Johnny Cochranes' name is still well known, although he has been gone for almost eighteen years! His law firm is still flourishing. Ben Crump is also well known and connected. You would want him to take your case. 

  The reality is this case is under a microscope. He is accused of two federal tax charges that are subject to a fine of 100,000 each and a year in jail, and federal gun charges which could net him fifteen years in prison. We all know or should know that was never going to happen. That wouldn't happen to anyone that made millions of dollars and could hire a defense team. That might happen to some thug in an alley that was caught dealing drugs, but even then, unlikely. I don't have any figures but how often is anyone given the maximum sentence for anything! Even in cases of first-degree premeditated murder and mass shootings that seldom happens! Those given the death sentence will typically sit on death row for at least twenty years while pleas, trials and deals are hatched! 

  What we are seeing here is a "family" dispute. In this case the family is wealthy elites in positions of power. Normally they don't air their dirty laundry in public and settle this sort of thing behind closed doors at the club. But this time there is an election at stake and the gloves are off. It's win at all costs. In a twist of fate, the sins of the son are being visited upon the father. Well at least whatever wrongs Hunter has done Joe will be held responsible for in the political arena. Whether that is fair and just I leave up to you to decide but that is the reality. It isn't anything new. Jimmy Carter caught flak because of his brother Billy promoting and selling his own brand of beer. Trump caught flak for his daughters' clothing line. Mudslinging is as old as politics themselves. 

 In my opinion this whole thing is nothing but a distraction. Under other circumstances none of this would have caught the attention of any major news outlets. But this is a handy tool for either side to use. It really doesn't matter what happens to Hunter Biden in the end, that isn't what is at stake here. If he does go to prison, it will certainly be a country club with every luxury. And I guarantee you it wouldn't be for long. He has a disease you know; he is an addict. We shouldn't be punishing him in the first place, we should be offering help in every way possible, giving him emotional and medical support. He should be forgiven because, well, it wasn't his fault. Unless of course you are the other side of the fence, then it is his fault, and it is his father's fault! Hunter should be locked up for at least twenty-five years, his father removed from office and never heard from again. That is what this is all about. It has nothing to do with white privilege. It has to do with wealth and power. 

quiet contemplation

  There are times when it feels like you just closed a book. The story is over, and you are left in thought. You like the story, and you will revisit it over and over, but it feels unfinished. Still, there can be no new chapters, no rewriting of the tale. It's a finality. And that is the feeling I have this morning. It follows a visit from my brother-in-law. A very enjoyable visit and I hope we get together again, but we live very different lives. It will be five years this December since the passing of my sister. He has remarried since and has begun to rearrange his life. As he put it, everything has changed. He appears happy, excited for his new life and I am happy for him. He was a good husband to my sister; he has been a good friend to me and my family. 

  While he was here visiting, we told all the same old stories, as families tend to do, sharing those memories. Looking at old photographs, holding the artifacts of the past, the little treasures collected and shared over the years. We spoke of my sister a bit, not too much I hope in deference to his new wife Rosalind. They have of course made their plans together and I wouldn't want to put salt on any of that. There plans include moving back to California were they both grew up. In fact, they attended high school together, and hadn't seen each other in fifty years or more when they reconnected. The first chapter in a new book about my brother-in-law. The first book ended with the passing of my sister. That's how I see that anyway. I'm happy that I am being included in the new book. The strength of friendship. 

 As we chatted and he told me of his plans for the future it became apparent to me. My sister is gone. He talked of selling the home they had built together, he talked about disposing of the less personal items they had enjoyed together, things like furniture, a sports car, some Bric- a- Brac. It is the closing of a book. The story ended. That is what I'm feeling this morning. It came as a bit of a surprise. I was excited about seeing him again, meeting his new wife and all that. I wasn't expecting this feeling to come over me quite the way it has. I wouldn't call it a wave of emotion, it's more of a gentle breeze. A finality. I'm reminded of the final scene in the Forest Gump movie. You know the one. He is sitting at the school bus stop and the feather from the book goes drifting on the air. Then this line from the movie comes to mind: “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental, like on a breeze. But I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both are happening at the same time.”   

 Yes, my brother-in-law was correct when he said, everything has changed. Things change every day it's just that most of the time we don't notice it all that much. At least for those of my generation that seems to be the case. I have noticed the current generation seem to respond dramatically to every little thing. This generation is concerned with pronouns! Products and business being boycotted because they are offended. Fortunately, mankind has a way of adapting to change, always has and I see no reason to believe that won't continue. Age has a way of humbling us all. The only thing that doesn't change is the past. And there are times when you just simply have to close the book. You can't rewrite the story, but you can learn from it. It doesn't matter how many times you read it; the story remains the same. Sometimes there is nothing more to learn. Then it is time to just enjoy the story: in quiet contemplation. 

justifying justice

 Is justice finding a way to justify an action? That appears to be the goal these days. The criminal justice system has always been associated with punitive actions. In fact, that is the purpose of the justice system, provide punishment for wrongdoing. It isn't the correction of a wrong, you can't change the past, but rather to punish those that caused the harm. As I listen to the trials and verdicts today, I'm seeing the wrongdoers being rewarded more frequently than punished! That is happening throughout the system. 

 The ones committing the offenses are being excused by all manner of excuses. It isn't their fault because they suffer from lack of opportunity, or other socio-economic reasons. They rob and steal because they are poor, and they are poor because you make too much money without sharing that money with them. They do these things because they didn't have a fun filled childhood. They didn't have a stable environment. It isn't their fault they were born. And as a result, it isn't their fault they commit crimes. If only everyone else had taken them in, given them everything they didn't have, provide them every opportunity and advantage, it wouldn't have happened. If they go to prison that is the fault of the system! Yes, I've heard that said on more than one occasion. Think about that, if they go to prison, it is the fault of the system. It's the same as saying if you get burned it is the fault of the fire. 

 The justice system exists for the victims. The purpose of the justice system to make those wronged as whole again as possible. That is what the court will tell you. The goal is to make those wronged whole again. Now there are plenty of instances were that is simply not possible. One of them is when someone loses their life because of the actions of another. There is no making that person whole again. All that can be done is punishment for the wrongdoer. Remember justice is for the victim, not the criminal. But we have attempted to define the boundaries of wrong. That is to say, define how bad something is. There is premeditated murder, the worst kind, and then you can inadvertently kill someone and that's not so bad, hey I'm sorry it was an accident. Then we justify the punishment based on that. The justification of circumstance is what punishment is based upon.

 Of course, there is always the possibility that the law is wrong. That is the latest excuse I've been hearing. There are those that have been arrested, charged with a crime, and prosecuted for that crime when in fact it shouldn't have been illegal in the first place. There are those working right now to have those released from prison, their records expunged, and given compensation for having been found guilty of a crime because we changed the law today! Yes, it was illegal then but it's not now so they should be released, the offense forgotten about, and compensation awarded for days lost. That is being called justice. The justification lies in, it isn't illegal now. Strangely this concept is being proposed by the same people that feel people that were never wronged by events that happened over a hundred years ago should be compensated by those that never committed the wrongs. That is also justice. It is also justification for wrongs committed today! If only. 

