It's About Nothing More, Nothing Less.......It's a Pretty Big Thing

Dear America,

when I first heard the news, I first thought it was a media stunt -- as this guy was kinda big like that.

But sadly, I was wrong.  We have lost a loudmouth, brash, courageous, conservative crusader this morning; Andrew Breitbart, creator of BigGovernment.com and many other conservative web hangouts, has died at the age of 43.

A little something I gained from Breitbart's footprint left upon the world, was that sometimes the provocative is true...of course, sometimes it is not; but clearly, the inherent duty of the citizenry is to decipher the message more completely --  weighing in both context and something I call 'processing', actually doing the investigative discovery in search of the whole truth before reacting.

Anymore, as the world wide web proves every day -- not everything we read or hear is true; sometimes, part of the story is true, and part of the story is sensationalized; sometimes, what is written as 'fact' is false.

which brings me to the rich advise I got this morning on astrology.com via yahoo! horoscopes:

"you may be feeling pretty sassy, 

but try to keep your mouth 

on a five-second delay if you can help it."

so true.

if only.

after nearly fifty years of being me, you have no idea how difficult putting a lid on it truly is...

...but oh how quickly we feel the pain when our words come back to bite us, right?

...but maybe it's just me.

Me thinks there were moments in Breitbart's short life when he wished he kept his big mouth shut; for he was quite bold about it, and certainly on a mission, wasn't he; he didn't just play provocateur around the dinner table, or within his circle of friends and associates -- he used the biggest stage on earth, totally unafraid and seemingly unaffected on the outside.

Surely, considering the news this morning, he was affected.  Deeply.  So much so, it might have managed to get the best of him long before he thought he was done. 

God bless you, Andrew; and whether you are one who can see the good in him, or not, let us hope to find agreement in the gift of hindsight -- be your own investigative journalist.  Find the truth and see if it matches with your own truth before speaking; give yourself a 'five-second' delay; speak with conviction and integrity or don't speak at all.  Be honest with the world and more importantly, yourself.  And always do your very best.


If you know me, little G, then you know I love, love, love Emerson.  I go to him often.  And here's what he told me today:

"All things are double, one against another. -- Tit for tat; 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 does 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 advisor.  -- 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...Every opinion reacts on him who utters it...You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong."

the law of nature is a force that cannot be denied or dismissed, even if only out of ignorance.
 

Of course, maybe when we are done sending the world a message, maybe we are just done.  our time on earth is just finished, nothing more, nothing less.

oh but the gift of learning about life as we live it is just so precious!

we are alive! to do GOOD! things in this world, not bad.

what is wrong with us, that these days we just don't get that?

or if we do... you know, "get it"...
how is it that we just no longer tap into the tools available to all of us to truly master it anymore?  The greater good surrounding us lives in our history and in our future, only if we are courageous enough to live from a better core.   Just as garbage in, garbage out works at the speed of light in the real world -- so does good in, good out (and sometimes even remarkably faster).

regarding all the things that are wrong with us...it's affects are seen by how we choose to live, separately and collectively. Our heart and soul and mind is healthy enough to fix all things, for that is how we are made.

and believe it or not, it's the truth.  long proven over the winds of time.

make it a GOOD day, G

in other news, some lingering fumes on the latest news on gas prices -- our local talk radio guy, Mike Slater, reported a direct link of gas prices to the local economy like this:  for every 10 cents/gallon increase, eight to ten million dollars/month gets evaporated from the local market.  poof!  [Gas is up like 26 cents since January]  I listen to Slater daily, and from my experience listening to him regularly, I trust him and this information   -- but as always, feel free to investigate.

It's a Fantastic Foursome Thing

Dear America,

oh my
where to begin... where to begin, again...

all I can say is be prepared; be prepared for the G thing to be all over the place.

We could start with the birthing of the brand new year -- the year of the dragon according to the Chinese calendar. The year officially begins upon the light of the silvery new moon [tonight, January 23]

...and you thought I was talking about that 'Auld Lang Syne' thing.

But isn't it fitting; who knew? what with the arrival of another election year.

You would think the Mayans and the Chinese got together to roll in one humdinger of a year.  Isn't the universe just hilarious...

But to quickly recap the last 28 days (returning to the time when good ole G was a wee bit more reliable in showing up), what in the world did I miss chewing on?

Well, of course there were 'The Holidays', the coming and going of a time when Jesus was the reason for the season, there is that.  Normally a magical time for me.  But this year's festivities were in a word, muted.  In a second word, melancholy.  It was something of an anomaly altogether and ended up being a time when I personally had to gloss right over, as solemn family tragedy happened to be surrounding me in every way. All I could do was get through it as quickly and painlessly as I reasonably could.  [make'n a sweet wink, blink'n and nod to Makers Mark]

What else...

oh right.
There was another round of GOP debates, along with a couple of state primaries, to keep us thoroughly twisted.  But cue the good news --

the FREE MARKET is still alive and well! (That is, at least within the confines of the campaign domain.)  And oh the magic -- observing the immediate demonstration of diminishing returns filtering out the riff-raff.

Actually, riff-raff is probably being a little harsh; it's not like any of them are really that bad; it's just that none of them are all that good.  None of them provide the one-two punch we all seem to be longing for in unison.

And so we are down to the best of last in the fantastic four who remain: Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and Paul.

So in order for me to stomach this reality, the way I choose to look at it is this way -- it's Veal Medallions, Bacon-Wrapped Filet, Pork Tenderloin Roulade with Prosciutto and Arugula, or a good Ole Country Ham with all the fixin's, respectively  What's not to like?

While they all sound good upon first blush -- the only thing that keeps us from making a firm decision are the sides. It is the brussel sprouts --  the pairing of a trinity of cubed squash (the way your great aunt ida used to make it, ew...) --  the chunks of blue cheese thrown down on top of a perfectly good saute of green beans --  or the creamed spinach, cheesy grits and cornbread heavy on honey butter, a combination making it appear we have a death wish.

There are biting pitfalls no matter which way we go.

And now to my new year's resolutions real quick.

1. Do no harm    
2. Do good  
3. Be happy  
4. Give everything I got.

It's a narrow list of my own fantastic four -- and yet, it's funny,  the more you look at it, the more expansive it grows.

And now to the final thoughts on this day marking both the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, along with the great joy of the Gthing re-entering the blogosphere:

Let us start by looking more closely into ourselves.
In a manner of speaking, given the times, let us begin this election year vetting ourselves before casting judgment against the fantastic four remaining.

What good am I?  How good are you?  What are WE good for?

How good can America grow?

It all starts with the power of one -- to be the change... to grow the good and be nice...to make the world a better place for all  (I know!  it sounds so Victorian, doesn't it;  so yesterday; as if dripping off the corners of our mouth with old world obsolescence with a splash of Bearnaise).

What can I say?   Pollyanna lives!  I'm baaaaaack.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's the Reason for the Seasons of America Thing

Dear America,

so many debates, so little time.

and just when you think the coast was clear for awhile, This Week with Christiane Amanpour throws another one into the mix...and so unexpectedly, I might add.  And can you say, that's entertainment?

