It's About Tranquilizers and Seeking True Tranquility, a Precious Thing

Dear America,

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who hold of her will be blessed.
By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew." Proverbs 3:13-20

beautiful.

happy friday, everyone

and oh thank God, FOX Breaking News just now:  Richard Simmons is alive and well, so says the LAPD.  We can all relax.   Phew, that was a close one.

Not even sure where all that panic originated... for by golly, it was as if, all of a sudden, there was an all points bulletin to find him.  So happy day, rest assured, he is "perfectly fine."  

And all I can add to that, is that that claim of being "perfectly fine" is perfectly debatable.  teehee...

when has the guy been perfectly fine?  

His line of crazy is perfect for him; he made a career at being anything but perfectly fine; he is off the charts nutty, and quite possibly, damn proud of it.  But of course, what do I know -- as I do not know Simmons; this girl is one clown short of a circus, herself, and really has no way of truly knowing and understanding the man.  All I really know is what he chooses to show to the world, right.  And who could not understand the inclination to retreat for a wee bit -- just imagine the kind of energy that guy had to manufacture day after day...that was testosterone/progesterone/macaroon laced circuit training, infiltrating living rooms and escalating heart beats, of a whole 'nother level. 

Which reminds me of a stat I heard from Joel Osteen's sermon, just last weekend:  America holds about 6% of the world's population, and yet we consume nearly 90% of the world's tranquilizers.  

Isn't that astounding?!

How sad, right?!

And taking an immediate segway to things Trump related -- the naysayers and objectors and leftist far and wide predicted total chaos with a Trump administration; calling the guy a nutcase, wondering if he even had the wisdom to be president and even further, be the guy in control of, you know, the button to go nuclear.    

The guy doesn't drink alcohol or coffee, let alone need to pop a pill just to get his day started. It's also been said, he requires very little sleep.  

And perhaps, some might even say -- and that some being just me, right now -- that his body and mind are more pure than the rest of us.  Just sayin'.  Speaking for G, this girl enjoys her Makers Mark, and can't wake up until two cups of joe are sipped.   And even though this sipping and savoring in the quiet morning hours is devoted to saying my prayers, reading anything that lifts and fills my spirit, and turning my day over to God in a "do what you will with me"  kind of way. if being truthful, it sheds a shady light on a vicious cycle that goes up/down, up/down, up/down...where she stops nobody knows :)

At least Americans can be rest assured, Trump is normally on the level, chemically speaking, all the live long day.   And I for one, am not only pleased to recognize that, but shamefully can't give you that same assurance, k.    and when I say shamefully, that isn't entirely the truth.  teehee

On another note, and reaching back to the top of this post, this verse found in Proverbs just makes my heart go pitter patter...Isn't it marvelous that this thing called wisdom is referred to in the feminine?

 "...She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who embrace her..."

True wisdom requires us to know thy self; it requires a receptive heart, open to being in relationship with our one true path as designed by the Creator of all living things and the Divine Providence from which this understanding comes and moves and has It's way with us.  It never truly is about our way of doing things, unless of course, we want to march down the path alone and aerobically challenged.

This morning I am reminded of America's beautiful beginning, as written in the very first words of our Declaration of Independence:

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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..."

Our RIGHTS and our liberties come from Nature's God, the CREATOR.  Boom.

This is the foundation; this is where wisdom lives and where understanding flourishes.

Oh how I wish the "DAY WITHOUT WOMEN" crowd simply started their day, and their cause, simply reciting America's Declaration of Independence!    The truth is, this -- and the Book of Proverbs -- is almost all anyone ever really needs in the pursuit of Happiness. 

 [Notice, happiness is not a guarantee; that result is tied directly to the individual's methods and means in the pursuit of it, to reach nirvana, to get to this place called Happiness].   

Siddhartha found one way; just as each one of us born into this world must do the same.   God, as Creator of all, loves creativity -- which only means, there is no ONE way to do it.  There is like hundreds of billions of ways -- just look at the life and times of Richard Simmons....

However, wisdom and understanding of Nature's Laws and Nature's God, would conclude a certain amount of devotion to the Source, and the wealth waiting for each and every one of us while sitting under God, under the righteous limbs of the tree of life, seeking first HER wisdom.  Can you just imagine if all the world took this stance in finding remedy for the world's material, spiritual, physical, painful woes?   The disenfranchised, the gender-oppressed and oppression itself, men and women alike, being young and old, and from one continent to another.... all things fallen of this world can be course corrected.  Seek and ye shall find.

Humanity falters under the weight of humanity itself; and the only Thing that puts us back together, and keeps us together, is a life centered around the All-Knowing Grace of God, Truth and the Wisdom of the ages... for Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Our Founders recognized this truth;  decidedly and with full confidence, our essential liberties and freedoms and duties -- endowed by our Creator, that which do not come from government -- is written into our foundation.  

Our founders never said it would be easy, they never promised us a rose garden, and we can only assume they never saw a time in America when we consumed 90% of the world's tranquilizers just to make it through the day (especially, if we are to add in the mother lode of modern day conveniences....like washing machines, telephones, blogs, instant messaging, indoor plumbing, refrigeration, the light bulb, aerobics by Richard Simmons and brought to you by the miracle of T.V.....all these things AND the Bible?  It's almost like we have heaven on earth, heaven on earth.  But I digress).

One last thing before I go -- feel free to feast your eyes upon a wonderful answer to the Day Without Women Charade and on parade yesterday.   It comes from Lifezette.  Nina May responds with this: "A Day Without Whiny Women." -- think of it as a natural elixir to lift you out of the political doldrums of our days; it's like a peach Bellini with an extra splash of sass.  

Gotta go now, for this girl has a lunch date with a lady more precious than rubies.

True tranquility is in the eyes of the beholder, in the arms of the Almighty, and lives within us, no matter what corner of the world we live in, in the pursuit of our Happiness.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's the Corner of Too Much Bull and Broad Thing

Dear America,

Business is Great

People are Terrific

Life is Wonderful

this is the kind of attitude all of us should have, all the time.

It was plastered to a bumper...and I thought to myself, whoa. I wanted to jump out of my car and meet them right then and there.  I wanted to see it, touch it, affirm it; I thought to myself, let's redistribute more of THAT!

You know the Gallup poll has a new number for the unemployed at 7.3% [whatever...]; while the underemployed number is holding at about 16.3%.   And I thought to myself, that's 23.6% of the faithful primarily unhappy in their daily purpose to create income.

Business is Great...

“As many of you know venture capital and private equity is one of the key mechanisms by which we finance new businesses in the state of Illinois,” state Sen. Obama said in a speech before the Illinois Senate on May 30, 2003.  “For a variety of reasons, Illinois has been lagging behind some of our competitor states in the formation of venture capital and its deployment in terms of seeding and funding new companies.”

This little tidbit is per ABC news, snapped from a post @ the Washington Free Beacon, titled "Obama Was For Venture Capital Before He Was Against It."

The article continues, saying:

Obama proposed a private equity task force in a resolution, in which he said that private equity “offers the best opportunity for long-term economic vitality, for the expansion of jobs, for the improvement of productivity and a quality standard of living, and for providing the greatest number of citizens with genuine opportunity.”

"[Private equity]offers the best opportunity for long-term economic vitality, for the expansion of jobs, for the improvement of productivity and a quality standard of living, and for providing the greatest number of citizens with genuine opportunity."  and yes -- it was worth repeating.

Just what has changed for you, Mr. President?

And if you believed it then, how come you despise it now?  Some might begin to think you are running that  Chevy Volt* dream car of yours all over the map, with that stark raving hypocrisy of yours riding shotgun. [*He really did say he wanted one]

And if what you said way back in 2003 is true -- which I, for one, would have to whole-heartedly agree with you  -- then wouldn't the mind and experience of a venture capitalist in the Oval Office be just the ticket?