 What needs to be taught today is a basic fact. You are responsible for your reaction. It's true that you have no control over what others have done or will do. You have zero control over the past, it is past. What you do control is your response. You are solely and completely responsible for that. All the reasons you may react in an inappropriate fashion will not release you from that responsibility. That is where the justice system enters the picture. Remember ignorance of the law is no excuse. 

 That's still true today and for a very simple reason, otherwise I can just say, I didn't know. When an offense is committed you are responsible for that. For low level offenses a fine may be imposed, or community service, or even a public apology may be sufficient. All of those punishments have a goal, to rehabilitate you. Yes, the goal is rehabilitation, to correct, to instruct you, and give you the knowledge to avoid that error in the future. The purpose of rehabilitation is to return something/someone to their former privilege, being free, not imprisoned as an example. The punishment is losing that freedom. It should not be rewarded with further privileges or opportunities to compensate you for the loss of that freedom. That isn't justice. Justice is for the victim, not the criminal. The justification of criminal activity does not release the criminal from responsibility for the crime they committed. The justification of circumstance determines the punishment, it does not release you from punishment. 

 

assigned

  I have my great grandmothers' bibles. These bibles are not the typical family bible that comes to mind. They do not have entries about births and deaths, or marriages. They aren't large elaborately bound volumes. But those bibles are well worn, dogged eared, and have notes in the margins. Great Grandmother Lucy passed away in 1956 just before my fifth birthday. I do not remember her at all. My sister did remember her and told me stories about her. Grandma Lucy suffered from cancer in her last years and was bedridden. I was too young to be exposed to that, at least I think that is why I don't remember her. But she raised my father after her daughter Clara passed away just a few days after his birth. Dad knew she was his grandmother but thought of her as Mom. Grandmother Lucy would suffer many hardships and setbacks in her lifetime. It wasn't any more than what was normal for the times I suppose. 

 I have a few other objects that belonged to Grandma Lucy I keep around the house. These things just came down to me naturally through my father. The how and why certain objects survive, get passed from one generation to another is a combination of luck, planning, and sometimes I think, destined. Those objects may or may not have held great significance or value to the original owner. Each successive owner may attach value to that object in varying degrees as well. As for me, I feel a sense of responsibility for those things. Having survived this long, through several owners, I feel like it is up to me to find them a new home, a safe place to go. It is something I think about every now and again. I have even given some items away for that very reason, but now, to be honest about that, have regrets that I did so. Perhaps I acted too hastily. But then again maybe that is what was destined for that object. 

 I was told that Grandma Lucy read her bible every day, in the evening. That she studied those words is obvious to me by the markings in the margins. That indicates to me it was a working text for her, not just something to read. There are two bibles and one is inscribed to her from her grandfather Abraham Miller King. He was an around the world whaler. It was a gift to her for Christmas 1890. The other bible was a gift to her also, from my grandfather Elwood, Christmas 1924. She was ten years old in 1890 when she received that first bible. That was one hundred and thirty three years ago. I wonder what fate has brought them to me. I wonder where they should go after my time. Not that I'm planning on going anywhere soon, but it is an inevitable journey. But where should they go? I never personally knew Grandma Lucy or Grandfather Elwood. Still there is a connection there, a family connection. A link to the past. That is my attachment to those bibles. 

 Whenever I hold those books my thoughts travel to the past, a past I admit I don't know. I wonder what prayers she said over those volumes, how many tears were shed, and what comfort they provided her. I'm certain her life didn't go as she had dreamed it would. I think very few of us get to live our dreams as reality has a way of interfering with that. I believe for Grandma Lucy; her bible was her refuge. Was that so every step of the way? I can't know that but only speculate. That she attended the Methodist church regularly is without question, as did my father during those years. I have a certificate he was issued for perfect attendance in Sunday School. I'm certain Grandma Lucy was responsible for that. In my lifetime I saw my father in church on just four or five occasions. For weddings and funerals. In her final years she was bedridden, unable to attend services, that must have been hard for her. Those bibles were certainly her refuge at that time. 

 I think however that what is really bothering me is that I don't get to assign that value. We hear a lot of talk these days about being assigned. The most popular at the moment being assigned at birth to one gender or the other. Who sets the assignment is never stated in those discussions. But the thought is the same I think, I want to assign the value. The only problem is, I don't get to choose that! I don't get to tell you how valuable, how precious, how meaningful and important those bibles are to you. I only get to tell you how they are to me. And you know what, that doesn't assign the value. I may want you to value them, I may insist upon that even, I could even pass some legislation about that I suppose, but the bottom line wouldn't change. They remain as valuable as you make them out to be. My task, if I have one at all, is to find the person that will value them the most. It's the best I can do. It's an assignment I don't get to make. 

you never know

  This afternoon I'm going to the rodeo. My tickets are a birthday gift from my son and his wife. We will all go together. It should be a good time. This is the first time the rodeo has come to Greensboro. The fire department sponsored this as a fund-raising event and I think it is a great idea. I didn't know that was even a thing, a traveling rodeo. It's like the carnivals that you see every summer. They come in, set up the grounds, and put on a show. I'm hoping to see some bull riding. I know very little about the sport of rodeo other than it takes a tough man to engage in that sport. I don't ride horses or bulls! I have watched on television. Years ago, I owned a cowboy hat and wore boots, even said a few ya'lls and howdys. I am looking forward to this experience. 

  In thinking about the show, I decided I should pull out my camera, check the batteries and memory cards. I would like to get some good pictures of whatever action there is. I remembered buying that last digital camera when my grandson was playing soccer. I felt like I needed a better camera that could zoom in and capture those action shots. Not being a photographer, I just take pictures, I'm not too well versed in shutter speeds and that sort of stuff. I simply put that camera in automatic mode, there are several settings to choose from. I'm thinking it will work for the rodeo too. It's funny because I haven't used that camera in quite some time now, well over a year or so I'd say. Like most people today, I've been using my phone. My granddaughter laughs at the quality of my phone/camera as hers is one of those I-phone things. She paid a lot more for that phone than I paid for my first car! Her phone did cost about five times more than I paid for mine. 

 It's kinda funny if you think about it. Years back everyone carried a camera with the when on vacation. It was a stereotypical accessory for any tourist. The real serious people had a bandolero of film cannisters on their cameras, looked like ammunition! The number of pictures taken was limited by the length of that roll. The average person didn't take pictures of just anything like we do today, I don't have a single photo that my parents took of their supper. Pictures of home are pictures in the background. You know what I mean, the picture itself was usually a person or group of people. Today as we look at those pictures it is the background that is of most interest. Then we got Polaroids. Pictures we could see instantly. Expensive but it was exciting. I have a few pictures taken with a polaroid instant camera but overall, very few survived. Not sure why that is. The digital camera came next, and the floodgates were open. It's all pictures all the time. We take pictures of everything. 