For me, it is enough just to listen to the attitude drooling from the corners of Christiane's lips; but pursing that together with the left-leaning dribble, and we got ourselves a super model for media bias trying to pass herself off as the intellectual elite.  But maybe that's just me.

Gotta love the title for the show, though:  The Great American Debate -- "there is too much government in my life!"  Featuring....Barney Frank, Robert Reich, George Will, and my personal favorite (really), Paul Ryan.

Granted, I was making myself homemade mango turnovers with a vanilla bean glaze drizzled all over.  I was a wee bit distracted.  But the gist of it was this -- look what happened to Wall Street, that's why we need more government...and...look what happened with Fannie and Freddie, that's why we need less government.

Sure, it wasn't just about Wall Street and Home Loans; and it wasn't always so black and white -- there were times when the polar opposites almost agreed with each other.  But both sides seemed to keep far and away from a reality that nobody seems willing to talk about.

Whether we live in an environment where government is breathing down our backs, or not (which is certainly debatable until the end of time) -- we must first face a striking conclusion:

Until such time we restore our faith in Something Greater than ourselves, and return to the making of good, decent people -- starting at birth and continuing to give it our full attention until death do us part -- our society will falter.

end of story.
go to commercial.
start the reruns.

Now, I normally only turn the television on on a Sunday morning to tune into Joel Osteen, switching it to the Heart of the Nation to listen to the Catholic Mass immediately following.  It's just my thing.  The house is quiet, I have my coffee, and it becomes the time to bring me back to center, just me and God.

So, as Spirit should have it, Joel added another dimension to what I had just heard, you know, following the interruption of Christiane, Barney, Robert, George and Paul (who very well could be a saint in government issued clothing).

Joel reminded us not to get comfortable in our blessings.

cha-ching 

and cue the lightbulb against the green screen

It's not so much about too much government in our life (even though it IS); it is more about having too little faith --  hardly even enough God --  and very little reverence to the attention of the itty bitty details to growing our good.  In short, America has become way too comfortable in it's blessings.

And right now -- collectively -- we are being encouraged to change our ways (again).

Divine Providence is working behind the scenes.

Joel impressed upon his audience the importance of affirmative action in every way.  And paraphrasing here, he said something like this, 'every blessing isn't supposed to be permanent.'  Going on to remind us not to get too comfortable, even when life is good.  And then, he throws in a timely anecdote to make his point...

he's like, you know, in the beginning, mothers nurse their babies, right.  babies get all they ever needed right there...but eventually, it becomes time for the baby to start taking a bottle.  And they don't likey likey too much (ask me how I know).  they fight it every step of the way.  but eventually...they adapt. 

And as we all know, the bottle becomes the perfect replacement to mama and life is good again.   .....ah....but lo and behold...cog in wheel right around the corner...eventually, mama wants to replace the bottle with a sippy cup...and then a real cup...and then eating real peas and carrots and spinach (yuck!)   All the while, it is up to the baby to push itself beyond what it has come to know as comfortable, even letting go of the everything it every wants or needs for something better, and basically, only doing so by pure faith.  the baby trusts the mama every step of the way.

America has had some glorious years -- we have acquired wealth, expanded wealth, created wealth in ways unimaginable to the naked babe in the woods.   The logic back behind how we got here can be debated by ideology for the rest of time.  But history does not lie.

America was founded upon principles and values of the ages and for the ages.

"We have a right to expect that men so aggressively religious as to encounter persecution, and so rigidly conscientious as to become exiles rather than submit to ecclesiastical tyranny, would embody their convictions in the government they constructed, and stamp their characters upon the legislation they enacted."  Bishop Charles Galloway, Christianity and the American Commonwealth, part of a series of lectures.

continuing...

"Those living seed, watched by a favoring Providence, watered by the tears of a sanctified patriotism, warmed by the genial sun of civic righteousness, and cultivated by the industrious  hands of a peerless statesmanship, have produced the magnificent Americanism of to-day. Despite its defects, and notwithstanding the sad chapters of its history, our Americanism stands for all that is purest and grandest in the world's modern civilization."

Let's just say we have evolved.

"The Christianity of the colonists taught the supremacy of conscience, the sovereignty of the individual, the inviolability of private rights, the sacredness of human life, and the brotherhood of man.  Out of these cardinal doctrines came the fundamental principles of our republican government:  liberty, equality, fraternity, and the protection of life and property.  Religious liberty created and sustained  an inexorable demand for political liberty.  Freedom of conscience claims the right of free speech and personal independence."

We have long ceased the nursing stage. Untethered to the heart of who we are as a nation, unattached to the true "freedom of conscience"  -- and the subsequent individual responsibility and duty to uphold it -- we are floundering.  The rattling of the line 'if men were angels...' seems to be ringing in my ear, right next to the clinking of a silver spoon.

The purposeful making of good people has been left to chance.

Minus the reality of the last few years staring at us in the face, America has become way to comfortable in its blessings.  We have forgotten to give thanks; we have extinguished the rites and ritual of a loving, peaceful people; we have suffocated our very existence with stuff that does not matter; we have stifled the voice of direction, and promise, and goodness, that only Divine Providence can bring.

More important, we can do whatever we want but we can't stay here.[reminds me of a great song about that...]

Finally -- and in a twist of irony -- perhaps it may be time to swaddle ourselves back up again and bring ourselves back to the creature comforts of the simpler things in life...'liberty, equality, fraternity, and the protection of life and property.'   ga ga goo goo

but maybe its just me.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's a Twitter Twit Thing

Dear America,

so how many times in the last twenty four hours are you reminded of a running GEICO commercial?

..."do people use Smart Phones to do Dumb Things?"
happens every day, doesn't it.

what started out as "a joke" according to Weiner, turned into ten days of withholding the truth and nothing but the untruth, so help me God.  What began as a little white lie and a hack job upon the Twitter account of a member of our fine House of Representatives, morphed into "I've done things I deeply regret"..."It was me doing a dumb thing and lying about it"...."I hope people can see it for what it really is, a deeply regrettable mistake"..."I haven't told the truth"... one after another, the not so fine gentleman from New York bared all (no pun to the no-longer-alleged crime intended).

And what did we learn in the end (at least, in the immediate hour after the nearly full hour press conference):  that it is perfectly alright to tell a lie in Washington -- and here's the ba-dump-ba -- when you are embarrassed.  Apparently, even the oath of office covers you under such dire circumstances.  And!  No longer shall you be expected to immediately resign (like everyone else caught with his pants down).


And when does the indecent exposure congressman cling to keeping his character intact?  when faced with addressing a crowd of journalists with inquiring minds -- When asked how he would explain the salacious communications between the women (admitting to having 6 online "relationships" over the last three years), he said he wasn't comfortable "characterizing our exchanges" out of respect for the bevy of six of one, half dozen of another, lot.