Just imagine it!  Having a guy sitting in the Oval Office coming with 25 years Venture Capital experience -- creating the environment for the making of jobs, expanding companies, starting new businesses, changing lives, and creating wonderful.

And yet, we can't dwell on that thought for very long, as I couldn't help but notice another article at the same place, which began going something like this:

"The Washington Free Beacon has obtained a report soon to be released by the United Nations that calls for an international campaign of legal attacks and economic warfare on a group of American companies that do business in Israel, including Hewlett-Packard, Caterpillar Inc., and Motorola Solutions Inc."

and continues with:

"The Human Rights Council (HRC), a body dominated by Islamic countries and known for its hostility to, and heavy focus on, the Jewish State, issued the report. The George W. Bush administration refused to participate in the HRC, but President Barack Obama joined it soon after taking office. Members of the HRC include infamous human rights abusers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Libya, China, and Cuba.

 The Obama-approved body maintains a “Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories [sic].” The current rapporteur is American college professor Richard Falk, a 9/11 “truther” who once posted an anti-Semitic cartoon on his personal blog."

If so inclined, you can continue Reading HERE.

People are Terrific...

But allow me to get back to this business -- where is the president on this shocker?  Mr. " I'm all about Jobs, American Jobs, American Companies, American Competitiveness, American Stock" -- what are you planning on doing about this?  Holy Toledo.

And speaking of Toledo --  the two candidates are tied up in Ohio at 48%.  BUT -- did you hear?  Apparently, Chrysler is thinking about shipping the making of 'ALL or SOME' of it's JEEP line to CHINA.  I would hold up on that early vote until you find out more....you can start HERE.

Just think, Obama was out there on the campaign trail just yesterday and didn't say a word about it. huh.

Paul Bedard, of the Washington Examiner, mentions the president, the auto-bailout, a number of times, including this highlight:

"Obama is such a fan of Jeep that he included a picture of himself speaking at the Toledo plant in his newly released second term agenda binder. In his address to the plant in 2011, Obama said, 'I just took a short tour of the plant and watched some of you putting the finishing touches on the Wrangler. Now, as somebody reminded, I need to call it the 'iconic' Wrangler. And that's appropriate because when you think about what Wrangler has always symbolized. It symbolized freedom, adventure, hitting the open road, never looking back.'"

Well now -- looking back to that comment and Chrysler's new reality -- is that irony smacking the president right in the face with a few bumps in the road?   So prophetic, isn't it?   "I need to call it 'iconic' Wrangler" -- ya got that right given that Jeep is as good as gone baby gone in another year.  

But hey, the President keeps saying he is a 'man we can trust' so he must be trustworthy because he also says he 'always says what he means, and means what he says, and trust matters'.  [...that is just the G crib notes of every speech made since the last debate]  

...And only then does the same president spend the rest of his speech ridiculing his opponent about frivolous things that are either not true, misunderstood, exaggerated, or ridiculous.  He can't really talk about his message, or his policies, or his record, because nothing  has worked.  Scratch that -- it's worked -- but only on paper. It sounds good, anyway.

Speaking of things askew -- the polls are a fine example.  Up until now, most polls were dramatically pulling in Obama's favor across the board, mostly because they over-polled the democrats, and under-polled the independents and republicans.  Which is so strange...  I wonder if the operative being a liberal college or think tank has anything to do with it?

But notice how, as the election gets closer, the polling has made dramatic shifts and swings in Romney's favor.  What's happening?  A little thing called long-term investment:  the numbers need to be accurate, otherwise, the pollster loses all credibility.  If bias warps the reality, nobody would pay any attention to them next time around.

For example:  Consider the polling of the so-called and so-contrived "women's gap;" this hypothesis never had a chance.  The reality is we live in a wonderful world AND we, the people,  lean just right of center -- that being on most things political and economical and cultural [it's roughly a 60-40 split].  This means, when you get down to business, there are slightly more women who lean right.  The early numbers just didn't add up right from the start.   And on a personal note: Poll me! I've been voting all my life and have yet to get the call.

AND Obama refers to Romney as the big "bullsh&^%ter"....yeah right.  okay.

Oh Wait!  That reminds me of something fun to read.   Looking for a giggle?   Go to The Daily Caller HERE for The top five reasons Politico is garbage, in their own words, by Christopher Bedford. good stuff...

What I find troublesome, is the realization that this president -- in the natural, when he's confident in his surroundings -- really thinks Romney is a bullsh&*ter and is not afraid to say so.  He looks upon the guy's business experience with contempt; he thinks his ideas for economic change are simply too broad, not specific, and that must mean he's got nothing and he's just full of bull.   

Piecing together the last few months of this presidency, the more disenchanted and disappointed I get.  I think to myself, just how in the world did this happen?   

President Obama reveals "little to none" in the firm reliance department of understanding America's true corporate identity; for the words of our founders crafted exceptionalism and enterprise into our foundation with broad, magnificent, strokes, even though every word was carefully selected and meaningful to the core.
 

Life is Wonderful...

Now, I've got something really good to share from one of my favorite essays in the world, Compensation; it's timeless, thoughtful, and terrific -- and comes from the incredibly, creative spirit that is Ralph Waldo Emerson. [And I've quoted this passage before...circa March 2012...but it's so good, the repeat is totally worthy]  Here you go:

"All things are double, one against another. — Tit for tat; an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth; blood for blood; measure for measure; love for love. — Give and it shall be given you. — He that watereth shall be watered himself. — What will you have? quoth God; pay for it and take it. — Nothing venture, nothing have. — Thou shalt be paid exactly for what thou hast done, no more, no less. — Who doth not work shall not eat. — Harm watch, harm catch. — Curses always recoil on the head of him who imprecates them. — If you put a chain around the neck of a slave, the other end fastens itself around your own. — Bad counsel confounds the adviser. — The Devil is an ass.

It is thus written, because it is thus in life. Our action is overmastered and characterized above our will by the law of nature. We aim at a petty end quite aside from the public good, but our act arranges itself by irresistible magnetism in a line with the poles of the world.

 A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will, or against his will, he draws his portrait to the eye of his companions by every word. Every opinion reacts on him who utters it. It is a thread-ball thrown at a mark, but the other end remains in the thrower's bag. Or, rather, it is a harpoon hurled at the whale, unwinding, as it flies, a coil of cord in the boat, and if the harpoon is not good, or not well thrown, it will go nigh to cut the steersman in twain, or to sink the boat."

GO HERE to EMERSON CENTRAL For the full dose.


I play a game with myself when I read Emerson -- depending upon what is going on in my life, something different jumps out...even if I am reading the same passage, pausing at the same paragraph, with the same words in front of me.

Today, that thing is this: "He that watereth, shall be watered himself."  

Our Declaration of Independence is perhaps the most beautiful thing in the world!  For look what it made!  And yet, to read it, it doesn't come with any specifics...It  just 'watereth.'

Now isn't that something..remember how we started...how an itty bitty bumper sticker can lead to.... incorporation.... which can lead to capitalization ....which can lead to expansion.... which can lead to Emerson ....which can lead to the contagion to start a new day.  In idea form, it's called free enterprising -- as it's all about action and attitude hitting the open road.

Business is Great

People are Terrific

Life is Wonderful

In a free market, we call it just the beginning to something called compensation. Evidently, for our president, it stops at the corner of  'too much bull and broad' to fully comprehend, let alone DO without a bad attitude (or is it bad intentions? bwahahahahah)
 

Now carry on -- sprinkle -- and spread the word.

Make it a Good Day, G 

Just a few foot notes...

