Dear America,

Substance over style.

This is what we crave today; and it will be this precise spirit that guides us, come November 2; bells and whistles, backdrops and props, have not a chance in hell to penetrate through the core belief -- we seek reform and revival of our founding principles.  Not for a day, not for a week, not for just until super Tuesday, but for forever and a day...for we are changed.  We've been there, done that. Enough already.

Gullibility, gone; ; no longer will we simply assume those we send to Washington have our best interests at heart.  Special interests, Unions, class warfare, deficit spending, national debt, social security, medicare, health care, cap and trade, ganging up on small business -- big business -- any business that creates real jobs, mortgage fraud, unfunded liabilities, unfunded pensions, apologizing for America, ridiculing those who simply think differently, rash moratoriums, cutting military tribunals to oversee terrorist trials, celebratory mosques built anywhere, dividing Americans through rhetoric and false racial accusations, fighting term limits in congress, obscene spending within congressional offices -- through excessive staffing, overhead, travel, private jets to petty cash, ALL of it, gone.

What we crave, is a Sebastian Pinera.

"there there, it's alright.

 it's alright, it's a moment of happiness. 

 it's good.  it's good. 

there, there,

just let all of those emotions out,

 it's fine, it's fine."

With genuine concern, like a father, his arm is softly draped over the woman's shoulder, consoling her with everything he's got left, bringing a sense of calm and security, offering his very best in the moment, to help her get through waiting painstakingly through just five minutes more...which seemed like a lifetime even after already waiting a full 69 days... the last two, utterly agonizing.

This was what he said, at about the time of miner number 29 nearly reaching the surface of 'the rest of his life', to the wife of Juan Carlos Aguilar.  And like anything a parent would say to a child, it wasn't so much what he said, it was the way he said it -- his demeanor, his priority in giving her his full attention, right there, bearing it all with her and giving her the strength to stay with it for just a moment or two longer, but more important, honoring her feelings, showing her the kind of empathy all of us crave in that kind of moment. 

Sometimes, all we want is someone to know how we feel, to listen, to really listen; and these wives and families have endured great pain simply by waiting all this time, and the Chilean President was right there -- I don't think he ever left over the course of twenty four hours -- and along with his first lady, too.  What a display of elegance under pressure; what an example to presidents of nations everywhere, astounding stamina and spirit shining through for his people at a time of need.

And it didn't just happen for the last two days, no, it was his very belief, from day one, that he could save all thirty three miners that made this rescue happen; his Minister of Mines, his closest confidants and administration told him to leave this disaster alone, to let it go...there, there... they said to him... just let it go. let them go. 

But Pinera couldn't do that; these were real Chileans who were still alive, and by God, he was going to find a way to get them out; and he had every faith that he would.

He committed himself to seeing it all the way through; he committed government resources from day one; he said yes, to offers of help -- from anywhere and everywhere -- his personal ego let go and let God work (that last bit, was my own interpretation).   But against all of his adviser's best advice, he said no to them, and said yes to the world and the possibility-in-waiting.

Let's review a few moments that are fresh in the memory of recent actions of our own Commander-in-Charge:

• Gulf Oil Spill, ah no thanks, we got it, turning away the Dutch, syphons, and boats and booms oh my, right quick, almost too quick.
• Military Tribunals for terrorists, ah no thanks, our civilian courts will be more fair and I think,  therefore I am in charge, I think that's the better way to go...and already showing trouble.
• Arizona immigration legislation, ah no thanks, don't need any help, The Fed knows more than you, and knows how to handle this, back off, or I will sue, and he did.
• IBM offering Health Care fraud detection technology, ah no thanks, we got this, walk away now, oh but now that I think, therefore I am in charge, you do know we'll sue you if your company does not comply with our new regulations.
• Military absentee votes, ah sorry guys, no can do, can't do anyything about that...taking the unsavory position that 'to not act is to act...' and what an ugly habit it seems to be growing into...
• just who is the party of no, now?

Polar (hemisphere) opposites, anyone?

Could they be any more different?