 Now we mostly use our phones to take those pictures. You don't see many people with an actual camera very often. I think we are back to only photographers have cameras. And yes, there is definitely a difference between taking a picture and being a photographer. I can draw a picture but I'm certainly no artist. I've written a few poems but I'm not a poet. Our chances are much better these days though of capturing a good picture because of the sheer volume of photos taken. Remember when you got that roll of film back from the developer and you didn't like half the pictures? I hated that. Today I have literally hundreds of pictures and still only like a few of them. Still, I don't discard the ones I don't like very often, it is hard to hit that delete button. Guess it is a throwback to the old days. Our parents and grandparents didn't throw much away, and we learned that. Well, you never know when you might need that. 

 You know the thing is those cameras in the phones are probably better than the camera I have on a strap. That is as long as it is one of those expensive I-phone type phones. It's my understanding that some are very good indeed. I have noticed that the professionals are still using stand-alone cameras, however, which I assume are far superior to any camera in any phone. Still, I think for the type of pictures I'm taking the difference wouldn't be very noticeable. As I said, I take pictures, I'm not a photographer. I just feel more professional when using a camera. A digital camera to boot! Yes, I have progressed over the years. I did get rid of my 35MM film style camera some time back. I still have a few rolls of that 126 film, you know, the kind that looked like a cassette tape. Well, you never know. I have negatives too! I have a collection of slides as well, from my wife's Uncle George. I did save my Kodak instant camera. Kodak came out with that camera in 1976, the Kodamatic! The company got sued by Polaroid and had to take the thing off the market. You could return it for a refund, but I saved mine because, well, you never know. Might be valuable someday. I don't have any film for it though. And today I just need to check my sd card for sufficient memory. Progress because, you never know. 

just the facts

 I've started watching the Womens soccer FIFA world cup games. My wife took an interest in this sport when our grandson first began playing and later becoming a referee. Now neither of us boycotted any of that because of Rapinoe. The truth is we only watch when the United States is playing anyway. We would both like the United States to win the whole thing and that is really our only interest. The ladies fought for and received equal compensation although ticket sales haven't reflected any of that. I've talked about all that before. The bottom line is to sell tickets. Athletes, of both genders, will be compensated based on that. Quite an easy thing to understand in my opinion. 

 Anyway, we have been watching a bit and right now we are watching the United States vs Vietnam. We recorded that contest last evening. It is almost the half, and we are ahead by one. As I watch the game I can't help but notice how dramatically the players respond to every perceived infraction. They throw their arms up in the air like a taxi driver in New York city! When they fall to the ground, they grab their legs or sides and roll back and forth. I can see their mouths open as though they are screaming in agony. The referees are waving flags around, players huddle together in groups and the spectators are shouting at the top of their lungs. All in all, I think they must be Democrats! The reactions are the same.

 We reached the half and are leading by two. We did get a last-minute goal just before the half. A goal that was determined by technology! The call on the field was no goal, one player was off-side. The call was challenged and reviewed using all the technology available. The announcer explained all that. It was the technology that swayed the referee's opinion and reversed that call. It was great for us this time. I have mixed feelings about using technology in this way. I feel that the ref's or umpires are part of the game as well. Hopefully they get it right but sometimes they don't and that is part of the game. I wonder if the advances we are making in technology, especially AI, will one day replace those referees. When everything is "chipped" and the computer can determine exact locations, distances, and all of that stuff. Will we need a "faulty" human to issue their opinion? The computer says, not so fast, the person was safe as the ball reached the players glove before the runner's foot contacted the bag. Or the ball crossed the goal line nanoseconds before the keeper was able to stop it. No emotional response, just the facts. All the emotions in the world will not influence the decision.

 If that happens, and I believe it will one day, all that will be left is to challenge the technology. That appears to be where we are headed. You could say that is what happened with the last election. Lots of emotions but the technology determined the winner. Was the technology correct? That really depends upon who you ask. Did the home team supply that technology? If it did that raises questions. It certainly appeared as though all the calls went in favor of the home team. But I get it, the losing team will generally say that just like they blame the referee. That leaves just one question. Will it be the fate of mankind that A.I. becomes the ultimate authority? What I mean is all disputes will be settled in that way. The computer says. And that is it, the final decision. It's not an opinion anymore, it's a fact! For those of us that remember, "Just the facts, maam" 

selling the image

 Was reading about the controversial song by Jason Aldean titled, try that in a small town. After a bit of reading, I went to you tube to check out the video to see for myself what the fuss is all about. Now I'm not a fan of Jason Aldean or many of these new age cowboys. I am in that group that feels country music died on music row some years back. But I listened to the lyrics in-between the rock and roll guitars and shouting that passes for singing these days and I have to say I didn't hear anything controversial at all. Sounds just like the boys in the locker room when I was in school, on ships when I was in the navy, and in every barroom, I've ever been in. You can call it by many names, but it is all the same, bravado. That talk is designed to intimidate or impress. That's what it is. Others will join in and support that to live vicariously through the ones bold enough to say it out loud. Or, stupid enough to say it out loud, depending. I know, been there, done that, both ways.

 I get it, I really do. I was young once, full of bravado. The objective was to be a man among men. Call them rednecks, bikers, or whatever, the image is one of being a tough guy. Machismo is another way of saying that. I'm cool man. This song was written for one purpose only, to sell records. The songwriters, and there were four of them, collaborated to write a song to appeal to the audience. That's what song writers do. It's just business. Yes, the writers will often tell you how they are explaining the mysteries of life or putting forth a deep meaningful message. But the bottom line is, they write songs for a living. In the political climate of today supporting what many would say are traditional values causes controversy. It's Donald Trump philosophy! Hey Trump said that himself one time, remember he said it was just locker room talk. He was right about that, heard that kind of talk many times myself and knew it was all talk when the person was saying it. The crowd mentality. I remember well when "outlaw country" was causing all the problems. Those pot smoking cowboys! Later a few cowboys tried their hand at rapping, thankfully that didn't catch on. Yes, the "get down" cowboys are the thugs of the country. They are cool, bro.

 The thing is this is just another opportunity for some to stir the pot. We can't have people thinking independently now, can we? No, we are supposed to be accepting and tolerant of others regardless of how much they offend or disrespect our traditions and beliefs. What they are seeking is the removal of consequence. There are those that simply what to do whatever they like without regard to anyone else. Now the things he says in that song are true to a certain extent. It's called culture. And yes, in the country the culture is different than in the city. The cities have their neighborhoods, the country folks have towns. Both are protected with equal zeal. It's true that things in the country take a bit longer to change, that's a part of the culture. Those in the big cities are always changing. That's a part of their culture. With this song many in the city are decrying it promotes violence. Well, the truth is that it is far more violent in the city than in any country town in America. You know it is exactly like Barney Fife said, you have to nip it! Nip it in the bud. And that is what those songwriters were saying with that song. Try that crap in a small town and see how far it gets you. There will be consequences, good and bad. The message is the same however, city or country. It's all about image. Intimidation and impressions. I don't have to be a bad man as long you think I am.

 The music younger people generally listen to promote the present culture. It's what's in. It really is that simple. In years past I remember when Dylan was the man, spreading his philosophy. I remember the hard rock boys, the punk rockers, and those boy bands. All enjoyed success during their time and remain in business for a simple reason, nostalgia. We all like to listen to the soundtrack of our lives. Cowboys went from drinking beer, loving momma, and working hard to being pot smokers with long hair that love momma, work hard and are cool. 

