Legacy?

I see an increasing amount of time spent on local news about the impacts of social networks and the postings or boasts people are putting on them. It is almost as if it is wrong of employers to use the Internet to see what people are saying about themselves. For example, a federal employee who is collecting disability for her depression, and posts pictures of herself at Chippendale's is distressed when her disability is called into question, and her benefits are rescinded. Newly graduated college students are bewildered when their drunken festivities, posted for the world to gaze on, call into question their claims of sound and mature judgement.

We all have ghosts and skeletons in our closets. I am sure there is only one who has walked among us that has nothing to regret, nothing to wish they had not done. The difference between my youth and the youth of today is we had time to consider the error of our ways before the entire world was made aware of them. We did not grow up believing that everything we thought, everything we did, everything we tried to do was worthy of public discourse. Obviously this must be a problem brought on by Soccer Mom's and Dad's who want everyone to be winners!

One truth I have always understood was the young had to find their own identity. They would not accept the advice of the elders, and would often choose a contrary path just to show their independence. Unfortunately for too many, that need to take a contrary path, and the desire to share their perceived triumphs collide now on the Internet with a record that will last far beyond the moments of fame they seek.

To all the American youth who want the world to know they get drunk every night, work hard to contact every available STD, or hate their boss, job, life, parents, teachers or spouse I offer this thought. Hope it works out for you in the future! Don't whine when it is thrown back at you.

To every American scamming the disability system who get caught because of a stupid posting. Too bad, so sad, maybe they will offer federal disability for stupidity in the new health care plan! Call your legislator for clarification.

When did news become opinion?

This has been a long standing question for me. As I watch the major network's broadcast their evening reports several obvious things jump out. First, apparently there is only one set of writers who they all share. They routinely have the same subject matter to broadcast, even on days when there is no overwhelming national story. Its almost like price fixing, sometime in the day they must have a conference call to lay out the common agenda they intend to present.
My real question is why has uninformed public opinion become central to the reporting on almost every story? Is this a national conspiracy to attempt to get every living American a chance for their 15 minutes of fame? For example, this evening ABC broadcast a story on mammograms and a medical panels recommendation they were not critical for woman younger than 50. As part of that report they must have asked 10 patients what they thought of a report none had read, but were only informed of by the reporter. The fact all 10 were about to receive their annual mammogram certainly can have no influence in their assessments and opinions, can it? Personally, I would rather have seen them interview 10 men who had survived breast cancer and asked them about how critical the mammogram was, at least that would have required some research on the part of the news staff. If this issue is worthy of national news coverage, why aren't recognized experts called in to discuss the reasoning and implications? Is it because it would not be as emotional as interviewing someone in a medical gown walking into the examination?
This same sense of fair reporting was evidence last night when they asked a series of New York city residents about Sarah Palin's new book. Certainly you can expect measured, well thought out positions from the average NYC person on the street. NYC is legendary for its central American view and as a bastion of conservative thought. Personally I can think of no compelling reason to report on Palin, but at the same time attempting to make her a cartoon only strengthens the argument the liberal press is out to polarize the American population into two camps.
Wait a minute! Maybe this is all like the Colbert Report. It is all a parody of an actual news report and their real intent is to make us question the statements and come to a conclusion buried deep in the false logic of their dialogue. My hat is off to you Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, Bryan Williams, your subterfuge almost had me...

Rememberance

This is the day set aside to remember the end of the 1st World War, the war to end all wars. We have made it a day to recognize the sacrifices, service and commitment of our men and woman of the American Armed Forces.

I spent the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in a jet, headed to Dallas, TX. Somehow, that seemed okay to me, working on this Veteran's Day. As I gazed out the window, crossing just north of Mobile AL I thought of friends I've lost in defense of this nation. I would like to take a few minutes to reflect on them and what I've learned from them.

In a nameless desert in the middle of Iran I watched Capts Hal Lewis, Rick Backe, and six others die when the EC-130 flight deck was crushed by an RH-53 helicopter that was disoriented as it took off in the sand. Rick was my original instructor as I trained to fly the MC-130E Combat Talon. He was patient, knowledgeable and had a passion for life. He made sure I was good enough to join a pretty small group of people qualified to navigate the C-130 as it flew 250' above the ground, in weather and at night. Hal was one the aircraft commanders in the 1st SOS when I arrived. He was a very good pilot, steady hands and made sure his crew knew what was expected and ready to perform. He partied hard, had his share of faults, but was about doing whatever it took to accomplish the mission.

About nine months later, in January 1981 an MC-130E, returning from a training mission flew into the Ocean, off the coast of the Philippines. On board were Major John King, Capt Greg Peppers, Capt Jeff Blume and TSgt Jack Felton, all friends and people I had flown with for the past year. Greg and Jack were with me on the Desert One fiasco and Greg was probably the best partner I had ever flown with. If he had survived I think he could be a General today. Greg taught me to enjoy the moment. Jack Felton was our Flight Engineer, he had a marvalous sense of humor and was a great mimic of Father Guido Sardouchi. This crask taught me if your number is up you are going to die, if not you won't! for there is no other way to explain how Jeff survived the crash. I think it had a serious impact on his outlook from then on.

Please take a moment to think of your friends and loved ones and what you gain from them.

Things to be Thankful For.

Today I am sitting in the USO lounge at Philadelphia Int'l Airport. What an under appreciated organization they are. When I was on active duty I don't think they had the outreach they have now. This facility provides the men and woman of the armed forces, as well as their families a place to stretch out, relax, get something to eat and prepare for the next stage of their trip. Thank you USO!

