What-ifs Are a Fantasy

Stop thinking about the "What-ifs."  The What-ifs are a fantasy that not even the fantasized could live up to. Sometimes we have to realize that happiness is as much a habit of thoughts as is depression or anger. We have the power in our own mind to imagine that which is not and make it so, simply by believing. Your spouse is more likely to become what you believe, so believe what you want about them, rather than what you do not want.

The Image of Our Legacy

The images we share with others only tell part of what we feel when we think of loved ones. Memories are a powerful tool to remind us both of the mortality and the immortality of man. The memories that we share with our children create the legacy that our children will share with their children and their children for generations to come. Choosing between life and death is not a mortal decision but an eternal consequence to the decisions we make in mortality. 

The Value Is In The Fruit

Sometimes it is hard to tell just by looking at things why something is bad, but the value of a plant is the fruit it bares. Just because something looks or sounds good does not make it good. In fact many weeds look very attractive, but when they are left alone they steal nourishment from the good plants and leave you nothing in return. Many times weeds come up and look harmless or mimic the look of a good plant, once they are established they take over by overwhelming us. Often times it is only a very few actual weeds, but the bulk of them when unchecked leave us hopeless to battle them. Weed the garden of your life, remove the unproductive thoughts and actions that cause your spiritual, physical and emotional distress.

A Winning Attitude Trumps The Trophy

Winning is important. It helps us feel accomplished and successful. However, what is more important is how we win. With victory comes the spoils, but when we exercise our victory in gloating or causing others to shrink in shame we may lose more than just friends. Competition helps us to exercise our ambition, and hopefully teaches us the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Always thank those with whom you compete . Learn from those who beat you. Never forget that winning or losing does not make you a winner or a loser. For often times you learn more by losing than you do by winning. Losing hurts, but being a bad sport kills. A winning attitude trumps the trophy.

Freedom Is A Moral Responsibility

In declaring our independence many lives were at stake not only those who fought on the battle field. but their future generations as well. Not only their generations, but generations of immigrants that would come here from that day to this. Not only is Freedom not free, but it carries with it a responsibility to be moral. Without that responsibility there is no freedom worth fighting for. With that responsibility freedom is worth living, fighting, and dying for.

Creativity Is The Spice of Life

The complexity of the feast is what makes it work. Sometimes to know what is about to happen will keep you from doing something you might really end up liking. Life is meant to be a sampling of many experiences. Some just have to cram as much as they can into it. Nothing wrong with it, it just might not look good to others. But then again as long as it is legal, ethical, and moral....Enjoy! Creativity is the spice of life.

If Bad Is So Bad Then Why Does It Feel Good?

Sinning is not bad because it will feel bad when your doing it. Sin is bad because of it's consequences. This is why bad habits are hard to break. While you are sinning it may give you a rush or a feeling of euphoria followed by a sinking feeling inside. Then when we want to correct our actions it is hard because we want to think that we found happiness in the sin, but every time we sin we feel bad afterward. The longer we go the harder it is to connect the consequence with the sin. Eventually you forget that you ever felt good and good becomes bad and our natural sensors of right and wrong start going backward. Sin feels good, but it detracts you from even greater feelings and greater pleasures because it leaves you feeling unsatisfied, but willing to settle for less than your potential.

Hypocrite Or Not It Is Your Responsibility

Calling someone a hypocrite does not take away your responsibility to do what is right. No one has to answer to God for another person. You alone will be responsible for what you do or what you do not. It is not wise to use another persons bad example to keep you from doing what you know you should.

My Cluttered Mind

If you could see inside my mind you would find quite the clutter... Pieces of thoughts strewn from one end to the other, a whirling derby, a smorgasboard of words that sometimes makes sense. Sometimes it tastes good, sometimes it doesn't, but it keeps me entertained. But alas you only get to see what I consider my treasures.

Learning To Live With The Mistakes Of Others

Sometimes in life we plan on growing strong and tall together, but along the way our dream may be broken. Sometimes it is because of what we do. Somtimes it is because of what we don't do. Othertimes it is someone else's bad decision. Whatever causes it we must not allow it to stop us from growing. Learning to adapt to the situation gives us an opportunity to breathe life into a new dream... A bigger dream.

When we learn from others though they may be dead and gone we still gain nourishment from their existence. Live as though every dream is possible if you work hard enough, just remember the biggest dream of all is love and care for your own family. Everything else is secondary and inconsequential.

You Can't Go It Alone

There is a temptation to think that you can go through life on your own. You may think that you don't need others, but when things get tough you realize that there is a purpose for families. God knew what he was doing when he put us together. Those who try it alone don't know what they are missing or are too miserable to realize they are missing anything. Count your blessings if you have a family. If you don't, find someone nice to adopt you. You will not regret the experience of being a part of a good strong family, so if need be make it so.

Respectability Edifies All

Respect is like a two person tight rope act. When one does not cooperate it is almost impossible for either to look respectable. When you act with respect towards others you do yourself and others a great service, becasue if you truly believe in what you are doing then respect will edify all involved. If you believe in your message their is no reason to deedify your cause with disrespectable behavior.

Grandmas Are Love

Grandmas are love. Grandmas give us something not even our mom and dad can give us. Grandmas give us wisdom without consequences. Grandmas often times say the same things that moms and dads do but they say it in a nice way. They understand that mom and dad in the heat of battle don't always know what to say or do to help their own children. Grandmas know that a little candy or a cookie and some juice always makes things better. They are our cheerleaders on the sideline of life. And Grandmas just know how to scramble eggs better than anyone else.

Open Hearts And Open Minds

The hardest thing for people to read is the heart of another. But it is in the heart where disagreements are understood and differences are reconciled. When you posture yourself with contention you deny yourself the opportunity to open your heart to others and you make others uncomfortable opening their hearts to you.

Contention closes doors that might other wise be open. Contention is like a bull in a China shop it may be excited to be there but no one else is excited it is there. Kindness begets kindness and understanding begets understanding. Be willing to admit your wrongs and you open a door that may prove to be life changing.

Life Is Hard, Blessings Are Good.

Life is hard. There is little that is easy, even when you are playing you want to play hard or life becomes boring, and that is hard live with. Once we realize that it is just a part of mortality that we can not get rid of then we start working towards enjoying the work of it.
Don't always try and do the minimum or that is exactly what you will get. Try and out do yourself and you will find that your blessings will exceed your expectations. Work hard for others and you will find others will work hard for you. Spend your money wisely and money will find its way back to you. Use your time wisely and you will find you have more time to do what you like.