 All the same stuff in a different package. Sometimes a song writer will express a thought in such a way that it just sticks with you. One of those lines for me is, "I guess everything does change, except what you chose to recall" from a Merle Haggard song. What we remember. That Jason Aldean song reminds me of another Merle Haggard song, the fighting side of me. Same message. Toby Keith sang, courtesy of the red, white, and blue. Same message. If you read some rap lyrics, you will find they say the same thing too. It's a very old theme. The battle hymn of the republic and dixie. Same thing. John Browns' body lies a molding in his grave, his soul is marching on. You know the Democrats didn't like that song much either. Just sayin' 

making progress

 Today I celebrate seventy years. It's a strange thing because I don't feel like it has been seventy years. Thirty-five or forty maybe, but seventy? Must be the new math. Well age is just a number I've been told. I suppose there is some truth in that. So, I went back to look at some numbers.  I was born in 1953. That was in the twentieth century. Great grandfather Floyd was born in the 19th century and I knew him well.  The microwave oven was invented in 1954. We didn't get one at my house for another decade or so. Then in 1956 what we know today as a "hard drive" came into being. I wouldn't have one of those in my house for another forty years or so. I thought a hard drive was just a few years old then, something new.  Then in 1957 the FDA approved a pill for women's menstrual disorders. Two years later and the FDA approves the same pill for birth control. It wasn't until 1975 that Loretta Lynn sang about having the pill. Caused quite the stir at the time. I heard the FDA is going to approve some over the counter birth control pill soon, no prescription required and no minimum age. I guess it will also not be gender specific in this day and age. Yeah, sometimes I think seventy years is a very short time for things to have changed this much. Guess it's progress.

 When I was five the first commercial jet airliner took to the skies. That happened fifty-five years after the Wright bros took their first flight. That was in 1959. The jet set was born. I would take my first commercial jet flight in 1971 going to Chicago for Navy boot camp. 1960 saw the invention of the pacemaker. In sixty-five Kevlar was first manufactured. Today most Police wear vests made out of that stuff in almost every town in America. 1967 saw the first by-pass surgery. In 1972 electronic ignitions became the standard in automobiles something most mechanics of the day were skeptical about. Today it is rare to find anyone under the age of forty that even knows about points and a condenser. In 1974 Wrigley's chewing gum put a barcode on their packaging and the first things ever scanned. A personal computer, the Apple 2, appeared just three years later. Then in 1979 another amazing invention appeared, the Sony Walkman! In 1982 a 15-year-old kid makes the first computer virus called "cloner." By 1986 I'm hearing, "you've got mail" as e-mail becomes a thing. Something everyone is expected to have these days. The 1990's saw, photo shop, the world wide web, smart phones, DVD's, Bluetooth and the international space station. It was on my birthday in 1969 that man set foot on the moon for the first time. The 2000's saw PlayStation 2, Facebook, Google Maps, I-phones, the Hadron collider and the James Webb space telescope. In 2021 a malaria vaccine was developed and approved. Also, in August of 2021 the first Covid Vaccine was approved by the FDA. Three more have followed. 

 All that has happened since I was born. Doesn't seem like all that much really. Some things just went almost unnoticed by me as well. I have to think about it to remember when I first saw color television. We sure didn't have one when I was watching the Saturday morning cartoons. And now it seems like I have always had a cell phone. My first one was a flip phone provided by my employer. It was considered essential to have one, that justified the expense. Prior to that I just had a pager. Anyone remember those? Yeah, Doctors had them at first is my thinking. I do remember getting my first CD player and it was a big deal. Now my phone does it all, plays music, takes pictures, sends e-mail, acts like a library, an answering machine, a calendar and makes phone calls too! I guess we have all come a long way from that party line. I do remember getting a dial phone for the first time. Then a push button one where you could play songs with the buttons, even had a songbook for that. Guess it has been a long time after all. 

 Seventy years and counting. And today will be a day like all others, with one exception, I'll be reminded how old I am. I can even use that as an excuse for not doing something if I don't feel like it. Hey, it's my birthday. I didn't really have anything to do with that though, I was just present at the time. I showed up. In the end I suppose that is all that will be said about me as well, he showed up. And that isn't a bad thing to have said about you, in fact, I think it is about the best thing that can be said about someone. They showed up. And then afterward, they are missed. Yeah, I do like to think I'll be missed when I'm gone. Truth is, I'm not anxious to go. I would like to see how all this turns out, this thing we call life. 

 I'm thinking I just may watch some classic television shows on my phone. Now that's real progress I'd say. 

a larger net

  Listening to Kamala Harris, and others, talking about drug abuse. Kamala was talking about the fentanyl crisis. She was explaining how the use of that drug is a mental issue, it's an addiction and we should, as a nation devote billions of dollars to provide services for those using that stuff. No mention of trying to stop the flow of those drugs into the country, no mention of holding anyone accountable, just we should be "curing" those who choose to use that stuff. It's not their fault. And she followed that explanation with a list of reasons people choose that stuff. She lists all the usual things, lack of opportunity, discrimination, and the system. All of those things leave the user no choice! We need to provide all of that, without question, without accountability, and do so with a giving heart. Addiction is a disease. 

 Well, I take issue with that blanket statement. I don't think addiction is a disease at all. If it is, it is self-inflicted. Yes, I know that some are prescribed drugs that are addictive. I also know they are told about that, at great length, before they are prescribed them as well. No one can say they weren't warned. If they choose to abuse those drugs that is their choice, not the fault of the physician. For me it is no different than a lot of things. How many things do you have to sign a disclaimer on? You have to agree to the terms of use on social media sites because you could get your feelings hurt! So no, that is your choice. If you are prescribed something that becomes a problem, you should have told your doctor at the very first sign of that. And I'm not buying that you had no idea. No, I'm not buying that at all. But I'm talking about those that choose to use illegal drugs and get themselves addicted to that. It is self-inflicted and not up to me to bail you out of that. 

 I haven't heard of any plan to prevent people from starting to use that stuff, only plans to rehabilitate them. Well, I was always told an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What sort of prevention is this, we will provide you with free Narcan when you overdose. We will give you free clean needles and provide you with a trained person to administer that drug. We will legalize marijuana because that isn't any worse than alcohol and we already have the alcoholics under control. Heck only about 30% of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol use, no problem. We tried prohibition and that only increased the crime so we know we shouldn't try to stop the drugs from coming in, they will anyway, so the plan is to stop people after they begin. Curiosity killed the cat but that doesn't mean we can't save that cat! Yeah, some will die, but it balances out alright with the ones that don't. Once we rehabilitate those that were addicted, we can use them as role models, as counselors, as examples of success. They can go on talk shows and explain how it wasn't their fault at all, but they persevered, sacrificed, and became empowered to change! They are heroes really. They survived.