Even though just about a week ago he "emphatically" denied the charges against him when sitting down with Bret Baier (taking time out of his busy day to meet with the media from inside his congressional office, by the way)  -- yesterday he most emphatically declared, "I haven't told the truth" and "I am not resigning" in the same breath.

I give him a week.

nuff said.

No -- scratch that -- it's not enough.  Let's go to something Juan Williams said in responding to Weinergate last night: "he took a terrible beating today" ... as if, that is enough -- standing before a firing line of journalists is enough of a beating -- according to Juan -- to hold him perfectly accountable... in taking full responsibility for his actions; and totally caving upon any notion that he should resign over this (like Juan has said in the past)....


Interesting to note this exchange that took place just a few months ago (including an eery premonition by Noelle).

I should mention, this was found on MediaMatters -- the uber-leftist outfit, who upon this day back in February, wanted to use Juan's skewering of Sean Hannity for their "gotcha" moment of the day.   What do you have to say now, Juan?  Mister "I was going to skewer you, Sean...if this had been a democrat,  this would have been you're lead story..." with a few yuckity yucks in between... And then to have Noelle chime in with a warning to Juan just seconds later, "don't gloat in it...never know what is coming down the pipe a couple of months from now [um Juan]..."

I would bet my life Juan received a call from Noelle yesterday -- all she would really have to do is send a picture message: via her 4G, of course, just a picture of a pipe, with the caption, "you are here."

Now, nuff said.

Nope.   Hold up.  I do believe I have one more drop stuck in the pipe that needs to get out...can anyone say double standard?  hypocrites?  or how about this, just what is up with the water in New York?  They say it is the reason for the best bagels on earth, but really, this is the third man down in, what, a year?  And sure, coming from the opposite coast line, and only a couple weeks out from another scandalous political fall from grace (if the Governator ever really had any), I am not one to talk.

And you know what else...coming fresh off of an evening watching a real life scum bag in motion on The Bachelorette last night -- me thinks I am falling back into another episode of  'jaded G' right quick (you would only get that if you read me last week).

Can you even believe that Bentley?  Ew.  Ew.  Ew. and more EW.

But then, I look at Ashley and think, oh my goodness -- she is just so naive and stupid; falling for the one guy that came in with all the warning lights on full blast...even after getting a text message (from a "well meaning" friend) suggesting any reciprocation from him would be insincere... and after coming complete with enough red, white and blue flags to ward off the British even -- but nooooooooooo, she didn't pay no mind to any of it... all logic and common sense went right out the door as soon as he flashed his baby blues...

she just went right on believing everyone else is wrong about him...
and just look at him anyway...
he is just so cute...
he is saying all the right things...
how in the world could he do me wrong... 
I told myself to be open this time around....
this time I promised myself to let myself go...
I think I can do this...
I think he is sincere...
but ooooh, I don't really know for sure....
oh what to do, what to do....
aw, I'm going to let myself fall...
I love him so much already...
when it feels so right, how could I be wrong about him...

or something like that.  how am I to really know what went on inside her head.

And now -- in the weird, wild way that only a G spin can turnabout -- only in America does this seem to lend good reason for our reason to being here in the first place.

America became the shining beacon on the hill because we managed to find a way to capture all the lessons of the fallen man and roll it into one Republic; our founders recognized certain truths, and created an entire government revolving around good character, sound principles proven over the ages, and tried and true universal values.  America would not work, and be blessed, any other way.

The day we stop growing the good, is the day we die as a society, as a leader in the free world, as the one and only purveyor of freedom, liberty and justice for all.

There was a good reason being good became so vitally important at our birth.  and yesterday, highlights merely one aspect.

sure.  as people, as humans, we are far from perfection.  Which is why, our founders directed us down a path making our Creator (call it whatever you want, even Big Bang, or BB for short, if that is what rocks your world) our king; humanity would always fail us.  The intentions were clear right from the start -- if our rights and freedoms were to come from a place Not of This World, we would revere That, centering ourselves around That and not man.

Because why?
Because men fail.

We would not become a place that places all of our hopes and dreams upon the good graces of those in power, of privilege, those who claim to have the kind of character and inclination to lend us some kind of temporal salvation while here on earth and follow like a herd of sheep; for all our hopes and dreams would rest upon Something Greater than ourselves.

For most, that would mean Eternal Salvation takes precedence over the temporal -- the so called collective salvation, is replaced by one's own personal relationship with God; and building a life from our own connection to That which we call by many names, and honor It by just as many different ways, we create a life from self-reliance -- shown the way by the likes of Emerson, for one.  We create a life, doing the works of good -- shown the way by the Bible, for another.  We try to master being as good at being human as we possibly can and are forgiven when we fail (that is, if you believe in That sort of Thing). And then, most important, we gather ourselves together to build a government with cornerstones built solely upon the steadfast principles, the universal values, and the unalienable rights ENDOWED by our CREATOR, and having been proven over all time.

we certainly cannot accomplish this (Good Government) when divided by special interests, or discriminating agendas.

we certainly cannot accomplish this (Good Government) when we desert our One Nation Under God foundation.

we certainly cannot accomplish this (Good Government) when we put our trust in man over Truth.

we certainly cannot accomplish this (Good Government) skewering opposition, instead of melting into One.

we certainly cannot accomplish this (Good Government) when losing our scruples, marbles, and all credibility in a nano second, losing any sense and sensibility in a twitter-twit minute.

Speaking of which, Scott Rasmussen, a political pollster for decades, lays out the political environment like this:"the American people don't want to be governed from the left, the right, or the center. They want to govern themselves."  Good Government under Good Self-Rule (under your God of choice) is the way America was intended to be.

and we're back to  'do people use Smart Phones to do Dumb Things'...

Whatever happened to telling the truth and living by the Truth? for that might be the one thing that if we all tried to do a wee bit better at doing, might save us...myself very much included in that.

Insert Footnote here: One more thing you can always count on, when G points fingers, she is always looking in the mirror asking the question 'how you doin?' (and if you say it like a new yawker it is more fun)  Even though I consider myself "pretty good" when character standards get exchanged -- truth is, none of us are perfect creatures, right.

So it is a crying shame what had to happen yesterday. a crying shame for us all.


nuff said.


Make it a Good Day, G

don't forget to click on DEAR AMERICA  above, for your song!  One of G's favorites by Robert Palmer...oh mercy mercy me...things aren't what they used to be...


Last Word (really): how about this tidbit of twitter twit trivia -- Bill Clinton officiated over Weiner's wedding...does that not say it all, or what? funny stuff.

Dear America,

so right off the bat, from just one girl to another, I gotta get something off my chest --

Krystal, you misrepresented the truth last night, didn't you?  didn't you?
Now we all enjoy a great debate; but as we have seen in the last week, even a Newt can get caught up in a web of ideas, debate, truths and untruths, posturing and maneuvering, zigging and zagging, foot and mouth, ending with only one choice to make, making an apology.

Now really, in the great big scheme of things, it is really No Big Deal.  really.  For me, it isn't.  But I just wanted to point out that you asked us to do what I just did; I looked up "The Independent Institute" to see what I would find (because you clearly characterized this right wing, conservative website as the creator of another ad during the Obamacare debates).

