Sunday, December 30, 2018

Should We Build a Wall?



Sometimes I can only shake my head.  I’ve seen a number of postings on FB about how walls are ineffective and can be defeated.  Some have gone so far as to invoke God as being against walls.  It gives me reason to question the sanity of those who are opposed to a particular wall, or really a political belief in sovereignty yet are unable to make rational arguments supporting their position.  It is far easier to stand on a corner and shout the other side is insane, than it is to decide, perhaps they are not.

We can start with simple yes or no questions but regardless of the answers, it will never alter the positions of those who are for or against a border wall, because the time for logical debate is long past and neither side is willing to concede they are maybe wrong (even a little bit).

The real issue at hand isn’t whether or not we should build a wall, or even if walls are effective or not, those are only wonderfully convenient talking points to mask the foundational question, “Should the laws of a sovereign nation be subject to the whims of outside political activists who have gathered together to trample on the laws they dislike?” Unfortunately, that question is unanswerable in the 15-second sound bites we’ve now come to accept from the media as they cull through the politicians and other elite seeking just the right 15-seconds to inflame their viewers.

After the 2016 election, the Congress created a Special Investigation into this question as it dealt with the allegation of Russian influence/corruption of the voting process.  So far, after two years of investigation and some $30 million dollars, there remains no clear indication whatever Russia did – had any distinct impact on the national vote.

It has long been said we are a nation of sheep and there is a lot of truth to that, for like sheep all most of us want to do is live our lives in peace and let someone else guide or guard the flock.  The politicians and the power-elite know this and gain their power from the flock as they drive them in whatever direction suits their particular need.

So, what is the answer?  Unlike others who suggest they speak for God, I don’t know.  What I do know are the following facts. 

  • Over the past 200 years, America has been in the enviable position of not spend massive amounts of energy and capital guarding its borders.  We had acceptable relationships with both Mexico and Canada and none of us saw much need to invade the other.  Sure, we had entry points and we had coastal defenses in case those pesky Europeans wanted to invade, but for the most part, everyone knew the rules and followed them.  Canada kept the Arctic hoards from coming south, and Mexico kept the Incas from coming north.
  • Immigrants of the past are not the same as immigrants of today.  There were rules that were followed, and for the most part, they assimilated into the culture adding to our society with their foods, their art, and their histories.  Today’s immigrants are overwhelming the communities as many try and force their culture on the natives without a real desire to assimilate.  At the same time, we native Americans seem to have lost our identities and shared cultural values as we fracture into ever-smaller groups, each demanding a superior place in the social fabric.
  • The historical labels of Liberal and Conservative are no longer valid descriptors.  Liberals today are intolerant of those who oppose their views and seek power through manipulation.  Conservatives have no true sense of the natural evolution of society and tend toward knee-jerk reactions against the more extreme social changes.  Labels remain only so those in power can herd the right sheep into the appropriate flocks.
  • As long as America remains a viable market for addictive drugs the flow of those drugs from their various points of origin will continue.  The by-product of this is the issue of human trafficking and the increased expenses of border security.  So far, every strategy the US government has tried in its “War on Drugs” has failed.  We’ve filled our jails and watched as lives are lost to the addiction.  I am not sure the government can ever fix this problem, for its root is in a moral choice each individual makes and regardless of what politicians may say the Government is amoral.

So, at the end of the day should we build a wall or should we just do away with Homeland Security?  I guess the answer depends on who you think the new arrivals will vote for.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Reflections on Christmas, 2018


Today is December 28th and the house is again quiet this morning.  We said goodbye to our daughter, son-in-law, and their six children about three hours ago.  They are on their way home to Pennsylvania with a planned stop in North Carolina to visit John (or son) and his family.
The linens have been taken from their beds, the last sets of dishes are in the washer, and the oven is self-cleaning.  This was our first Christmas in this new home, and we were able to share the time with family for this most important of seasons.  It is precisely why we made the move from northwest Florida to this community.
There is something that is both rewarding and frustrating in the chaos that comes with six kids ranging from 12 to 2, but I can’t image not experiencing all the joy that comes with that experience.  While they were with us, and our son-in-law’s parents (also members of this community) we got to share a glimpse of the everyday life of herding them from waking until sleep. 
With our in-laws, we shared a traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner called a Wigilla.  For the Polish, the Wigilla is the most important family meal of the entire year.  With its essential components, it provided a true feast, with all its rich tastes, and when coupled with the love of family blended in – it helped remind us of what is most important in life and the Christmas season.
Christmas Eve also marked the transition of the guests from the other parent’s home to ours.  The arrangement worked will to share both the joys of the visit and reduce the stress on homes that are normally chaos free.
Christmas morning found us gathered around the Christmas tree as we exchanged gifts and noted that Santa was still able to find this place to leave some gifts for the kids.  All the excitement (or noise) of a family opening presents is something, I think, every Grandparent looks most forward to.  We were no exception.
In the afternoon as the youngest napped the oldest got to play with all the toys, Mimi has so carefully preserved so they would be here when the need arose.  While that was going on their Dad and I kept watch while Mimi and our daughter prepared a traditional English Christmas dinner for eight adults and six kids. 
At the table, the wine and friendship flowed liberally and I believe everyone had a great time. The house seemed to hold everyone and I haven’t noticed any seams that may have burst, although some belts were loosened. 
The next day we were off to SeaWorld.  The park and the weather cooperated to be a perfect outing, although we didn’t ride as many roller coasters as some would have wanted.  We left the park at about 7pm and not everyone was able to stay awake for the ride home, but when we left everyone agreed it was just a great day all around.  We got to see Orca whales, Dolphins, Manatees, Turtles, Sharks, Rays, Sea Lions, Seals, and all kinds of fish.  Oh yes, and every time we stopped for a couple of minutes the kids got to hunt for lizards or Geckos.  They caught one but he didn’t try to sell them insurance.
All-in-all I’ve got to say this was one the best Christmas’s we’ve had in a long, long time. 
I know not everyone can say that, but my New Year’s wish for all who read this is I hope this next year, and the next Christmas finds you as truly blessed as I feel right now.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Saturday, December 22, 2018