 Here is what the experts say an addiction is: "An addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system that involves reward, motivation, and memory. It’s about the way your body craves a substance or behavior, especially if it causes a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward” and lack of concern over consequences." Well that just about covers everything doesn't it? Using that definition all I need is a good attorney and whatever wrong I have committed is because of an addiction. Not my fault. Strangely there are only a few addictions that require government intervention. Gamble all your money away and what do you get? Broke is the answer and some free counseling explaining that gambling means taking a risk. You don't get your money back! Heck you won't even get banned from the casino. But many experts will argue that is just a compulsive disorder. It's a mental issue. Yeah, a chronic dysfunction of the brain. Not a disease, a disorder. It's about choices. And so is addiction! If you choose to use those substances, you are taking your chances. That's the way I feel about that. I can feel sorry for you, even offer to help, but you are the one to blame for that. I think instead of focusing on treatment, we should focus on prevention. You begin by providing severe penalties for the possession of any illegal drugs. Doesn't make any difference if it is one pill or a thousand! Same penalty. Caught selling those products, you go to jail immediately. No excuses are acceptable. Prevention doesn't occur after the fact! That's not preventing anything at all. Addiction involves reward according to the experts. When that reward is given for the addiction itself. it promotes addiction. It is a matter of risk and reward. You have to make the risk greater than the reward! You can't do that by providing a safety net. And that is all that is being proposed, a larger safety net. 

leave it alone

 Not much to say this morning. Heard Pete Buttigieg talking about climate change causing the flooding in Pennsylvania. It was explained that this flooding happens once a century! So, I thought, well if that happens once every hundred years or so, and it is because of climate change, the climate needs to stop changing. So, he really wants to stop the climate from changing. Then a hundred years from now there won't be any flooding in Pennsylvania. I wonder what we did to change the climate every year over the last 6000 years. That's the length of time science says we have been around, before that the climate just changed on its' own. I'm thinking maybe we should just leave the climate alone if we are causing all these problems. Yeah, I think we shouldn't interfere with what nature is doing. After all, nature was doing just fine until we came along. You know its' almost like he thinks the climate responds to people. Seems to me there is scientific evidence of a really big flood taking place. Scientists says that happened about 20,000 years ago. That was before we even showed up on the scene. Guess pre homo sapiens, you know those other hominids before us, must have really changed the climate! We should take a lesson from that history and just leave the climate changing to the one who made the climate in the first place. 

Conceding

 It can be said in many different ways, expressed by scholars and by fools, but my thought is simply that we have taken off those rose-colored glasses and the starkness of reality is causing the great collapse we are seeing in society. Many call them conspiracy theories, others call them plots, and still others are calling then coverups. But the bottom line is our most revered institutions are being dragged through the mud and confidence is lost. The Supreme court is one example of that. Perceived misdeeds, ethical violations and controversial opinions. The legitimacy of the court called into question. It all speaks to trust. Set aside everything else, it comes down to trust. Trust in the system to function as it was intended. Those founding fathers were very concerned about all of that, that's the basis for all the checks and balances written into the constitution. A balance of power. 

 The whole deal hinges upon a simple concept. John Adams expressed that with his explanation that the constitution only made for a moral and religious people. In other words, those that have belief. Belief is trust in its' purest form. You could say love is also. Today, we the people have lost trust in our government. It is under constant attack from all sides. The attack is an internal one between the various branches of government. It is far more complex than simple political ideologies, it is the struggle for power. The true basis is in morality. Morality defines right from wrong. It is yes and no, black and white, up and down. Those that control that morality control the world! That is how you get a population to revolt. All the great minds of the past have said so, written tomes about that very thing. It was the basis of everything Sal Alinsky championed. Yes, Alinsky is known for his "rules for radicals" and those are often quoted. One of those rules is, "a good tactic is one your people enjoy." It doesn't matter if what your people enjoy is moral or not, the importance lies in their enjoyment. Just keep'em happy and you can control them. Alinsky was of course talking about controlling a revolution. Getting others to act on your behalf. And that is what our politicians have evolved into. 

 When Adams said our constitution was only sufficient to a moral and religious people, he was talking about our elected officials. They are the vanguards. We the people select those people. They in turn attempt to "keep us happy." They call that being reelected and they have been very successful at that. A member of congress will win reelection at least 90% of the time! Once they get into office they rarely lose. It has to be remembered that at the time of the founding of this nation Congress was not a full-time paid occupation. The idea was to elect a fellow citizen to represent you. You would just naturally elect a moral and religious person. That was the rose-colored glasses of the past. It was a matter of trust. But today the glasses are off. That doesn't mean the constitution should be rewritten, it means we should be seeing those politicians for what they truly are. Far too many are nothing more than charlatans! Full of promises and short on delivery. They have set aside any moral and religious belief they may hold in favor of power. Then they falsely call that justice. 

 The great American experiment it has been called. The first nation in the world to invest the power of government into the people of that government. Self-governance. It requires self-sacrifice, self-control, and self-imposition of moral and ethical actions. Simply put, it is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Living life without concession for the common good. That's the big experiment, isn't it? In the biblical story of Adam and Eve there was one rule not to be broken. Man broke that rule. Will the same happen with the great American experiment? If history is any judge, it will. No government can restrain immorality, only the individual can do that. Nor can government impose religion upon anyone, that is also a personal decision. Deciding that something is wrong, but only sometimes, is the greatest concession of all. 

What to do

  "Find what is unique to you and you will find fulfillment." (A.B.Reichart) Is fulfillment a singular thing or does it stem from the happiness of others? Being fulfilled is being happy and content. That is what the dictionary says anyway. But we are taught that we should never just be content, we should always strive for something more, something better. An old adage says, good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best. Once you start saying you're the best however others will call you conceited. You are only allowed to be the best when others say so. That would indicate that I have to fulfill others needs and wants to be fulfilled myself. A number of philosophers will tell you just that. They will tell you that true happiness comes only through helping others, that true fulfillment comes from outside yourself. Like filling a jug with water, that water has to come from an outside source. It refreshes us. 

  Each of us are born with unique skills and abilities. I believe that wholeheartedly. Discovering just what they may be, or indeed that singular thing that is unique to you, is possibly the great challenge in life. Man has established benchmarks, goals, and expectations to measure all of that. To create a perception of success, which is perceived as fulfillment. The acceptance of perception creates reality. We view that through our own lens. At the same time, we have the world around us telling us something different. We hear what others see, what they declare as reality. Often their reality distorts our view. But it is our unique singular focus that will provide the fulfillment, the happiness we all seek. It is what we do for ourselves that provides that fulfillment. The paradox lies in the focus is on others. "Do unto others" is another way of saying that. 

 A Biblical passage or just wisdom passed down through the ages? I believe much of the Bible is just that, wisdom handed down through time, by divine inspiration. I often say there is little that can be said that hasn't been said before, and I'm certain that is the truth of the matter. I doubt Jesus was the first to say, do unto others as you would have others do unto you. There are similar passages in the Old Testament. Leviticus says, love thy neighbor as thyself. The same advice as Jesus gave. Of course, those words came from the same divine source. Like father, like son. That is the path to happiness in this world. Yes, if everyone treated you the way you wanted to be treated, if would be great. The problem lies in establishing the standard of conduct. Even when a standard is adopted, the issue then becomes what to do with those that offend. It doesn't make you happy. What punishment should be awarded? What punishment would you accept as fair and just? That's the question you should be asking. Doing unto others. 