Preparing For Battle Against Your Adversary

Knowing your enemy is almost as important as knowing yourself. As in any competition you want to study your opponent, not to empathize with them but to learn how to counteract their moves and how to exploit their weaknesses. There is a tendency with some to think if they do not know the counteraction for their enemies move that they must be on the wrong side. Most often there is a counteraction, they just have not discovered that action yet. Getting a grasp on the fundamentals of the truth will counteract all evil until you can get the answers you are looking for. Do not be discouraged in your quest. Be ever vigilant in your preparation to battle your Adversary by seeking the truth of all things.
The truth will expose the lies the adversary tells to entice you into dangerous territory. The truth guides you and  strengthens you against temptation. Understanding will bring you peace in times of battle and calm in times of chaos.

Let Your Feet Guide You

There is little that feels better than to lift your feet off the ground after a long hard days work. When the Lord says come and enter into my rest I imagine a the weight on my feet being removed and a feeling of peace resting upon me. Let your feet guide you to that place where the Lord can give you rest and I believe your burdens will always be lighter.

Get Back In The Saddle

When we give into temptation sometimes there is a brief moment of calm followed by a nagging consciousness of falling short of our mark. Stand tall and get back in the saddle, we must never give up on ourself. We can only win if we continue to move forward.

A Mothers Love

The influence of a mother can change the world one generation at a time.

When You Know Who You Are

I believe when we truly understand the gospel of Christ and embrace it, our very thought process changes. Sometimes it is subtle, but for many the very light inside their soul clicks on and it shows in their very countenance so much so that you may not even recognize them if you knew them before. Because when you know...really know who you are, you begin to act the part.

The Roll of Father

Father means so many things. To my son Spencer, who is adopted, He has learned a lot about this. You see before he came to this mortality he lived with his Heavenly Father. He came into this world thanks to his birth father, and then he came to us where I became his father through the process of adoption. Then on October 31, 2009, Spencer decided that he was ready to be born again into a new family, that of Christ. So, now Christ is the father of his Eternal life. Each father has a roll to play, each father has contributed to who Spencer is, and each father wants him to succeed...to reach a new level of good. Each father has made sacrafices just for him. And each father will continue to guide him through his life. And each father will watch with interest how Spencer teaches his own children how to be better than himself.

Judge Me Not

You may paint me as you see me, but your broad brush does neither of us justice, do not expect me to recognize the image, for you can not put my soul into your picture. Judge me not for my imperfections for my only perfection is knowing I am not.

Reaching Up To God For Answers

To abandon ones faith is far more serious than to abandon ones beliefs. While our faith must be based in God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ, our individual beliefs may vary according to the knowledge we receive from our Father in Heaven. Some things we may think are significant, and they are, but with a slight variation here or there. God gives us the knowledge we need as we need it. Sometimes he asks hard things of us so that we must approach him in prayer to receive those special witnesses. But when we do lack wisdom he admonishes us to approach him. He does not ask us to rely upon our own wisdom or the wisdom of any man. He says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5
There is no man who can give you the answers that God himself reserves as his right to give to you. It is His relationship with you that matters most to Him and the only way you can have that relationship is by talking to Him. As your faith is increased your beliefs may change until your beliefs and your faith are one with God.

No Greater Relationship

It makes sense to me that marriage is a religious experience and ceremony, because it requires Godly actions to maintain and keep a marriage together. That is only hard when we refuse to listen to those natural urges to want to be good to each other and for each other. As God is my witness, there is no greater relationship a man and woman can have than the one they have together with God.

How Do You Win In Politics?

Labeling is like throwing a general net to convict many with a single finger print. At best it is unfair and at worst you may end up convicting yourself.
Labeling someone politically is like two people playing two different games on the same board with two sets of rules while thinking they are playing the same game.
The blame must be placed not on the players but those who arranged the game. The only way the game can really be played fairly is if the players come together and create common rules and ignore those who continue to try to arrange the games.

Leaving A Better Legacy

Our children are a good reason to overcome our past and present "giants." Whether your children know what your giants are or not they will recognize that you have the spirit of overcoming and will observe and learn for themselves. Leave them a legacy of becoming better.

Your Destination Determines The Path You Should Take

The path we take really does determine not only our destination but what we see along the way. Sometimes we get carried away thinking that everything has to be hard. I do not believe that is true. I believe that the hard part is getting off the trail and finding our way back. As long as we are on the trail life is good.

Respect Starts at Home

Knowing how to get married is not nearly as important as how to truly be married. The greatest gift a mother and father can give to their child is to show them how to truly be married. I believe that youth disrespect adults based more on their observation of their personal adult relationships than on any other sinle factor. Give your spouse respect and love and your child will sooner or later respect you.

Obedience Leads to Understanding

When temptation strikes it usually strikes hard and fast. Obedience to the laws of God leads us to understanding the laws of God. Justifying the breaking of those laws leads us to questioning those same laws. Obey and prosper or disobey and flounder.

Who You are Shows.

It is hard to know who we are until we are on our own. The influence of our parents is unmistakable, but it takes time to germinate and grow. Find your furtile ground and then let God do the rest. It won't take long before we all know who you are.

Who You Are Matters

Knowing who you are does matter. When you know who you are you will know that you have a direct link to the source of truth. You do not have to rely upon the arm of flesh to seek the answers you are looking for. When you learn that you are a child of God, you realize that your destiny is to become like unto your father. For every child is an embryo of their own father and mother. When you know who you are you will not despair, but will realize that all trials are for your experience and training. You are a Child of God and knowing that does matter.

Looks aren't everything

Looking at pornography is like swimming with jelly fish. It may look attractive but once you are in the middle of it you will get stung and it could be spiritually fatal.

Why is it so hard to do what is right?

I think we all want to do what is right to one degree or another. It is not that difficult to want to do the right thing. However, when it comes time to actually do what is right it often takes courage.
Sometimes the fear of hurting someone causes us to fear doing what is right. Other times we just don't feel like we know how to do what is right. That is when we have to learn how to practice.
Practice doing the right thing with little things, then when the big things come along you will know why you need to do what is right. And knowing why you should do what is right is the most import thing to know when it comes to doing what is right.

A Covenant Family

As we get older the more we realize the importance of family. This will be more evident as the basic family unit is torn apart by society. The strength of your family will give you greater comfort and courage when you have to make hard decisions. It may at time seem that you are fighting against your own family at times, but when you are on God's side you will be assured that you are fighting for them not against them. The covenants we make with our Heavenly Father must be considered sacred and we must protect them. Families can be together and they will if you remain true to who you are.

