It's Through the Lens of Politics Thing

Dear America,

my starting point...

"My starting point is not to worry about the politics; my starting point is to focus on what makes sense, what works; what should we be doing to make sure that our children are safe and that we're reducing the incidents of gun violence.  And I think we can do that in a sensible way that comports with the Second Amendment."

This, my friends, was Monday; of course, you should have recognized it's origination if you actually did what I asked you to do, which was to read the full transcript on the day (Jan. 14, 2013).   It was simply a stunning display of a world power elitist in his element.

So, like I said -- this "starting point" was Monday, and then we had Wednesday; Wednesday we watched a day in the life of an American president introduce 23 Executive Orders to satisfy the Left's salacious appetite to set up and secure the jurisdiction for long term, Constitutionally jeopardizing, change.  Just all in a day's work when fundamentally transforming these United States...

Oh, and for dinner and a movie -- possibly Scary Movie #7 -- how about that press conference with the kids in the backdrop?

What's creepy is this list of the twenty three Executive Orders.

So the family doctor is going to begin asking us if we have a gun in the home -- and then, I guess, run back to tattle tale on us to the president, or better yet, to the latest ATF Director, should the nomination be accepted?

And considering many of the things on this list, at first blush, seem to fall into a category of rather innocuous; other things seem to fit into a category of something I like to call "DUH".  Like for instance, number one:

"Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system." 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/16/list-executive-actions-obama-plans-to-take-as-part-anti-gun-violence-plan/#ixzz2IFrXlDx2


I mean, seriously, did this require an Executive Order?

And, are we really in a place where we need "incentives" for states to share data with one another on vital background check information?

Or Number 5:   "Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun."   Um, duh.

Or, Number 11:  "Nominate an ATF Director."   Um, don't you mean nominate, get approval through Congress, and swear them into their official duties, like, yesterday?  You know, especially since no one has been fully responsible for that position since, like, 2006?

 And here's a good one, Number 14:

"Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence."

Okay.  Let's not dwell on the ridiculous.  Let's go back to the "starting point."

"My starting point is not to worry about the politics."

Oh he's good. This is when he is at his best, right?  Playing politics, talking politics, when he swears he doesn't want to have anything to do with politics.  It     is     rich, isn't it?

hmmmmm I think somebody should be examining their own conscience, just sayin'.

"And then members of Congress I think are going to have to have a debate and examine their own conscience --- because if, in fact, and I believe this is true -- everybody across party lines was as deeply moved and saddened as I was by what happened in Newtown, then we're going to have to vote based on what we think is best.  We're going to have to come up with answers that set politics aside.  And that's what I expect Congress to do."  Obama, immediately following 'the starting point'

Of course, the meat of the president's anti-gun violence agenda will be presented later in the week, including orders for an assault weapons ban in Congress.

But there he is, presenting this list of twenty three "Executive Orders" to save the children -- surrounded by children.   As flashbacks of the ghosts of propaganda past stream violently and hauntingly through the windows of my mind.   At least he's predictable.

I happened to have been in the car yesterday, listening to the Glenn Beck program, when the great GB, and sidekicks, started this entire segment kicking around how ludicrous it is to form public policy under the direction of seven year olds.   It was hilarious, actually -- their usual sarcasm was on fire...But I digress --  of course our children are going to find themselves scared at the news of Sandy Hook!   Duh.   Of course they are going to want the president to do something about it -- with or without Congress. [double dog dare you...]

We're all scared of the possibility and horrified by the reality.

But if this president were to stop for one minute and take a breath; if he were to pause for a moment and stop playing politics for a day, or 365; if he were to take a step back and just look at himself --  and stop using props to make his case and manufacture a heightened, irrational approach to nearly everything he does --  he would recognize a widely held belief:   children have yet to grow up and see the world in the full screen view.  

As genuine and pure and honest and true as they are, experiencing and communicating their immediate concerns and emotions as they come -- children are what they are....children.

In a language this president is sure to understand, considering how often he goes there -- this girl would be "happy to have that conversation."  Is the backdrop of innocent and ingenuous faces  really necessary?   Haven't we learned anything about "acting stupidly" from anywhere in our past?  Is the Second Amendment really that open for discussion?

Mr. President -- having a conversation with you, complete with your ideology in check and in full range of motion, is like discussing gun control with you while you hold a pillow in front of your AK-47  -- propaganda and politics and props come at a rapid fire, sounding much like soft tyranny running amuck.  The problem is, some of us within range have no idea they've been hit.

But like you said, your "starting point" is not to worry about the politics.  And why should you?  You are just concerned with 'what works' -- ways to keep the children safe -- "in a sensible way that comports with the Second Amendment."  

Right.  And as long as both sides of the aisle accept these "sensible ways," comporting with the views and policy of the this administration, by Executive Order and by any other upcoming directives to be decided later,  the rest of us aren't interested in any of that.   

Whether it's gun control, deficit contraction, deficit spending, debt ceiling raising, debt ceiling holding -- it's all pretty simple, isn't it;  the answers come pretty easily, don't they, Mr. President?   Just a full court press dribbling your own nonsense; ideology proven to have never worked in all of history.  But don't let that get in your way...

"It turns out the American people agree with me.  They've listened to an entire year's debate over this issue, and they made a clear decision about the approach they prefer...So they want us to get our books in order in a balanced way, where everybody pulls their weight, everybody does their part.

That's what I want as well.  That's what I've proposed.  And we can get it done, but we're going to have to make sure that people are looking at this in a responsible way rather than just through the lens of politics."

Yes.  Indeed... Because public policy by Second Graders has the power to totally dismantle the Second Amendment, and apparently, according to this president, there isn't anyone left in America who might have another way of looking at any of this.  Because that would just be irresponsible and absurd.   And moreover, public policy on emotional impulses is really, really smart.  It's so balanced -- it would pass a background check.

Politics....from start to finish. 
And it's just business as usual in rapid fire.