 What is unique to you? Is it an art, a craft, an action, a love? I do believe each of us have a unique gift to give. That gift may be to the world, or to a single individual. Each gift is equally as valuable. True gifts are given without the expectation of return. They are the only thing freely given in this world. Love is a gift. To love and be loved in the greatest gift of all. Accepting that brings the fulfillment we all desire. To live a life without disappointment is nirvana. Nirvana, it is said, is the escape from the cycle of life and death. I expect that is what heaven is like. Your every wish is fulfilled, and your every wish is for others to be happy. In Christianity you become a saint. That's what saints are all about, right? Doing for others. What will you do? Find that and you will be fulfilled.  

Tradition

  I saw a photograph of a young man singing the national anthem while wearing his hat. Apparently, it had created somewhat of a social sensation with some weighing in on how the youth of today do not practice tradition. It is something I have noticed myself. But I wouldn't say it is just the youth, I've seen lots of older people doing the same. I've even had others argue with me about such things as respecting the flag. I've had others tell me I'm too old fashioned in that regard, that respect for the flag and tradition are things of the past, unimportant and limiting. Those traditions somehow interfere with their quality of life. 

 Traditions are what bind us to the past. Traditions create social structure. That is their sole purpose, and it is a very important purpose indeed. Without tradition social structure collapses. The evidence of that is before us. We are abandoning the traditions of our ancestors and the results are beginning to tear the country apart. The injustices of the past were not traditions, don't attempt to use that argument. The injustices of the past were what they are today, an injustice. The only difference being those injustices were allowed to exist. A good number of them have been eliminated. That is the tradition in America, the tradition of righting a wrong. It began with our declaration of independence. "When in the course of human events" It wasn't tradition that was being broken however, it was law. There is a big difference between the two. 

 Tradition is showing respect to the past and to those that went before. It creates family and that sense of belonging to something larger, something bigger, more important than us. Practicing those traditions isn't some sort of capitulation, some form of submission or surrender. It is simply an acknowledgement of the past. Traditions give us comfort. Traditions shared by the collective make the collective! We all belong when we share our traditions. That is why we should maintain those traditions, why they are so important to a society. Laws are transient, laws are changeable, laws provide guidance, but laws do not create tradition. We make laws to celebrate traditions. We call those traditions national holidays. With other traditions we establish informal laws called a code. There is a flag code, but it isn't enforceable by law. You should place your right hand over your heart during the national anthem and remove your hat while standing at attention facing the flag. It's not a law, it's a tradition. I was taught that by my father to show respect to the flag and what that flag symbolizes. It is to remember, to pay respect to those that served to protect that flag. 

 I don't understand it when someone wants to just dismiss those traditions as trivial. When others act as those traditions are some sort of imposition. Seems to me it is a small price to pay if it does impose upon your life for thirty seconds or so. I really don't understand it when it comes from those today that practice their social virtues in a very public way, indeed flying their own flags and symbols insisting I respect those. A rainbow flag isn't a tradition, it is a symbol of what? A social virtue? Or is it a sign of your personal moral code? Can't be that though when many attach a disclaimer to that saying, I'm not Gay, but I support Gay. So, it isn't your morality, but it is alright for others to have that morality. Is that a tradition? Interesting to note is that I can be prosecuted for disrespecting that flag, but not for the American flag. Makes me believe that the rainbow flag is protected by legality, not morality. Legally traditional? It can be confusing at times.

 To dismiss tradition is to forget the past. The past exists to learn from that past. If we erase that, how can we learn? If the only thing we remember from the past are the mistakes we made, we are only remembering half. We need to be reminded of the good things as well. That is what tradition does. It reenforces the successes of the past. When we pervert those traditions to satisfy our current needs or wants, we devalue that tradition. That is when they get dismissed and forgotten. Why do we respect that flag? It's because the flag symbolizes the nation. In battle whenever that flag fell it was picked up by another, that despite the fact it made that person a target. Yes, it was a signal flag to the enemy and their objective was to destroy that flag. They didn't! That is why the respect is shown to the flag, that is what that tradition is all about. To use the flag for any other purpose is disrespectful to the sacrifice made. The flag is the heart of America. It represents all those who came before. Americans. 

 All of us practice tradition. We may not share that tradition with everyone, that tradition may not even be recognized by others, they never heard of that. We call those traditions family traditions. And they can be both good and bad. Hank Williams Jr. even wrote a song about that. On a national level tradition create a national family. A family where we all respect and share in those traditions. New traditions may be added but that doesn't mean the erasure of the old. It also doesn't mean I have to adopt your tradition; I simply should respect that tradition. It's like wearing a head covering in a synagogue, I'm not Jewish but I would certainly respect that tradition. The Thanksgiving Day feast is an American tradition. Pumpkin carving is another traditional activity in America. Holding the door for a lady was a type of traditional conduct, one disappearing today. All those things serve to make us a family. The family is falling apart. We are losing the glue that holds us together. The glue is tradition respected and passed down to each generation. An acknowledgement of past accomplishments struggles and triumphs. 

turn out the light

 Getting really tired of hearing about fleeing refugees seeking safety in America. They aren't refugees seeking safety, they are coming here for the blue light specials! Now for those of you too young to remember K-Mart, you do remember K-Mart I hope, would hold Blue Light specials in their stores. A blue light on a pole with a siren of sorts would be placed in an area of the store, say the toy department, where a sale would take place for an unspecified amount of time. The idea was to get the shoppers to rush over there to take advantage of those sales. And that is what is happening on our southern border! Biden and the blue light special has created that traffic. That is the reason all those people are coming. We need to turn that light off, the sale is over! K-Mart went broke, and so will we if nothing changes.

 Look the deal is this. We have an immigration system for a reason. We established that system in 1891. Yes, changes have been made over the years, and not all of them to the good. Our system isn't broken it just needs to be enforced. Personally, I would revert back to the original system. You would have to pass through a mental and physical examination, a criminal background check, and show you have a means of supporting yourself. No more just showing up at the doorstep with your hand held out. There is this world organization that states its' mission is to: 

 "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom" That organization is the United Nations. If all those people from Latin America are fleeing their nations in fear, why isn't the United Nations doing anything about that? Shouldn't all the member nations, at the very least, be taking in those refugees in a proportionate number? Canada said they will accept four thousand, the United States agreed to take in twenty thousand but thousands more than that number show up almost every day! Why isn't the United Nations sending us money and resources to deal with that? No, instead the United Nations is receiving twelve billion from us, one fifth of their total budget. Between 2013 and 2018 nearly three hundred billion was given to aid to foreign nations by the United States. There are one hundred and ninety-three countries in the United Nations. We are funding one fifth of the whole deal! There are twenty-one Latin-American nations that are members of the United Nations. So, twenty-one members are fleeing in fear and yet remain active members? Just who is representing those nations? Could be time for a change in leadership. 