First, you should have known better --  as in, so goes the name, so goes the ideology.  The Independent Institute is all about centering community dialog around INDEPENDENT thought, ideology, and political bent.  And more than that, smeared all over the pages of their website is another key word:  LIBERTARIAN.  These guys take full on pride NOT taking sides with Left or RIGHT.  Okay?

Whatever ad you saw, that they created, that you used as an example last night -- you know, the one throwing grandma out a plane during the great health care debate -- came only after reviewing all the facts on the ground.  They pride themselves at being neither left or right, democratic or republican -- because that is just how they operate, you know, being all libertarian and all.

Now, considering all of this, and considering you used this outfit, The Independent Institute, to score a rhetorical point for your side -- you might rethink your political strategies.  just sayin'.  How can an independent website, of staunch libertarian roots, serve your argument?  It can't.  And, as a matter of fact, ironically, upon your own insistence, it becomes an immediate three-pointer to the GOP.

Me thinks your crystal ball has failed to show you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

And speaking of truth -- honor -- integrity -- did you see the story about the family who returned nearly $45,000 dollars in cash to the previous owner?   Kid you not.  Picture the Ferrin family buying a house, only to venture up into the attic just after the closing and discover a treasure trove of rolled up money!  One box after another, seven of them in all.  Click into Ferrin there and get the whole story...


But can you just imagine?
More important, WWYouDo?

The comments after the article rush in with utter amazement, having realized there really are good people left among us.  Though many come with disbelief, overcome with shock and awe over the whole thing -- most simply chock it up to one big win for humanity,  giving a roaring shout out to amazing grace and a peace that passes all understanding. 

There are moments in time that capture our god-given goodness, and THIS is one of them.

There is something  Josh Ferrin, founder and father, mentioned that is worthy of repeating this morning:

"... the money wasn't ours to keep and I don't believe you get a chance very often to do something radically honest, to do something ridiculously awesome for someone else and that is a lesson I hope to teach to my children."

"radically honest"

indeed.  And isn't it sad, in this day and age, doing the right thing at this level is considered inherently radicalized behavior.  Don't get me wrong;  I love his choice of words -- bringing forth a brand new terminology that will probably be repeated 45,000 times before the day is done. I dig it wholeheartedly.  I love that he said it, I love that he showed his children the right thing to do, I love how it got the attention of Yahoo! News and so on and so on.

But look at us.  We are looking upon little old Josh as a hero for simply doing the right thing.  wow.  just how cynical, skeptical, greedy, unscrupulous, bad have we grown, people?


In my pollyanna little world, I would like to believe we are all just this good. (crazy, I know)

So just before the Krystal Ball moment on Hannity, there was a lively discussion using Caleeforneeyah's stupid Governator as it's base, on The O'Reilly Factor.  It was a blend of mixing the subjects of politics and role models in the same context (clearly, given the current environment, a misguided conversation right from the start).

The rise and fall of humanity is the same for politicians as it is for electricians, plumbers, teachers, IMF Economists, preachers, police officers, football players (sub. b-ball, golfers, etc...), and just about anyone else that breathes out CO2.  Sure, we would like to think our politicians can be honorable statesmen (women), but low and behold, we fall from grace sometimes.

Sure, maybe we are in an era where someone like Barack Obama will be looked upon as a role model for young African-American children everywhere around the world; there is that.  As he should -- after all, he is the President of the United States of America. He becomes the quintessential shining example on the hill for all of us -- left, right, and center (or libertarian, as the case may be).  BUT here's a kicker, in my mind, he doesn't just stand as a role model for black children!  But for ALL CHILDREN, of every background, of every political whim or fancy.  AS is the case for everyone on the hill....just sayin'

That is just a reality living in the public eye.  Our children are watching to see what presidents do (or try to get away with); they are watching what baseball players do (or try to get away with); they are watching what movie stars and pop icons do (or try to get away with); they are watching what police officers do (or try to get away with); they are even watching what parents, teachers and everyday citizens do (or try to get away with).

And all of a sudden we realize just about everything is magically held to a higher standard when we recognize our children might be watching.

Arnold has decided to "postpone" his re-entry onto the silver screen in order to take care of things at home.  Why?  He knows, somewhere in his great big stupid head of his, that his children are watching every move he makes.

Which brings me to my thing of the day...

...we spent a great deal of time teaching good character to our children in this country's early years. nearly every college, nearly every school, and in nearly every educational capacity from the top down, was directly or indirectly founded, erected, and fully established by our Judeo-Christian roots (and financing), and even, if a I may be so bold, attributing a vast majority of our teachings back to  THE BIBLE.

Nooooo, say it isn't so (true story, look it up).

We centered ourselves, beginning with kindergarten (maybe birth), teaching the riches and wisdom through the words and study of enlightened minds, philosophers, saints, and honorable countrymen.  And rightly so, and purposefully, used every resource made available to highlight the very teachings that made strong, self-reliant, honorable, citizens.  Over the years, America has been it's most successful adhering to the roots that made us strong --  our foundation... endowed by our Creator, etc. etc -- in community with one another.

We centered the building of this nation totally revolving around creating a nation of citizens of good character.  But not only that, teaching that that good character was already IN US,  found deep down inside each and every one of us, in equal portion, right from the start.  We learned from a very young age, that we were endowed by our Creator of rights, duties, along with the essential ingredients to pull it off -- a  loving heart, a sound mind, and built upon our very own self-reliance to be of good cheer -- and hopefully grow up to be strong, independent, good, and responsible because it was just the right the to do.

AND, moreover, it all started in the home.

And today, best represented by someone's home like Josh Ferrin's, making him just one stellar example.

The day we stop teaching God is good, we are good, and this is why and this is how, is the day America dies.  (and funny, also in the news, is a guy who says 'judgement day' happens to be tomorrow, May 21, 2011, but I digress)

Teaching our children to tell the truth (just one good thing out of many) -- whether it be in advertising, like through the use of a misguided Medicare Ad -- whether it be within the confines of a  marriage, a business, a sport, and any other activity we do -- whether we are in the "public eye" or not ... quickly rises to become the ultimate question  that should be on everybody's lips today.

Not.... wow, I can't believe he gave it back; not....wow, I can't believe she gave her girl botox; not...wow, can't believe she trusted him; not...wow, I can't believe that ad...

If we continue to look outside of ourselves, pre-occupied with the wrongdoings of everyone else but ourselves, we will have completely missed the point and the opportunity.

We have a chance to do something radically honest here in America  -- today and every day. Thank you, Josh, for reminding us in this moment of who we really are.  I know, I want to be just as good as Josh; and I want my girl to be just as good as Josh; and I want the world to be just as good as Josh.  Not once, like we only get one chance, but every single freaking day...

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Fascinating the things we pick apart these days.

First off, given the "breaking news" this morning of the Governor of Alabama, Robert Bentley, talking directly to his people, a church crowd, he said  this...

