As this page develops, my hope is, after 57 years alive and 21 years married to the same girl, I have something to say and someone is interested in reading,  I do know I have opinions, thoughts, hopes and dreams that come with age and experiance,  This may end up being as close to an autobiography or just a place to snivel.  Who knows?  The page, like my life, will hopefully evolve and take on it's own form.

I'm curently reading  about a man named G.K. Chesterton.  He was a prolific English writer born in the late 1800's.  Wonderful stuff.  The book - G.K. Chesterton - The Apostle of Common Sense.  He was studied extensively throughout the educational systems fifty years ago but fell in disfavor as his morality began to conflict with "progressive" thought.  He wrote about everything.  He once applied for a job as a writer for an English journal.  He was told, though, he could could write about anything except politics and religion.  Chesterton replied there was nothing else that mattered.  These are the only principles that are relevant to life - Love Thy Neighbor as you would Love Yourself (Politics) and Love God above All Others (Religion)  Something to that effect, anyway.  I'll articulate it better when I review.  More on Chesterton later - he has made significant impact on my life.   7/27/10

More Chesterton:  So much talk lately about the move towards socialism in our country, some of Chesterton's thought, I hope I've understood.  He thought there wasn't much difference between socialism and capitalism except who gets to spend the money, government or big business.  Elaboration to follow soon.    10/26/10 

I didn't realize anyone was reading this except lately some have asked me why I haven't done anything new!  So let's see, what have I been up to.  Well, my second favorite State now (after Texas) is Arizona.  So I guess we'll talk immigration, legal and illegal - or not.  How 'bout that President and his family.  Country sits at about 10% unemployment and their on vacation again.  Didn't go to Louisiana, though.  Didn't put our money into that economy.  Nope, went to Maine.  Now Michelle's on her way to Spain, staying in a five star hotel for who knows how long - but they needed 30 rooms at taxpayor expense.  Hmmmm!  I don't really know what she's doing there other than spending some quality Mother/Daughter time.  Regardless, I'm sure it's important, just not to me!  How  'bout you?   But  I do know it can't be helping the budget other than adding to the deficit.  Those of us in a bind, having to cut back, eat more beans than steak and that crew living the good life.  Reminds of a show I used to like watching on TV - Lives of ther Rich and Famous- but I never saw a President featured.  Just hadn't lived long enough, I guess.   7/27/10

I feel the need to address my political affiliation - not a Republican, Libertarian or Democrat.  I'm either a very liberal conservative or a very conservative liberal.  Bottom line,  for better or worse.

I AM AN AMERICAN

Now I'm a Racist

Man, I don't know what's going on!  Media proclaims once again racism has tainted the America I love and being white is the only prerequisite to being part of the problem. I grew up military and had no idea what racism was as a kid.  The military had no color to me and my parents made damn sure I understood this with all my being and  I was taught to be intolerant of those who were.  Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians were all my friends and we all played together, had fun and innocently explored our differences, not to mention the mixed races.  These were my friends in what the psychologists call my "formative" years.  Formative meaning becoming who I am going to be: thoughts, feelings emotions, personality and attitudes.  Racism was not one of the attitudes I developed - my parents would not have allowed it!  Then I had to grow up.  What a shock!  Four hundred years of oppression came tumbling down on my head and became my personal responsibility to make right.  Early adulthood had me guilty for being white, forced to understand the animosity minorities had towards me because "you don't know what it feels like to wake up everyday black in a white society."  Well, that was true, but God's plans have always baffled me.  My responsibility was and is to make my part of the world better: to espouse tolerance and to stand up to hose who aren't.  So I lived much of my early life trying to convince angry blacks that I was not a prejudiced person.  When you’re young in the 60’s and 70’s, there was always a cause to get behind. Being young and foolish, I fell right in.  Hell, I thought we left racism behind when Jimi Hendrix hit rock and roll.  I didn’t care much for Motown but didn’t deride those who did!  Everyone was my Brother and Sister, John Lennon my guru.  How naïve the young can be.  Skipped school to protest George Wallace’s visit to El Paso because I didn’t like racists as a teen – they made me real nervous and still do.  Admittedly, as evidenced by my other writings, I’m not thrilled with Obama’s performance up until now, but for such comment to bring charges of prejudice,  sudden déjà vu: I’m once again responsible for 400 years of oppression.  Like most Americans I believe we are and were ready for a minority President – I was just not in favor of this minority member to be the leader of the free world.  The danger was evidenced throughout the campaign.  Race was an issue by the allusions made to the differences between Obama and all past candidates. Sadly, the opportunity to really put this behind Americawas lost.  It seems racial tension has increased and the issue more pronounced. Liberal Americahas forced us back to the Black/White dichotomy and I am very uncomfortable with what I perceive as regression in race relations.  No proof of America’s greatness could have been better demonstrated than this election.  He could not have won without the white vote and certainly Emancipation could never have been possible without whites dying for it. I'm just getting too old for this....