For a real kick in the behind, go here:   READ this from The Heritage Foundation.

And welcome to the new world in California -- it's called Boot to the Neck governing, courtesy of Brown. You know what he says now - - in order to get his Prop 30 passed?  It's a choice between his tax hike or the kids get released from school THREE WEEKS early!  As if there is nothing else that they can cut instead...unbelievable.  

This is called Left foot, wrong direction...step into liquid here. 

It's I Pledge to the United States of America Thing

Dear America,

somebody needs to get to the Romney camp, sit them down with some s'mores, and set things straight.

Romney needs to be on offense, not defense -- whether it is regarding Obamacare or Romneycare, Bain or off-shore jobs, free market economy vs. nanny state...you get my driftwood so take a seat.

The fundamental difference between Obamacare and Romneycare is that Romney acted on behalf of a STATE!    States -- as sovereign entities unto their own -- can enact things a federal government has absolutely no power over.  End of story.

The people of Massachusetts wanted a health care system, and the state legislature made it so; while according to the new definition of penalty -- it, too, would be considered a tax.

So, this brings us to the opening of the floodgates with a universal government run health care system (aka socialist medicine).  We the People have never wanted this; and the federal government has no such power to create it; this task should continue to be left to the individual states ---

Romney can win this argument over and over and over again...and yet, here they sit, fussing about what we are calling it with the left brain media as if the campaign has no higher ground to climb up to.

unbelievable.

now let's turn to the outsourcing dilemma --

let's first go to The Daily Caller citing a factcheck.org fact check, go here.

The G-ist of it is this:

"After reviewing numerous corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contemporary news accounts, company histories and press releases, and the evidence offered by both the Obama and Romney campaigns, we found no evidence to support the claim that Romney — while he was still running Bain Capital — shipped American jobs overseas."

Now cue an ancient article -- from September 2011 -- capitalist china meets Chevrolet.
did you read it?
if you did, you can now proceed with caution to the episode now appearing on GTV:

.

Romney -- can you say offense in Chinese?

Obama has got nothing on Romney.  Romney is the one who KNOWS business; Romney is the one who makes sound investments, rebuilds, and brings new life to a business about to be drowned in debt and mismanagement.

What is Obama?  A community organizer, a bureaucrat, a spender, a president who has never worked in the real world a day in his life.  He is just someone highly astute at protesting, marching, and occupying the White House while stomping and tromping over the Constitution of the United States and the separation of powers; this is what he knows; it's innate, handed down to him through 'dreams from my father' and radicalism from his mother, while fostered under the likes of Saul Alinsky and mentored for twenty years under the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Can you find any other history on the guy?
No, you can't.

Why? Because this is just who he IS.  And the definition of is, is. 

If the Left were really honest with themselves -- they would see that this president sits on the wrong side of America each and every time, totally willing to chop us all up and spit us back out using whatever means available to fundamentally transform America. It's the only promise he ever intended to keep.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

So here we are, on the eve of another birthday, when who would have thought we would be sitting here wondering if this will be our last.  Everything hangs on the next election.

Our dear Republic sits, huddled around the campfire, scared, shaking at her roots, feeling very much in jeopardy.

Just who could enjoy fireworks at a time like this?

Perhaps a moment of silence, for prayer and reflection, may be the order of the day tomorrow.

May you and yours be safe --

May I also recommend reading The Declaration of Independence with your family, or to the dog, whatever--
for 

"When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, its the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes..." 

to keep reading it -- go here.

"...with firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor."

oh to have every single one of us take this pledge...

Make it a Good Day, G

It's a Real Patriotism Thing

Dear America,

"It would seem that the best view 

of patriotism recognizes that society 

and all its numerous elements are best served 

when the general welfare of the greatest number 

of people becomes the great objective 

of all its people, 

rather than the selfish pursuit of 

personal peace and affluence by each individual...

Universal love produces the highest form of patriotism."

We love to talk about the Day After here on G thing -- oh right, that is the idea that started it all for me, being G.  It was just another sunny day in Solana Beach, when lighting struck me upside the head and said, do something, say something, just begin the conversation if only to soothe ye own mind.

That was July 23, 2009 and the day went something like this:

Where do we begin and how do we begin again, I ask myself.

Where I live, it is the Day After OPENING Day of the Races, in Del Mar. It is one of those local traditions that brings the seasonal influx of big hats and high balls, arriving as Bing Crosby sings by train or by car-- limo or B'mer-- and away they go with a day of heavy drinking, gambling and the like. I really don't wanna sound cynical during these trying times, but it is a wonder when pondering the state of America and all of it's ills, worries and confusion how merriment still reigns a very high priority.

Of course, it is also the Day After the Presidential prime-time address regarding the state of our healthcare system and the valiant push by our President Obama to "make it so"-- even if it rushes to harm us in the end.

While just the idea of the Day After brings a sense of melancholy, as if to say that the party is over, time to heal the hangover, pop a pill and sleep it off.

It is the day after something big, something planned, and that something is now over...it merely signifies the remains of the day, recognized here as the Day After.

I find such irony in realizing that here we are, living in the country which created the very idea of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," having now thoroughly grown into such a wayward, mental state, as a people. Seems to me we are lost -- individually, and collectively -- living in one serious hangover; while the only way, I see, to transcend this downward trend is to go back in time, to the time before, to a time where it all began.

A time when our founding fathers and philosophers and renaissance men and society were all speaking the same language. A language that united us in thought, and in word, and in deed, to do our personal best. It was a time that called for individual responsibility to rise up and create a life of happiness on our own. A time when you had no choice but to create that life because big daddy nanny state wasn't going to do it for you, and moreover, we didn't want them to!

How can it be okay to let the government simply takeover our lives?  While, to that end, it would seem, by two-thirds of the prevailing attitude, a hostile takeover at that. Are we giving birth to people so weak, and clearly blind, to the trappings of big government? Or are we just spellbound by the very idea that maybe this time big government will be different?

Perhaps we are no longer the greatest generation, or nation; perhaps handouts and subsidies and higher taxes are the answer to our prayers.

Wake Up you people! Socialism has many ills, wrecks societies and has never been a system of government that allows for the full freedoms and liberty of it's people. It has never worked -- and it never will -- and by all means and heaven forbid, do not let a really cool President convince you otherwise!

Our power to choose everything, good or bad, not only dictates our individual life each and every day, but as a whole, in our present day, it has the ill-fated power to create a society of puppets!

I say today, NO thank you.

We have the power to create responsible, accountable citizens who revel in every thought our freedom brings -- to raise a family, grow a business, acquire wealth and prosper in every possible way. Government is not needed for that! Stop, think, grow rich and look at how we are just turning over, as if playing dead, to the powers that be through taxation, through excess, through mismanagement, through loss of control, through waste, through affairs on the taxpayer dime, through corruption, through lobby, through not in my back yard, through just sleeping it off like the Day After hoping we will just wake up and have it all better tomorrow.

The only pill for this Day After is a hard pill to swallow. That's it. Mary Poppins is not here to put a little sugar on it. It will take each of us, individually and collectively to wake up and place our government back in the hands of the people.

We must recognize that this power and strength is within ourselves all along; our outer world will only change when we align our self to the qualities that will sustain the individual to rise up and be strong all by one's self. Then collectively, we will live all of our days in the land of the free and home of the brave and even look forward to the Day After, and the day after that, and the day after that, and ...

ahh, nothing like a a little day tripping down memory lane.

Given Obama was just an O-babe in the woods back then -- that fateful Day After ...the one that started me on this journey -- I wish I could say that he hasn't done much since.  But, of course, if you are a part of the awakened citizenry that has subsequently arisen out of the ashes, you would be well aware by now that his style of executive leadership, combined with his associations through community organizing, has pretty much upturned every blessed rock this country was built.  Our foundation has been shaken to the core -- no, make that "fundamentally transformed," indeed.