Stay calm and carry on.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's a Whitney Thing

Dear America,


so if this is a diary of America; which it kinda sorta is, aiming to record the cultural and political pulse on the day; then i guess i have to mention whitney.

Whitney Houston died last Saturday and her funeral is tomorrow.

Now, the news hit me probably like most Americans -- especially for those of us within the demographic who pretty much grew up with her; it hit hard... in the gut... like wow.... like whoa.

It was the kind of news taken with total disbelief, and yet, met instantly with no surprise.

We all heard the news and just knew, didn't we?

so sad.

bearing in mind the unthinkable similarity of being virtually the same age, the news hit a more delicate nerve; we're like the same but different --  as if it could have been me in some kind of twisted, warped imaginary world in which I would star (and as if I could sing...).

sure, she's black and I'm white, there is that.

But Whitney blossomed in the eighties, Check.
Whitney married the wrong man, Check.  Then divorced, Check Check.

Whitney's daughter is fifteen, Check.

[We even shared the same haircut for years, but now that's just being silly].

Aside from loving all the music on "I'm Your Baby Tonight..."



one of my favorite songs is:

beautiful.

But back on point, who am I kidding, 'we' are not the same at all; not even a little.

She found her voice at a very young age, then lost it in every way; while for me, now a stone's throw from fifty, I am finally getting around to finding mine.

We may have both grown up singing in the church choir, but her talents grew into a million dollar empire; for me, through the years thick and thin, I'm essentially living hand to mouth.

She let a man just ruin her; for me, I made lemonade (if only I could have turned it into a business).

After singing her heart out -- and by all appearances for those of us on the outside -- she lost sight of the greatest gift of all; while here I am, little old G, venturing to spend all my days searching and finding and living by faith.

Even with all the money in the world...even with more talent then she knew what to do with...even with the baby girl of her dreams...even with what amounts to the entire world being handed to her...none of it really mattered at the end of all her days.

She will never see fifty.

She will never see her Bobbi Kristina get married.

She will never experience true love again.

She will never sing another song for us.

so sad.

My heart is torn with the news that New Jersey is flying the flag at half staff in her honor; half of her life may certainly warrant it -- but, the other half of it most certainly did not (and hello...it's been like twenty years since she starred in The Bodyguard, with Kevin Costner).  A cultural icon of epic proportions she is -- and how; for if in fact they are "the future," what are we actually saying to our children?

Are we [still] glorifying the flamboyant celebrity factor at the greatest cost of all -- losing our sense of what it really takes to make and create an honorable life, the kind that thoroughly, and positively, and intrinsically makes the world a better place?   The fact remains, Whitney -- all on her very own -- left her honor and dignity tattered and torn.  She chose to self-destruct right before our eyes.  At some point, she knew she was heading for trouble.  At some point, she could have gone right, when she went left.  She was born free to choose all of it; let us never forget that.

If only we could return to the days of honoring personal responsibility -- instead of making excuses for personal, made uncomfortably public, failures.

The governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, basically went to her defense -- saying this, from the Associated Press:

"Republican governor says he rejects complaints that Houston 'forfeited the good things that she did' because of her struggles with substance abuse.

'What I would say to everybody is there but for the grace of God go I,' he said on Wednesday."

Well there is that -- who are any of us to judge, right.  And I, for one, would love to whole-heartedly agree.

But with all due respect, Mr. Govenah, no, she's not me -- there by the grace of God I hope I don't go.

In the literal translation, let us all hope we are not all going her way.

Whitney made herself into a PUBLIC figure, becoming that one in a million standing center stage as a shining example of us all; and with that, as AMERICA has grown to put celebrity on a pedestal, the greater the liability for all of our children wanting to follow in her footsteps.  What we laud and applaud, the children listen.  What is interpreted as a successful, honorable life -- the kind that is worthy of the American flag to be flown at half-staff even -- says something; and in this case, it just might send the wrong message. Did we really need to go there?

just sayin' --
I would sing it for you, but that just isn't my thing.

but yes, there by the grace of God go I....and speaking of...

God must be glad he got her back in one piece.  My guess is they are probably having a little chat right about now.

But let us leave things here spreading the good news; as a believer, I trust God loves all the little children -- even those of us who lose our way or stray.

She is probably on his lap, not saying a word, grateful for the loving arms around her welcoming her home.

we just never know how many days we are gonna get...

Make it a Good Day, G

in keeping with the month's red thread...just where did Whitney's sanctity for her own life go?

It's an Ah-mazing Grace Thing

Dear America,

so I wanna drift into a conversation about the sanctity of life.  it is, after all, how we left things last week.

why?
because it is so much more than the complicated, twisted turns of ideology and opinion pitting feminists/leftists against tradition.

When a child -- of fifteen years -- writes in her journal:

"I just f killed someone. I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead. I don't know how to feel atm. It was ahmazing. As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I'm kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now ... lol"

When a trusted teacher -- teaching at an elementary school in L.A. -- was recently discovered to have been forcing students to do unthinkable acts (with most of it captured on film) ....Only to have a second teacher, from the same school,  be arrested for virtually doing the very same thing....


When a lauded coach, with a winning record and a following teetering on religious idolatry  -- does next to nothing in reporting (and punishing) a colleague for [serious allegations of] acts of sexual abuse, and basically protecting a pedophile.


sure... it is a stretch in dialogue -- from 'it's not about contraception' to pedophilia.

BUT just look at our children  -- and the world in which they live in!  Just look at how they are turning out!  Just look at the broadband effect of abuses -- large and small -- upon the impressionable, vulnerable, young mind in America.

what are we doing?  how are we protecting them?  what are we teaching them?



Is Life, it's self -- in general and in the specific -- sacred anymore?  Is "it" protected, nurtured, and lovingly guided to grow up into responsible, thoughtful, lawful, compassionate, people?

Forgive me.  But just how in the world is this becoming so hard to do?

Oh I know why.
it's a rhetorical question.

It went awry when we ceased teaching a moral code.