Being Happy

Sometimes we think if we get what we want we will be happy. But that only works if what we want is right. Life is about learning to like what is right. We are constantly being tested, and sometimes we are going to make mistakes. The atonement of Christ will give you hope. That does not give you an excuse to make mistakes, but should give you hope that your mistakes will not eternally doom you to a warm and not so comfortable place. Being good, will lead you to being happy no matter what has or will happen in your life.

For My Boys

My son has informed me that he has been reading my blog and has requested that I use it more often so I have decided that I will use this opportunity to expand upon some of the thoughts that I have been using for my statusi on facebook. I will also be adding some of my pictures that I have been taking as I celebrate what is right with this world. I hope that you enjoy!

Spring Bee

I Believe in Americans

The United States of America has been blessed, not because of its government, but because of her people. We are not like any other nation. Some have called us cocky and arrogant, and in someways we are. However, we are also giving and caring. We have taken our place at the top of the world not by stepping on others so much as setting a standard for others to reach. We as a people are quick to help where help is needed. We the people of the United States of America, not the government, but we we the people have donated billions of dollars to nations who have suffered catastrophic disasters. We have donated food and supplies to others whose own governments had turned their backs on them. And when we have seen that our own government was not able to deliver goods to people in need we have found ways to do it ourselves.The scriptures tell us that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Freedom. This nation was founded on Freedom and its people will not allow those freedoms to be destroyed. Many have underestimated us, I pray that our Government does not. There is a voice that whispers to us that something is wrong. Our spirit is wrestless but we are unsure what we can do. Thus far we have not noticed the effects of our freedoms being stripped from us personally, and we have in the past been able to disregard those voices that have warned us, but instinctively we know it is coming. We know the scriptures and the prophets have predicted such a time, but we have always said, "not in my lifetime." Many of us have believed that the walls of Jericho could not come down. All is well in Zion, yet that nagging feeling continues to eat at us. It is time! we have been awoken. The alarm has gone off and the snooze has gone through its final cycle. It is time to look beyond the benefits of comfort and understand the difference between a right and a privilege. We must come to realize that we can not change the laws of nature. We can have compassion, but we must never place our responsibility on the government. What makes America great is that we come together to protect eachother with personal sacrifice. We can ignore the wealthy if they choose not to participate, it is their choice. We have placed so much emphasis on the value of money, when true value lies within us. It is knowing who we are, and knowing that we have the freedom to experiment with our talents. If money loses its value what can you trade for food, or housing, or whatever you need? Americans are resourceful. That is in our blood. That is who we are.Our ability to reason has come down to name calling if we can't explain our position logically. We have been dishonest with ourselves. We have allowed Congress to use their credit card and spend us beyond our credit limit. How is it that it is okay for Congress, yet if we do this it is bad? We as Americans can disagree, but unlike many parts of the world we do not have to have civil war in order to be heard. Thank God for the freedom of speech. We do not have to believe exactly the same to respect eachother. We can be wrong in our opinion and not be jailed. We were born to be free, but we must know what that means or we will follow natures trail of disintigration. The greatness of America is not in What her government does, it is in what her government does not do. It is not in what her people don't have to do, it is in what Her people do.

Beware of Government Complexity

When the government said it is complex they mean one of two things. First, They have not figured out how to hide the money yet, so they are buying time. This is why they like lawyers to create laws. Lawyers (not all) but many are trained in the philosophy that if you lie then you better lie enough that you loose who ever is trying to follow you or until they die. Then you can indoctrinate their children. Second, "You are to simple to understand that government does not have rules or standards. If you want to hold someone accountable make it your churches, because we don't answer to God or man. So, if you really want the answer see my lawyer." Which takes us back to the first meaning. Rules of the Economy1. Get out of Debt- Debt takes your power and gives it to another, don't do it. Spend less than you bring in and save some for the future. If everyone did this from house to house and business to business there would be no need for bailing anyone out. If you are in debt. Get out! Use everything you have to get out. sell everything you can. Make your children nervous they might be next. But get out of debt!2. Get rid of the idea of Credit. If you grow too fast it is just as unhealthy as staying the same or going backward. If you can't pay cash don't buy it. A business should be run like a home. A home should be run like a business. And Most of All Government should be run like our home. Credit falsifies the value of everything. If we only bought what we could afford with cash, prices would reflect a true market value. Research and developement would be paid for by the rich who can pay the higher prices to have the latest and greatest paving the way for us middle and lower class workers to pay the level market value.3. Be Honest. An honest days work for an honest days wages. To inflate the value of a job is no less dishonest than underpaying someone for the job they do. Both the employer and the employee have a responsibility to eachother to be honest. Do not inflate the value of your product nor under rate it. If we are honest we can grow in a healthy way. If we don't we will always deal with economic bubbles. 4. Employers would do a great service by helping their employees get what they want through the process of increasing the value of their service. If an employee desires to own his own business an employer might want to teach him how to get started. Ask for a royalty based on his success giving him incentive to teach him well. An honest value given and honest value recieved. 5.You are never too big to fall. We as American's are cocky, arrogant, and extremely resourceful. Every once in awhile it is good to clean house. Get rid of the garbage and clean up the yard. When a big company fails it warns the little ones to tight down the hatches and straighten up their practices. It also gives opportunity for smaller healthier companies to fill in the gaps. When you bail a company out no one learns. And the ones who are hurt the most are the honest businesses. To bail out a business that has not not practiced sound financial decisions, including paying employees too much, should not be bailed out. This is a reward for bad behavior. While honest businesses are punished for good behavior.6. Remember Americans are tough. We may not like hard times, but we can take care of ourselves. When we get kicked in the butt we will fight back. If we are allowed to hit bottom we learn from it, and we will survive and thrive or we will die trying. True strength comes from knowing that you have power to do what you need to do, and doing it. If you are never allowed to do what you have to do, then you will never be strong enough to do what you need to when you no longer can rely on help. 7. The enemy of poverty, racism, sexism, or discrimination of any kind, is freedom and truth. It takes time, but an atmosphere of freedom allows truth to reach the hearts of the people but when it does they as individuals will not have room for prejudice or hatred. There are many, though they live in an atmosphere of freedom have no spirit of freedom in them and therefore do not understand. And what they do not understand, they fear. 8. To implement Socialism is like trying to help a butterfly emerge from its cocoon by cutting the cocoon so the butterfly doesn't have to fight to get out. The butterfly that doesn't fight to get out, doesn't fly and ends up starving to death. It is not always pretty, some caterpillars never make it to adulthood for many reasons, but trying to garauntee success for everyone is a sure way of making it so no one succeeds. Keep it simple. If it is not simple it is likely not truth.