A War Without End -- Amen


So, among the latest of Trump’s kerfuffles is his tweet about extricating ourselves from Syria.  This means now every “Never Trumper,” alleged “foreign policy expert,” “political talking head,” and democrat thinks this is a rotten idea.  It is funny how Trump can turn the normally peace-loving Democrats into war mongers with just a simple tweet about bringing troops home.  (BTW that was sarcasm.  The Dems are no more peace-loving than the Republicans are war mongers, and the troops will probably not come home, they will just be deployed somewhere else.)
We have been in a war against Islamic terror since about 1980, (earlier if you want to go back to the 1974 Munich Olympics) with what can best be described as mixed results.  For most of the late 20th Century the events were outside the US so the public outrage lasted for a few days and we returned to our own interests pretty quickly, but those who were engaged found themselves engaged on a global basis.
The thing about terror and terrorist organizations though is their resilience.  I would argue it is impossible to completely defeat them on any conventional battlefield.  If they can’t be engaged and defeated at the ideological level they will continue to gain support with funding and followers who believe they are the one path out of whatever they have today into some ill-defined better world.  In the case of Islamic terror, this is reinforced by clergy who give sanction and legitimacy to the cause.
What is lost in all these expert opinions (mostly by people who don’t have children engaged in war) is what are the vital national interests we need to protect?  SECDEF Mattis resigned a couple of days ago over the President’s decision, does that mean the President is wrong in his decision?  I don’t think so, but what Mattis did point out was the problem of making foreign policy via Twitter without maintaining the alliances we have built and cultivated since the end of the Second World War.  Maintaining good relationships with our Allies is in our national interest, but at some point, we have got to decide what is best for the Nation, and let the world fend for itself.
The question then is how do we end a war that has no glorious outcome with a ticker tape parade?

Friday, December 21, 2018

Christmas, 2018 "On the Road to Bethlehem"


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The snow fell silently as traffic moved slowly along the darkened road.  Wally stared at the tail lights ahead of him as he let his mind wander.  The evening commute had become so routine and common he rarely spent the time concentrating on the traffic as he should.  Suddenly the brake lights of the car ahead jarred him from his stupor and he slammed on the brakes to avoid rear-ending the fancy Cadillac ahead of him.

There, on the side of the road, he saw the reason for the sudden stop.  An old Chevy Nova was pulled over, its lights flashing as a couple stood by the open hood.  Wally never stopped for these small calamities, after all the police would be along shortly and they would take care of everything.  But something was different this evening.  He couldn’t exactly say what it was.  Maybe it was that he had a Nova when he was younger and knew a thing or two about how to fix it, or maybe it was just the snow and the cold.  For whatever reason Wally decided to pull over and see if he could be of some help.  As he passed the car he pulled slowly onto the shoulder and turned on his flashers.  Leaving the engine running he got out and walked back to the couple.

“Good evening folks, is there anything I can do to help?” Wally asked as he got close enough to recognize two very young faces huddled together for warmth.  The young man turned towards him, held out his hand and said, “it just died.”  Wally’s first thought was it was probably the electrical system and the alternator.  Looking under the hood he could see very little in the dark, so he excused himself and went back to his car to get his flashlight and a small tool bag. 

As he was walking he called his wife and explained what was going on, telling her he would be late but would let her know how things were going.  She, of course, chided him for stopping for strangers and cautioned him about how so many were robbed in these types of situations.  He assured her he would be careful, and that everything was okay.  It seemed a sad testament to the times we lived in.

When he got back to the Nova he saw the two were still huddled together.  On closer examination, he also saw they were lightly dressed and seemed ill-prepared for this cold weather.  As he turned on the flashlight he chatted with them.  “Hi, my name is Wally, what’s yours?”  The man said his name was Jules, and his wife was Martine.  “Seems like a cold night and your coats are hardly keeping you warm, do you have anything else to put on?  By the way, where are you headed to?” 

Jules answered and said they were headed to his parent’s home in eastern Pennsylvania.  They had eloped and gotten married in Ohio and were returning home to tell his father.  Wally did a quick calculation, it was at least another three-hour drive in this storm and he doubted the Nova would get them there, assuming he could get it started at all.  As he bent over the engine he started troubleshooting the most obvious areas.  Were the battery cables secure?  The terminals were covered in corrosion – so he loosened them and scraped them clean.  He ran back to his car for the coke he had been sipping.  While he was there he grabbed the emergency blanket he kept with his tools.

As he got back to the Nova he handed the blanket to Jules and Martine, who quickly wrapped it around themselves.  He then poured the coke on the terminals to help clean off the corrosion.  He reattached the cables.