"If the Holy Spirit lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too,"

and this, "Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother," while speaking at Dexter King Memorial Church, following the official inauguration to the office of Governor.

"If he does so [exclude people by religion, or use the office to convert his constituency], he is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government from promoting the establishment of any religion," Bill Nigut, The Anti-Defamation League Regional Director, said.

I admit, even though it came out awkward, the message from Gov. Bentley is really one of acceptance, not separation; he makes references to the relation that HE wants to be to his audience -- a brother -- even if you are a non-believer in Jesus Christ.  Of course, HE wants you to be a brother, or a sister, and have the Holy Spirit in your heart -- but he can't make you to do anything, or believe something, you don't want to...but in any case, HE WANTS TO BE your brother all the same.

Looking at this from a glass half full point of view,  the newly elected Governor tells us, HIS hopes are that you are a believer, while he lets us know he still "wants to be your brother" anyway, even if you are not.

Now, as far as the statement coming from Bill Nigut, of the ADL, saying Bentley is "dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment..."

I say, no, not really;

for all persons, -- no matter their lot in life -- whether a student, teacher, or public servant -- have a right for the free expression of their religion at any time.

Let me be clear, the PERSON, and all of our individual rights that come with, automatically and naturally go with us -- we have every right to eat sleep breathe our religion, no matter where we go, or who we are with, for whatever purpose...unless of course, we intend to do harm...then certainly, we will have issues.

Just as the case last summer, when Ramadan was being celebrated, the local community has every right to allow for Muslims to totally upend normal football practice during the daylight hours in order to accommodate the time of fasting for Muslims, even if, crazy enough, it would directly affect the practice for others who are not Muslim -- it was a community decision -- and falls into the framework of exactly that which our founders intended and wanted to protect; in order to reflect and honor INDIVIDUAL preference and beliefs of the community, the founders protected the right for states and local communities to practice their religion(s) as the community sees fit.

For above all else, the founders believed in the basic tenet, that without religion, the government of a free people cannot be well maintained and supported.

... and likewise, because it is a free country, we do not have a national government standing over us and commanding us to believe in the same God (or acting and leading in such a way that is against God); in action, this looks like the right for atheists to NOT to have to bow their head in prayer with the rest of us who call ourselves believers -- like for instance, when congregating in the town square to inaugurate a president or a governor or a mayor -- or simply gathering to honor the victims of a tragic community shooting, leaving prayers, flowers, balloons, and holding a candlelight vigil, say, all in a makeshift memorial, in front of a local hospital, say in Tucson (or wherever else the Spirit moves us -- even if the side of the road -- a common sight here, especially on the windy back country roads) -- but they, being the atheists, do not have to pray with the rest of us.  It is their right not to do just as it is our right to do.

The First Amendment spells out "CONGRESS shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  THE control, the word NO, was hung on the door of CONGRESS -- for they could not be given the power to tell the people what to believe and how; not to mention, our rights were endowed to us by our Creator, not man, or any kind of Congress.  The protection was for our own good -- because it was already well established we were a nation of people who accepted and acknowledged the importance of God in our daily life, acted by the grace and peace that comes along naturally, and already enjoying the free practice and expression thereof.

This specifically tells our federal government to butt out -- you have no business telling us what religion we will establish within our own hearts, as individuals; as long as we do no harm, we are allowed by law, to speak, sing, or bow our head; we can fast and we can celebrate; we can wear a cross, a burqa, or ashes on our forehead -- for we have the right for the FREE EXERCISE thereof.  thank you, God.

Matter of fact, there was a time when it was required for our schools to TEACH religion, morality and the importance of obtaining a semblance of knowledge in various subjects (geography, science for example).

Believing not necessarily in the same God, or the same dogma, all the founders came to the same conclusions -- that being, the essential makings of a free, civil, responsible society, allowing individuals to pursue their own happiness under a limited, selfless government, required the individual to at least be in relationship with God, creating a flow of  understanding that recognized a "fundamental system of beliefs concerning man's origin and relationship to the cosmic universe, as well as his relationship with his fellowmen" [taken from The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen]

While a "standard of behavior distinguishing from right and wrong,"  in other words, our moral teachings, remained as the third essential ingredient to a long and healthy community.

So PUBLIC SCHOOLS taught these things back in the day because these things are good: religion (in a favorable light, of all beliefs) morality, and knowledge.

IN the best of times, religion holds us to a level of respect for each other; it keeps us beholden to any number of customs, more than likely born from our Christian roots, yet all the while, respective of the universal beliefs and morals shared by every religion under the sun.

A simple observation from Ezra Taft Benson, "America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

Now one could argue, when our PRESIDENT talks directly to his people, his base, saying "It will be up to each of you to make sure that the young people, African Americans, Latinos and women, who powered our victory in 2008 stand together once again," -- (white, not mentioned at all)

"If you help us do that -- if you help us make sure that first-time voters in 2008 make their voices heard again in November -- then together we will deliver on the promise of change and hope and prosperity for generations to come..."   

Our actual President, of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, was not speaking to you -- if you are so unlucky not to fall within his 'target market' -- if YOU happen to be white -- and I'm especially referring to you,  honky tonk white boy, you are not my brother -- or so we would assume by what he actually said, and never making any apologies for it, if for some reason we were to categorically misconstrue his remarks -- unlike Gov. Bentley's office, who immediately followed up with a deeper understanding in hopes of uniting, not dividing.

Or how about the time Obama said something like this, "we're gonna punish our enemies..." speaking directly to Latinos, sounding like he was right off the street, in the barrio, seeking their attention to come out and vote in the mid-term elections (last fall).  Never mind religion, let's just cut right to the race.

In his own words, the POTUS was advocating to Latinos to come out to vote, to "punish our enemies."

Now of course, literally, we know words are expressed in the public arena that we really do not mean; there are times we say things, we really should have thought better; there are times we actually sound like we are advocating violence, when it is simply strategy lingo, an expression of the cause, an amplification of the campaign and keeping our sights set on the end result; and having said all that, there are times when even the Road Runner and the Coyote could make throwing down a boulder, or an anvil, look downright funny.

IN an educated, learned, civil, moral, sane society -- one that centers around our individual civic duty to do no harm to each other more often than not -- we recognize, out of the goodness of our hearts, and out of pure common sense, we say things that are not meant to be taken literally, as if condoning any violent action or outburst.  IF we harm someone, it is wrong, no matter what; while, even our words can cut like a knife.

For kicks and giggles, this idea of not taking things literally swings both ways -- as in, you know that when someone says "I love Glenn Beck"  they aren't really IN LOVE with Glenn Beck... it's just what we say... like we love ice cream or coconut cream pie, right...      Right Glenn?  You know, that if I were to say to you, 'I love you', you would know I'm not really In Love with you, right? (or maybe...) No, really, honestly, we don't truly mean what we say through and through (unless of course, we really truly mean it...what?).

luv ya.  mean it. moving on.

There has been much discussion over the political rhetoric used by both sides of the aisle, regularly, and figuratively, and most definitely, without really thinking clearly way too many times. way.