I do not know the original author of this but it was sent as an e-mail. I am sure it will be around but it just makes sense to me. I thought I would add it to my blog.


Once upon a time a man appeared in a village and announced to the
villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each.

The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest and started to catch them.

The man bought thousands at $10 each, but as the supply began to diminish, the villagers stopped their efforts.

He next announced that he would buy monkeys at $20 each. The villagers renewed their efforts and started to catch monkeys again.

But as the supply diminished even further, people soon lost interest again.

When the man increased his offer to $25 each, monkeys

became so scarce it was an effort just to find one, let alone catch it!

The man then announced that he would buy monkeys at $50 each! Since he had to go to meeting in the city, he said his assistant would buy the monkeys on his behalf.

After the man left, his assistant told the villagers, "Look at all the monkeys my boss has already bought. I'll sell them to you for $35 each, and when he returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50."

The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the man's monkeys for 700 billion dollars.

They never saw the man or his assistant again - only lots and lots of monkeys!

Now you have a better understanding of how the

Wall Street bailout plan will work.

It doesn't get much more clear than this.

New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions

The Holiday Season has come and gone. The sugar high is disappearing, and we are realizing all our misdeeds. This brings us to our New Years resolutions. No wonder January is so depressing. If you can't keep a promise to yourself, then who can you keep a promise to? Oh, the dilemma.

Every year I look at all the things that I need to change and I know that I can not do it all. So, I choose not to do any of it. Oh, I write things down because that is what we are suppose to do, but I know that I am not going to make it past the first week, if I start at all. Then I realize that I have just created one more bad habit. Oh, what a vicious cycle.

Well, this year I want to change something. I am not going to focus on the things that I normally do. I want to do something a little different. This year I want to stop running. I am tired of running. I think that I have used up more energy running. I have wasted years of my life running, and running, and running. And what do I have to show for it. I have created more stress for my family, my friends, and myself. I have suffered unnecessarily mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My running has done nothing to improve my life. I have exhausted myself beyond comprehension, and I have gotten nowhere.

So, I am going to stop running. I am going to stop running from responsibilities. I am going to stop running from my problems. I am going to stop running from the truth. I am going to stop running from my blessings.

I have a favorite thought by Marianne Williamson that goes like this:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure..."

The power we have is not in ourselves alone, but when we take upon the name of Christ we can do all things, that is where our power lies. This is our greatest fear and our greatest strength. Our fear is giving up control of our life, yet through Christ we find greater control in our life. Faith to give up what we know for what we do not know is scary, but the less we fight, the easier it is.

Running away from things you can't outrun is futile. You can run and run but it takes more energy. When if you had just given in you would have found that the source of your energy is in those things which you were running from. Turn and face your fears and you will not only help yourself but everybody around you.

So, this is my resolve this year. I am giving up. I am going to stop running, and accept what God has given to me as a gift. This year I will not hide my gift, but I will unwrap it and share it.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

This rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic is absolutely beautiful.
http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm

Anna's Response to illegal immigration

This past semester I took a class on Mexican American culture. Through out the semester I really struggled with the message that I thought the teacher was presenting. I am not one to try to please the teacher with answers that I think she wants to here, but I also have a desire to get good grades. So, I am not one to actively seek out a fight either, although I will stand up for what I believe.
During the mid term test I struggled, as it involved a great deal of essay answers. Mentally it was excruciating as I tried to give the answers that I felt in my heart, while not appearing agitated or disgusted with what I was reading in my books.
Later, I found out that the teacher often has classes that want to ban immigration all together, so the approach is more to bring people to the middle, where immigration is positive without condoning illegal immigration.
I watched our message board closely, to see how others were reacting to the class as well and I was pretty discouraged. I saw a movement from prejudice to reverse discrimination. Then I came across these two entries that kind of summed up what I felt was happening one the one hand, and how I felt on the other hand.
Understand that Anna grew up under the Communist regime of Russia, and after Slovenia gained its independence she was able to come here legally on a visa. I have grown to have a very high respect for her. I did not include the name on the question as I did not feel it relevant it was the feeling that I think many had according to the other questions that were asked.
I did not want to edit Anna’s answer as the emotion was absolutely felt in her broken English.
I don’t know what it was, but it made me cry when I realized that she understood the difference between how some Americans treat others and what AMERICA has done for so many.


Racism author's name withheld
When I first started to take this class I was very racist. If I would drive down the street and see rims that cost more than the actual car I would think, Mexican. Most of the time I was right too. I always wanted the Mexicans to go back to Mexico everyone else to go back to their Country. I admit that I was very close minded and this class has opened my eyes and changed my views. After reading about how much Americans have used Mexicans, I feel like we owe them alot. If that means that they work in America illegally, I am fine with that. I feel very guilty for the close minded attitude towards them. Does anyone else feel this way?

Author: Anna Sukupova Posted on: 11-07-08
racism First of all, it is brave you opened up and wrote about your feeling toward immigr. at second, I do not think it is O.K. do anything illegaly, it is not fair to people they DO obey the law, like me . Also , I do not think you owe anything to anyone. Unless you had hired immigrants and did not pay them for work they have done for you. ;) OR you are member of US Congress capable to fix immigration issues. Evidentally, they have not done good job so far. The guilt should go to people they have have power to make changes, - US govern. , state governm. , and first of all Mexican governm to improve living conditions for their own citizens, so they are motivated to live at home. What is happening in US is actually unethical capitalism creating internationalist policies based on greed which destroy America’s domestic manufacturing base for cheap labor ,domestic businesses supporting porous southern border, and threatening national security for collateral retail profits from drug trafficking, all types of border smuggling, cheap illegal wages, foreign criminal investments, and profits from related social problems etc.. I do not feel as I should feel guilty for that . Mexican immigrants can make choice for themselves where and how they want to live. I am really sorry for all illegal immigrants, they have to face some problems in this country. I have some Latino friends, they are just great people and hard workers. But ! have you ever thought , that they are people in the world , they are living much worse life then Mexican immigrants in US. ?? ! But not everybody can come and live in States. USA is not a " dream land "anymore and has to face its own troubles. I came only because US governm. offered me visa for 10 years with permit to work and study . But I learned language before I even came. I do obey each single law of this coountry and pay taxes, just like you. As for me , this class is very interesting, but I really would not make my opinion or attitude based on two books and couple of disscussions. Be honest , If an illegal immigrant pays thousands of $$ for shiny rims on tires, does he really have such as " poor life ?? ;))this is my answer to your question, and I answered as the immigrant . anna.