Next, he looked for loose fittings on the alternator.  They seemed okay.  Getting to the spark plug cables was pretty much out of the question, at least here, with these tools and this weather.  Finally, he checked the fuse box.  He had never really seen a fuse blow on his old Nova, but it was a place to check.  There it was the engine fuse had in fact blown.  “Oh great,” he thought.  This could be a result of the age of the car, or it could be something else.  “Well we’ll never know unless we replace it and try and start the car,” he said mostly to himself.

He pulled the old fuse out, stuck it in his pocket, and slipped a new one into its place.  He turned to Jules and said, “I’m not sure if this will work but get in and try starting it up.” 

Jules moved quickly and after a few cranks, the car did, in fact, fire up.  “Is the heater working?” Wally asked?  Jules shook his head no, it didn’t seem to be getting warm.  “Well, the engine may still be cold.  Martine, why don’t you jump in there and get out of this snow,” Wally said.

As they waited, Wally called his wife and explained the situation.  He said he would be bringing the couple home since it didn’t seem like they would be safe on the road this evening and he could troubleshoot the car much better in the garage.  His wife agreed that this was not a good night for a young couple to be on the road.  She would add a couple of plates to the dinner table and make up the spare room.

When he hung up he closed the hood and went to the driver’s door.  Jules said it still didn’t look like the heater was working, and Wally could see from their breath he was right.  So, he told them he lived about 10-minutes away and said they should stay with him tonight.  He asked if they had cell phones, and of course, they did, so he gave them his number and address and suggested they call their parents and let them know what was happening. 

He then suggested Martine ride with him since his car was warm and Jules could follow in the Nova. He would go slow to make sure they were together, and if Jules had a problem he should flash his lights or honk.  The horn did work, didn’t it?  With a press, Jules confirmed it did.

Getting back to his car, he saw a break in the traffic and signaled to come out.  Jules did the same and they were back on the road.  Wally drove carefully, making sure the Nova was behind him.  As promised they pulled into the lane his home was on about 10 minutes after starting.  As they pulled into the driveway the Nova gave up the ghost again and couldn’t make it past the mailbox.

Wally stopped, got out and helped Jules hook up the tow strap Wally kept in the trunk, and they pulled car the last 100 yards up to the house. 

There on the porch was Wally’s wife, Maureen, waiting for them.

Wally told them to grab whatever they needed from the Nova and they would sort out the cars in the morning.  Once they had their small backpacks, they headed up the steps and into a warm house that was all ready for Christmas which was only a couple of days away.

As they entered the house Wally could smell the soup steeping on the stove, and the air had a hint of cinnamon and apple.  That could only mean an apple pie was cooking in the oven, or cooling on the counter. 

Wally introduced Jules and Martine, and Maureen went into full “Mother Hen” mode.  “Okay now, let’s get those wet coats off of you.  My gracious you are soaked to the bone and chilled to your core. Wally, this will never do.  Go up to Tom’s room and look in his dresser, I know there are clean sweats up there just waiting to use.  Jules, you follow Wally and let’s get you into some warm clothes before we do one thing more.  I’ll take care of Martine, now get moving you two!”

With those commands, Wally, followed by a sheepish Jules, headed upstairs to the bedrooms.  At the top of the steps, Wally pointed out the bath and the bedroom he and Martine could use.  Jules tossed their backpacks into the corner as Wally turned on the lights and headed to the dresser to find the fresh clothing.  “Won’t your son mind me taking his room?” Jules asked.  Wally turned with clean sweatshirt and pants and said only, “No Tom won’t mind.  He hasn’t been here for quite a while.”  “You can change and freshen up in the bathroom.  I’ll meet you downstairs when you are done.”  With that Wally left the room, closing the door softly behind him as he went.

Jules was left to look around as he changed.  The sweats were a size or two too big but they would serve their purpose.  He was glad to get out of the wet cloths.  It looked like Tom was away in college from the appearance of the room, and Jules wondered if he would be home soon.  Taking his small toilet kit, he headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth, wash his face and comb his hair.

Meanwhile, Maureen and Martine had hung up the coats and headed off to the Master bedroom to find some warm clothing and to freshen up.  As petite as Martine was, Maureen just knew none of the things she had would fit her, but she did have an ace up her sleeve.  The last time Tom had visited his girlfriend had left some clothing behind and she had carefully washed them and tucked them away for when she returned.  Maureen thought they should be a reasonable fit, even with Martine’s unexpected condition.  Wally hadn’t mentioned she was pregnant, but then again men, being men, rarely notice the important facts.

As Martine shrugged off her wet clothing, Maureen ran the shower to get it warm.  “Dear, just jump in and wash off all that road grime.  You can hand me your clothing and I’ll toss it in the washer.  It won’t take but a few minutes to get them clean, fresh and dry.  We can have dinner while they are washing.  You just take your time and join me in the kitchen when you’re ready.”  With that, Maureen gathered up the clothing, left the room, and headed to the laundry.  Along the way she ran into Wally who was fixing himself a drink and asked if he had Jules all squared away.  Wally said he did, and Maureen said, “well, where are his dirty clothes?”  “Oh, right,” Wally replied.  I’ll be right back.

