just in case

  The news and current events often influence my thoughts and this morning is no different. Biden, having pardoned a ten year crime spree by his son Hunter, certainly changes things. I can't help but question that. Well, first off he did proclaim, assert, promise, reassure and give a solemn oath that he would never do that. But he's a father, I get it, and has decided otherwise. Not surprising really, as it is obvious that he hasn't exactly been a role model himself and has allowed, indeed enabled his sons to act in less than honorable ways. Let's not forget that his brother James is also involved in the family crime syndicate. I ask myself, would I do the same, would I pardon my son if I had that power?  

  You could say I'm just fortunate to never having been placed in that position. I say it is the result of my example to my sons. Whenever they made a bad choice, fouled up, I held them fully accountable for that action. Yes, I follow the Barney Fife rule, nip it, you have to nip it in the bud! I did not excuse their behavior, make excuses for it, and go all kum ba ya on them. Nope, they were held to account. Did I employ corporeal punishment? Whenever I felt it warranted such, I certainly did. Those occasions were very few and in their early years, as they grew older, gaining some maturity and the ability to reason, it wasn't necessary. The lesson had been learned. You will be held responsible for your actions.

  It's obvious to me that Biden practices what I call "conditional" morality. There has been much talk of his willingness to promote abortion while proclaiming to be a catholic. The church has issues with that. Now in all fairness as president you should not allow your religious beliefs to direct your legislative  direction. That is the purpose of the first amendment after all. It could be argued that every president has made provisions and conditions in contrast to their professed religious beliefs. It should be remembered however that the president doesn't actually make any law, that is the job of congress. Using your presidential power to "pardon" your own son for criminal activities spanning a decade certainly expands that meaning. It is an example of "conditional" morality as blatant as anything I have seen.

  Moral agency. The ability to make moral judgements on right and wrong. It is the responsibility of each individual to be a moral agent. The congress acts as the moral agent of the American people. They are our elected officials. Their purpose is to represent you and act as your moral agent. The president, by virtue of that office, can exercise certain powers. Granting pardons, to those considered worthy, is an example of a moral judgment. The president acting as the sole moral agent in that scenario. 

  The legal system, that system detached from all religious provisions and decisions having already determined guilt, any pardon has to be based on what? Moral agency. And just what were the extenuating circumstances, the unavoidable situations that led Hunter Biden to engage in his criminal activities? Was it his drug usage? If that is the case a full 1/5 of the prison population would have to be pardoned. And that would still only account for those incarcerated for drug possessions and sales. What of those that robbed, assaulted, drove their car or committed any other criminal act while using drugs. shouldn't they all be pardoned as well? I did my taxes while drunk, I should be forgiven for that.

  It is true that every president grants pardons, especially just before leaving office. The reasons for doing so as as varied as the crimes they committed. Biden is within his authority to issue that pardon. He could also simply commute the sentence, granting a reprieve, lessening the severity or duration or both. Of course that would require the sentence being issued first. Biden can't wait for that, now can he? Trump certainly wouldn't be issuing any pardon, any clemency or reprieve to Hunter. 

  Biden issued a preemptive pardon. Gerald Ford did issue a full and unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon before Nixon was convicted of any wrongdoing. A republican pardoning another republican. Controversial, you bet it was. There is talk of Biden issuing more "preemptive" pardons to those Trump has professed he will "go after." It's quite a list. If Biden does that it will be an unprecedented move. Perhaps this presidential power to grant pardons and clemency will have to be reviewed at a convention of the states. It's worth noting that only Felons can be given a presidential pardon or clemency. Here is the reference to those powers:

 Article II, Section 2, Clause 1:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3-5/ALDE_00013322/   

My reference for those desiring such. 

                                                                    

   

  

a lesson

  We are approaching that "date that will live in infamy" and I haven't forgotten. It's certainly a date I will remember, as a remembrance of those that went before me. I wasn't born until twelve years after that infamous attack. But I grew up with an awareness of that. It was spoken of as the war. When I met Mr. Barnes as a child and he was missing a leg I asked about that, the answer was, I lost it in the war. For years afterward Mr. Barnes would see me and say, I haven't found it yet. I heard stories about those that had "lost" their sons and husbands in the war. A war that we had no choice but to engage in as we were attacked on that date, December the 7th, 1941.  

  It was eighty three years ago that attack took place. It was a Sunday morning adding to the dastardly nature of the attack. Yes it was planed that way by an evil empire, the empire of Japan. Yes, they were portrayed in that fashion during the war and after that war. Thick round eyeglasses, slanted eyes, and a fiendish demeanor. They would stop at nothing, no atrocity was too great, they had no honor, no respect for anyone or anything. Sneaky, conniving people bent on domination. It was the Japanese that forced our hand, that led to the unleashing of an atomic weapon! They would not surrender, not capitulate and we were left with no choice. It is the Japanese that hold responsibility for the cold war that would follow. 

  All of that was something I grew up with. It was talked about by my parents, referenced often in books and magazines and even in the cartoons I watched. The war was told from the victors viewpoint, by those that were unjustly attacked, and by those that fought it out to the ultimate victory. A portion of that was also the story of how great a nation we are by forgiving the Japanese for that attack, by rebuilding their nation, providing for their needs. An act that wasn't agreed upon by everyone, especially not those that had engaged in the actual combat. But the politicians weren't concerned with that, it was "in the past" as they often pointed out. It is best to simply forget about that. Put it all behind us and engage in commerce instead. 