Time With My Dad: A Foundation Of Goodness

My father was a big man. He stood 6’3” tall and weighed probably between 240 and 270 lbs. depending on the year. His presence commanded respect, not just because of his size but because he earned the respect of all that knew him. He never assumed that he deserved anything that he did not earn. He was true to everyone. He did not respect a man because of the color of skin or the religion he professed. You had his respect until you proved otherwise. My father wore his familiar khaki uniform almost every where except church and other rare occasions. His hands were big and rough from years of hard work, but his heart was just as tender as his hands were rough. I can not say that my father was perfect, and he would have been the first to tell you so. But to me he was close enough.
I was not my father’s only child; actually I had 11 siblings 6 sisters and 5 brothers. My mother and father had both been married once before. My mother had 3 children from her first marriage and my father had 4 from his first marriage. I was the oldest of the 5 children that my mother and father had together. My father never treated any of his kids different; we were all his, even when we were teenagers.
Time with dad was cherished by all. In fact the whole neighborhood loved my dad. He was one of those adults who took time to spend with his kids and their friends. I recall at his viewing several of the neighborhood kids came through the line and reminded us of those days when he would pack as many kids as he could fit in his truck, and they would go to West Jordan Junior High School to go swimming. The older kids remembered this much more than I did. My sister Cindy, at his funeral, reminded us that when we went to the pool several of the kids would try to dunk him, but my dad fought back. Finally, when he had had enough he would take them down with him and swim under water until they all let go. Time with my dad was certainly cherished by all.
When my father became part owner of a farm in Fairview, Utah, I was the one who got to go with him nearly every weekend to work on the farm. Sometimes my brothers, Doug or Mark would come with us, but those trips were my trips with my dad, anyone else was just tagging along. My dad made me feel special, like I was his favorite. I know that it bothered him that he couldn’t spend his time with all his children the same as he did with me. I can still hear him saying, “I hope that the others don’t feel left out. I really wish that I could give them some of same the experiences that you and I have had.” He said that on more than one occasion. I did not realize the sincerity of his words until I was much older. Somehow though, I did know that I was one lucky boy.
I don’t remember the road from Salt Lake City to Springville, but I remember the road between Springville and the farm. To me that is when the trip started. Once we turned off the freeway and headed into Springville I would look for the Top Stop restaurant. The Top Stop’s unique leaning A-frame store front made it a memorable landmark. We would either stop there, or across the street at the Chicken Bucket. Then we would head Southeast on the old Highway to Spanish Fork Canyon. That was back when you had to go through Springville to get to Spanish Fork.
Often by this time the sun was down and most of the ride was in the dark. My view on the way down was from the headlights. In the darkness it is amazing how your other senses kick in and memories of sounds and feelings become more clear. I don’t remember a lot of conversations between my father and I during those drives. I know we talked, but mostly I remember just being with him. I remember listening to the football games on the radio as long as we could before the static overtook the reception.
That was back in the days when BYU was just starting their glory days. I don’t even remember the names of the Players, other than Gary Sheide, Marc Wilson and Tod Christensen. Paul James and his unique brassy voice was the voice of the cougars. He was as much a part of the team as LaVelle Edwards.
“Wilson is back to throw… he’s got time… he throws….It’s caught … on the 40 Christensen breaks one tackle and he’s on his way he’s on the 30, the 20… 15…the 10…5… touchdown BYU!” Paul James had a way of making the radio more colorful than T.V. when we were at home for a game we would often turn off the sound of the T.V. and listen to the radio. His voice was music to a BYU fan’s ears. Someday I dreamed that I would be on that field and my name would be called over the radio. It never happened, but that’s okay, I played High School football and enjoyed it thoroughly.
I remember listening to the rev of the engine in dad’s old ford pick up truck as we ascended Spanish Fork Canyon. As we began our descent from the top of Spanish Fork Canyon we passed through the small town of Thistle. Thistle consisted of a few old wood panel homes and a red brick school house that you could see at the edge of the headlights as we passed by. There were no store fronts or street lights. Beyond Thistle, in the darkness all I could see was the shadows of pinion pines and sagebrush and the occasional glowing eyes of any number of critters wandering near the edge of the road.
I remember looking out the window. I was only 4yrs old at the time, so the dashboard obstructed the view ahead of me. So the only good view that I had was out the side window. My dad was the other source of sensory input as we drove along he would announce any excitement ahead, such as a deer crossing the road at which I could stand on the floor of the cab to catch a glimpse if I was lucky. Sometimes I think he would say things just tease me and get me excited. His sense of humor was sometimes lost on me, especially as we turned down the Milburn Rd about 7-8 miles from Fairview. The Milburn road took us down between a small canyon and into the valley where our farm was. Just as we came out of the canyon my father would hand me a bottle of apple juice.
Now, you need to know that in about 10 seconds from the time he would hand me that bottle we would cross over the railroad tracks. I fell for it almost every time. As I lifted the bottle to my lips he would bounce over the tracks; Juice would slosh up over the sides of my mouth and down the front of me; I would complain, rant and rave, my dad would just smile and try to hold his laughter in. If on the off chance that I caught myself before we hit the tracks, you’d have thought that I won some great feat, but after my brief celebration I would raise the bottle to my lips and he would jerk the clutch on the truck and there I was left with juice running down my shirt. My dad just grinned and laughed his shameless laugh.
While there on the farm I was given my tasks to perform. I learned a lot about farm life, about life and death, about our responsibility to take care of God’s creatures, and about the resources that God has given to us for our benefit. I also happened to learn how to swear, much to the chagrin of my father.
One morning, Betsy the cow kicked over her milk bucket and started running away. My father was mad. He blurted out, “That damn cow!” I realized that my dad was upset and I didn’t know what to say so I said what he said, “Yeah, that damn cow!” With that my father turned to me and gave me one of talks that I will never forget. He said, “Now son, just ‘cause I said it, doesn’t mean you have to.” Somehow my little 4 year old brain realized that my father wanted me to be better than him. He did not want me to make the same mistakes that he did. Now, I can’t say that was the end of my swearing. As anyone can attest when you own a vehicle you are liable to lose your religion a few times. Somehow I never took those words of my father at face value. What he told me was much bigger than that moment. It was a life lesson. “Be better than me and let your children be better than you.” That is what he was saying.
The weekend always ended so quickly and we were back on the road. This time we were headed home. My vision was opened to many of the things I could not see before, the old barns that had once housed horses and cows but had fallen prey to weather and age; small wooden dwellings that had been abandoned long ago replaced by a new generation of homes; And those shadows in the darkness turned into vast forests of pinion pines and sage brush. The mystery of the darkness was gone and my eyes were wide open to the world ahead of me.
This road has changed since my weekends with dad. The old Highway was replaced by a new one. The Top Stop is no longer there, replaced by a parking lot for the grocery store. Thistle, that little town, was flooded when a mudslide blocked the river. All that remains is a skeleton of the old redbrick school house and the roof of an old house that protrudes out of swampy marsh left behind by mother-nature. The road between Thistle and Fairview has increased its population of homes. LaVelle Edwards and Paul James have been replaced by a younger crew. Even that old farm of ours has changed hands.
My Father is gone now. But his example will ever remain with me. I am far from being the man that my father ever was, but there is hope, as I hear my fathers words spill out of my mouth, “Now son, just cause I said it, doesn’t mean you have to.” It is times like these that I realize just how good my father really was and the responsibility I have to pass on his goodness to the next generation.