As soon as the laundry was in the wash, Maureen and Wally were joined in the kitchen by the two wayfarers, looking remarkably more comfortable than when they first arrived at the home.  Maureen took charge and directed Wally and Jules to set the table while she and Martine gathered up the food for supper.  In two shakes of a dog’s tail, they were sitting around the table and the conversation turned to what brought Jules and Martine out on the road during this storm.

Jules cleared his throat as he began to explain how he and Martine had become friends and now husband and wife.  Jules said his father ran a wood factory in eastern PA and had invited Jules to join him.  Jules had been living in western Ohio where he had met Martine, who lived with her parents.  They had known each other for only a few months, and Martine was already pregnant when they met.  Her old boyfriend had bailed when she found she had a child growing in her.

Martine’s Mom and Dad weren’t all that thrilled with the relationship and refused to give their blessings for marriage, believing both were ill-prepared to handle the responsibilities.  So, despite their objections, they decided it was best to make a fresh start by moving back to eastern Pennsylvania.  Unfortunately, the car didn’t seem to think a long trip was all that great an idea. 

“Well, we’ll just see about that old car in the morning!” Maureen exclaimed, as she looked over to Wally, who nodded in agreement.  “For now - it is supper time, Wally please say the blessing.”  Giving thanks for their safety, and the food before them, he asked for the safe journeys for all those traveling this holiday season, ending in an Amen from all at the table.

Before them, the table was set with rich pumpkin soup, a fresh kale salad, a plate of ham slices, carrots, peas, and of course a bowl of mashed potatoes, along with rolls and butter.  “It isn’t fancy,” Maureen offered “but it will sustain us and the new friendships will more than make up for any shortcomings in its elegance.”  Of course, Jules and Martine loudly objected to this disclaimer but agreed wholeheartedly that Wally and Maureen were the answer to their prayer as they stood along that dark road just an hour or so earlier.

As they ate - the conversation turned to families.  First, they began with what Jules’ father did with his woodworking business, and then what was Jules background and what he hoped to accomplish.  Jules, it turned out, was actually a carpenter and had been working in an Amish plant building furniture.  During the past couple of years, he had become quite good and thought he was now ready to return home to help his father and perhaps take over the business.  The fact he had worked with the Amish was one of the concerns Martine’s parents had raised in the objections.

Eventually, the conversation came around to some family history on Wally and Maureen.  Martine asked, “How long have you been married?”  Maureen told them the story of how Jules and she had met in college and after dating for several years had married.  Wally had served in the Air Force for a few years and was now a manager at a local plant that builds electronic components for the auto industry. 

Jules asked if Tom was going to make it home for Christmas, and the table grew silent.  Wally looked at Maureen, who with a slight nod indicated he should tell the story.  “No Jules,” Wally said.  “We lost Tom a year ago.  He was on his way home from college when he and his girlfriend were struck by a tractor-trailer on the interstate.  The weather was worse than it is right now, the roads were icy and a car ahead of them spun out.  Tom hit the brakes, almost came to a stop without hitting the car in front, but the 18-wheeler jackknifed as it slid into to them.  It was a horrible crash and neither survived.”

“This is our first year without him, and we weren’t sure we would celebrate Christmas at all, but there is something important about keeping our traditions alive, so we are going through the steps if only to help keep Tom alive for us.”

“Your arrival, as unfortunate as it may seem to you, is really a blessing for us.  It gives us a moment to share the blessings we have with someone who could use a few blessings as they start their own journey.”

The table grew silent again as each considered the story.  But within a moment or two, Maureen said, “Who’s ready for some coffee and Apple pie and maybe a scoop of vanilla ice cream?”

After dessert and some light conversation to lift the mood, it was time for Jules and Martine to head upstairs to get some sleep after a stress filled day.  Maureen and Wally settled into their easy chairs and put on a classic movie as they chatted about how remarkable the world was.  Maureen asked if Wally could fix the car, and he said he really didn’t know, but tomorrow was Saturday and if he needed some parts the auto parts stores would be open.  He’d worry about that tomorrow, but in the back of his mind, he knew even if the Nova couldn’t be brought back to life he had a plan to get the two home without too much of a delay.

Wally cherished the idea of sleeping in on Saturdays when there was no demand to face the morning commute to arrive at the plant at a certain time.  But today was different, without disturbing Maureen he rolled out of bed when the sun was still an hour away from rising.  He dressed quietly and headed to the kitchen to start the coffee maker.  While it was brewing he grabbed his jacket and headed out to the driveway to push the old Nova into the garage where he could put some lights on and work in some relative comfort.

Once he got the car up on some jack stands he headed back in to get some coffee.  He met Jules who was looking for a cup at the coffee maker.  Together they poured their coffee and headed back to the garage.  Jules was anxious to do what he could to help and get on the road again as quickly as possible.  Before anything else, Wally talked to Jules about exactly how the car had died the first time.  Once he was satisfied it was a rather sudden thing and realizing he’d been able to start it once he’d replaced a fuse he pulled out a cheap diagnostic checker to see if there were any codes that would help isolate the problem.

Unfortunately, there was nothing substantial other than a series of electrical failures, but not what was a likely common cause.  He checked the fuse box and the engine fuse was again burned out.  That could only mean there was a short somewhere.  But where?

Time moved slowly as he and Jules went through all the possible causes for this short.  Each time they thought they’d narrowed it down to a likely culprit they found their guess had been wrong.  Right in the middle of their fourth or was it their fifth effort at troubleshooting Maureen stuck her head in the garage and told them both to clean up for breakfast. 