 Meanwhile we are holding a blue light special at the southern border. Our national debt has tripled in the last nine months. Anyone attempting to say this invasion isn't driving a big portion of that is lying. Biden says he will take in 250,000 refugees in 2023. And let's not discount the nearly 180,000 Afghans and Ukrainians that we have taken in. It's interesting to note if you Google any of this the vast majority of the sites will spin all this as a good thing. At least one claims it is immigrants that are building America! Yeah well, when you come to a nation that provides you with free food, free housing, free medical care and preferential treatment you can do well. When that same government provides interest free loans or loans at a reduced rate, provides business loans, and indeed establishes those businesses for you, you do well. All of that to people that simply entered the country illegally. A good portion of them were bused to the border! We have to turn out the light! I'm not leaving the light on for you! The light is out. This isn't Motel Six or K-Mart. You need a reservation. And K-Mart is broke.  

 

 

sensible

  There has been a shift in sensibilities that becomes more obvious to me every day. I'm thinking that may be what is known as aging. It happens in varying degrees with each passing generation. When families stayed together, that is to say, adult children stayed in the home or simply moved next door, those sensibilities were a lot slower to change. Perhaps it was the presence of the elders that impeded that process if you view that process as a bad thing. It may have been out of respect for those elders or that they weren't exposed to many alternatives. Whatever the reason for that it has changed over the years as families become more and more fragmented. Beyond the family regional sensibilities have also changed and that leads to national changes as well. It has led us to this litigious society that we all live in today. The concern isn't centered on morality and ethics, the concern is legality. A definite shift in sensibilities.

  I thought about that after seeing a chain link fence being put up. There is a building here in Greensboro that houses at least two separate businesses. Outside the building they are various pieces of piping, some large tanks used in farming operations, and what appears to be junk. Those items have been there for quite some time. I wondered why they had decided to fence that area in after all this time. Then I imagined that children would probably be drawn to those things, to play on them or whatever. It was a long time ago, I admit that, but I was a kid once and that sure looks interesting. So, I thought, they probably had to put that fence up to protect themselves. If some child was playing on that stuff and got injured, they would be open to a lawsuit. And that is where the change in sensibilities comes into the picture. When I was a kid if I played on something, on other people's property that I had no business being on, and got hurt, it wouldn't be the fault of the business. I would have in trouble because, and here is the sensible part, I knew better than that! Yes, that is what I heard often enough, you know better than that. 

 The sensible reaction to an action. That is what we are taught as children. If someone hit me, I hit them back! Very sensible. You did learn to be discriminating however, exercise good judgement in those types of situations. If the other person was bigger and stronger it might be wise to just walk away. Live to fight another day so to speak. You learned to know better. The same went with bullying others. You soon learned that you could be out bullied! No need to involve others with any of that, you learned to deal with yourself. As far as getting hurt with objects or doing something stupid, that was on you also. We sure were warned often enough. Be careful with that BB gun or you'll put someone's eye out! We didn't need to be told a lot of things; we learned about them through experience. Yeah, I got cut with my pocketknife, my fault, not the fault of Barlow. That knife did exactly what it was designed to do, cut. 

 What reaction is being taught to the children today? Sue someone, anyone, anybody at any time for anything. It has gotten to the point where in Michigan it's a crime to use the wrong pronoun. I have to use the pronoun you choose. If you are a guy, in a dress, wearing lipstick, I'm expected to say she?  I'm expected to play along with the charade. That is being enforced as sensible. It makes no sense to me at all. Sensibility is defined as the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences. I can appreciate the fact that someone has a mental disorder. It doesn't mean I hate them. It also doesn't mean I have to play along. I may feel like a superstar, but that doesn't make me one. Should you have to call me one? It's illegal if you don't after I tell you. Yeah, that makes sense. 

 It sure seems to me that the narrative today is to impose your feelings and beliefs on others. This at the same time as your insistence that I do not impose my feelings or beliefs on you. You can insist, make laws that I accept your feelings or beliefs, but I shouldn't make any forcing you to do the same. Aristotle said: "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." In not accepting every proposition, every idea or concept presented to us, we are exercising sound judgment. We are being sensible. Something that is sorely lacking today. 

justice

  There is much discussion about juvenile justice here in Maryland. This is being driven by the number of serious crimes being committed by juveniles. Children as young as twelve have committed murders and the families of victims are demanding justice. But there are those saying they are just kids, they can't be held responsible for that. The question is, is age the sole measure of maturity? How can we decide upon that? It is certainly quite a different scenario when a would-be gang banger of twelve or thirteen goes out to kill another to earn their street cred and a twelve-year-old that causes the death of another accidently, even when that accident was due to simple negligence. So, the question is, what to do? 

 The reason this is happening can be discussed and debated endlessly. All the social implications and real-life realities factor into that. The importance of a stable home, having two parents, a father and mother can't be overlooked. But what can we do about that? Not much is my thinking. It's a cultural thing and culture is directed by forces beyond the control of government. Culture is created by beliefs and values. When those things change, so does the culture, for good or bad. It does become, what do you want to grow up to be, in a child's mind. 

 I wanted to be a hero like I saw on television and in the movies of my youth. Those heroes basically stood for truth, justice and the American way. At least that is how Superman expressed that. Now I never went around dressed in a costume or having surgical procedures or implants to look like Superman. I didn't demand others call me by that name, to address me in the way I thought they should. That wasn't the cultural norm back then. The difference between reality and fantasy was a very distinct line! I was well aware of that even at a very early age. I was well aware of the risk and reward dynamic. I learned that I was guilty until it was shown to be otherwise. Being a child wasn't a stand-alone excuse. I was told, you know better than that. Age didn't measure maturity. Your actions did that. 

 It was the awareness of punishment that was the deterrent. The truth of the matter was it was the threat of punishment that deterred you. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would be held accountable for my choices. I had zero expectations that my parents would defend any choice I made. I had every confidence that they would instruct me in the error of my ways! If I said and did anything I knew to be wrong, I would be held fully accountable. One example of that was the belief that there was a truant officer. This officer of the law patrolled the streets on school days looking for anyone skipping school. If you were spotted you would be apprehended, taken to the school and presented to the principle. If you didn't have a written excuse from a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief there was no excuse! The threat was real. If I said or did anything wrong or even remotely questionable my only hope was word did not reach my parents. And in those days information like that traveled faster than any internet virus today! The result would be the same. You were infected. Indeed, the effect was very unpleasant.

 But what do we do now? A child of twelve can't be locked up for life. But that child murdered another, in cold blood. There is no taking that back. How much do we dismiss as simply immature actions/choices? On one hand we have to say he/she is just a child, they were influenced by peer pressure, perhaps they were coerced into that choice, they can't be held accountable. On the other hand, we have those saying we have to listen to children saying they think they are the opposite sex. In response to that we should provide counsel, medications and surgical procedures to reenforce those feelings. No saying that it is an immature thing or that they have been influenced in any way. In fact, we should have drag queen shows to reenforce those thoughts. It's gender affirming care! Another cultural shift. Is it good or bad? That will be determined by society in general. 