How about the time Alan Grayson said on the House floor, with poster boards for props, "I apologize to America...for not ending the holocaust sooner...republicans want you to die quickly" when arguing his position over health care.  really, Alan? can we get an amen that this man was not re-elected...

But seriously, I know we can be kinder and gentler -- but do I wish for us to change the entire political rules of debate and conversation?  Absolutely not.

Do I think, if we are reared correctly and of sound mind, that we can make responsible conclusions when hearing that certain districts, and maybe even specific people, are in the cross-hairs and the target of the opposition party?  Absolutely yes.

But Oh the fascination of what  incites violence, the vitriolic remarks notwithstanding  --

We can't use the word "nigger" -- and WELL understood that we don't, without question [unless you are black, or perhaps a rapper, but that's beside the point] -- but what we can do is label someone a racist, to their face, on camera or off, and nobody thinks anything of it?  We can discredit an entire body of tea party enthusiasts, individually or combined, as "Nazi's" and  "Racists" and nobody thinks twice.  How do you think that makes a white person feel, let alone the African-American, Latino or Asian associated in the bunch?

And haven't we gone down this road before?

If we are going to have a conversation on what in fact incites violence. let's have that talk; can we direct our attention to Hollywood for a moment -- I mean, where do we begin with that machine pumping out violent acts against women and children every day, blowing people up, using handguns, using abrasive language and condoning senseless acts of violence in every which way they possibly can.  Did you know they have a new show simple titled, "HUMAN TARGET" ?  I wonder how that got approved; where for goodness sakes is the good conscience of Hollywood, right?

Then as we mentioned a bit earlier, how about Hip Hop Music, Rap, songs that glorify and make sweet melody about someone who is about to make a hit on someone, or just finished making a hit on someone, or daydreams about the possibility in the future, to have revenge, you know what I'm saying, yo?

Going down that road then, it would be just wrong not to bring up video games -- I would think if anything might incite an act of violence, a video game nearly walks you through all the possibilities of seeing it through, with sound affects and trash talk to go along with your every move.

AS IF --
when it comes to political rhetoric --
we just don't have the strength and the common sense
to think for ourselves, and more important, do the right thing! 
yup, that's where our level of intelligence drops off --
bada bing bada boom.

We can be surrounded, with all the senses fully engaged, in an environment that eat sleeps breathes some form of a violent act through live stage, in the movies, on TV, on the freeway, even in the school yard and on the football field, and nobody stops to discuss it, make political points for it, does anything about it or thinks it is, in the least bit, to be just a wee bit offensive, if not something we should stop, or even see fit to change --

-- but oh no, get someone like Sarah Palin talking about tea party districts she wants to pick off and have for lunch and we've got a mutiny on the bounty. (Even with all proof pointing otherwise -- EVEN WHEN it comes LONG after the leftwing media and specific democratic campaigns did the EXACT same thing in 2004, and 2008 -- and even with some marking their attacks on one of their own, Gabrielle Giffords, just the same -- see G's blog last week, coupled with this from Newsmax, about the Daily Kos)

But just look at the things we choose, as a society, to pick apart... a well meaning comment that says "I WANT to be your brother."  ATTACK!  ATTACK!

To wrap things up, if we take out "nigger" as we should (respectfully agreed), then let's mutually come to an understanding to cease and desist words like "nazi" and "racist" -- if being used in the context of specifically targeting an individual, or a group thereof, carelessly, and loosely thrown around with a vengeance to attack, disparage, and ridicule without merit.  just sayin' ...for 'dems fightin' words, you know what I'm saying?  That is, without a doubt, a harmful attack, equal to that of the "N" word, if you wanna get real and get down and dirty with everybody's bad self; whether being called a nazi or a nigger, they are two "N" words that do the same thing to the heart and soul of a good, decent  man.  and really, who wants to be called a racist when your heart is in the right place?  that is just plain mean.

Maybe we are due to have our "religion, morals and knowledge" re-evaluated and brought back to life in the public schools -- let's make it open season for deep, rich discussions everywhere -- about our Creator, the meaning of life, the responsibility and duty to each other, in word and in deed, and attempt to live up to "Christina's expectations." 

That is the visual I want to hold dear -- a President reminding us to be the America a young Christina Green imagined -- without question, an idea lofty and worthy enough to call for real conversation and lively debate; wasn't everybody listening?         Punish my enemies, not -- but love thy neighbor as thyself, treat others as you would wish to be treated, honor thy mother and thy father, do no harm, oh yeah, and don't call each other names -- be nice and good and happy people, people!

bring it! bring that stuff all day long with a vengeance! 

I am not ashamed to say, I WANT each and every American to stand shoulder to shoulder as brothers and sisters - in Christ -  in Allah - in Buddha - in spirit, just because it is the right thing to do -- take your pick and have at it; either way, we will not survive as a nation of good people, doing good things, and prospering one by one until we do; surely we will falter if we become that nation -- fallen to the deep dark side of despair, distrust, distaste, and desolation -- abandoning our own principles and living without thought; we will fall from grace, like we have never seen the likes before, imprisoned within the afterthought of what once was.

and you thought it was just a meaningless, stupid, little cliche to close with...every    single    day...
Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

Things are really strange here; anyone else share the thought 'what the heck is going on in the nation's southwest-forty?'

San Diego is all over the national news, and to date, as far as the last couple of weeks are concerned, only one piece of notoriety has been favorable (and even that is depending upon which side your on, i guess).

We have had the horrific disappearance and discovery of Chelsea King.
We have had racial disturbances from our very own UCSD, in La Jolla.
We have an entire family of four missing since the first week of February, their abandoned vehicle found in San Ysidro, just south of the border.
We have had the Poway School system vs. a teacher, Bradley Johnson, over the word "God" displayed large and wide in his classroom.

Guess which one G finds happiness?

(You all get a gold star.)

Judge Roger T. Benetiz is my new best friend and the Thomas More Law Center is my new happy place.

FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS mind you,
Mr. Bradley proudly displayed infamous American cornerstones:

 “In God We Trust”

“One Nation Under God”

“God Bless America”

“God Shed His Grace on Thee”

FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS let it be known
a second banner was on display, featuring excerpts from the Declaration of Independence:

“All Men Are Created Equal,

They Are Endowed By Their Creator.”

One fear outlined in the dispute by the Poway Unified School District, mitigated the claim that perhaps a "Muslim student might be offended by the slogans." (Within the Hon. Benetiz' response, he notes "more to the point, an imaginary Islamic student is not entitled to a heckler's veto on a teacher's passive, popular or unpopular expression about God's place in the history of the United States. see link below, pg. 28)

Not worthy of a "heckler's veto" ...love that.

The District believed Mr. Johnson was in violation of offensive display, among other things, as evident in his choice of classroom banners which “over-emphasized” God.

A crucial role in the Judge’s decision -- a simple matter really, one that, oh I don't know, the reality that umpteen other classrooms within the district made other "theism's"  wildly known and displayed, some more outlandish than another, and nobody said a word.
Of the items allowed -- according to the Poway Unified School District -- without reprimand:

• a 35 to 40-foot long string of Tibetan prayer flags with writings in Sanskrit and images of Buddha.