As they entered the house they were surprised by the bright, almost blinding, sunlight streaming in the windows.  It was a cold and clear beautiful winter morning.  Maureen and Martine had the table set with an egg and sausage casserole, corn muffins, orange juice, and hot coffee.   “You two wash up and we can eat, then you can get back to fixing that car, but we have a young lady who has been working her tail off to make you breakfast, now get your hands clean so we can eat.”

As they sat at the morning table, Wally again gave thanks and asked both Jules and Martine if they had anything they would like to offer.  Martine went first and offered her thanks for people who would open their homes to strangers and provide shelter when the problems of the world seemed too overwhelming to fix.  Jules echoed Martine’s thoughts and hoped they would soon find the problems with their car.

Wally assured them both they would be on the road today but didn’t tell them how he knew that. 

With those thoughts, they dug into breakfast and enjoyed the conversation of new acquaintances who seemed like old friends, despite the differences in their ages.

As they finished Wally suggested that perhaps Jules and Martine should take a walk to enjoy the fresh morning and the snow-covered landscape.  They would get back to work on the car once the morning dishes were done.

As they put on their jackets and set out on the back porch, Wally and Maureen began to clear the plates.  Once they were alone Wally looked at Maureen and said.  “Honey, I would like to loan them the ‘68 GTO to get home with, and give me some time to fix this old Nova so it is a safe car for their family.”  Maureen stared at Wally as if he had lost his mind.  “Hear me out on this.  I know it was the car Tom and I had been working on and was going to be his Graduation present, but Tom is gone and I know he would want more than it to sit gathering dust in the shed.  I finished the restoration last August, it’s been registered and insured, and I’ve run the engine every week to keep it serviceable.  I can think of no better use than to loan it to these two, with their promise to bring it back in a couple of weeks to get their car.”

Maureen considered this, as well as the possibility they would never see these two again but in her heart, she knew these two were a couple who needed a break and would be back to get their car.  She said, “Let me think about this for a bit.  I don’t know what I would do if something was to happen to that car.  You and Tom spent so much time working on it, he’s gone and this is about all that’s left.”

Wally nodded but said.  “Tom will be in our hearts forever.  The car, as important as it was to him is still just a thing.  We have an opportunity to use that thing to make someone’s life just a little bit better.  Please consider that as you think about it.”

With that, Wally headed back into the garage to keep working on the Nova.  A few minutes later Jules came in and began asking how he could help.

Time passed far too quickly and the next thing Wally and Jules knew Martine was next to them telling them it was time for lunch.  As they put down their tools and went to clean up Maureen followed Wally into the bath and closed the door.

“Wally, I’ve given this whole give them the car idea and I think after talking with Martine about what they want to do when they get to their new home I am good with letting them go in Tom’s car.  Why don’t we talk about it at lunch and set up an agreement?”

“Okay” was Wally’s reply.

As they sat eating their lunch they watched the snow melting in the mid-day sun.  Although it was still cold, the roads were quickly clearing, but Jules and Martine worried about how they would make to Jules’ home.  That served as the perfect opportunity to bring up the idea of loaning them the ’68 GTO.

“Jules,” Wally “began can you drive a car with a manual transmission?”  Everything he had planned hinged on this answer and it was only now that he realized that.  Fortunately, Jules said he could, so that hurdle was crossed.

“I am not sure we can get that Nova sorted out today.  It is going to take more troubleshooting than we have time for if you are to make it home before Christmas.  Maureen and I have been talking and we would like to offer you and Martine an option.”

“We have a restored 1968 Pontiac GTO that is sitting gathering dust in our shed and are willing to loan it to you to make the trip home.  The only thing we ask is you be gentle with it and come back to visit when you can, or when I get the problems with the Nova sorted out.  The car is registered and insured so it is street legal, and I will write a contract authorizing you as a driver in case you are stopped, but I don’t think that will be a problem.  What do you say?”

Jules and Martine said nothing, they could only stare at the other couple while they considered the magnitude of what they were offering almost perfect strangers.

Finally, Jules stood and said thank you as he embraced first Maureen and then Wally.  With that Wally said they would need to get going now if they were to make it home before dark.

He and Jules headed to the shed to unwrap the Pontiac and get it fired up.  It had almost a full tank, and Wally handed Jules a fifty for gas and snacks.   As the engine warmed up Martine and Maureen joined them with the young couple’s backpacks. 

With hugs all around the two kids said their goodbyes and got in the car.  They slowly drove down the driveway with only a minor amount of jerking as Jules shifted from neutral to first and then second.

Wally and Maureen waved and called after them, “Safe journey and good luck in Bethlehem, call us when you get in.”



Postscript:  It took Wally a solid day of troubleshooting but he eventually found the problem and got the Nova back into a running condition.  Along the way. he took the opportunity to fix a few other things, and make sure the car was safe to drive for the young couple.  A month after leaving three young faces appeared at Wally and Maureen’s door.  There stood Jules, Martine and their new son Tom.  


Monday, December 10, 2018

Quagmire


Quagmire, noun, quag· mire | \ˈkwag-ËŒmÄ«(-É™)r
1 : soft miry land that shakes or yields under the foot

2 : a difficult, precarious, or entrapping position : predicament

            Today’s word sums up both the geopolitical and military positions we (mostly our politicians) have driven us to.