The opening quotation today is from a book that I keep reading and re-reading:  William Wilberforce's Real Christianity as told by Bob Beltz -- who offers us a version of the Wilberforce classic with a modern flare.  But make no mistake, the life and times of a young Wilberforce -- who, at the ripe old age of twenty one -- was compelled to shed some much needed light upon a culture of corruption and shame.  (And bear in mind, a manuscript originally published in 1797!) 

Suffice it to say, everything Wilberforce knew then, runs exactly -- make that profoundly -- concurrent to the day's current affairs.  Sure, there is one small caveat here, in that Wilberforce was a Brit; but let that not stand in the way of the lessons that only real authentic change (through a true Christian heart) brings forth.

Three days before he died, monumental legislation was signed into law in the House of Commons, in Great Britain:  the abolishing of slavery; and all because Wilberforce thought he could make a difference.  He turned over his entire life and pursuits to the immediate cause.   And by raising a higher conscience within society, through a reawakening of the basic precepts and teachings of living life and growing society from a place of authentic Christianity, he changed the world.



Basically, Wilberforce believed many things -- here is just a glance:

"Benevolence and philanthropy that arise from a purely secular framework usually proves deficient:  They always fall short of meeting the full needs of those they seek to benefit.  Cost is always measured against the discomfort that such benevolence might produce in the giver.  True Christian benevolence goes the extra mile.  Its objective is to meet the need even at the cost of self-sacrifice.  It is like a river that flows from an unfailing and abundant source...

...[Christianity] not only teaches the highest moral and ethical code known to man, but through relationship with the Creator of the code the believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep it.

True Christianity, by nature, seems to be particularly and powerfully constituted to promote the welfare and health of political communities.  Why is that?  The reality is that all other systems are rooted in human selfishness.  They are conceived in selfishness, grow in selfishness and, ultimately, perish because of selfishness."

and just maybe we will return to the force defying all odds, in Wilberforce, for the entire week...who knows.

But before I go, did you happen to read about a kid from Compton, Allan Guei?  Talk about finding one's unselfish spirit!  Read this.

THIS is what this country is all about.  Doing something for somebody else just out of the goodness of one's own heart.

Yes, this is the Day After our nation's 235th birthday.  That is a lot of candles.  While, against seemingly all popular belief, real goodness and real charity and a real unselfish heart live to see another day in Allan Guei.  All America really needs now is more of us following the way of Guei, be it religious or not. 

America seems to be more transient in spirit than we have ever been.  By the looks of things, with the loss of living our daily life from a place of "an unfailing and abundant source," with man attempting to play God the more the public spirit wanes, we could easily be living in  Great Britain, circa1797.  But we're not, are we?

We live in America, in 2011, as our nation's caretakers of the American belief system.

The American belief system -- the one we recognize that our rights come from the Creator, not government -- the one, which began, centuries ago, with our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, for a number of reasons really -- and each and every one painstakingly and duly noted within...

The one my girl graciously allowed me to read out loud just yesterday afternoon -- you know, out of the goodness of her heart... she let me have my thrill without an eye ball roll to the back of her head and all.  And she, as a matter of record, seemed almost enthusiastic (but I'll never tell)  (oops).  While I began our sentimental journey reading every word of our declaration, she quickly began to finish a few familial phrases on the fly -- you know, in the moments I would give way to a theatrical pause.  Oh, girl, you make a mama's heart sing...it was a good day.

And all things considered, it makes for a pretty good day after, too.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's a Coolest Ride on Earth Thing, man up

Dear America,

happy tuesday.
hang on, everybody. it is gonna be missy g's wild ride again this morning; I can just feel it.  pop a Dramamine if you have to, grab a friend if you are a wee bit scared.  we will get through this. together.

It is all about Nation Building.  And don't blame me, the president started it.  If he truly wants to go there, then let's go.  Invite us all to the show, right.  Or am I the only one left hanging on for dear life on this very phrase?


The way I see it, much of what the president says gets glossed over by the mainstream -- it is as if his rhetoric is strutted around, in front of the paparazzi, sounding good, looking all-American, and all -- and then poof! there is nothing on the inside to back it up, while all in all, nobody really cares.

He might say it, but there is no follow through in the real world; and even the free market reacts -- with goosebumps and shivers -- wondering what in the world the future might bring -- just where are we going with this.  Everything is up in the air; with a stream of unknowns clearly monopolizing on the day, taking over our every move, hindering all constructive thought.

And we are, for maybe the first time, living in a sea of doubt, just riding the waves.  feeling powerless...something has a hold of us, and we aren't even sure what.  we can't even describe it, we just know we don't like it and never want to be in this position again.

But how can I do this, if I don't know that?

Truth is, we hopped on this whirly twirly roller coaster all on our own volition. Sure, I personally didn't.  Maybe you personally didn't.  But as a group, we all decided that this was the ride -- and fair is fair --  the majority wanted this ride, so the majority wins.  and if you don't like it, then that characterization has already been decided for you, too -- you are either a wussy or a racist, take your pick.

The thing is, we shouldn't even be having this conversation on "nation building."   The founders set us up to protect us from ourselves from the start.  They gave us the warning signs, they enumerated our powers, they read us our rights, they presented our inherent duty - to God and to country - of exactly what it would take from each and every one of us to survive.  They handed over absolutely everything we should ever need to take the right course of action -- in order to protect, defend, and illuminate our essential liberties.

How absurd is it, that we find ourselves these days, defending our first document -- our first Emancipation Proclamation, if you will -- from Great Britain.  How is that even possible?  How dare the modern, progressive, uber-liberal, left wing loons tear apart the engine, piece by piece, and replacing it with anything and everything that runs counter-intuitive to the process of the way this nation, and it's construction, intended.

For if they get their way, we will never make it up the next hill.

From The Heritage Foundation, a beautiful explanation of just this one facet of our heritage, comes from Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D., saying:

"This principle of “inherent” or inalienable rights outside of and despite government imbues our Declaration of Independence and invigorates our Constitution. Since our founding, these important documents provided the basis for our social order and American jurisprudence. They have guided our struggles to overcome slavery and discrimination by race, religion, sex, or birth. And they have guided our engagement abroad.

Yet this principle of inalienable natural rights—fundamental rights that government neither creates nor can take away—isn’t the same as the thoroughly modern idea of “human rights.”

Although both are universal, natural rights most emphatically do not come from government. Government only secures these rights, that is, creates the political conditions that allow one to exercise them. Human rights, as popularly understood, are bestowed by the state or governing body."

This girl, considers Kim Holmes - a boy, by the way - to be nothing short of brilliant.  His entire post, How Should Americans Think About Human Rights? captures the intrinsic value of understanding CONTEXT of country --  as we have only just begun to have that conversation here on G thing just yesterday.  To read more from Holmes -- and I totally recommend an afternoon taking it all in, go here.  Your American spirit will reach such splendid heights, you will never want to leave it behind again.

 But just in case a good read is not in your timetable this morning, let me leave you with this, from Holmes:

"...natural rights, being natural, do not change over time. All men, at all times, have had the same right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Human rights, on the other hand, constantly change. A whole cottage industry has sprung up to advance a bevy of new “economic and social rights” conceived of, defined by, and promoted by activists, governments, and international bureaucrats.

Many Americans are unaware that these manufactured rights are not the same as the natural rights endowed by God or nature. What are often called “human rights” today are social constructs. They either sound like high-minded aspirations—equal rights for women and minorities—or like trivial and harmless concepts such as the “right to leisure.”

These concepts are in fact neither high-minded nor harmless: they are fundamentally incompatible with the Founders’ understanding of natural rights."