So what brings me to Philly? I came up as a personal obligation to celebrate the life of my Mother's twin sister Bobbetta Jean Stewart. Aunt Bobbie was the last of the Ingraham's (my maternal Grandparents) and with her passing it is inevitable the ties to the surviving Stewart's; Louise, Beth, Cecil, and George will begin to stretch and erode. Her life was filled with trials and tribulations, but through it all she was loving, gentle, and gracious. We will all be poorer for her passing, but I've got to believe she is at rest and in a better place.

This trip also afforded me a wonderful chance to visit my Daughter, Son-in-Law, and Granddaughter. Hannah is now 25 months old and turning into a wonderfully charismatic youngster. Her smile is infectious and she is learning so much each day that its obvious her Mom and Dad are doing the right things. She walks around the house singing the ABC song. Her vocabulary is remarkable, it just takes some concentration to work through the pronunciation. I am sure her progress towards a fully rambunctious child will be filled with many moments I will regret missing, but with the technology we have available, even separated by 1,000 miles, we can be a part of her life. Thank you Hannah for the joy you brought me on this visit.

Finally, as I return home I look forward to seeing my wife of 32 years, and sharing with her the hopes for a bright future. Compared to so many in this country we are secure and comfortable and able to share those blessings with our children and those less fortunate than us.

The Nobel Prize for Peace

The Nobel Prize for Peace, originated from a grant by Alfred Nobel, is the only Nobel Prize not awarded in Stockholm Sweden. Alfred Nobel made that choice as part of the bequeath, and the Norwegians have embraced that duty. If you ever visit Oslo you will be reminded of the distinction on several occasions during your stay.

Today President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. An award for which he was nominated roughly 2 weeks after his entering office. As I look at past winners they run the gamut from the Quakers to the UN Nuclear Energy Commission, from Le Duc Tho to Mother Teresa. I believe there have been two sitting Presidents who've received this award, Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Both received theirs for ending wars and moving toward peace. A third president, Jimmy Carter, was awarded the Nobel prize for his decades of efforts toward international peace.

We can only speculate on the discussions held in Oslo leading to this award but it appears the committee is awarding now based on potential. Let us all pray they are correct, and the President fulfills his potential and finds an end to the current terrorist threats and wars.

On the Loss of Civility

As I watch society unfold before me I am struck, no distressed would be a better description, on how we have lost our ability to be civil to one another. Why is this? We have only to look at the almost daily news reports to see example after example of this. “Congressman Joe Wilson calls Obama a 'liar',” “Kanye West Crashes VMA Stage During Taylor Swift's Award Speech,” “In Toronto, Bike-Car Road Rage Escalates,” and the list goes on.

I believe we, as humans, are selfish, aggressive and violent by our nature. What has historically separated us from the other species is our ability to modify our base instincts to conform to the expectations of society. For example, rats are social, they live in ordered society and each is able to determine its place. They don’t seem to build unique cultures and I believe they play out their base instincts in the formation of those societies. We, on the other hand, are social beings, and build our societies for similar base goals, protection and furtherance of our race. We then train our youth to conform to those expectations so that society may evolve. Our history is filled with example after example of this, each eventually leading to a collapse and emergence of a follow-on civilization. Which brings us to today, and the question that is troubling me, what can we do to bring a sense of pride and civility back to our nation, and then the world?

Today it seems unfashionable to talk of cause and effect relationships, but I believe this is the only way to understand and address this decline. Parents of my generation began the process of trying to relate to their children and reinforce positive attitudes and performance in the belief if someone has positive thoughts about themselves they will fit better into society. My generation expanded on this to reinforce the idea that their child could do no wrong, and our children carry this to the next level where everyone must be a winner. I wonder if this could be a base cause for our failure to train the younger generation on the expectation for their role in society and the now prevalent belief they can say and do whatever they feel like and it is okay. The belief that their needs or ideas are more important than anyone else; debate and movement to a common approach is never an option.

As society embraces the idea that everyone can do, or say, whatever they feel like I am concerned with our ability to resolve the real problems that confront us as a society. With that inability to resolve conflict there is only one inevitable outcome. As uncivil behavior is spread, and more widely tolerated, what will be the next societal norm to be cast aside?

To my congressman, Jeff Miller, who rationalizes Congressman Wilson’s outburst, as emotions stirred by the health care debate, shame on you. I would hope, no I would expect, that Congressman control their emotions and do the nations business. What happened to the expectations of respect for your colleagues?

To rapper Jay-Z and all who rationalize Mr. West’s outburst as emotions to be understood and overlooked… shame on you. I don't expect you to condemn him, but you don't need to rationalize it away either. Perhaps this is one point where silence is a virtue?

August has come & gone. It has been a momentous month for us. On August 31st my son's wife gave birth to our second grandchild, and on September 4th our first grandchild turned two. It is hard to believe I now have two grandchildren.
On the way home from church today there was an interesting observation which, I think, summarizes the "whatever I think" picture of today's society. My wife observed that the nation was more divided today than anytime in our past, and it must be a direct result of the Roe v Wade decision that limits the states ability to prevent abortions. I would suspect that most of our society may think the same way. My only comment to this -- it seemed to me the issue of slavery or states rights, and the resultant civil war was probably more divisive since we've not yet seen a state attempt to seperate.