            On the home front, we have chosen a Congress that seems intent, at least if we listen to the voices pushed by a bias media, of rendering bills of impeachment for “high crimes and misdemeanors” for a President they don’t like.  Looking at how Ms. Pelosi ran the house when she was last its Speaker I’m guessing those bills won’t take so very long to write.  But like the impeachment of Bill Clinton, it seems unlikely he will be convicted and removed by the Senate so at the end of the day it is really just political drama that will remove any possibility of productive governing.

            What we see in Europe, France in particular, is a groundswell uprising rejecting the globalist propositions the political elite have crafted to move us towards a one-world government mostly paid for on the backs of the working class.  President Trump was vilified for his decision to vacate our involvement in the Paris Climate agreement.  What France is going through today is a direct result of that agreement.

            Militarily, we are engaged in a war without end.  Jihadist terror organizations will exist as long as there are violent proponents who want to be in power but are not.  The question for the nation is both a simple and complex one.  We are in a war we cannot win, is it in our national interest to continue to fight or do we let the world burn around us?  If we chose the latter what are the likely national consequences for what has historically been a Judeo-Christian society?

            What is most complex about ending this war is how we do so “gracefully” so as to seem like we are making a sound military decision from a position of strength.  I think we probably lost that option some ten or so years ago after we overthrew the Iraq regime and then left, leaving Iraq to the Iranians.  I am sure others can disagree and suggest, just as they did in the 1960s if we just sent more troops we could make the other side seek a peaceful resolution.  You can color me skeptical.

            For those who reject the idea of “slippery slopes,” you can always choose the mess of quagmires.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste



There was a commercial a few years ago encouraging financial support for historically black colleges with donations to the United Negro College Fund.  Its bottom line was “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”  As this holiday season progresses I seem to be brought back to that truth.  A mind is truly a terrible thing to waste, the only question is whose responsibility is it to make sure it’s not wasted?
It seems unlikely we will ever move past the issue of race, at least not in my lifetime, but the message of the UNCF was exactly correct.  A mind, any mind, is a terrible thing to waste.  Yet, every day we see the destruction of minds as a normal cost of life and business.  Everyone in a position of authority seems to think almost everything is more important, or that minds can only be saved through the completion of some lofty educational construct, or incarceration.  Both agendas seem to care little about the complexity of individual minds, or how they have been shaped to form a human being capable of advanced thought and independence.
Our species has been around for some 6-7,000 years and we have reached out to the heavens, sending probes that have left our solar system, yet we still cast aside almost 99% of the available minds as just so much flotsam and jetsam.  To take it a step further, thanks to instant communication we are now polarizing into massive tribes of US and THEM.  But, then again humans have always been tribal in our nature. 
There are clearly two schools of thought on this.  On the left, there is a belief it is the government's job, and those minds are part of the national capital the government must control.  I see this as the natural process of socialism, where “it takes a village.”  Looking at the educational systems of socialist states like pre-WW2 Germany, the USSR, China, Cuba, and others the rulers of the state make a concerted effort to take over the training of a child so their minds are conditioned to the needs of the state.
On the right, the responsibility of developing a child’s mind rests with the parents and the child.  They are aided in this by the state through the educational systems available, as well as any organized religion they may prescribe to, but the responsibility rests with the individual, not the state or the church.
It seems to me that at the end of the day, this difference is what separates "US" from "THEM."

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Zealots


zealot (zĕlˈət) A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
The origin of the word comes from the Greek name of a Jewish sect that existed in the time of Jesus.  Their goal was to resist the Roman empire and create a world dominated by Jewish theology. Those zealots were surrounded first in Jerusalem and then Masada, and destroyed by the Romans in about 70 AD. [1]   We see a lot of zealots these days, but it seems most of them are engaged not by a deep understanding of the issue, but by the enthusiasm of youth and their educational indoctrination. 
Perhaps it is because we have so many social, economic, and environmental issues we can’t agree on that we create all these zealots who demand action but have little insight into the unexpected consequences of their solution sets and who take no responsibility when those consequences manifest themselves.  Or maybe, it is we have developed such a class of elites they believe world control is within reach and they’ve set the masses into conflict to further that goal?
What I find most interesting is we’ve reached a state of economic prosperity within our country where socially committed individuals have so much time and wealth they can devote themselves to what they believe to be these higher callings and not focus on the tasks essential for survival.  Along the way, their entitlements and views of self-importance are cast about as clubs while they abuse the legal and political systems.
Their issues and the positions seem often at odds as each group jockeys for dominance.  Take for example the recent massive fires in California.  The legislature and the Governor have written laws that prevent logging or other active forest management on much of the land under their control.  They’ve chosen instead to claim those lands must remain “natural.”  That would be a great idea if they were, in fact, wilderness areas, but they’ve also allowed development in those natural areas.  When wildfires break out and destroy homes, communities, and lives they are shocked.  Of course, it really isn’t a result of their direct political/economic self-interest, they can blame climate change -- because computer projections suggest a likelihood of stronger storms, longer droughts and a myriad of worsening environmental crisis, so it’s really the fault of those other guys, the climate change deniers.  Those who would question the accuracy of the computer projections and the group think (i.e. the science is settled) of those who are warning of imminent death and destruction if the US doesn’t take immediate action.  
Animal rights is another area where with the best of intentions, uninformed individuals can band together to save the planet, or at least some of the planet as long as they are animals and not humans.  They can arrogantly dismiss the eons of humanity to now explain why tofu is preferred to the beef while lobbying for a ban on meat.  The simple question then becomes what to do with all the beef that is busy creating methane and contributing to global warming?  But that really isn’t their concern, there is obviously another group to handle that.
Last year we saw major protests over oil pipelines, where the native American tribes that would be affected by those pipelines were buoyed up environmental zealots from across the county, including a number of notable Hollywood personas.  In their zeal to stop the pipeline and reduce the flow of oil, they assembled in South Dakota to make their position known.  The funny thing about this environmental protest was the amount of human waste they left behind when they finally decided the weather was getting too cold to camp out and be visible to the press.  Of course, cleaning up after themselves as they fight to save the earth is really someone else’s job, isn’t it?
I could go on ad infinitum but in all cases, just as with the original zealots, their aim is to reshape the world into their vision of perfection, and if in the process they get to be richer or gain power through the manipulation of the masses, well that is just a wonderful side benefit.  Isn’t it?