  As of April of this year there are fewer than two dozen survivors of that attack on Pearl Harbor. It is estimated there are only 66,000 survivors of WW2 alive in America today. Consider that over 16 million participated over that four year period. Their children are the "boomers" those born between 1946 and 1964. The youngest of the "boomers" would be sixty this year. How many remember that "date that will live in infamy." How many of their children, grandchildren, and indeed great grandchildren will remember? Are we boomers the last generation with a direct connection to that attack? We did grow up being directly influenced by all of that. It did form our world.

  Every generation creates a change. That is a simple fact of life. Some generations attempting to perpetuate the existing ideals and ideologies while others attempt to transform it. The boomers had the "hippie" movement. Peace, love, and rock and roll. Let the good times roll. The Vietnam war interfered with all of that however, creating an internal conflict. There were those that still held onto the past ideals of patriotism and duty. They were in contrast with those willing to abandon those ideals in favor of socialism, establishing "communes" dropping out and tuning in. Concerned only with their personal happiness, feeling no sense of obligation to the country. Universal love being the goal. Can't we all just along.

  Well I for one will not forget the lessons I have learned from the past. I may indeed forgive others for their transgressions, but I won't forget about them. To forget the lesson is to abandon the knowledge obtained in that lesson. Theodore Roosevelt famously said, "speak softly but carry a big stick." When asked about the meaning of that he explained it this way,  "If you simply speak softly the other man will bully you. If you leave your stick at home you will find the other man did not." It is a lesson learned. December the 7th, 1941, a Sunday morning. Lesson learned. 

                                                                                

   

perceived

  I began writing these blogs as an amusement. The reason has changed a bit over the years. Today I'm telling myself they are going to be a record. A way to leave my thoughts, my feelings and observations behind for future generations to reflect upon. That is what grandfather said. It's a grand delusion and I'm quite aware of it. It is like when you're dreaming and you know it is a dream. That happens to me often enough that it is a familiar thing. I do not attempt to understand those dreams, I don't believe they mean anything at all, just the random firing of neurons in the brain. I'm trusting the science on that one. 

  I have written about the full spectrum of human emotions, the full spectrum of the human condition. Still, there are subjects I try to avoid. I do believe there are some things best left between you and you God, whatever your conception of God is. I don't believe anyone actually does not believe in a higher power than man, a force that created the universe and everything in it. I've heard plenty of those that deny all of that, claiming to be an Atheist or some modified form of belief, like an agnostic. The agnostic just avoiding giving an answer. They're undecided. 

  Everyone turns somewhere in times of trouble. Everyone has a back up plan to soothe their emotional storms. That runs the full gambit as well. Most require the cooperation of others. There are few that can stand alone. In the Christian tradition those folks are called martyrs. Their belief is unwavering, requiring nothing else. Some turn to drink, to drugs or a variety of other indulgences. I have discovered I get "closure" a term I despise, by writing it down. It is those writings that I attempt to avoid in these blogs. As is in evidence, I don't always succeed. I don't really get a "closure" it is more like a cover up. The reason we cover things are to avoid the stink. Yes, sometimes there are those things in life that just stink. Strangely enough, we are occasionally the only one that can smell it! The necessity to cover it up doesn't go away because of that.

  This morning after having written and posted well over five thousand blogs, I'm questioning that. Has it simply become a habit? My sister kept what she called her journal. She wrote for herself, to herself and never shared those writings with anyone. She told me as she filled a volume up, she discarded it and began a new one. The frequency and amount that she wrote I don't know, she didn't talk about that much. It was a therapy for her. I suppose that same could be said for these postings of mine. I do get a sense of accomplishment, or satisfaction, when I finish one. They are different feelings you know. I occasionally receive a remark, a comment or an acknowledgement. I'm always thankful for that. It is difficult to walk alone. 

  I hear there are those that "follow" celebrities. That is something I really don't grasp. I enjoy watching celebrities doing whatever it is they do. I really am not interested in their private lives however. What they eat, wear, or go for vacation doesn't concern me in the least. Their homes and cars aren't of interest either. I really do get why you would follow them. I get the imitation is the sincerest form of flattery thing, that's what fashion is all about, a sort of social signaling system. But why aren't we interested in what the everyday, average, person thinks, or cares about? Why are celebrity opinions valued so highly? That's the part I just don't understand at all. They all really do put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. Well, unless they are putting on a performance. 

  If you want an expert opinion, go to an expert in that field of interest. Still you have to remember that expertise isn't a learned thing, it is acquired. That's why there are so many educated damn fools in this world. Those folks haven't acquired true expertise, only a piece of parchment granting them some "degree" of knowledge. That "degree" isn't really a specified amount, it being the minimum required to complete the course of study. There is much to be learned from the "uneducated" if you but pay attention to them. True expertise is gained through perception, independent of knowledge. 

  But reality isn't very amusing, is it? I'm guessing that is the fascination with celebrities. For just a moment or two you live that fantasy, that dream. You are rich and famous, loved by all. It's a good dream, nothing wrong with that I suppose. Sometimes when I'm writing I feel like Hemmingway or Marcus Aurelius'. I'm amused. So I guess my reason for writing really hasn't changed at all, I'm just amused. That, and I do enjoy an expert opinion. It does comes in degrees. I can see where being a celebrity could become problematic though. You have to keep everyone else amused in order to maintain the  illusion. Confusion works almost as well.