Do Unions Promote Better Business?

This post is the response that I gave in response to a question I posted on my class message board for Mexican American culture class. The individual who responded is a European immigrant. She let me know that she was a union supporter, and was very emotional as She thought that I was condoning the abuses that early migrant workers recieved under the hands of business owners. I do not, but this was my response.

Maybe I did not make myself clear. I realize that working conditions were bad. I do not condone the practice of neglect on any level. America is made up of immigrants and decendants of immigrants. My ancestors came here with a promise that the government would not prevent them from succeeding. They worked under some fairly inhumane conditions, but somehow they survived the entry level treatment of freedom. It is not always pretty, but they grew from the harsh experience and they moved to the next level of freedom. I grew up with the understanding that government was to promote the general welfare of the nation. Not provide it. We used to be able to take care ourselves, just fine without government interference. It wasn't until the 1930's when we went through the Great Depression that the government began to experiment with our economic system pushing it toward socialism, forming companies such as Fanny and Freddy, that without the government backing would have gone out of business a long time ago. Instead the government kept holding them up until not only did they destroy them selves but our entire economy. I believe there is a difference between a right and a privelege. A right is something that is mine simply because my creator allowed me to live. A privilege is anything that would make my existence a bit more comfortable while I am here. Privileges are nice but they are not gauranteed. Privileges usually have to be paid for. If I can not afford a privilege then I must rely on the mercy of someone to pay that price for me but I have no right to steal someone elses privilege from them. Whether I take it out of his wallet or I elect someone to take it out of his wallet. We have become a society that thinks having things and making money are more important than what we become by earning those things. No one deserves, to retire at the expense of someone else. To assume that all business owners are evil is arogant and an unfortunate effect of a media misrepresentations. The United States of America is the most giving nation on earth. That is not on accident. Business owners are not exempted from their generosities. Many of our greatest institutions benefiting humanity have been created because, these greedy S.O.Bs have created such an enormous financial empire that not only could they take care of thousands of employees, but they have also created foundations that will be self sustaining for many years if not indefinitely. The problem that I have with Unions is not so much what they do, as what they don't do. The unions did improve the lives of the workers, but they don't stop there. You yourself mentioned that your sister recieved great benefits from her work. Did this global crisis just happen? Or is it because governments have been giving us things that they had no right to offer, because they did not have the funds to back up their promises?Have the governments made us so dependent upon them that when they dissappear we will simply shrivel up blow away in the wind because we are incapable of taking care of ourselves? If you knew my heart you would know that I love people and I am fascinated with human relations. It hurts me to see such injustice, but I know that oppression comes in many forms. It is better to lift everyone up from the bottom than to cut off the head of those who have learned the secrets of true wealth.I am not saying that everyone who is rich is good, but if you eliminate the opportunity for good people to become rich then the human potential to do good will be lost. I suppose if I had read what I wrote thinking that I did not care how people treat eachother, I would probably been just as upset as you. I am not questioning the goodness of Ceasar Chavez's intentions. I am not even saying that something did not need to be done. I am just wondering if greed can be experienced from both ends of the financial spectrum? Obviously in the begining justice was enough, but once that was accomplished, we saw that the fight had to be notched up again and again or the unions would loose their cohesiveness. At what point does the cost of labor affect the ability of a business to make enough profit to not only pay it's employees, but also motivate the business owners to stay in business? If you start a business, is it because you see an opportunity to employ people? Or do start a business to make money by providing goods or services to others? I really did not ask this question based on the issue of the treatment of Mexican Americans, so much as the long term effect of the union on the minds and ability of laborers to break out of socio economic lower class. Paying them more does not automatically change the way one thinks about themselves. Is the psychological progress of moving from laborer, to supervisor, to management, to potentially owning their own business and creating more jobs, get interupted by the union and their seniority system? That is more my concern, because, I believe that individuality is swallowed up in unions and I think as much as the business owners should be accountable, so should the laborer. I appologize if you thought that I did not care about how the farm workers where treated. I am just as disgusted as anyone when it comes to the abuse of one people over another. But abuse happens on all levels, and injustice is often followed by revenge. So, are unions seeking equality or do they create hatred and a potential for an atmosphere of revenge?