Good government -- one that stayed out of the people's way -- relied on each on every one of us to be a good citizen, of sound mind and body, engaged, educated, empowered... to do our part.  That triple E section there was an ode to my new best friends @ Smart Girl Politics.  I am three days in and love, love, love this place to let it all hang out, one conservative girl to another, infiltrated with a few best boys, too. Check it out.

But back on the main line, nearly every debate -- from Debt, Deficit, Entitlement, Gay Marriage, Energy, Church & State, Civil Liberties, Human Rights, International Relations, Medicare, Libya....-- can be course corrected and resolved when proper context and direction is applied.  All of it.

What we are experiencing in America can quickly be defined as revolutionary redistribution -- a redistribution of wealth, a redistribution of rights, a redistribution of liberties, a redistribution of duty, a redistribution of shame, guilt, obligation, happiness, anger, apathy, control, power, even the fun factor...You see where this is going?  Once a government begins the path of redistribution, what is to stop it?  It is a moving train, barreling over the freedoms and liberties of someone else.  It is as simple as that.

While the irony is, the more we break from tradition -- in our so-called progression -- the more we get in our own way.  Full stop ahead, folks.

UNLESS...

unless we remind ourselves of that revolutionary experience that happened so long ago.

We can ride that wave again and again; getting more sure of ourselves as we go along.   Think of it like, the Fair's in town, and it never really goes away.   But like all really cool rides -- you, me, everybody -- need to be tall enough to deserve a spin; which, in revolutionary terms means -- we have to know what we are talking about, we have to spend time growing up a little, we have to understand the meaning of real strength, real honor, real integrity in motion.  We have to become part of a group, in unwavering agreement, to get on in the first place -- and to know the ride.  Be the ride; to live the language and demonstrate our ability to keep up -- for the betterment of not only ourselves, but each other. (man up, nobody likes being next to the kid who spills his cookies, right?)

It is not so much about the right to get on, as much as it is the duty to defend each and every seat, as your own, as connected to the whole, in order so that we might not only survive -- but thrive in it, revel in it, in pursuit of happiness in it.  c'mon, take my hand, it will be so much fun.

Make it a Good Day, G

PS and you know...one of the greatest things about riding the Revolution is that, things may twist and turn, we may even get totally upside down and slide backwards...it may even seem like revolution after revolution after revolution... but eventually, we stop, and right side up.  dizzy perhaps.  but boy, do we have a story to tell.

It's a Pledge Thing

Dear America,

you're right NBC, the original document did not contain those vile two words (purely and unabashedly according to you) "Under God."  They were added later, much later.  whatever. you got me.  Yes, it was under Eisenhower, when a certain amount of tweaking occurred, adding the two words that seem to make the entire Left side of the American Body's skin crawl.  again.  shoot the messenger, why don't you...as that seems to work like a charm.

First, the obvious.  The Pledge of Allegiance was created and placed into common practice throughout the years beginning in 1892 -- while through the ages, it was frequently  modified. The last and final version being signed by Congress in 1954.   The thing is, we have a pledge, and it's words are clear, precise, eloquent and patriotic:

"I pledge allegiance

to the flag 

of the United States of America, 

and to the republic 

for which it stands, 

one nation 

under God, 

indivisible, 

with liberty 

and justice 

for all."

All in all, we tweaked it a number of times...first it was "my" flag, then it became "to" the republic...we added, "United States" and "America" -- each at different times -- and then we added "under God."

And we didn't even have "a pledge" for a many years following our birth, which, if I am not mistaken, was 1776 (that is supposed to be where you give a hearty laugh).   The most ironic thing I discovered (just today) is a wee bit of new information on it's creator -- as well as learning just when, in fact, the pledge was formally adopted.

So first, to address the latter, it was not officially signed off by Congress until 1942 [please note, long gap between Bellamy's Pledge of 1892 to 1942...long.  did I say long?].

We are acting like we have had this pledge all along...for hundreds of years already...when in fact...it has never stopped evolving since the late eighteen hundreds...to just last week, when the Supreme Court outright denied yet another case on the matter...but I digress.

To get to the former, Francis Bellamy, our fearless creator who penned the famous pledge, was part of a Christian Socialist movement, and a Free Mason, and was big on following a "fraternity" style rules of order and conduct.  It became widely accepted, at the time of standing to recite the pledge, to also add a "Bellamy Salute" -- which, if you happen to be on the side of those taking issue with crossing our heart and standing to our Pledge of Allegiance to our flag now -- with or without "under God" --   God help you when you realize what we did back in the day.  [can you say heil?]

If your really think about it -- as much as it is patriotic to salute old Glory and all that She stands for -- in a weird way, the salute of the flag raises a concern: are we idolizing a symbol of country over God, or is it one in the same? are we in relationship with a thing, or many things, over a Supreme Thing, while, quite possibly, and shamefully, losing our way?  are we continuing to live with respect, recognition and greater understanding of that which came before -- long before the first words of a pledge were ever uttered?

Now I LOVE LOVE LOVE the FLAG and these here United States -- do not pick my words apart.  I will place my hand over my heart any day, and every day, to this country and for which we stand, united, together, under God, indivisible,  in liberty and justice for all.  THAT  REPUBLIC, IS, and I am all over it with bells on.


AND if you really wish to understand who we are and how we got here -- in order to fully comprehend just how much GOD IS -- and just how ridiculous this "new" conversation we are having on being "under God" or over It really is -- then look no further than our Declaration of Independence.  Our first, and only, document that defines who we are.  Dare to understand the context of the first true Americans, our forefathers, and brothers and sisters.  DARE to go there, and then we can talk.  First paragraph:

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Equality not of this world -- unparalleled through the ages -- began just so.  Second paragraph:

"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, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.   Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, that to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.  But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security -- Such has been the patient sufference of these Colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.  The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.  To prove this, let these facts be submitted to a candid world."

oh what the heck...here is the rest of it:

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

The list of things in the middle there -- all beginning with "He has" -- is what fascinates me to no end. Can you figure out why a few are highlighted in red?

All things considered,  THIS IS the only pledge that really means a hill of beans.  Whatever else we give meaning to, is of our own volition and concern; there is no order to say the pledge -- but if you choose to do so, then using the version under authority vested by Congress would seem to be the right words to say.  just sayin'.  


Something we might all try -- coupled with the definition of Is under the belief system held by the Free Masons -- is that the definition of Is, that which is, the Supreme Being, the Creator, the God of our choosing -- is simply that.  It is whatever you make It out to Be, or not.  There is no rule; there is no order; there is no fraternity under One Belief System with a Bellamy Salute; as It, is only, whatever meaning you, personally, thoughtfully, give freely of yourself to make.  That is It.


If people really want to have their facts straight (that is, if, in fact, some of us have our panties in a wad over being a country of, under, over or through, God -- the Thing above all other living things)  then get it right; 'you people' would have to go back to every written document ever written and expressly conceived and created through the Power vested in Thee, the Almighty, in a manner that only Divine Providence can Be, Do or Have, being It is in and of this world through us -- and change it all.  'You people' would have to rewrite our entire history -- from birth, through the fire, through the glory, through every waking day since our Declaration of Independence was sealed.  Which, looky there, the calendar shows, we are dating ourselves back to the days of our original intent right now, as we speak.


Being a nation UNDER GOD only affirms original intent and the Magnificence of the Divine Providence that made us.  With all due respect, reciting our Pledge of Allegiance has got nothing on that.  Get over it!


Enough already with all this nonsense surrounding this Nation's 'Natures God', that which we live, work and play under, over, or through and only to be decided by you --  and the least of which, while subject to objection, is nothing new.  Gladly, It IS and It is here to stay.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

I am surrounded in the realization that there really are no accidents.

