Repeating

  Here we are looking forward to the next holiday. That will be labor day. Well, this year is going quickly now isn't it? I was always told by those "old" people that time speeds up as you age. I can now testify to the validity of that statement. I've spent time trying to understand that and the only theory I can come up with is, been there, done that. I'm just not that anxious for the next day, week or month to arrive. I'm thinking it explains that old adage, a watched pot never boils, but I'm not watching the pot. That's why everything seems to happen so quickly. I'm paying attention, just not paying attention to the future. I'm busy thinking about the past most of the time. I am wondering, where did all that go? 

  It's funny how I just seem to remember a few events as significant in my life. What I mean are the things I was really looking forward too. As a small child it was Christmas, really looked forward to that for the obvious reason. Birthdays were fun for the same reason until you got to your teens, then not so much. Getting my drivers license was highly anticipated, couldn't wait for that. Graduation from high school and going in the Navy. Getting married and having children. Retiring from the Navy. Retiring from the workforce. Yes I have enjoyed the grandchildren very much, looked forward to seeing their accomplishments and now I have a great grandchildren. You know holidays and birthdays take a back seat to all of that stuff these days, they aren't that exciting anymore, especially birthdays. There is the realization that you will run out of those at some point, best not to use them up.

  Seems all I do is talk about the weather and politics. Never cared for either one of them in years past, just didn't have time to be concerned about them. I was never fascinated by the weather, it is what it is , nothing I can do about that so why worry? I chuckle as so many today are convinced that man can change the weather, somehow control or influence that. Yeah, ok. As far as politics go I can cast my ballot, that's about as much influence as I wield in that regard. But I talk about it a great deal because it's my feeling that it is legislation that defines the morality of a nation. 

  That is only true however when that legislation is enforced. That is the real issue, enforcing morality. The enforcement of morality has to be a personal thing, accomplished on an individual basis. The purpose of legislation is to punish those that fail to comply. Yes, it's a punitive system! Just like all religions there is a price to be paid for failure and a reward for success. In the world of politics the reward is in creating a better place for your children, grandchildren and beyond. The goal is the same regardless of your political views or your ideology. I'm deeply concerned when I see legislation contrary to that goal. Is a world without rules, boundaries, or borders really a good choice? A world where there is only reward? 

  In the Christian belief heaven is such a place. A place where only rewards are enjoyed, no sorrow, no pain, no judgement. Judgement has been rendered, you passed the test. Does that mean that you have lost all ability to do anything evil or wrong ever again? Once you are in heaven, with your every want, need and desire fulfilled you will just follow the rules? But we are told that Lucifer was thrown out of heaven because he led a rebellion against God, trying to usurp his power and become equal to him. So, I guess you can mess up in heaven and there is a price to be paid for that as well. I admit it does sound a whole lot easier to "behave" yourself when you are provided with everything that you could ever want or need. Just float around playing the harp or whatever. Thing to remember however is it took you a lifetime to earn that. Yes, you do have to earn it, it isn't charity. 

 And that, that is what politics should be teaching the following generations. Man hasn't learned the lesson very well as we continue with our wars and such. The United States of America established a republic with the dream of self rule. What needs to be taught, needs to be understood, is that rule begins with you. In order to form a more perfect union. The preamble to the constitution, a statement of intent. A union requires one thing, unity. And yes, unity requires the exclusion of those that fail to comply. When you simply allow everyone in the club it isn't exclusive anymore. 

  A republic isn't exclusive! The people determine who can and can not participate in that government. A government by representation. Still all the representatives have to agree, at least the majority of them have to. That's the democratic part of the republic. It is the representatives of the people that will determine who participates in the process of exclusion. All forms of government contain provisions for exclusion. What we call discrimination when it applies to us, and what we call discriminating when it applies to someone else. Entitlement or benefit? That's depends upon whom it applies to as well.

  Well, I wandered off a bit, as I tend to do, from my original thought about time. The future is rushing at us and we just don't realize it until the future is the past. Then we may read and remember that and discover that it is repeating itself, like an old man. I'm aware that I'm repeating myself a good deal of the time. It's my thought that it isn't so much what you say, as it is how you say it. I'm saying a great deal of what my father said, and his father said. I'm just using different words. The truth hasn't changed. The answers remain the same, it's the questions. But not really, many are still hoping for a different answer. 

                                                                                   

I'm thinking that is pretty accurate. A hundred years is about five generations.