When the intellectual, leftist response to modern life managed to gain a stronghold upon the halls of government -- driving a certain social justice agenda up against every tradition in America, including our hallowed Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices -- we stopped being the Nation under God.  It - Life under God, our Creator -  was replaced -- in thought, word and deed -- by man.

And guess what?  Man (or little girl, as this particular discussion includes), when left to his own moral code, confronting his very own devil inside, without a sense of belonging to a Spirit that is larger than life itself, falters.   For man, and even little girls, have a few flaws.

Making another huge leap, The Daily Bell featured an interview (with Dr. Yaron Brook) over the weekend that intrigued me (and in a round about way, his thoughts fit well):

"I think the world is pretty straightforward. The world is dominated by really, really bad ideas, by a lot of ignorance, a bad moral code and really bad ideas about politics, which drive people to do things that are not in their (or our) long-term self interest. I think central banks are an example of poor economic understanding and of a moral code that requires that government control as much of our lives as possible. I think this is fundamentally an ideological battle, a battle of ideas, a philosophical battle.

The destructive ideas dominating our culture are out in the open. They emanate from the universities. Their advocates are out in the open, blaring at us from lecture halls, pulpits, political rallies, editorial pages, TV and radio. What's devastating our world is the impact of intellectuals – professors, writers, economists, think-tankers – who advocate for Keynesianism, subjectivism, socialism, existentialism, post modernism, all these ideologies that are anti-capitalist, anti-individual rights, anti-freedom...

...What's unique about Atlas Shrugged is not only that it gives us answers, but it gives us solutions. It presents the philosophical explanation for what is going on today in terms of cause and effect, but it also gives us the solutions to these problems and a philosophy that completely turns upside down the statist regimes and the statist ideologies of today and presents us, for the first time in history, with a consistent philosophy that is pro-individual rights, pro-individualism."

The interview delves into nearly every facet of life in the modern world from the perspective of the Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights; for more, go here.

Now, granted, the focus for the interview was on capitalism, along with the war on terror; but the at the bare minimum, how can any of us expect for America to do well, to capitalize in today's world market, when we can't even "capitalize" upon our most basic natural resource, our people?  It's a good question.  We just aren't making them like we used to, you know?

Rational, long-term self-interest, aligning with pro-individual rights UNDER God...protecting freedom, liberty, and justice, for children and adults alike, is the cornerstone of America's way back.

America needs a heavy dose of tough love.  and I think that is exactly what we are witnessing right now.

I think our Father, our Creator, loves us so much right now -- Free Will, manifesting as good vs. evil,  is being allowed to take it's course, to play out, even if evil appears to be winning.  As individuals, we face it; as a country, we live it, turning it into the every day.


But everything we are taught these days stems from living In the Moment, not for the "long-term;" what we live for is selfish interests -- not rational, long-term self-interest built upon proven, age-less principles and values; what we want for ourselves is to live from one 'ahmazing' moment to the next, without care and thoughtful consideration of others, let alone leading a life of virtue just for the thrill of it.

We are teaching our children everything from life is fully disposable one minute, to taking the life of another is worth the rest of your life in jail.  We are snatching the innocence and beauty of life right out from under them, before they are even given a chance to know the difference.

We began the day citing the devastating actions of just four people -- a girl, two teachers and a coach; between them, hundreds of children have been irreparably damaged for life, if not killed outright; and they, in turn, will touch the lives of many others as they attempt to live with it.  How tragic.  How mind boggling really.

The cause and effect of the lives of just four people, out of 300 million of us living in America, can, and may, exponentially speaking, be very well a sign of the death of us.  For these kinds of stories are everywhere and often, aren't they.

America is truly sick.

And that's just it.

Raising good people requires rational, long-term self-interest for the betterment and livelihood and prosperity of the whole (the way our founders intended). Gone are the days of self-reliance; welcome to the era of self-destruction.

Leaving us to deal with the greatest responsibility and duty to Individualism, to it's highest degree. 

At this point, it might even require ten commandments, or something.

Make it a Good Day, G 

It's a Let God Out of the Closet Thing

Dear America,

So the founders built it, so that we may come into a world of freedom and liberty for all, in equal opportunity.

Given we are still discussing nation building, thanks to our dear president bringing up it's importance -- how can we not begin without looking at the very start of it all -- our birth, our early education and environment, how we nurture and teach our children to be of good character, of strong body, of kind spirit, and smart -- really, really smart.

As this sort of thing doesn't just happen by accident, you know.

It takes a village, sure.  But how often are we really in, say, "the village?"  And, how much of that early life is spent simply at home?  And just how stable is that home of ours?  These are all really good questions, if I don't say so myself.

This may be leaning a bit off the subject, but here in San Diego, we have had an unusual rash of entire families, parents and children, killed in a homicide/suicide scenario.  Three families, in fact, over about the last three weeks, are gone.  We talked about the stresses of life just yesterday -- and mostly in jest; but the reality is, in times like these, pressures of raising "good" kids doesn't even get on the top ten list of things to do today, for parents are being drowned, suffocated, buried, in a level of stress that puts just getting food on the table taking over nearly every waking thought.

And in these cases close to home, it all became too much.  A parent not only took their own life, but the life of their children along with; and according to Geraldo, at least 1000 kids a year are killed at the hand of their own parent...roughly three a day.

SO our strength to persevere must come from somewhere, right?  And to come right out with it, that is usually our faith.  See here, a current Gallop poll outlining some of the numbers.

70% of us still believe in Something outside of ourselves; and 41% consider themselves VERY religious, and 29% call themselves moderately religious...while, just 30% put themselves squarely in the NON-religious category.   If we were to break out the group of NON-religious: 29% lean towards GOP, 16% lean independent, and a whopping 54% lean Democrat.

So this poll makes me wonder -- how is it possible then, showing a country which leans seventy percent of the time towards believing in SOMETHING greater than ourselves, a God -- how is it that we have grown so anti-God in our everyday life -- say, in the village?  What, so as soon as we pop our head out our front door, we are supposed to leave our religion at home now?