• a large poster of John Lennon and the lyrics to the song "Imagine":

"Imagine there's no Heaven, it's easy if you try"

(we all know the rest...)

• a poster of Hindu leader, Mahatma Gandhi's "7 Social Sins":

Politics without principle
Wealth without work

Commerce without morality

Pleasure without conscience

Education without character

Science without humanity

Worship without sacrifice.

• a poster that says: "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality."
• posters of Muslim minister, Malcolm X.
• a Greenpeace poster that says: "Stop Global Warming
• posters of professional athletes and sports teams.
• "Day of Silence" posters.
• Bumper stickers that say:

"Equal Rights Are Not Special Rights,"

"Dare to Think for Yourself,"

"Celebrate Diversity."

• a poster with a large peace sign and the word "peace" in several languages.
• a mock American flag with a peace sign replacing the 50 stars and appearing to be six feet wide and four feet tall.
• an anti-war poster that asks: "How many Iraqi children did we kill today?"
• and there were plenty more...

My new happy place, The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in preserving the law of the land, has been arguing on Mr. Bradley Johnson's behalf since January 2007, when the district asked that he remove the posters.

An article featured on the Thomas More website includes pieces of Judge Benitez’s MAGNIFICENT 32-page opinion, which by all standards extends an articulate and thorough criticism of the Poway school districts aversion to mentioning the word God, eloquently raking their undeniable bias over the coals:

“[The school district officials] apparently fear their students are incapable of dealing with diverse viewpoints that include God’s place in American history and culture. . . . That God places prominently in our Nation’s history does not create an Establishment Clause violation requiring curettage and disinfectant for Johnson’s public high school classroom walls. It is a matter of historical fact that our institutions and government actors have in past and present times given place to a supreme God."

[Copy of the Decision link]

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Law Center, commented,

“Many school officials exhibit hostility towards our nation’s Christian heritage. Yet, these same officials see no problem in actively promoting atheism or other religions under the guise of cultural diversity and tolerance. Hopefully, Judge Benitez’s decision will help put an end to this double standard. It is the responsibility of our public schools to educate students on the crucial role Christianity played in our Nation’s founding.”

"In his ruling, Judge Benitez acknowledged that public schools provide students with a healthy exposure to diverse ideas and opinions. He then went on to rule,"

“Fostering diversity, however, does not mean bleaching out historical religious expression or mainstream morality. By squelching only Johnson’s patriotic and religious classroom banners, while permitting other diverse religious and anti-religious classroom displays, the school district does a disservice to the students of Westview High School and the federal and state constitutions do not permit this one-sided censorship.”

[TO read more of the full article, go to More.]
 
Of course, today on Glenn Beck, it is only fitting that he will dedicate the entire hour of his daily Fox News Channel program to the "Indoctrination of our Children" -- I can hardly wait.
 
I have highlighted the McGuffey Readers before, but think MORE than ever -- they ring the proverbial bell of what may ail us, and show what fails us, when it comes to the great duty to educate our children.
 
Here's some "Good Advice" as featured in a story found in the First Reader, for the young boys and girls from the 19th Century (this is the way we used to teach our children):
 

Lesson XXXI

 

Good Advice

If you have done anything during the day

that is wrong, ask forgiveness of God

and your parents.

Remember that you should learn

some good things every day.

If you have learned nothing all day,

that day is lost.

If anyone has done you wrong,

forgive him in your heart

before you go to sleep.

Do not go to sleep with hatred

in your heart toward anyone.

Never speak to anyone

in an angry or harsh voice.

If you have spoken unkind words to

a brother or sister, 

go and ask forgiveness.

If you have disobeyed your parents,

go and confess it.

Ask God to aid you always

to do good and avoid evil.

 

It's not like the math teacher, Mr. Johnson, was speaking the gospel, or for that matter saying anything more than what is imprinted on our money or upon the walls and portico's housing the documentation and representation of American courthouses, Capital buildings, as well as the monuments and iconic cultural architecture promenently built by our forefathers; these profound words are everywhere, self evident and steadfast, to carry us onward and upward, instilling the words of a nation to live by. 

 

These words do have history; these words do have meaning; they are not just words.  Back behind the word is the fundamental reason we became a nation -- separating us from England in order to express our religious freedoms in the first place -- and becoming the inherent foundation to everything we are today. 

 

These are not just simple words, they are words that bind us, unite us, declare us exceptional;

"IN GOD WE TRUST" --undoubtedly these words make a lasting impression upon our hearts and minds; "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL" --  formally setting in stone words of wisdom and prized moments in American history;

"ONE NATION UNDER GOD" -- yet, look at us now; we have become one nation under God under attack at almost every turn. 

 

Oh but the lessons like "Good Advice" from the McGuffey readers don't stop at the end of the verse; the Readers continue to prescribe further supplemental readings for the teacher, requesting that each student turn to their Bible, to see how the lesson conforms to the word of God.  Following the "Good Advice", it recommends Ephesians 4:26 and 31, Ecclesiastes 7:9 and Proverbs 15:1.

 

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger."

 Proverbs 15:1

 

How many times have we witnessed this to be true for ourselves?

 

We no longer have to Imagine a world with "no heaven" -- we seem to be at pace for achieving that within days, unless of course, enough of us like the good teacher have anything to say about it.

 

All the ways Christianity is attacked these days only makes me want to be a better girl and persuades me to teach the importance of "Good Advice" to my own ; the horrific disrespect for another human life, as in the recent loss of a fellow San Diego girl, Chelsea King, only makes me pray harder; the destructive racial tensions and antagonism here in my neck of the woods, only makes me wish we all understood "all men are created equal" to the fullness and depth of our individual responsibility back behind the words;  in the midst of searching for answers to the whereabouts of an entire family so close to home, yet so far away, all I can do IS turn it over to God, for it is out of my hands.

 

BUT, as for the happy ending with Bradley Johnson and the able-bodied band of patriots helping him out at The Thomas More Law Center, I commend you all for your vigilance and applaud your undeniable allegiance to the flag and to the beautiful country we live; and last but not least, I sincerely hope that Mr. Johnson's students appreciate how lucky they are for all of the above.

 

Make it a Good Day, G

 

Somewhere along the way doing the right thing and being a good person has been either lost in translation or buried with bad behavior -- whether it is our own or somebody else's.  While in some cases, being good almost comes out appearing entirely unpopular!

WE must persevere and be of good nature; we must reward our children to be a good citizen -- we must grow more good than bad -- or we simply will no longer be.

If in doubt or feeling overwhelmed by the not-so-good, go to http://www.realamericanstories.com/ for more, real, feel good stories.  WE are there and everywhere, just have to look for it. 

Dear America,

"The Morphine Within"

G has been all tied up in knots lately; my world is a tad out of whack these days -- that really being just way more than usual. So what did I do about it?

I started running again.