Unions the foundation of Socialism the Beginning of the End of Freedom

Unions the foundation of Socialism the Beginning of the End of Freedom

Recently I watched a documentary on Ceasar Chavez. Ceasar Chavez was a political activist who helped in organizing the Farm Workers Union in Southern California. He led them in The Great Grape Boycott, which led to much better working conditions and suitable wages. This is all good, right? Yes, I think that Ceasar Chavez was a good man who saw a need to improve the circumstances of migrant workers and believed that creating a union was the best and most effective method.
In this documentary, then Governor Ronald Reagan, condemned the boycott. As President, Ronald Reagan took swift action against the Air Traffic Controllers Union many lost there careers. I began to question why he viewed unions with such harshness. What is the problem with unions? Why was it that when unions were mentioned it was associated with communism? And if unions brought better working wages and conditions, how could that be bad?
Then I realized something. America use to disdain mediocrity, we had a lot of pride, maybe too much pride for our own good. But it worked for us. We looked at races of peoples we saw as mediocre or settled for and we did not feel comfortable with them. We as a people would not accept poverty, and we did not understand how anyone else could either. Racism was rampant. Blacks were not that far removed from slavery and Mexican-Americans were even closer to the Mexican American war.
Freedom is an interesting thing. It is not something that you can just be given, and you experience it right away. It is something that you have to learn how to experience, and once you have experienced it, people will begin trying to take it away.
When the Israelites were freed by the Egyptians, what was the response of the Israelites? They kept looking back to Egypt for security. They knew what it was like to be a slave. They could not remember what it was like to be free. They did not know how to be free. It took many years of walking through the wilderness and getting rid of a generation of people who could not get rid of a “slave mentality.” Now we have Black America who has been given their freedom, and yet they seek the comfort and security of becoming slave to a government. It takes years for a people to experience freedom. At first it is ugly and awkward, but when it takes hold it raises everyone up. What does this have to do with unions?
Freedom has an entry level experience. It is not pretty, but it is there for a purpose. When you are uncomfortable with your position you have the freedom to move on to the next level. It is your choice whether you want to increase your abilities or not, but if you do not make more money for the business then how can you expect to ask for more pay? As you increase the value of your labor then you can improve your situation in life.
Unions can guarantee a good wage and benefits, but they are designed to keep you in place. You do your job and no one else’s job. If you are tempted to reach outside your box to excel you will be penalized. If technology becomes available to do your work the union will see to it that it is not implemented so that you can keep your job. In the mean time they will make sure that your employer can’t save for a rainy day incase his industry falls on hard times. And if the industry falls on hard times then the business goes under. We have witnessed this in the steel industry, as it is all but gone here in the United States. Once and still potentially very lucrative here the unions priced themselves out of the market. The auto industry is even as we speak on the verge of disappearing from the American landscape. And we wonder why companies are fleeing to foreign countries to stay competitive?
Unions have created jobs that pay far beyond the value of their market, creating a financial deficit in the companies that employ them. What may look like greed from the top is actually greed from the bottom. Union bosses are hired to look out for the interest of the union itself and not necessarily for the workforce and they are definitely opposed to the business.
Unions create a working condition where many people do not feel the need to improve their work to be comfortable. They will get their raise not based on their ability to do a good job, but on their ability to come to work, by building seniority instead of being productive. Unions have begun a process of taking the individuality out of America. They take away the responsibility of the individual to perform. This process it taking us backward in time to a place where information and technology where discouraged and banned.
Unions are pushing us toward socialism. Business owners are receiving more and more pressure to take money from the government at the at the same time government is asking them to pay more taxes and threatening to putting them out of business through regulation if they don’t comply; on the other hand they are receiving pressure from the union to pay their members more money or face the threat of a strike. When government redistributes the wealth of the business owners, the business owners are less than motivated to grow a business empire which puts pressure on the government to employ more people. When government employs more people they have to tax more to pay their employees. This becomes a vicious downward spiral for the economy.
Every time socialism is tried it has failed. It creates more opportunity for corruption and greed within the government. And instead of raising the level of income from the bottom to the top it pushes everyone down toward the bottom. Where there is no opportunity to be rich then poor is what everyone will be.
Politics makes unions and socialism sound good, but they lead to communism. And Communism leads to bigotry and “Social Cleansings,” for the “good of society.” Remember the history of Russia? Are you really willing to say, “Not in my country?” Well, we have all pointed fingers at the opposite isle of the political spectrum and claimed that they, the other side, could be the next Hitler, Mussolini, or Stalin. But that person could just as easily be among our own party. We can not afford to point fingers. Men in power should never be given a blank check even if you like them. And government must never be trusted with our freedoms. History has shown that socialism has failed every time it has been tried.
Socialism has never worked, because it suppresses the ability of the individual to express them selves. Once the value of the individual is destroyed it is easy to control the masses. We the people can not be controlled when We are in charge. The goal of the union is to take away that individuality. Once you recognize your self as a “member” and that union is more important than anything else, you have lost your individuality. The next step is to create a common enemy to create cohesiveness and focus. Finally, once one battle is won via boycott or strike then you become assimilated and you will follow your leader to hell if he wishes to lead you there.
Ceasar Chavez was not a bad man, but he was no hero either. He not only ensured the mediocrity of the farm workers, but he spread the roots of socialism throughout America. President Reagan saw this and when he could do something about it, he acted swiftly and promptly to stomp it out. It is clear that social injustices must be addressed, but unions are not the answer.
Unions imply that you should be paid what you are worth. That sounds good and all, but you will never be paid what you are worth. No one will ever be paid what they are worth! That may explain why a study done by Cornel University ILR School (2007), has shown that union members tend to be less satisfied with their work. Despite this they tend not to change jobs. One likely explanation might be that once they are in the union their limited skills are exploited and elsewhere they could not compete for the same pay. In other words if you get paid too much for the work you do you become enslaved to the job for fear of having to find another job for less than you can live on. The market value of your job is what your wages should be. Anything more than this takes away from the natural market and promotes an unnatural burden to the market place. This explains why Americans have such huge credit problems today. Just as their wages are inflated beyond the natural market value, so also is the price of goods made by them. They live a wealthy lifestyle without the wisdom that comes by progressing through the natural market system.
Individuality gives you an opportunity to reach above the crowd, find your place in the natural market and accelerate your position in that market. You can reach your potential by going above and beyond your job description and increasing the value of your service. As an individual you can not create an unnatural market value. If you don’t do a satisfactory job, or in other words fall behind the market value, you loose your job. If you work hard to benefit your employer you will be rewarded accordingly. And if your employer does not reward you, you may seek new employment, or strike out on your own and start your own business. Another option may be to develop the skills you need to increase the value of your labors.
Unions have taken away our ability to compete in the global market; they have taken away our individuality and have taught generations of our children to think it is okay to take what they have not earned. They have stripped many of the opportunity to reach their potential by pushing wages beyond their value making them feel obligated to maintain their station in life.
No, unions are not good; they create an atmosphere of hatred toward business and the business owners, who took the original risk of creating their jobs in the first place. They gave them a livelihood and the union teaches them to hate them. They often use violence and intimidation to scare others willing to enter the work force at entry level conditions. They break the free market system by promoting government interference in the market. And once they take control of a local industry they force you to join them either by law, or by intimidation, or manipulation through monopolization of the industries. In other words, they make it so that you do not have the chance to work in your chosen field unless you join them. Unions sound good on the outside, but the overall outcome of unions are dissatisfaction among their own members, and the destruction of the economic system in which they participate in. Unions have had a reputation of violence and organized crime affiliations. For all the good intentions they represent, they are like a dirty bath towel, you may dry off with it but you are no cleaner after you are done than before you started.

The View From 1776

The View From 1776

Redistribution of Wealth?

Talk about politically correct terminology. Redistribution of Wealth? Stealing is stealing whether you break into a home and take the money yourself or you "elect" someone else to do it for you. The only difference is if the other guy takes the money you can claim innocence. It's alot easier to avoid the guilt that way. Right?