Sorry.  That dog ain't gonna hunt.
This is not what our founders intended.

Our founders, lived from a place of believing -- a place that fully acknowledged Divine Providence had It's hand in the very making, and the building, and the reinforcing, and the maintenance,  in celebration of all good things to come.


Our founders protected us -- we the people -- FROM government telling us what to believe, and controlling us through the pulpit. It was hardly the situation of the other way around; this land, this nation, was built so that we could wear our religion every day, in school, in the grocery store.. at Home Depot, at Cisco..in the town square, in the village...and not be vilified for it.

And even though real Christianity had great influence upon our founders direction, in that Divine Providence kind of way,  the truth is, America's religion grew from a place so much bigger than that -- for we are living the dream of people like Cicero, that dates back two thousand years! A chief component of Cicero's politic was based upon  "rules of 'right conduct' with the law of the Supreme Creator of the universe...the only intelligent approach to government, justice, and human relations is in terms of the laws which the Supreme Creator has already established." [from The 5000 Year Leap]

Cicero explains this Natural Law in greater detail by saying:

"True law is right reason in agreement with nature; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrongdoing by its prohibitions...It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to repeal any part of it [G's favorite part] and it is impossible to abolish it entirely.  We cannot be freed from its obligations by senate or people, and we need not look outside ourselves for an expounder or interpreter of it.  And there will not be different laws in Rome and at Athens, or different laws  now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations, and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is God, over us all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge.  Whoever is disobedient is fleeing from himself and denying his human nature, and by reason of the very fact he will suffer the worst punishment."  [Quoted in Ebenstein, Great Political Thinkers, p.133, duly noted in The 5000 Year Leap, p. 40]

Having said that -- and might I suggest sitting with Cicero for as long as you possibly can here -- just imagine now,  how great Thou art.  We are made in America from this cloth; our heritage is rich, masterful, resting on the greatest thinkers of all time!   But here we all come along this one fine day in Two Thousand and Eleven in the Year of our Lord with every intention to uproot every bit of it.  Oh the bloody arrogance and stupidity just blows me away.

Do you think for one minute that the Academia-in-Chief, and the Liberal Organizers for America everywhere, really care about Divine Providence anymore? 

Newsflash:  IT still lives here. God Is and there is nothing you can say or do to change It.

Just because you wish to extinguish all life, liberty, tradition based on life Under God, doesn't mean the rest of us -- the 70% -- stand to agree.  talking to you, King George Soros.

Do you want to live in a world without a living breathing loving soul?  yeah, me neither.

Back to the building of a nation:  start with each and every baby we bring into this world.  And it continues through pre-school, early education, high school, college -- up until they move out and find a village of their own to call home.

So according to the Gallop poll, we do raise our children in a home that lives under God in some fashion -- seventy percent say  that we do, anyway.  That is the good news.

Bad news:  the village doesn't reinforce It's magnificence.  Matter of fact, the village is growing quite tired of even mentioning It's name out loud. The village has decided for us, that it is more appropriate to go by way of pop culture, offering a world of fleeting gods and goddesses, an agenda of many names, of organizations reigning supreme to capture our hearts, steal our money, and exploit our every resource for the "common good."  Sounds a lot like the Church of England, doesn't it? Who needs God, when we have the church of mother earth to tend to, right?

And if that were not enough -- as we have slowly taken away prayer in schools, replacing character building with community organizing, and after years of indoctrinating our children with far left curriculum going against our free market, avenging capitalism, discouraging critical thinking in every way, NOW, we are up against a whole 'nother paradigm -- the onslaught of a brand new agenda focused purely on redefining love, marriage, sexuality, and family.

Perhaps if we included lifestyle differences without demolishing and discrediting traditional relationships and marriage, our children might have half a chance.  But that is certainly not the case, is it?  is it?

Truth is, we have taken God, and our relationship with the Creator totally out of school -- one might even say, that It has been expelled for life. Hit the road, jack, and doncha come back, no more no more. The village has decided that we no longer want you, God; that we no longer need you, God;  that we got this thing called life totally handled.  The village people say, that our children no longer need to give God a second thought.

How can that be when our entire existence as a nation was built upon a belief in Something greater than ourselves -- that Divine Providence led our founders every step of the way -- how can that be?

What is the village so afraid of?

I have a pretty good idea, but that is for you to decide.

But more important, with 70% of the nation leaning to believing in Something, how can it be that our curriculum, that which is responsible for raising our children, allows for this kind of injustice?

How can it be, that all of a sudden, it is totally permissible to teach gay and lesbian relationships, transgender modification, even honoring transvestites and cross dressing 2.0, while curriculum based on building good character, good conscience, critical thinking beyond ourselves -- of what it means on being human, our connection to Something greater than ourselves, and what does God tell us -- is outlawed?

If we believe in treating all people with respect, if we believe in tolerance, if we believe in civil liberties both right and left, then for our children's sake -- then the village must open it's doors to the full curriculum; meaning, the village cannot play God for the rest of us -- and if they insist upon teaching our kids 'that stuff', then our kids deserve a balance of THIS stuff... the stuff that God made...along with it. 

The reality is, our children are in the cross-hairs of a political agenda.

The reality is, nearly 1000 children are killed at the hand of their own mother or father; but the real stunner, the one that the front page never talks about, is that hundreds of thousands are dying a slow death in a liberal education.

we made better kids when McGuffey's Readers were used in school...here's a sample:

About the Stars

1.  What child is there, 

that has never looked up with wonder at the stars!

2. I once knew a little boy, who, after looking 

at them for a long time, went to his mother and said, 

"Mother, these bright things in the sky, 

you call stars, but I think that is not the right name for them."

3."Well, my child," said his mother, "what do you think they are?"

4.  "Why, I think they are God's candles," said the boy.  

This idea is at once natural and beautiful.  