Self made Billionaire, Sebastian Pinera, having been credited to bringing credit to Chileans -- yes, the evil credit card market was brought to the hands of every consumer and entrepreneur, changing their economy and the way they do business nearly all by himself (okay, slight exaggeration maybe).  But still!  Can you picture our Obama-nator organizing communities in the south side of Chicago with credit card activism?  yeah, didn't think so...  Not that every American is credit worthy all the time, there is that angle as well -- and clearly, make no mistake, by his record, he wouldn't touch that one either (can you say fannie?  freddie? bravo, bravo).

Here's another interesting hmmmmmmmm about these two: both went to Harvard!  Yes, Sebastian has a degree in Economics, and apparently, became a real bonafide Professor of Economics for a time in his life; unlike, our own president, where information surfaced linking to an unthinkable reality that he really wasn't ever a "professor" but a senior lecturer from time to time (mr. fee fi faux-fessor, thank you Hillary campaign...huh...if only) ...while we might also question the constitutional law he mastered, when he can't in fact quote what is "constitutional" material and what is "Declaration of Independence" correctly (and a few times) ...and if that weren't enough, being a president fudging about his law license (and Michelle too), having turned in his law license , (designating "in-active" schmear-active) on the heels of an investigation that concluded he would most likely be losing it anyway (apparently in 2008...in the middle of a campaign?.. what no, say it isn't so). 

Bravo
Bravo
Bravo.

Substance versus style -- while sometimes, when we're really lucky, some countries get both.

The people of Chile love this man, Sebastian, right now, and what's not to love; and how proud this man was, Sebastian, last night.  Beaming from his heart and soul was pure adulation of his country, his people, his miners, of all the gracious assistance he let in; he acted as a true leader, by facilitating all the good to simply flow. (he gets the true economics of it all, of life, what a breath of fresh air).

This mentality comes naturally to a man with a business sense, a certain common sense, a sense that we can find a way to make something, build something, think of something, sell something, save something, invent something, dare to dream something, and maybe even rescue something, like it was nothing at all.

He didn't seek praise -- albeit the really cool unintended consequence of actions coming from the heart and substance of a man who really cares;  he simply sought the outcome of not taking NO for an answer.  His faith told him to go forward, keep going, start digging, find the thing that will save them; and he did.

When I was in like 3rd grade, I did a report on Chile and fell in love with it -- even as just a kid. There was just something about the way it was shaped, as I recall, it was different...funny looking... and along with being south of the equator, which seemed like going to the moon and back in those days, everything about the cultural mix, the Andes, the Incas, and of course, it's shape, intrigued this girl very much. Those memories came rushing back over the course of the last couple of days.

I remember, too, I just loved saying the name; which in those days, we said "Chilly,"  not "Cheelay."  Toomayto, tomahto, no matta no matto -- who's willing to bet that Cheelay tourism will be way up over the course of the next year; (if I had money) my money would be on airlines that go there!

Me thinks a few more things will only go up, too -- things like Pinera's approval rating, Chilean patriotism, church attendance (not that it's an issue, what with 70% of it's people Catholic), price of copper and gold, marriages and oh my, even baby making (bet me, nine months from now, births in Chile will blow through the roof). 

Yes.  It is all going up from here in Cheelay.  C - H - I - L- E hey! hey! hey!

If America doesn't work out, G's going there.

Make it a Good Day, G

A look at how far we've come: your movie today, just a click away on Dear America above, (dates to the first week of September) ends with the comment from a journalist quoting the administration, "it will be months before the men are rescued."...think again. Been there, done that. Next.

On another front, some presidential behavior around the world becomes almost entertaining, take for example the latest use of the poster unveiled by Iran's Ahmadinejad when visiting Hezbollah on the border(line) with Lebanon and Israel...his mug and a bit of Farsi, loosely translated as, YES WE CAN.  funny.

Dear America,

or should I say this morning, Dear Chile.

To say this is a bit overwhelming would understate the magnitude of the moment -- and yet, the more we watch, it becomes more a situation where we have totally underestimated the depths of the human heart; it's as if our little Grinch heart bursts forth, having been discovered "two hearts too small," thick in the doldrums of our own misguided lives, only to be enlivened with the true meaning of life right before our very eyes.