Since when was it our patriotic duty to condemn a man for securing his families financial future. When did it become our right to determine the worthiness of another man's quest to provide vital services to his fellow man? How can you condemn a man who creates wealth for the purpose of solving problems such as finding a cure for cancer or diabetes or ahlziemers. What right do you have to claim to know the heart of a man by condemning him as "greedy?"

Greed comes when risk is taken away. If you have no opportunity to fail you can not succeed. Because success is measured by overcomming your failures. Without that option you you are just going through the motions. If there is no faith required, then God is not needed.

ADD Moment

DeeAnn was talking to me in the car on the way home from Family Home Evening. She was saying that you have to be very specific when you are talking to someone with A.D.D.. She was refering to a conversation that was going on early that evening.
Spencer spoke up and said, "I have ADD."
We were kind of suprised at the confident manner in which he declared this.
We said, "Well, yeah you might." We had discussed the idea that he might have A. D.D., but not in front of him before.
Spencer piped up, "No, I do have ADD."
DeeAnn asked, "How do you know? Did your teacher tell you, or what?" trying to figure this out we asked him, "Do you even know what A.D.D. is?"
Spencer said, "It's that paper that you fill out."
It was then that DeeAnn realized he was refering to paper he had recieved from his teacher. The top of the paper said ADD.... it was a math paper.

Prayer for mommy

Yesterday DeeAnn was layed low with a major migrain headache. The pain was so intense that she began to loose control of her speech and her ability to think so I came home to give her a blessing. When we had finished the blessing DeeAnn, Lauree and I were in our bedroom talking and trying to get DeeAnn relaxed.
Matt came in to the room and said, "Mommy, I didn't know what to do. So I prayed for you to get better, cause Heavenly Father he can heal." He later came up to me and repeated what he had done. The animation he displayed in his voice and on his face were awsome. He was very somber but filled this energy, as he matter of factly told me that he said the prayer because Heavenly Father and Jesus, they knew how to heal and they "raised people up." How could anyone not be healed, when Matt prays for them. He knows the source of true healing.

Politics the Art of Destroying "We The People," But in a Nice Way

My apologies for this continuation of the political rants. However, tis' the season! And as much as I hate politics I know that it is important. Hopefully my voice can be heard even if nowhere else but in this little world I am creating. Anyhoo, this is a paper I wrote for my writing class. I hope you enjoy!

Politics the Art of Destroying "We The People," But in a Nice Way

Wow! This political season has been one heck of a long season. It is not every election year that the peacocks strut their stuff so early. This season has been extremely long due to the fact that the sitting vice president has chosen not to run for president and the current president has served his maximum time, leaving both parties without a clear front runner. This has left us “The People” unprotected from the political fluff. As each side squares off displaying their tail feathers to us and spewing promises left and right, you know that this is a fight to the end… to the end of us, “The People.”
I have never felt so unimpressed with political candidates on both sides. Amidst the melt down of the American economy politicians have managed to turn this country into a consolation prize for the rest of the world. Once this country stood for stability, strength, ingenuity, honor, and just true grit, now she’s on life support. What happened? Politicians promised more than they had the right to promise. Playing the game of Russian roulette each term of “service” holding their breathe all the while pointing the gun at us The people.
The power of this country has always been in its people. We were a strong country because the government had not figured out how to break the will of the people. But sadly, I think they have learned their lesson, and we the people are going to pay the price. We have been hypnotized by the feathers and fluff of skillful politics. They make it sound so good: Free health care, free money for the poor, everyone will love each other, and they will change the world! Blah, blah, blah… I think I saw that last time. In fact I think that I have heard that time and time again. Like an annoying song you can’t get out of your head.

Change? Reform? Which word means that America will come first? Which word means that The People will remain free forever? Which word means we will stop the name calling and the “Politics of Personal Destruction”? Which word means we can be friends with our neighbors without being told that we can’t like them because they think, look, eat, sleep, or speak different than we do? Which one means, “By Damn we will fix this problem and we will do it Now!”?
Instead we get these two parties that couldn’t care less about the people. They will destroy the people if they have to, in order to satisfy their hunger for power. Neither side will back down. They just circle each other around and around looking for the weakness, looking for an opportunity to pounce; all the while we the people stand oblivious to the powers we have given up. Kind of like the spouse who gives up the check book to their shop happy partner. The partner brings home lingerie, and nice furniture, wonderful Entertainment Systems, etc., and the spouse says, “hey, I like this, I am really glad I turned the check book over to my wonderful partner. I can’t believe the benefits of this deal, if you know what I mean.” Then suddenly the bill collectors start calling.
We have allowed our taxes to go to back to Washington, our “shop happy partner.” Who goes out and buys the lipstick and lingerie, and then play their sick little game of Russian roulette. Promising us everything and telling us it is okay because we can just get our money from the rich dude down the street. As the rich dude packs his bags in the middle of the night and leaves the country for safe harbors, such India, Mexico, China, or where ever he can hide from the red sickle of the American Politician.

You know the sickest part of this whole thing is that we the people get excited every time they add a bullet to the revolver. Look how perty she is. Bang! America, “We the People,” are no more. Dead, but at least it was done in a nice way.

Spencerisms

This morning there were quite a few clouds in the sky. As the sun rose over the horizon beams of light streamed through the clouds. It was quite beautiful. Spencer saw this and said, "Look, Jesus is coming!"

Letter to the Editor Divisiveness of Political Corectness

Dear Editor,

When it comes to racism and prejudice, we need to be able to speak our mind. When we are afraid to say what we feel it builds up resentment and anger. This anger and resentment leads to attitudes and acts of racism and prejudice. Under the guise of trying not to offend anyone we offend everyone.
Whether on purpose or on accident political correctness has worked to divide us as human beings. We have been divided by color, religion, socio-economic status, education, political beliefs, etc. We have been taught to hate those who have, and look down on those who have less. We may agree on more than we disagree, but we are taught to listen and obey a few people who “know what is best for us.”
What is the answer? I don’t know for sure, but we can start by opening an honest dialogue void of political correctness. And void of any other motive than getting to know one another. Let’s share our frustrations, our fears, our discomforts. Then maybe we can share our hopes and dreams with each other. Maybe without the divide of political walls between us we can verbally duke it out and walk away friends.

Why Relativity is so important to Progressives

The Progressive belief in relativity stems from the fact that they herald theories over absolute truth. Their reality has become based on the particular theory they embrace. They reject God because if they accepted the premise that God exists they would have to reject their theory until they could find the absolute truth. Because God, being the truth, is the ultimate end of education.
So, maybe you can see their predicament. They have become so forward thinking that they can see the end of the need for thier existence. If it gets out, that God exists, they might lose their jobs.