Even though while tidying up on Saturday I zigged when my vacuum zagged and put me on the couch for nearly twenty four hours before I could move again, the time served me well.

I read the newspaper cover to cover, clipped coupons, cut out articles I wanted to keep my hands on, and managed to watch back to back (ba dump ba) John Wayne movies.

Inquiring minds wanna know, how many of you read the latest news out of the Library of Congress about a minor (major) detail of the Declaration of Independence? 

Anytime we get a feel for the mindset behind the man of one of our forefathers we must be grateful, but this little tidbit of admission is simply astounding.  The American public, at first glance, were considered to be merely subjects (reverting back to the days physically and emotionally captured under the spell of the King of England, no doubt, hard to escape olde allegiances like that -- bringing to mind the proverb "song a sparrow learns in youth is its song for life"...).

But upon serious second thought, Thomas Jefferson changed the defining text to say "citizens."

Just looking at the printed "digitally enhanced" rough draft, showing the manuscript itself, the actual penmanship of the man widely recognized as the father of our Declaration, gives me goosebumps.  I mean, the guy actually wrote on this historic document -- along with the reality of the many hands of Americans who somehow managed to keep it -- is still here in black and white (or green) is simply amazing. 

Normally, the document is kept under a "130-pound oxygen-free safe" -- outside of it's protective custody for the first time in fifteen years, this magical moment is only made possible through the latest hyperspectral imaging of digital technology.   Unbelieveable.

But oh what Thomas must be thinking nowadays, woe is me...

This morning's news brought immediate anguish as the Federal Government makes widely known of it's intention to sue Arizona for real, over the SB1070 Immigration legislation; all the while, illegals have resorted back to other methods of entry, as in coming by boat -- whereas one of San Diego's own beach cities, Encinitas (just a hop skip and a jump from my backyard) landed a boatload of fifteen illegals, washed up with the Coast Guard waiting for them.

Thank goodness our declaration made the change, no?

Another article in Saturday's Union-Tribune included a two page spread on the immigrants who join our armed forces legally, and await citizenship while serving our country.  Still having to wait years to be able to say the pledge of allegiance for the first time as a bonafide citizen, the military welcomes men and women of honor, and offers an opportunity to be all that they can be in more ways than one.

What a difference in stories.

These people not only wanted to come to America for a better life for themselves, and their families, but they did so by giving something of themselves to America first -- in strength of courage, commitment, and character, they asked what they could do for the country they wished to belong to before demanding anything else.

The thing is, an occasion like this one, here in San Diego harbour (aboard the USS Midway Museum -- note to Chris and remembering one of my best days ever!),  the celebration was ripe for a President to sail in on eagle's wings to lend his gracious thanks and praise for immigrants of this stature --raising awareness to an avenue of citizenship hardly ever mentioned, let alone gain the elevated attention of the Commander in Chief.  How easily a paradigm shift could have been made -- for those who come joyfully and honorably through proper channels such a this. (But that didn't happen, did it.)

Friday's Naturalization Ceremony was a dream come true for 300 people, birthed in nearly 50 different countries!  Maglan Laizer was one of them -- his hometown a village in Aruscha, Tanzania, and son of a Masai tribesman.  Before coming to America, he helped kill a lion as part of a "coming of age" process; I guess, after that, going through the rigorous routine of becoming a member of our fine military and venturing down the path of naturalization, is child's play.

Thank you, Maglan; I realize I don't know you, but in this moment I wish I did.

My brother, Chris, as briefly mentioned earlier, is the most patriotic kid in America --  I say kid, for with his downs syndrome he will remain a kid at heart forever; he's practiced being a kid for 49 years now, and counting.  Did I mention he is my big brother?  Always the older and the wiser; my mind keeps wandering back to him for he is really to blame for me watching the John Wayne marathon...

If it weren't for him, I never would have let the channel surfing hold up on Operation Pacific --  a movie he mentioned to me for the first time while visiting just two weeks ago.  No accidents there, no sir ree.

I teased him, thinking he had it confused with something else... all the while I had no idea John Wayne was even in a submarine movie -- and he teased me back like as if he knew I really was being the idiot -- and we moved on... 

Yes so cut to the chase...long story short... who is the idiot now...

And it was actually pretty good! Never would I have imagined myself getting sucked in, but Wayne, Submarines, and Hollywood oh my  -- did I.

Uncanny the similarities in the personal relationship between the Duke and his wife; with her going off and ranting in one scene... "[how you] don't need a girl, Duke, you don't need anyone" (and just picture Patricia Neal, in every bit of raspy-ness and divine upstaging you can muster) -- change a letter or two, and you've got me fussing and moaning like a conversation of recent days...but I digress.

The other movie I couldn't keep my eyes off of was "The Wings of Eagles" -- a classic tale of the life and times a real officer and a gentleman, Frank "Spig" Wead.  This was no accident either, for what happens to old Spig was a fall down the stairs, upending his naval career (for awhile, anyway) and he lands on a hospital bed for months -- having a slim chance to none for full recovery, unable to walk, and subject to neck and back surgery for decades. Half the movie, Spig is laying out flat on his stomach -- only able to move a pencil -- in which he begins to churn out books and movies made for Saturday afternoons...

This movie had everything you could ever want in a patriotic Fourth of July John Wayne weekend extravaganza -- roses and romance, coming back from paralysis to save the fleet in WWII, in the meantime plenty of wanton shots of scotch, with the bonus of a strong willed wife (played by Maureen O'Hara, whom I adore) moving on to have her own career in posh San Francisco (a picture worth a thousand words if you ask me ...long before feminists ruined it for women... just sayin'...but save for another day...)

Okay, so in between the movies we would get little soundbites of nostalgia.  The one that really brought the aha moment was when I realized John Wayne had never actually been in the military; and apparently, one of the Duke's life regrets.

But after watching his magnificence for a day, one would have thought he had never been anything else.

Today, days after celebrating our country's 234 years, I have surrounded myself with the thought that nothing is by chance, really; the serendipity of life bringing our attention to exactly what we need to hear, see and do in any given moment is around us at all times -- it speaks to us if we stop to listen long enough. While even those moments, with angels unaware, we are restricted from doing anything of importance at all, while laid up on our back perhaps, without direction or ability to move a thing, it remains true and constant. 

As I pour over the clippings and pictures of my mind over the last few days, I have a wish.

I am just hoping Maglan Laizer, with his wife and daughter by his side, not only celebrates his new beginnings here in America -- having proven to be of sound mind, firm footing and exemplary character (just what America needs and is looking for in a new citizen, never a subject) -- but that he uses his liberty wisely(referring obviously to his new-found American Liberty with a capital "L" -- as well as, his everyday "time off" in nav-speak); perhaps spending it watching the good stuff... like an entire afternoon of John Wayne...back to back to back to back...

It will lift him up when he is down, it will fill him up when he is empty, and it will stir deep inside the American Spirit he now recognizes to be his very own.

Make it a Good Day, G

funny side note...as the story goes round and round and the world gets smaller and smaller...one of Spig Wead's daughters, Doris, married a guy named Bill Copley.  For San Diegans, the Copley's are the founders of the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper -- a family of hometown legacy and pride.  She didn't marry the John Birch side (James); she married the other Copley's son, William -- an avantgarde artist, who hung out with actors and Hollywood elite while living in Santa Monica --  a man who, oddly enough,  was also a member of the Communist party.

Dear America,

"The Almighty hath implanted in us these inextinguishable feelings of good and wise purposes.  They are the guardians of our hearts.  They distinguish us from the herd of common animals.  The social compact would dissolve, and justice be extirpated the earth, or have only a casual existence were we callous to the touches of affection.  The robber and the murderer, would often escape unpunished, did not the injuries which our tempers sustain, provoke us into justice.