Oh, I know.  It's not like I'm on a streak yet; nor have I gone two days in a row.  But the most important factor is I feel good.

We have all witnessed desperate measures when the pressures of life and liberty seemingly become too great -- with an airplane flying into a building, a man in Ohio bulldozing his house before he would succumb to foreclosure, and a professor shooting up a biology department meeting.

While with the Health Care legislation still looming over our heads and heating things up again -- can't wait for Thursday -- it would appear America has reached a point of no return on this one; what to do about nothing and everything?

Somewhere along the line we have lost our ability to take care of ourselves, while I may not be the best one to talk about such matters for very long before my own creaky joints get the best of me and kick me in my own behind -- I'm going to meander down this road anyway, if only to walk off the shin splints.

But how is it we have come to this place where we expect the government to fix everything?  Just who is responsible for teaching this behavior to us? Inquiring minds wanna know -- as it is soooo wrong in soooo many ways to Sunday.

The GOVERNMENT:

They can't eat (right) for us.

They can't strap on the old running shoes and take in a mile or two, all the while fighting off the evil green giant within who just wants to go home, sit on the couch and eat potato chips.

They can't see into our lives and know what each and every one of us wants for ourselves, if not also for our children, our neighborhood, or the aging parents who need us -- who may live all the way across town or perhaps over a couple state lines.

They can't show up at the office and do the work for us, including the over time while being under paid.

They can't go to the lender and plead our case to buy more time or cut a new deal -- or for that matter, make the commitment for the three bedroom, two bath town home as if times are so good and we got nothing to lose anyway.

They can't even tell us to turn off the lights, not to buy that television at Best Buy, or know when to say when.

Our habits -- Our choices -- the things we put our money where our mouth is --  whether good or bad or indifferent, originate from the one source within us and that which we can call all our own. On a micro scale, it's one thing; but upon the macro --
oh      my     God.

There is just no conceivable way the government can be all things for every body, but it very well seems to be that this is what we are expecting out of them and in the end, this mentality will surely bring us all down.  The Government is not God, people.

And really, what God actually gives us to use at our own discretion is far more valuable.  Up until now, most of us just didn't see it.

For people who run (religiously that is -- not people like me, ha ha ha), they refer to the "runner's high" after they have been running so long they reach a peak, pushing their own endurance beyond it's capabilities, to a point where the body releases endorphins into the system.  God created our bodies with it's own natural mechanism to fight the sensation of feeling pain in order to relieve that which might seem unbearable. Ingenious, no?

It wasn't until the 1970's, when a University of California at Berkeley chemist, by the name of Choh Li, actually discovered "the morphine within" and aptly named it ENDORPHINES:

"any of a group of endogenous peptides (as in enkephalin and dynorphin, of the Nervous System) found especially in the brain, that bind chiefly to opiate receptors and produce some of the same pharmacological effects (as pain relief) as those of opiates; specifically Beta-Endorphin, of the Pituitary Gland."

Natural Heroin; and we wonder why so many people get hooked, on running that is.

Who doesn't want the feeling of euphoria, coupled with appetite modulation or control, along with the release of sex hormones and all things good and fabulous?  Who doesn't want a piece of that action?

 Twenty more minutes of this and I am out the door...

But no matter how hard we try, the turn we are collectively making towards the county line of nanny state meets pimp daddy will never give us what we really need; it will never give us the high as compared to doing the work ourselves; it will never give us a sense of satisfaction, having labored the road ourselves; it will never be enough, as we will continuously look ahead down the road to see what else can you do for me...yeah baby...this feels good...hit me up with some more of that...
as the more we get...the more we want...and pretty soon, it's all we want.

When it comes to euphoria, just how high can we go?

Apparently there was a meeting of the minds here in my neck of the woods this past weekend; scientists, psychologists, coming together to evaluate things pertaining to the natural, the supernatural, and more specifically including our inherent ability to create happiness.  Certain attributes, other than what we were born with and genetically bound by lineage, were highlighted -- in accordance with all things happy people share:

 Gratitude, for what we have

Optimism, for what will be

Counting our Blessings

Using Our God Given Talents/Strengths

Promoting Random Acts of Kindness

I have to wonder, if only people would stop for five minutes every day to focus on the things that truly matter -- as within this simple list of five -- how our world would look a whole lot healthier, wiser, perhaps even bring a certain glow to our cheeks and a little bounce to our step.

We wouldn't be watching the partisan bickering in Washington over a subject matter that was never intended to be theirs to discuss in the first place; we would be taking care of our own, within the boundaries and civil liberties of a country suspended and highly held above all that. 

• 
  
  Our fellow countrymen would be allowed to sell insurance over state lines, and travel miles across the purple mountains majesty to find the right fit, the right price, and the right services.
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  Frivolous lawsuits for burning our mouths -- and our laps -- on a cup of hot coffee from the drive thru simply wouldn't exist -- we would know better and take responsibility for our own stupidity. 
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  Doctors and hospitals would charge whatever the market would bare for their expertise and years of experience and schooling -- some would be rewarded generously -- and likewise, if they made a big mistake, it would cost them and their shingles would come crashing down. 
• 
  
  It wouldn't take a discussion with Congress, a Board of Directors, or a panel of seven or even a hundred, to decide what is best for me and my health -- all it would take is a sit down with a doctor and the family. 
• 
  
  While we all recognize the real cost of healing the uninsured (including illegals) is insurmountable and will be the root cause of our final demise (through legislation enacting overhead of nearly twenty percent of our economy, added to the already overwhelming bureaucratic heart attack waiting to happen)...

The real ailment -- not producing enough American-made Endorphins to override the full operating system breakdown -- will escape us.

That secret, which four out of five doctors agree, is safely held deep within; get plenty of rest, eat right, do something nice for someone else, and take a walk, run, bike ride, or swim -- move the body and move the mountains seemingly too hard to climb.

And then,

just before we close our eyes at the end of a day,

give a moment of yourself to the world within and feed the soul -- that which truly sustains us to make it through another day when perhaps not every thing is going our way.  In place of sheep jumping over a cloud, imagine counting blessings; give thanks for what is good, even if it was only a smile from a stranger or an "A" on your child's math quiz; look forward to tomorrow, even if it means rising at dawn to look for a new job, a new home, a new lease on life; share your strengths with the world, if only a sense of humor or your rose colored sunglasses.

America needs you -- she needs all of us to do our share and to do our part.

We all start at a crawls pace and work up to the coffee table and eventually the sprint across the living room floor.  This is what we do; we start small and go big, and with each step, a greater responsibility of our movements come along -- yet in time, our endurance will outlast even the most aggressive paths.  We will be rewarded with endorphins kicking in and feeding our ultimate destiny.  We will create a society so healthy and vibrant, the world will want a piece of us once more -- and in a good way.

Our health and happiness was never intended to be in the government's hands; no matter how many ways to make believe, it never has been and it never will.

MOVE today and make it a Good Day, G

nothing stays the same,

but if you're willing to play the game...

it's coming around again...

....I believe in love...

...coming around again...coming around again...

oh I believe in love...I believe in...