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Just My Observation

     Maybe it is just me, but I see very little difference between the extremist positions, either left or right.    One side advocates for supremacy based on their alleged racial beliefs, the other side claims superiority based on their supposed support of socialism and approval of diverse sexual orientations.     Both advocate violence to achieve their political agenda, both are intolerant of those who question their views, and both are extremely small minorities within the general population.  The only difference is the media, the DNC, and democratic politicians are willing to tolerate one side while condemning the other to achieve their short-term political gain.
    If it were my call both would be classified as domestic terrorists.




Friday, November 23, 2018

Is it Just Me, or is Hillary Really That Tone Deaf

Hillary Rodham Clinton is now telling Europeans they have to get a handle on immigration or it will become problematic for them.  Yet for our nation, she supports illegal immigration, because well that is her party's line.
As she ramps up for yet another run at the Presidency one has to wonder where all these ideas are really coming from?  I can think of big politicians as tone deaf to the reality that surrounds her as HRC. 

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Freedom of the Press


Edited - added legal brief at the end.
I realize we live in a litigious world, where the laws have become relative, and for the right price lawyers are available to argue any case you want to bring against anyone you don’t like, but let’s talk about CNN and Acosta v Donald J. Trump, John F. Kelly, William Shine, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and the United States Secret Service (including Randolph D. Alles and John Doe).
As I understand the case the plaintiffs (CNN and Acosta) argue the President’s decision to revoke Acosta’s press pass is a violation of CNN and Acosta’s 1st and 5th Amendment protections and are asking a judge to order the WH to allow access while the case is decided.  They argue Acosta needs the “hard pass” credentials to allow him to do his job and report the news.  They also suggest CNN attempted to resolve this through a good faith negotiation prior to bringing the suit.
On the surface, the latter claim seems unbelievable based on the hostile relationship CNN, its reporters, and the WH public relations arm has had for the past two years, but that is just my opinion.  That said, I offer these lay opinions which I believe represent a common view held by my peers.
Revoking a single reporter’s credentials does not violate the 1st Amendment rights of the press.  I know the press would argue differently based on a fear of precedent, but the amendment says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 
That said, there is probably court precedent where the judiciary has found the government cannot act in a capricious manner to restrict access of reporters whose reporting they don’t like.  The question then becomes does the removal of one individual’s pass to the WH actually limit CNN’s ability to report?  Of course, they could have reassigned Acosta and replaced him with another reporter, as other organizations have done when reporters become “persona non grata” to the President, but we live in a world where the President cannot be allowed to ever appear to win because his opponents have determined he is the villain.
The argument that CNN and Acosta’s 5th amendment rights were violated is an interesting expansion of what decisions actually require compliance with an amendment written to protect the citizenry in criminal accusations.  The 5th Amendment says, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
So, on the surface, it sure seems that CNN and Acosta are viewing their suspension from the WH press room as some sort of criminal conviction where they are illegally charged with an infamous crime without the right to defend themselves.
Perhaps this could all have been avoided if the other reporters in the room had acted to self-regulate the grandstanding of one reporter, but that is neither here nor there now.  It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
I am guessing the lawsuit was filed in a court where the plaintiffs would expect to prevail and we will see an injunction approved while the finger pointing continues.
https://www.scribd.com/document/393373607/Acosta-v-Trump-Brief-of-One-America-News-Network#fullscreen&from_embed

Saturday, November 10, 2018

On Veterans Day, 2018


And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”                  From John F. Kennedy’s, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1960

What better day than Veterans Day when we remember those who’ve put service to the nation before their personal desires to recall the inspirational speech that guided a generation. 

John Kennedy’s speech serves as well today as it did when he delivered it.  Please take a moment to read it in its entirety.

 We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning — signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe — the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans — born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage — and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge — and more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom — and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required — not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge — to convert our good words into good deeds — in a new alliance for progress — to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbours know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support — to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective — to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak — and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course — both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.
So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms — and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah — to "undo the heavy burdens -. and to let the oppressed go free."
And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavour, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.
All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again — not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are — but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" — a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

Friday, November 2, 2018

The Politics of Outrage.