They indeed seem like lamps set 

in the glorious Hall of the Creator, 

to show forth its grandeur, 

and call upon the universe to worship 

Him who sitteth upon the throne, for ever and ever.

5.  Whatever the stars seem to be, 

we have reason to suppose that they are worlds, 

or suns, much larger than the moon, or even this earth.

6.How wonderful then are these shining orbs, 

and how great must He be, 

who in wisdom and goodness has made them all!

and it continues...

...leading the reader through the rest of the story, right to the end, when it welcomes into the room a full discussion of what are stars -- asking what idea is 'natural and beautiful', etc. etc. Just harmless questions making a child truly think for himself!  The child who happens to be of a "non-religious" family, can simply say they do not believe stars are connected to a God at all.  I guess, maybe that would be, in this day and age, about 30% of the class.  But who's counting, right?

The thing is, we stopped nation building, when we ceased teaching our children a deeper connection to all of life and our inherent duty, to ourselves and each other, to maintain 'right conduct' -- with or without God.  

"The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it.  While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves." [Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, 1:22-23, from The 5000 Year Leap]

We must allow ourselves, and especially our children, to walk with God -- out in the open. What is the harm?

As a parent, as a citizen, as a believer, I know this to be true.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's a Rule of Conduct Thing

Dear America,

we are acting in a "supporting role" only; whatever you think is happening in Libya, make no mistake, "American forces are not facing the hostilities that would require the president to seek such congressional consent under the War Powers Resolution."  see the rest of the post from the Washington Post, here

that, and it is merely Kinetic Military Action.

You can change the name; you can redefine it; we all know what war looks like, sounds like, smells like,  by now.

This is what our Founders envisioned:

"Peace, Commerce, and Honest

Friendship with All Nations -- 

entangling alliances with NONE."

  Thomas Jefferson

and especially, keeping our neutrality in full force was the primary objective.

The only time to take up arms against another country, was in instances where they engaged in hostilities against US.   Under such terms, Libya's War most certainly does not apply.  And at the tune of spending millions of dollars every day, nearing the ONE Billion dollar mark, me thinks this supporting role is misguided, over budget, and against America's best interests.

And then we have, from George Washington, a reminder of the delicate balance of what I like to call, the Frenemy Treaty.  He gives us this (pillaged from The 5000 Year Leap, by W.Cleon Skousen):

"In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated.  The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.  It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest."

and continuing this thought even further:

"So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils.  Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.  It leads to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions, by unnecessarily parting with what ought to be retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill will, and disposition to retaliate in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld."

wow. talk to me, George.

how we have strayed, how we have strayed.

But you would think, of all people, the anti-war (especially the one that was not the good war), anti-imperialist president, like Barack Hussein Obama, would take these words and founders intentions to heart and then some,  and be able to communicate such throughout his administration in thought, word, and deed.

I mean, after all, he is the president in receipt of a Nobel Peace Prize, based upon perception alone; he had two weeks under his belt as president when nominated for such a feat.   Just where is the follow through on that?   And if in fact Obama's actions do not deliver on such a promise -- would not the rescinding of such a prize ensue?

How awkward is this?  Or is this just me, being G?

The entanglement in Iraq, or the dis-entanglement thereof, is still, completely, engaged -- the entanglement in Afghanistan (THE GOOD WAR, he said) is becoming totally frayed, with mission creep getting the best of us, while we sit very much confused deciding just when enough is enough  -- and in Libya, after nearly 90 days now, beginning with a so-called mandate to take down an evil dictator (but without the mandate to do whatever it takes to do so) creating an entanglement that keeps making an even bigger knot, with the mission unknown leading the way and with rebel leaders still very much undefined -- to Yemen, the new drone dropping zone, equaling perhaps the un-war in Pakistan, where relations have never been at their worst -- to Syria, only begging for equal protections and attention under the Law of Entanglement as defined by the Obama Doctrine (and clearly, confused, in that he is running on several doctrines at once).  Take a breath, gretch...

Washington unveiled this rule of thumb:

"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign relations, is in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.  So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect faith.  Here let us stop."

Washington did his best to warn us of making the mistake of becoming associated with causes not our own in a very big way; making it clear -- whatever action we take in the direction of preserving another nation's best interests over our own, through "artificial ties" and allegiances, to meet the demand of a current age, would be just plain wrong.

"Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships and enmities...Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interests, humor, or caprice?"   

Yes, why?
It's a simple question.

Of course, maybe even George wasn't expecting things to get so complicated.

And then again, maybe this is exactly what he thought would happen.

The thing is, I really like the part defined by the extending of "as little a political connection as possible."

With a step back, politics has played too big a part in supporting roles all around the globe; and with that comes, a nation appearing nearly completely bi-polar half the time, running entirely dependent upon which way the bough breaks.  We have engaged and disengaged, become entangled and dis-entangled, on the fly and as the political winds blow.  We have spent good money on good wars, bad wars, and wars only defined as "military kinetic action."

We have spent good money after bad politics; dirty money on good intentions; and have allowed America's compassion to dictate the day, or take it away.  It is almost as if, the more you know about the way things were first intended, the more you grow in disgust in the way things have ever since been.

But isn't it the POLITICS of the engagement, no matter foreign or domestic, that gets in the way of true progress in everything!?

No longer can we figure out, on our own, what is really the RIGHT answer, without checking it with our political ideology first.  No longer can we decide, emphatically and on our own, that is wrong and here are all the reasons why, without making sure it does not cross with the partisan bias already firm in place.  No longer do we run on "right is right, even when nobody is doing it; while, wrong is wrong, even when everybody's doing it."

With any given amount of deeper study upon the words and intentions of our Founding Fathers (reminding me of Father's Day come Sunday), it takes about two seconds to figure out we have gone astray; and not only astray, but have grown ignorant, misguided, and shamefully unaware of exactly what makes this country tick and why.