Like miner numero dos, Mario Sepulveda, after 69 days, held against your will, down under in a cave 2300 feet below daylight, and he comes bouncing up and out of that "plan B" carriage bearing gifts -- what the.. are you a saint?  Oh my God, you are good, you are good.  He pulls out of his bag of treats a bunch of rocks, wrapped and adorned with a smile, as if it was nothing, nothing at all.

He was later quoted as saying, "I was with God and the Devil.  I reached out and picked God."

Stop, Mario, you had me with the rock.

It all started last night around 8 pm Pacific Time with Florenzio Avalos ascending from the warm, dark cave and into a cold, dark desert night  outside of the San Jose Mine, in Copiapo, Chile. Florenzio was first, for he was one of the strongest; he was initially one of the few miners who saw the writing on the wall right from the start, and became instrumental in helping to create an atmosphere of order and calm.

And without taking away from the magnificence of Chileans, Florenzio, in Italian, is linked to the beautiful city of Florence, a shining example of life in the days of Julius Ceasar, dating back to 59 BC; it personifies everything that is "flourishing, blossoming", while Florence grew to become the "cradle of the Renaissance" -- and famous for establishing the use of elements, like gold and various minerals, as a vehicle of building wealth, community, capital, and influencing all of Europe. And all I can think, bearing witness to the life force that popped out of the vessel to the new world, was that perhaps there really is something in a name.

Florenzio helped cradle the men down below in their darkest hour; and one by one, we are watching his spirit of survival burst forth through the earth, anxious to meet with the life waiting for them.

We are witnessing a miracle really; the longest duration of continued life under the earth in captivity by mother nature -- they are breaking all records;  just how did they do it?

Every man will have a story; every story will have a lesson; every lesson will live on forever, for generations to come, as the legend in the making unfolds for each and every one.

What was the one thing that kept their heads together?

The Compassion, the Glory, the Substance, the Shelter, the Calm  -- was called upon in a shared faith.

When confronted with danger or loss of hope, one of the first things we do as humans -- and this time is no exception -- is pray.  As devout Catholics (except for that mistress or two...just part of the narrative, that's all it is...we are only human you know) they prayed every day, and sometimes maybe all day.  IT was their shared faith in a loving God that brought them hope when they had nothing else left; while sometimes that hope was brought on a rope, faithfully delivering love notes and presents offering a bit of sustenance to get them through their days, all 69 of them.

And oh my goodness, got to break away from the heartstrings for a second and simply make note of what a difference between presidents -- Sebastian Pinera, the leader of Chile, who's popularity has soared with his handling of the San Jose Mine disaster -- as been shown making the sign of the cross multiple times. I just can't help but make note, this country is so steeped in faith,  its almost like a second skin.  Unlike the thin skinned, separation of church and state leader of the free world of ours...preaching the never-ending battle hymn of his republic:

"[what this is all about is] if hope can overcome fear...so that, ah, what the other side is gonna do, ah, is ride this fear and anxiety all the way to November 2nd..."

Ye of so little faith; what you see as fear, dear One, is simply our natural protectionist mechanism rising to the top of the earth.

But THAT is the going mantra from the President who is supposed to stand for all Americans, to be less divisive, to be more uniting, to be all about changing the tone in Washington -- when all he's done is attack "the other side."  and all I can say is you don't know us at all; what we all fear and hope for is a return to an America that lives by liberty; it is not about picking sides at all, not one iota; don't make us choose one over the other at the risk of breaking the whole -- this is about making us one nation under God again -- because that worked. 

But this is our president these days -- still going after it with making disparaging remarks and drawing the line between us, as if by picking a side we lose the capacity to cheer for all, unlike what's going on in Chile, as we speak.  C - H - I - L - E   hey   hey   hey!

For most of us on this day -- a day which holds so much of the same promise of hope and faith, at a level many of us cling to, akin to how we all felt on 9/12 -- we come as Americans, living with our heart and soul showing on the shirt sleeves -- we have all but dropped the campaigning for the moment.