 Is accountability dependent upon maturity? If that is the sole measure, how do we determine that? Oh, I'm aware there are charts, graphs, and papers written about the subject. The psychologists and psychiatrists all weigh in on that topic. Lately it was determined that our brains aren't fully formed until we are 25 years of age. Adolescence lasts until we are twenty-five. By that measure I shouldn't be held accountable as an adult until I'm twenty-six. Hey, I'm just a kid, not my fault. At the time of the American revolution James Monroe was 18, Alexander Hamilton 21, and James Madison was 25. All juveniles by the latest measure. Where they immature? Bunch of kids acting rashly? 

 I think we can all agree that the degree of punishment should be dependent upon maturity. Immature personality disorder is listed in the big book of mental disorders. Most of us hear about that as bipolar disorder. Lots of prescribing for that going on these days. It is also being used as a "defense" in criminal proceedings. It does add the sympathy factor in the jurors' minds. Like saying, he's just a kid. But can it really be quantified? Only by expert opinion is my answer. And the thing there is I can find an expert to agree or disagree with just about anything. 

 I have no answers, no suggestions, on what can be done. You can't change the past, undo what has been done. All you can do is start over. I do believe that it is imperative that we figure out something. Children are the future. That should be obvious to everyone. You can't change the future by changing the past. The past creates the future, something many seem to be confused about these days. What you do today will dictate tomorrow. My best advice is to start right now, this day, this very moment. Hold those children to account! Spare the rod and spoil the child has never been more appropriate than it is today. We have become lax, disregarding our responsibility as parents. It isn't the fault of the school, of economic inequities, social injustice, or opportunity. What we are seeing with the actions of these children is a reflection of the value system they were taught. We need to change the lesson plan! Start today. 

remembered reward

  Stayed up last night to watch the home run derby. It's fun to watch the pros knock the ball out of the park. As a result, I find I'm a bit sluggish this morning. It isn't that I have to get up at a certain time or have anything in particular to do but I feel like I'm behind. I just don't know what it is that I'm behind. It is just that we humans are creatures of habit. I have grown accustomed to waking up at a certain time and starting my daily routine. I certainly have a routine that is something I'm well aware of. I do think it is important that we have a routine, that is the natural order of things. This being retired routine certainly affords all the flexibility I could ever want, it's what I was told I went to work for! I was told to save for it as well. Retirement is the proverbial gold ring on the merry go round of life. Well, now that I have that gold ring, I sometimes find it difficult to know what to do with it. Is it for me, or is it to allow me to do for others? The brass ring is the top prize and would get you a reward. 

  What is the biggest reward in life? Well now that's a very hard question to answer. Oh, the answer you are supposed to give is easy enough, the answer you were taught, but the truth is what is difficult to define. The Hallmark response is to see your children grow into productive citizens and good people. To watch as your grandchildren grow into adulthood and begin their lives. To help others in life. The Hallmark answer is always about pleasing someone else. If you do that you will be remembered. That's the thought process involved. I do believe that is what the vast majority of us want, to be remembered. How ironic is that? You spend your life seeking a reward, a reward that you will never know about, to be remembered. A reward based on belief. You have to believe you will be remembered. Is that the reason you do things? That is the sticky question. So, is the reward to do for others? Is that the brass ring? I'm getting mixed messages about that. Shouldn't retirement be for me? I earned it right? But the reward, the thing I really want, is to be remembered. Can I ensure that? No, I don't believe that I can. I just have to believe that you will. It's a paradox. 

 I wrote this bit of poetry some time back. 

                                                               

                                                            How long remembered

Time and memory fade like mist in the morning

The burning of the sun and the passage of time

How long remembered, these friends of mine.

Grey stones stand sentinel over their rest

a name and two dates marking the time

How long remembered these friends of mine

Waiting, waiting for the reward

Lives well lived, lives forlorn

How long remembered these friends of mine

I come to visit, I come to reflect

keeping them still alive

How long remembered these friends of mine

Who will come when I am gone

to pray among the stones

and contemplate my time

How long remembered by these friends of mine

A.B. Reichart 

Surplus

 A few days back I wrote about the nations purse. The title of that blog posting was Brass tacks. I was talking about how congress is supposed to decide how to spend our money. Yes, it is "our" money, the government itself has none. Every American citizen that pays taxes contributes to that bank account. That's how it works. Some revenue is collected through fees and interest but by far the majority of the money comes from the average joe taxpayer. It's "our" money. That's the reason Congress is in control of the purse strings. The executive and judicial branch do not control that. It's in the constitution, read it. 

 Congress has had their way with that for far too long without being held accountable. What I mean is this, congress should have control of the purse strings, I agree with that wholeheartedly, but "we" haven't been holding them accountable for their failure to manage that money. In response to that I believe we should convene a convention of the states! On the top of the list should be a balanced budget amendment. If the budget isn't balanced, salaries are cut, beginning with that congress! Poor fiscal management could also lead to dismissal, just like it does for the average Joe that doesn't do their job. 

 Following that I would also say that Americans are at the head of the line. That is to say, American needs must be met before any "aid" is given to any other nation. It's ridiculous that Americans go without while we send billions of dollars to other nations around the globe. That is what charities are all about! The government of the United States is not a charitable institution! Nearly 47 billion dollars every year is being sent in aid. That while we are borrowing money to pay our own debts! That has to stop! Want "free" healthcare? Guess what, you have to pay for that, maybe use that 47 billion given away every year for that purpose. But, that's just a thought, a suggestion from someone that doesn't understand world politics or affairs. I still believe God helps those who help themselves. Yes, I know that isn't a biblical passage, I know that isn't what the Bible actually says, I know it is an old adage. But that doesn't mean it isn't true. Only what you believe God to be is different. For me that advice means to mind your own business first, do what is right, and you will be rewarded. The help you will receive is inner strength, call it faith, belief, or whatever, but it is the phycological strength to persevere. It isn't a lack of empathy it is the realization of a reality.

 If, we the people, are paying so much in taxes that we can just give money away I'd say we are paying too much in taxes. Yes, we should have a savings account. Do we? As far as I know we do not. Oh, you can buy savings bonds, a way to lend money to the government, the government can confiscate your money/assets if you fail to pay them, but is there an account that is a savings account? I couldn't find one mentioned anywhere on Google but maybe I wasn't asking the right question. The Social Security fund was supposed to be a sort of savings account. You pay into the system and later you can draw from that account, you know, from your savings. But in 1981 Congress decided to pass legislation to borrow money from that fund. So far, 2.9 trillion dollars has been "borrowed" from that fund. Now when borrowing money, it is implied that you will pay it back. Just how was congress going to pay back that money? Congress has no money beyond "your" money, the money they just borrowed! The money isn't borrowed, it is spent! The money borrowed from the social security trust fund is used to finance deficit spending! The explanation from Congress, those politicians making the decisions, is that they are only borrowing "surplus" funds in the account and always pay that back. In fact, according to their accounting methods they are making money by spending money. My question is, how much money do you have in surplus in your savings account? If you have more money in savings that your yearly expenditures is that all excess? Should you just lend that out to others or give it away. It's surplus. Too much money in the savings account? That's what Congress says.