Our alliances can be made oh so simple from this day forward, if only we "here let us stop;" for with certain, would not our politics then, be in there most pure form?  To find our way back to Universal, Natural Law, as according to our founders, gives us the best hope in correcting our course, without politics so much involved.

In short, our attention to the best interests of this fair land should remain the only preservation we must be vitally concerned.   Especially now.

I am trying to catch the last two weeks of Glenn Beck, in his final days of disengagement from his Fox audience...and something he said made me wince in shame, for the proficiency level of our children has become a startling example of just how far off base this nation has become.  Students at, or above, Proficiency Standards, in the 4th grade are at 20%; in 8th grade, at 17%; in 12th grade, at 12%.  (while this easily qualifies for throwing in my bad word of choice running for the week...unfukeenbelievable)

If these numbers don't shock a nation back into submission back to our Founder's best intentions -- in principles, values and goals, especially with regard to entanglements, both foreign and domestic --  then I don't know what will.

It is hard work being a responsible parent these days; and yet, call me crazy,  adding the element of politics into the fray, only makes things all the more convoluted, implicating ourselves with artificial ties which serve no purpose, complicating a relationship to God, Country, and Ourselves, in ways unnecessary and totally unwarranted.

Making a child's education just part of political controversy -- instead of building upon the benefits and best intentions of everything our founders set forth, giving way to all that a truly free market can bear, and thereby making way for a world of possibility and prosperity for all -- becomes so very apparent; both foreign and domestic, we can see exactly what veering from the path has done.   and it ain't pretty.

A closer look at this nation's birth, and the definition set forth by being a Republic, is genius.  EVERYTHING that our forefathers set forth was all about creating a more perfect union in every way -- I have no doubt in my mind.

America IS exceptional in every way -- and no country, on the whole entire earth, is like ours --  NONE.  We do not think we are exceptional just like the German's think, just like the Venezuelan's think, just like Iranian's think, and just like our president believes -- WE REALLY REALLY are.  All things considered, and playing the game of which one of these things doesn't belong?  We don't; we, the people, of The United States of America belong in the category of whole 'nother level of Divine Providence.  Don't believe me, then read this: 

Read The 5000 Year Leap and take a leap a faith in your country for once and for all.  Read it with your children; teach them what the progressives have swiped clean from our history books.  Engage in becoming re-engaged and fully entangled into the heart and soul of who we are as Americans -- not by party -- not by policy -- not by the throws of political power infiltrating our true spirit.

We are all Americans first and foremost; and if there is any part of you that does not comprehend, understand, or respect that part of you, then you need to leave, or, learn more about who you are, from a place of truth and reason, not politics.  And taking this one step further and applying a phrase we seem to understand, while also following the Obama Doctrine way, please accept this task on the ground as a moral imperative, as the budding arm of the apparent civilian military force that you are [confused? go back to G from just yesterday].

Here's to our founding fathers today and always; may we realize the waywardness of our entanglements large and small, here and over there, foreign and domestic, and recognize our power to change our world back to the way we were.  It is not too late.

This baby goes out to fathers everywhere -- be good, do good, and all else shall be added unto you; and to my own papa, I love you and thank my lucky stars for you everyday.

Make it a Good Day, G

hysterical, really... we are 'not engaged in any hostilities in Libya'...and 'ATM's steal jobs'... and 'shovel ready um ah not exactly shovel ready as we expected'...and 'if it were me, I would resign'...
...and what a week it has been for this president of many words.

happy friday.

Dear America,

so day two of spring break found me and my girl tooling around the design district, Cedros, in Solana Beach -- and spending nearly two hours in just one place called The Leaping Lotus (and yes, I totally dig the continuation on a theme from yesterday's two cents).

And chatting it up the entire time, she told me a story from a documentary she watched on the Discovery Channel over the weekend, detailing life of a family from a remote Himalayan village, where basically the children had to venture a long, dangerous trek to school with their father each year (and yes, the commute happened not on a daily basis, but as an annual ritual worthy of the risks).

For six months out of the year, the children attended a school miles away from home, and in order to get there, they packed up for a nearly a week's journey, along with their father, to travel the icy crevasses and steep countryside of the region to finally arrive at a small school house in the middle of nowhere; this would be home for the children until another six months passed, and their father came back over the river and through the woods for their return (yes... just a simple afternoon pickup, indeed).

Whenever I catch glimpses of other children around the world, getting an education, having pencils and paper and school books, is accepted like a gift from God.  Have you noticed that?


Without saying a word, captured in the eyes of every child, comes this light beaming from ear to ear, in utter gratitude for the opportunity to learn something.  While many of ours, in stark contrast, bemoan an afternoon of homework, fight every second of the way off of Facebook, and cling to any and all I Pods to get them through it.

As I mentioned a few weeks back, I discovered a local, homegrown patriot, writer, and businessman from a Community  Essay in the paper: "Reading and the Public Good" by Craig S. Maxwell.  And even though his trade is officially a bookseller, there was nothing self serving in his remarks whatsoever.

It was as if he was making his own last ditch effort to awaken the citizenry of the changes this country has afoot: forewarning us on the over-saturation of our childen's minds and time with "electronic gizmos;" burying their anti-social, yet with a social network twist, heads into a gadget of one kind or another, and hardly surfacing for a genuine hello, good morning, how are you today? And the reading of a good book, the good book, (or just one like "The 5000 Year Leap" perhaps) -- anything worthy of a lesson in morality, substance, vision, or of value -- fuggetaboutit.

Throughout the entire read he makes a splendid case wrapped around ideas steeped in our history, and for me, one sentence stands out above the rest: "America's essence is identical with self-rule."

It's as if we fail to recognize our duty and delight, being born of such privilege and all.

we all fail; for if one of us goes down, we all go down, right?  Isn't that how our president thinks of it...isn't that how collective salvation works?
For if we exponentially take that number of one and track it over time, decades of ignorance and bliss overwhelmingly suffocating knowledge and constraint, with apathy reigning over ambition, especially with our young seedlings for tomorrow stuck in a box, we slowly begin to lose the memory of the original thought.