Mr. President, we the people, are watching a miracle happen just south of the equator,  where are you? Where is the love? Are you that out of touch with the mass of Americans who are simply on our hands and knees in thanksgiving and praise today?  I mean, come on, the whole world is watching this unfold in Chile, and crying tears of joy, and  I am just waiting for you to grab hold of it, and make a shift.  If you think about it, just where oh where is your sense of the greater global community?  This is a golden opportunity to use the spirit of Chile and come together with all Americans, not just the one's you pick and choose.  Listen to us; pay attention to Chile; and learn from this if you can, to have the sudacity to change your divisive ways just a wee bit.  We are crying out for unity right here, right now, at home.

This might explain why 42% of Americans are just not that into you these days, according to the latest polls.  Wow.  And what a contrast between you and the President of Chile, who has been raised to a position of Your Excellency with the handling of the owners of this mine, Empresa Minera San Esteban, while taking full responsibility for all costs in the rescue, sounding much like he is pointing fingers and asking questions later; he did rush in to slash the upper management of the mines -- but that sounds like its been a long time coming -- but he's keeping operations wide open for all those who comply. He's not punishing the whole bunch of operators or an entire industry (unlike the Gulf Oil fiasco...oh and fyi, it's too late...Obama...it's too late to make amends...you may have unplugged oil drilling in the Gulf killing 175,000 jobs yet...this last ditch effort to lift the moratorium like the 'plan B' capsule, and just before the election, is a day late and millions of dollars short, if not all but gone...and we can see through you now, so take off the super dooper president suit).

Okay G, where is your love?  Come on back now, don't lose touch with this day...

We are just over half way home in Chile; the thing is, today, after being buried in the slime and drudgery of campaign promises and opposition lies for weeks now, sensing only a lot more of it on the horizon -- my wish for America is a return to a life by faith -- with all evidence of it's value pouring out before us from a tiny capsule at about 40 minute intervals. 

And for me, what that means is, I want us to connect to each other on a soul level a whole lot more, and not be afraid to teach It, operate from It, rebuild an America with It;  life is short, and it can be taken from us at any time, without warning.

I know, in my heart, if we do this, everything we touch and live for will be changed forever (again); in faith, we will make better children, families, communities, corporations, freedoms, liberties, happiness's, for one and for all -- for It does not discriminate.  And it remains simply a fact, that our limited government grew out of this Connection, to a Spirit greater than the common man, yet inspired the common man to become great.

This fundamental principle of our own making  has only failed us when we have failed It; "endowed by our Creator" is a belief that has carried us to greatness, steadfast and strong, only when we let It, only when we live It, only when we honor It.  IT cannot be called upon -- although It will gladly show up at last minute -- only when we need It; our faith must stand through THICK and thin, that is the point. It is easy to forget about It when times are good; a little taste of reality that magically tests humanity every day.  (and with a little time on that thought, perhaps why we are needing a reminder from time to time...we are weak but He is strong ring any bells...)

As a nation, we have collectively grown away from living by our faith, and after watching Chileans walk out on their own two feet and immediately falling to their knees in prayer before the world, it simply takes my breath away; it reminds me of Where I came and Who I am. 

I am part of That!

I want to be free to flaunt my faith in front of the world in good times, or in bad, and make no apology for it; I want our kids to start their day with a moment of silence in school to pray or not to pray; I want my leaders to preach religious liberty, by example, and hold to the founding Principles and Truths we hold dear, as written, clinging to the provisions that protect us every step of the way to express our faith fully.

I do not expect us to believe in the same God, only that we live under God  in peace and mutual respect -- you pick and choose which one, or pick "none of the above", or write in your own (we have that now); point is, It is entirely up to you.  But make no mistake, our America was made under God, who happened to be very Judeo-Christian at the time; and ever since then, for the most part, we have flourished. 

Viva Florencia, Viva Chile, E una vita bella!

Make it a Good Day, G

...we all know, it has the potential of being one of our last at any time.

And, thumbs up to our NASA...surely, it can't be what you invisioned your job description to morph into -- especially with some programs circling Pluto with no chance of return -- but way to go with the assistance of technology, expertise and moon juice.  Thank you!