O ye that love mankind!  Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!  Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression.  Freedom hath been hunted round the globe.  Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her.  Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart.  O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind."

Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Only in America did it become actually possible for all men to prosper, freely and liberated under the rule of law, unencumbered by the ties to working under "the man", and give full creative license to become anything your heart desires.

It seems easily forgotten, doesn't it; America got here through struggle and strife, a great loss of life, coming from the position "did not the injuries which our tempers sustain, provoke us into justice."

But with what is going on now, in America of all places, all I can think of is how things here must be taking up quite the conversation up there in heaven. As we turn our laws inside out, at times even reaching the travesty of full extirpation altogether, America is losing it.  For all the common sense from which we stand today,  rebellion is leading the way once more. And for what, because some people do not want to do the right thing? 

If only We the People could sustain the memory of our original intent, remembering the original sins of a tyrannical past which anchored our humble roots.

From The 5000 Year Leap,

"As we have seen, The American Founding Fathers would have agreed with Aristotle rather than Plato.  Part of this was due to the fact that the Founders looked upon law differently than Plato.  Instead of treating law as merely a code of negative restraints and prohibitions, they considered law to be a system of positive rules by which they could be assured of enjoying rights and the protection of themselves, their families, and their property.  In other words, law was a positive good rather than a necessary evil [to preserve and enlarge freedom]."

There is no freedom in a society racked and sacked with lawlessness -- it prohibits all action, all commerce, all good and all peace of mind necessary to prosper.  (Arizona case in point)

In this moment I am tickled by a little bit of advice from Ann Landers; I have had it cut out and on my fridge ever since my girl was three (while she is thirteen going on thirty today). 

Dear Ann Landers:
I'm a sixteen year old girl who is a nervous wreck from getting yelled at.  All I hear from morning till night is: "stop smoking.  Get off the phone.  Hang up your clothes.  Do your homework.  Clean up your room."  How can I get them off my back?
-- sick of parents

Dear Sick:
Stop smoking.  Get off the phone. Hang up your clothes. Do your homework, and clean up your room.

Has anyone else but me noticed how the more we "evolve", the more restricted this land is our land has become; our laws and regulation are changing, upturning our very foundation right out from under us.  They are changing to meet the demands of a new age -- a new age alright -- the age of wanton disregard of our individual duty and obligation to be of good citizenry.  The irony really, for this new age of social justice is prohibiting our very ability to come together as Americans -- extinguishing one of the core principles of maintaining our freedom, a limited government!

Because some people have no clue, or care, in keeping to our individual duties as citizens, we have returned nearly full circle to the land of the restrained, restricted, regulated and oppressed; an outcome tilling a perverted twist on the separation of the wheat from the chaff, if you ask me.

The community organized factions keep breaking us apart, don't they. And then again, maybe not:

"Islam condemns terrorism unreservedly and totally," Naseem Mahdi said yesterday, adding it is "the duty and responsibility of all Muslims living in the US to be loyal to the flag and to be law-abiding citizens."

Amen to that, Naseem!

If you are here, in America, then someone a long time ago or yesterday, took the distinct action of becoming a citizen of America -- or at the very least we assume then you are visiting lawfully, and politely, respective of the individual duty to uphold our laws and expectations to the fullest extent under the law while here.

Is that really asking too much?

I believe Naseem is spot on. 

This is AMERICA for God's sakes; defined by the melting pot, characterized by immigrants from around the globe coming to America in search of a better life from our birth!  No other country offers as much for so little!  All America has every really asked is that you bring something of value to the bounty already here!  The open door immigration policy advocates all are welcome -- that anyone who comes, must come with the intent to become a fully integrated, responsible, compassionate American citizen, and honor her through and through.

All people being fully capable -- no matter what faith -- recognizing that each and every one of us is the embodiment of the very nature from which all things are made;  the Founders looked to our inherent birthright from a God we call by many names, in various forms of rites and rituals, supplying us with everything we ever truly need.  Even an unbeliever must find faith in something -- if only this faith is found solely in themselves.

The thing is, it is good that we find ourselves grappling with who we are, as Americans today.  This is a good thing, as Martha would say (not Washington, the other one).

But let us not also realize, that the more we splinter off into our separate issues, divided by make believe rhetoric and false assumptions, the more we will fail each other and this country as a whole.  The reality is, we're becoming so divided and partisan, we will eventually get to the point where each and every citizen will feel disenchanted and disenfranchised for something -- ultimately, all of us will be discriminated against for one reason or another, and around and around we will go with discontent.

This is surely not the intention of the original intent.

Look at the Tea Party groups -- immediately disgraced and riddled with derogatory name calling, equating them to tea baggers instead -- or as white Nazi extremists.  Both President Clinton and Nancy Pelosi have come out acclaiming the gravity and seriousness of the spoken word, basically causing us to take heed and be careful with what we say to each other.  And yet, the peaceful protest of a group unhappy with current government, taxation without representation -- a road we've clearly been down before -- gets attacked --viciously targeting personal character, ideology and position.

So hey, if we are in fact getting to a point where discrimination happens to everyone, doesn't this redistribution of discrimination make actual discrimination obsolete?  Wouldn't we all be back on equal footing?  Yes, warped I am, I am..but it was Bernie Goldberg who said a couple days ago, "I don't see anyone complaining about affirmative action, that's racial profiling'"...but we digress. 

In a weird way, we would be back to every man for himself; every pet peeve and issue would be hung out on the line for all the world to see -- no longer would our magnificence be what attracts people of every nation to our shore -- no longer would our enterprising spirit and ingenuity to create new things hold a special place -- what would gather the attention of our neighbors and make for tabloid fodder would be the airing of our dirty laundry -- instead of just bucking up and doing the right thing right from the start.

Ooooh and where have I heard that before?

Our Founders cultivated the American soil for prosperity and advancement by affirming a faith in every man for himself tied to our Creator, providing the necessary natural law to coexist in order to feed the American soul to not only grow, but thrive.

Every man for himself, indeed; all citizens living peacefully and dutifully under the same law -- to be, do and have to the precise level our hard earned efforts received (whether it is an hourly wage, Wall Street bonus, Software giant billions or Hollywood millions, and everything in between).

Naseem is so right, Ann Landers is so right, Aristotle, Paine and our Founders are so right!

We the People are all Americans.  And as such, as the evolution of our days spent in revolution fall fast behind us, what must be resurrected and restored is the original responsibility to be of good cheer and to make good citizens in order to save the future.  Self-reliance and self-government protects the common man, uplifting every limitation through sheer determination and conviction, proven the years over, to create avenues of unprecedented prosperity -- no matter how rich or how poor your daddy.

This is not a time for dissent. 
This is not a time for factions.
Unless of course you are on the side for ALL AMERICANS one and all, from the immigration policy set forth, way back when, encapsulated in HR1776 -- you know the one, the people's House Resolution in the year of our Lord Seventeen Seventy Six  -- connected, united and created by the grace of God, to reunite for the common cause promoting the liberal distribution of our founding principles.

And for today, the greatest of these seems to be found in our Declaration of Independence declaring our unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- our commitment to love our neighbors as ourselves, united in the spirit of the one, true, American voice, goes hand in hand.

Our true freedom is not free -- nor is it guaranteed at this rate; there is a price -- it not only takes work and our undying obligation to do our part, but a people's lasting independence depends on it.

Oh yes, and speaking of dependents,  let's raise them well:  may they stop smoking, get off the phone, hang up their clothes, do homework and clean up their room. With any luck, they will raise their children to do the same -- not for the sake of running a tyrannical household, like I can hear some of you say -- but for the sake of raising our children right, responsible, rooted adults.