Future generations become lost as we methodically, and yet strangely haphazardly, brush away the markers beholden to the greater good and our purpose under heaven; we extinguish all semblance of a path straight and narrow; as gratitude morphs into a viscous combination of entitlement, self interest, and taking it all for granted...who needs to pay attention to the things that made America great anymore, when we can be one great big dysfunctional global nation...

I can assure you, if every parent in America, literally and figuratively,  truly led their children "to school and back", much like that Himalayan papa, half of our issues would simply resolve themselves. Of course, if our schools became think tanks for truly higher learning -- welcoming all thought, reason, debate and discussion -- delving into the greater understanding as to why America is what it is, how we got here, who we are and jut who were, in fact, the thinkers and the visionaries back behind our foundation, what made America so different in the first place, and just maybe, in the last -- perhaps then we might very well create, and make, more children exceeding expectations in every way possible (math and science included).

Responsible SELF RULE does not come about by accident or by luck or by Facebook.

Mr. Maxwell adds a lengthy quote from John Adams, and here I will lend you part:

"...Be it remembered...that liberty must at all hazards be supported.  We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure and their blood.  And liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great creator, who does nothing in vain, has given the understanding and desire to know."

Right now, ignorance is bliss in America; we got too much, for too little, on borrowed time with somebody else' dime...and on top of that, we don't even make things anymore, much less strive to manufacture smart kids ready to work in the real world, fully prepared, after years of study, propped up with even a general sense and sensibility of the America who came before.  even presidents can miss the exquisite details.

Tonight, we will have a president promote -- for the second time in two months -- his budget for 2012 Take Two...   hmmm what will he say?

We spend too much, there is that.

No department will be immune to making some cuts, 

all ideas are on the table... 

but, you know, with Bush's two wars and a recession later, 

we need to have the wealthiest Americans pay even more, 

for it simply isn't fair 

for anyone to think and grow rich any longer in America...

even the debt ceiling will have to be raised for the 75th time, 

even though, 

I for one, 

was against raising the limit when a young, unseasoned Senator...

yes, after I grew government by more than ten percent, 

it is time for reform -- 

never you mind that my unfunded, unconstitutional, 

trillion dollar health care package has yet to hit the market, 

never mind that, what I propose here tonight, 

flip flops on the Bush era tax cuts 

only reinstated just a few months back;

never mind that I said all-of-the-above energy resources are warranted 

-- I change my mind about drilling for oil in America -- 

I am thinking twice about nuclear in the wake of Japan's disaster 

-- and come one way or another, 

I will nudge, oh so gently, all Americans to change 

their driving habits and more,

and perhaps buy a hybrid built for two...
and never you mind what the Other Debt Commission suggested,
it is time for a new Debt Commission to be put in place,
a commission who truly understands how to reorganize for America...

fundamental transformation of America will not be easy

we must all do our part

...but considering my salvation rests on your salvation,

and vice versa, 

we have work to do, 

and again, it will not be easy.  

But let me be clear...

redistribution of the wealth is the only way out, 

going against everything America is, was, or ever will be, 

is the order of the day;

and what we must do my fellow Americans,

is lead, after China, of course, into the new age, 

for the magnificent global economy is just waiting for us to show up!

Marking new paths of innovation,

and returning to a time when our schools, our children,

truly lead the world again in math and science again...

this is who we are.  

This is what we need to do to compete with the rest of the world.

What I will not do, is change my mind,

the trajectory is in stone, 

this is what we must do.

For in the end, 

the end will justify the means.

One love, y'll

One Nation, One World,

it is one way, or bust, over everything we know and love.

It is for the betterment of the whole.

This is what makes us who we are.

This will be what saves us in the end.

This is what our destiny 

and winning the future is all about.

God Bless you

and God Bless the United States of America (s)

Played world wide, tweeted, on Facebook, 

with YouTube hitting 3 million country strong within 20 minutes

Because that is just who we are today.

make it a good day, G

Dear America,

all I wanted to do was watch silly TV last night -- my girl was at a sleep over, my BooBoo was ignoring me and curled up into a ball on his favorite pillow --  the house was quiet (almost too quiet, if you know what I mean). And what did I do?  I filled the silence with canned laughter and one liners.

And now, looking back, I think it was all for one snippet of wisdom:

"you wanna make God laugh, tell him your plans"

...said the womanizer turned instant prophet on "How I Met Your Mother."

Are you talkin' to me?

In the last several weeks I have personally taken every plan, future picture, list of top ten goals and aspirations, blueprint for a year from now, five years from now, the last ten, off the table. In keeping with the spirit of yesterday's theme, my latest thing is having no thing in mind, and simply allow myself to be open to the Intelligence much grander, far smarter, more realistic than mine.

All I want to do is move in the direction that "adds to the bounty" responsibly, intelligently, and creatively.  And with that in mind and continuing yesterday's drum beat, I do believe, if our children are given curriculum, starting in grade school, introducing the depths of philosophy, morality, creation, government, religion and science -- more importantly, how they are all interwoven and connected -- the potentialities of building an enlightened, intelligent, responsible future America would grow exponentially.

just as a simple discussion on "Essential Capitalism" becomes a captivating exchange of ideas, experiences and attitudes.  Read More Here...Dr. Tibor Machan of The Daily Bell, does it again.  Just when we thought we all understood the same definition of capitalism...we are reminded that a duck is a duck is sometimes not the same duck    But similar to the video that went viral months ago, discrediting all that capitalism is and isn't, running amuck within our school systems far and wide -- ridiculing the ridicule seems to go on deaf ears.  Our kids don't understand, nor do they care, of what real capitalism (akin to the free market/free enterprise and paramount to how America was made) is or isn't.

According to my pea size view, one little book carries the magnitude to correct all woes separating the ignorant from intelligentsia:  The 5000 Year Leap.  If each year, starting early and often, began a quick review of "The Leap" -- real capitalism, combined with moral responsibility, aligned with honor and integrity, added to simply doing the right thing, respective of the Rule of Law and America's finer principles, has a real chance of saving us.