To paraphrase a popular quote: Life is hard; It’s Even Harder When You’re Partisan. 
It seems this age we are in has made life almost unbearable for the partisan left and the partisan right.  There are so many things to be outraged about, yet our politicians find more value in feeding the outrage than they do in working towards viable solutions.  How does one cope on daily basis?
There is a line from the Cary Grant – Tony Curtis movie “Operation Petticoat” Tony Curtis, playing Lt. Holden, is put in charge of finding parts needed to fix the submarine commanded by Cary Grant, as Lt Cmdr Matt Sherman.  In one scene Lt. Holden leaves the sub while the navy base is under attack.  When he is asked where he is going he offers this memorable truth, “In confusion there is profit.”  That seems to be the strategy in play in today’s political division.
We have problems with immigration, who should come and how should they be qualified for entry?  Today, it is better to be outraged at the separation of children from adults at the border than it is to find a solution that prevents that from being a necessity.  This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but it clearly is.  During the eight years of the previous administration, we saw a hodge-podge of enforcement and non-enforcement of immigration laws.  The DOJ was accused of gun-running that resulted in at least one death of a border agent, some people were welcomed and others denied, and yet children and adults were still separated when detained and very little effort was made to ensure they were reunited after the mind-numbingly slow decision process.  The press and the partisan supporters of the DNC said little or nothing about the moral injustice.  Put a hated Republican in charge and all the sudden it is the end of the world, and people will die.
On the opposing side, there at least is not a rock-solid set of approved talking points as there is on the left. We have everything from President Trump’s promise of a wall to grants for limited immunity from deportation.  It would seem to anyone who considers this spectrum there is room to negotiate a new law, but when one side says there can only be one answer, that room quickly shrinks to the hardline rhetoric we have today.  We were supposed to have fixed this in the 1990s, under President Clinton when we granted immunity to millions with the intent we would have laws we could agree to. What has changed?  Who has altered the requirements for immigration?  Are we to be a nation that believes in the rule of law or not?  To me, that is the real question before us on immigration.  It appears one side says no.
Then we have the Russians and their impact on preventing the favored DNC candidate from achieving her rightful place in American history.  What makes matters so much worse is she lost to someone who the media and the party had vilified to such an extent that he was viewed as almost certainly someone who would be little more than a footnote in history, much like William Henry Harrison.  At the time of the election, the DNC had predicted the economy would never recover, the markets would crash, healthcare for the nation (especially women) would end and people would die.  On election night some small percentage of the 60 million or so voters who voted for HRC decided their outrage was just too great to contain.  They bought knit hats and took to the streets to show the world their disdain for the nation’s choice for the next president.  Calls for investigations on how this outrage could have occurred began immediately and here we are two years later still waiting for the Special Counsel to shed some light on how the Russians persuaded some 60 million voters to choose someone other than HRC. 
Of course, over the past couple of decades, we’ve developed an intolerance for ideas and thoughts that might invoke discomfort and force debate on an issue.  The definition of “hate speech,” although fluid, is now part of our language.  It sure appears the demands for politically correct speech is less about offending and more about controlling the debate.  When only one side gets to call the other racist it is no longer a debate, is it?  I give you, as an example HRC’s latest snappy comeback.  When an interviewer attributed a quote to Cory Booker, HRC corrected her and said that was actually from Eric Holder.  When the interviewer apologized Ms. Clinton forgave her saying “they all look alike.”  The audience laughed because after all this was Hillary Clinton and she’s a Democrat and by current definition can’t be racist.
We are bombarded by the idea that white racist organizations are going to undo all the civil rights minorities have fought so hard to gain and expand, yet how many white racists are really in power now that Robert Byrd (D-WV) is gone?   The Southern Poverty Law Center shows a marked decline in the number of groups since 2011 when estimates put the number of hardcore and sympathizers at about 300,000.  For the record that is .09% of the nation.  So, 1/10th of one percent of the nation is classified as racist yet how many times have we heard someone who disagreed with the President called a racist?  Of course, with critical race theory that is the desired option, since only white people can be racist the best way to control the conversation is to shut it down.
Once again, the issue of putting on makeup has hit the news.  NBC has suspended and will quite possibly can Megyn Kelly for her comments about how as a child putting on “blackface” was okay and opining about why it isn’t today.  Having never had a desire to wear blackface, but watching the likes of Al Jolson play exaggerated characters in movies about the Minstrel shows I can certainly understand why many would find the idea of a whole bunch of white kids mocking their color as offensive, but the outrage that comes from these events today does not appear to be based on a compelling desire for cultural sensitivities nearly as much as it comes from a desire to control the conversation.  Just as in the #metoo movement there is evidence that when some liberal personalities chose to use blackface for the sake of their comedic benefit there was little mention of how offensive this was to black culture.
Finally, we have become a nation that selectively condones or condemns actual hate speech as represented by vile acts of terror against political or religious targets.  It sure seems the focus of these condemnations is more about affixing blame than actually ending any political speech that may incite the actual individuals involved.  One side lays the blame on President Trump, and of course, President Trump’s supporters have an equally large number of examples that will lay the blame on his opposition.  Is affixing blame for mean and ugly speech really ever going to solve a problem where individuals feel empowered to kill or attempt to kill others?  I doubt it.
At the end of the day, isn’t that what all this outrage is about?  The need to control the debate so your side wins?  The question we will see answered in the next week or so is can the idea of outrage be overplayed to the detriment of the victim party?  Will the voters reject the vilification of good people by the outraged left or will they reward them for their victim status?
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