Making the promise to themselves and future generations that they, too, remember the temper from which they came and grow up big and strong and fully capable of being like every other man unto himself --  in the community of others that is -- without destroying it for the rest of us; without creating one more reason to legislate another law; without adding one more restriction to what otherwise should be a free, loving, nurturing place we all like to call home.

And even for those of us who consider themselves "all grown up" already, may we recognize the blessings AND THE DUTY to live in America -- as AMERICANS -- not Hispanic-Americans, not African-Americans, not Muslim-Americans -- but as AMERICANS. 

Nobody really likes keeping our room clean and picking up after ourselves, but come Sunday dinner, we all have reason to rejoice as one big happy family -- anything less, is simply being un American.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Just where is Richard Gere when you need him -- and for that matter, all the rest of the highfalutin Hollywood elite living in there own la la land -- airing political agendas like the latest fashion ad nauseum -- ultimately to where it is coming out the pinhead hole between their butt cheeks. But hey, it's a free country, they can say what they wanna say, right.

Certainly this week is no different, with Whoopie carrying on as if Roman Polanski was some kind of a god (well, "its not like it was rape, rape..."  Defending the miserable man for his arrest on charges from 30 years ago when he offered drugs and sexually assaulted a thirteen year old girl.) 

What is that!  Not "rape, rape."
There are no words to describe the idiocy in that one.

Polanski directs movies, for Pete's sake. It's a profession exemplifying a selfish laud and magnificence unto thyself in glitter, lights, cosmetic surgery and makeup -- hardly a  higher calling or something; Hollywood has a gift of entertainment, yes, but capitalizing upon the warping of minds through the magic of celluloid, drugs, sexuality, violence, revenge and any other societal decay is hardly a gift to mankind worthy of a Nobel peace prize -- especially if it brings us to the point where we can defend the most outrageous displays of such behavior -- as if breaking the law or a young human spirit can be excused because, you know, he's a director.

But where is Richard, I ask, in this moment where "Free Tibet" is no longer in style?

For today, the Obama Administration is pushing off a meeting with the Dalai Lama; marking the first time a President has turned down a sit down with the Tibetan leader, since keeping count from 1991.  All of the last ten visits had a drive-by with the sitting President, all except now, one.

Ah, how do you say, why, in the native Buddhist' tongue, or would that currently be in some foreign Indian dialect from Dharmsala, the current local of the "Tibetan government-in-exile?"

That answer would be made in China; and it would seem they dictate over us now too.

Even though it was just back in 2007, when W gave the Congressional Gold Medal, and highest civilian award, to the Dalai Lama, the usual ebb and flow respecting the rights of people above economics has seemed to have taken a turn; scratch that, the tide has all but receded entirely, with no sign of a return any time soon (would that be Global Warming or Cooling?).

In the Washington Post today, Robert Barnett, a Tibetan expert from Columbia said this, "The Chinese must be falling over themselves with astonishment at what Western diplomats will give them without being asked. I don't know what the poker analogy would be. 'Please, see all my cards and take my money too?"

It's part of the red&yellow conspiracy theory going on, commemorating American landmarks like the Empire State Building in celebration of the 60th anniversary of communist China; its all a part of incorporating America into the Global Community, and yet bringing to light a more profound concern -- the redistribution of assets according to the needs of the entire world, not just the mere 50 states -- playing Monopoly with dictators, that's always good for a few kicks and giggles.
You have to wonder why the rest of the entire "free world" is so afraid to let their people actually live free;  and have to wonder why the idea is so foreboding, so threatening, so invasive for a government to allow; much of the world still grapples with the 'live free, die hard' philosophy as if it were some kind of plague.

What would it be like in a country who devalues it's citizens via a controlling regime and doctrine, absent of a free will to follow a God -- any God-- or not?  What would it be like in a country where our very opinion must be checked at the door, our freedom to speak hindered by a totalitarian rule and simply not even be able to change our mind without being hung?   What would it be like in a country where our government would tell us what jobs we could have, what religion we could follow, what our teachers could teach our children, what insurance we could by, what bank could hold our money, what car we could drive, or what light we could turn on and when?

What would that be like living in a country so drastically different than America?

We have to begin to take a hard look at areas that transcend the questions of race or culture, creed or religion, gender or age; as all of that will not matter anymore if our freedoms are taken away; and, in order to do that, we have to go back to the very beginning and look at our birth certificates, both written down and emboldened within the bloodlines of a nation.

Who we are as a people, getting to know our roots, will help us discover what made America so great in the first place, and it will surely assist us as we enter a new phase of development -- one that seems to be testing every characteristic of our soul, mounting a deeper question as to who we want to be when we grow up and what will we stand for when stepping out unto the world.  For the truth is honey child, America is just getting started.

Sure, we have had some rough spots; but we were young! You know how it is when you're young, stupid mistakes comes with the territory of innocence and immaturity. We, being the youngest nation on the planet, have a lot to prove -- while outside authorities, would think of nothing better than taking us down.

We don't have centuries of picking out the "chosen one"; we have a republic that holds elections beginning about the mid-eighteenth century, in relation to the rest of the world, we're a babe in the woods.

We don't have centuries of Dalai Lama's-- which by definition means something to the effect of "Oceans of Wisdom"; we elect representatives on our behalf, and pick the highest post of President of the United States from a sea of candidates, with all good intentions of finding the best person for the job.

We don't have majority rule, a king's rule, or a dictator's  rule  -- like the People's Republic of China --having a regime having it's way with us; we have found our way safely and securely under the Law; carrying bona fide documentation from birth -- sealing our inherent birth right -- that we the people are "endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights..."

We are young, yes. 
We've made mistakes, yes.
And heaven help us, we may make some more.

We are young.

We may not have all the wisdom of a Dalai Lama, or the Pope, or a Parent; we may not understand all that there is to know in this moment. 

We are young.

And I'm thinking by the looks of things, about sixteen.

Did you know the Dalai Lama is chosen from a very young age and sequestered for years, being taught the teachings of the Buddha and the spiritual leaders who came before him.  They shelter him from the real world feeding him the virtues of a higher consciousness and wisdom beyond his years, way before his time.

All this guy is, is about peace; and the freedom to return to a day to live in peace for his people in Tibet. 
The People's Republic of China is all about control -- be it economics, religion, civil liberties, or life.

If you are still with me and wondering where is G going with this...what the hell is she talking about...what on earth is the point... humor me for just a minute, if you will.

We may be young, but may very well be becoming of age; a tell tale sign is the testing of what we know.  We are testing the lessons and the text; we are testing the foundation from which we came, testing the lessons are parents instilled, and reaching outside of ourselves to test our very existence and direction, to the max.

We may well be all of sixteen, having just got our license, thinking we know everything.

Some of us are saying "up yours" with all the "do as I say not as I do", and flipping the bird to "its for your own good."

Some of us are just taking it all in; we are contemplating the teachings, meditating on the peace that passes all understanding,  somehow finding a way to simply be. Ommm

Some of us, though, are saying, "wait a minute you guys, I don't think that's a good idea"; questioning the prevailing attitude of a country raising a bunch of anarchists.

Our country is being tested; tormented with liberal Hollywood, media, schools, society, living constitutions, and no religions too.

A few good men created our nation only a couple of hundred years ago; and the way things are going, it's gonna take each and every one of us to preserve it.

Thus we embark on a new chapter of discussion, "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" as heard through the pages of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States.

We've only just begun.

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America has a long video -- 14 minutes-- attached.  If you didn't click on it yet, Hollywood does a surprisingly commendable job reciting the Declaration of Independence, it is quite worthy of budgeting the extra time.  Make some popcorn and get back to it if you must.