I mean, capitalism has made people like a George Soros and a Bill Gates.  Capitalism has created GE and GM, and every job and opportunity that falls under CEO/boss/owner/investor/risk taker.  Capitalism has linked cities and continents, and has made the world a global marketplace. Capitalism preserves creating a competitive edge building better goods and services, like between Coke and Pepsi, and the like.  Capitalism fully supports the American Red Cross and every other charity and worthy cause known to man. Capitalism, when used correctly and responsibly, is the one thing and the only thing to account for the accumulation and the expansion of pure wealth and benefits that exceeds all other avenues, trickling down to the finest detail and the last person on the totem pole.  Everyone counts.  Everything matters.  And when we cease recognizing either one, we have issues.

But besides wishing and praying "The Leap" could be dropped down into the hands of every citizen this very moment and wishing responsible true capitalism could catch a break -- and being that it is spring break and my girl is home and we want to go out to play -- today, I want to keep things short and leave a little Emerson on the table to ponder (and yet, is it Emerson? some question it...no matter, it is still good).

What is Success?

To laugh often and much; 

To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;
 

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, 

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;

This is to have succeeded.

pulleeze, plans...what plans?  I got no more stinkin' plans; take me, I'm yours.

Make it a Good Day, G

and then there is this...remember the old A-Team sitcom?  what was their favorite line: 

"don't you just love it when a plan comes together..."

And can't wait to hear Obama's plan (not to be confused with his other plan) that is expected to come out tomorrow.

Dear America,

"Giving money and power to government

is like giving whiskey and car keys

to teenage boys."

P.J. O'Rourke

Just a wee bit of the Irish philosophy on the eve before ye old leprechauns do their mischief.

I'm only guessing about the 'wee bit Irish', but with a name like Patrick Jake O'Rourke, I think I'd put money on it.

I love the use of humor with politics -- with a fair amount of luck and most likely alot of work, O'Rourke has made a living out of it.  America is famous for continuing to churn out the Art Buchwalds, Paul Harveys, Will Rogers, Mark Twains, Bob Hopes, just to name a few funny guys reporting on the times.

As Will Rogers once said,

"All I know is just what I read in the papers,

and that's an alibi for my ignorance." 

or how about this,

 "Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for."

or,

"About all I can say for the United States Senate

 is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation." 

From Art Buchwald,

"You can't make anything up anymore. 

The world itself is a satire. 

All your doing is recording it."

And isn't what is going on right now in Washington all of that, and more.

But here's the thing -- and it comes from the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln:

"the philosophy of the school room in one generation

 will be the philosophy of government in the next."

Of course, here he is being totally serious -- and how.

In spite of his lack of early education, he grew to become one of  our most beloved American Presidents, renowned for his use of humor and real life experiences to connect with people and move beyond the usual capabilities of an ordinary man, becoming the iconic symbol of freedom and liberty and justice for all.

I have been really troubled in the last few days, watching the politics as usual succumb to the provocation of money and whisky and power and mayhem.  Lord knows what Lincoln would have say to this sorry lot we have before us and running amok, in the house America built.

The house. 
Our home. 
Your house. 
My home.

I am struck by the overwhelming destruction of the Big House and our Humble Homes, tumbling down more and more each day; I believe this warrants a wee bit of advice from Carl Sandburg, "in these times you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning."

It all goes together -- government hanging from the capital chandeliers, hootin' and hollerin' the days away -- our children without supervision and left home alone with the whiskey cabinet, or worse -- competing with  the wild and reckless behavior of their own parents.

What the heck are we doing?

It's as if every single one of us needs to go on restriction.

But noooo, we've got parents like Rielle and "Johnny", out there and front and center. (yes, Rielle, like you didn't know you were sitting there half dressed, having pictures taken, in order to have them plastered across the pages of GQ -- come on!)

But noooo, we've got the DIShonorable Rep. Eric Massa returning to what he has left at home -- I suppose with his tail between his legs -- but I'm guessing again, now aren't I?

But noooo, we've got a woman in Jersey, parenting two children while filming her search for the thousandth pound over the wide world web for all the world to see -- send money, cakes, baklava -- feed my obsession and my perversion, while my very own babies are afoot and dependent upon my means to make a quick buck... all the while destroying my own health, my body and anything and everyone in my wake...

Or how about the children that never really had a chance -- like the ten month old sitting in the backseat while his parents were gunned down on the streets of Ciudad Juarez, capping off the weekend's murder rate of at least sixty people in this border town, snuffing out the lives of two vibrant, loving American parents (along with a second child on the way). With gang warfare and drugs out of control, the issue is now hitting home everywhere -- especially in neighboring cities like mine, living along the 2000 mile border of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

My girl was in Vegas over the weekend for a softball tournament. She returned home without a trophy yesterday, but with wide open arms waiting for her.  We hunkered down last night eating one of our favorite meals, just picking off the meat of a rotisserie chicken with a side of mashed potatoes.

I didn't even want a nip of the Jack Daniels sitting atop the fridge, I was brimming over with happiness just to have her home, to forget the world, and batten down the hatches with my baby girl by my side.  She had no idea why I couldn't take my eyes off her -- it was all a could do to keep from crying.

Beware the Ides of March, yes, as Caesar didn't see it coming, did he; but the good news is, we do!

With a wee bit of luck and a lot of work, perhaps some well timed humor and a leprechaun or two, we may be rounding the corner; paying attention to the right things may very well be, not only in the neighborhood, but under our roof and wrapped around our arms...as it is within our school houses the next generation of government is made.

It may take everything we've got to flip priorities, restrain government shenanigans, the tom foolery and chicanery; but restoring our civil liberties -- all the while reinforcing true discipline and building up the extraordinary, instead of stooping to the lowest common denominator, above all things -- our children may still have half a chance.

Make it a Good Day, G