9/11/09

Do you remember?  Another anniversary and remembrance of a day that absolutely changed the face of America.  Gone is the innocence and security of our borders and the appearance of the true hatred some people have for the United States of America.  Remember the day?  Remember where you were, what you were doing,  who was around you, how intense your emotionsl reaction?  Were you experiancing all the feelings described in those self help books that nobody likes to read, but demand examination: Did you feel helpless? Were you fearful? Did you feel the loss and insecurity?  Were you angry and confused - want revenge and justice for those who were murdered for just being on United States soil?; Did you experaince the whole continuum of emotion?  Did you feel love for your fellow Americans and sorrow at the losses of loved ones that weren't yours? Did your feel like a citizen of the United States?  Did you break out your American flag and go out and get one for your car? Were you proud to be an American as you watched New York and the rest of the country respond to this violation of our peace? Did you wonder whether you would have had the courage of those Americans on Flight 93? Did you call the Red Cross to see what you could do no matter how small the task? Did you display your solidarity by driving with your lights on?  Did you comfort someone shocked by the vicious display of pure evil?  Were you comforted by Americans you'd never met?  Were you spiritually shaken but not broken? Were you sad?  Did you say a prayer?  Did you  cry?  Do you remember?                 Me too.

Memorial Day 2009

1,000,000,000,000

So that's what a trillion looks like. How many of those does the President want the American public to commit to? Doesn't matter today - it's the 160,000,000 to AIG executives that is to be the bother since the taxpayers are the 80% owners of the company now.  I'm shocked - shocked that the President or the House or Congress did not read the 1,000 page stimulus package that included this stipulation!  I guess with two days notice before voting, it would be difficult to read it all, but I thought that's what they're getting paid for.  But I do understand - I couldn't read a book with a 1,000 pages that i was interested in reading in two days!  But, again, they are being paid to be interested before putting my name on the contract and I'm beginning to take all this stuff personal.  If my boss told me I needed to read a 1,000 page report for my job, he/she wouldn't expect it to be done in two days.  I would then ask for more time to complete the assignment.  But the President didn't allow more time and no one asked (well, a few Republicans) - we were in crisis and something had to be done immediately!  We had to get going - time's a'wastin'!  Now look where we are.  Don't get me wrong, I agree that these executives should never have been given a bonus for jeopoardizing the American economy - that's a lot of money to be spread around to about a hundred people who caused the whole thing.  My point?  Everybody who should have known about it beforehand did know and rushed it through anyway!  The trusting American taxpayer,  reacted  to the crisis as presented - with incomplete information.    So, let's see:

1,000,000,000,000                    A trillion   (Expect a few

                                                       more of these)

    987,000,000,000                   Stimulous package

       -    167,000,000                   AIG Bonus package

    986,833,000,000

       +   150,300,000                   90% Tax recovery bill

     983,300,000,000

What else does the President, Congress, and House not know that's included in the 1,000 pages?  I guess we'll know soon enough (I doubt that)!

Cabinet Apointments

Well, I must say, my confidence in the new administration continues to grow in leaps and bounds!  Running on the impetus of change (from what to what - I can't figure it out), President O'Bama (Irish, you know) certainly has begun his legacy with a bang!  Surrounding himself with Clinton retreads, criminals and tax evaders seems to enforce his committment to transparency in government.  Cleaning up the pork in legislation has been a huge success.  A wonderful example are the millions committed to that outfit who went out and registered folks to vote.  I can't remember the name right off hand, but later found (allegedly) to have registered a score of folks not eligible.. My thought is that this organization will produce jobs, all right, but the job will be to get the President reelected.  ACORN!  That's it.  But all of these nominations with tax problems!  I'm sure with closer examinations, there are many more hidden away and protected by those with vested interest.  All I know is if I owed the IRS $120,000 +, I would be hard pressed to explain myself as "just making a mistake."  And I'll bet I would be making those  explanations from a homeless shelter!  But this guy continues to receive accolades from his collegues and the President himself for what a terrific job he has done on behalf of the country!  I seem to remember the Vice-President reminding us all that paying taxes is the patriotic thing to do.  Apparently this is selective reasoning - applicable on a case by case basis.  The music just doesn't seem to be following the tune - or is it just me?  I've not much complained about paying taxes (local, State, or Federal) , though the burden continues to increase at all levels.  I just figure it's like rent - this is where I want to live and that's the price I have to pay.  I'm just thankful to God that America has provided me the opportunity to be able to pay!  I wish everyone thought that way.      

Legalize Drugs?

Wow, Beto (O'Rourke, City Councilman), what were you thinking?  What courage!   Fighting the drug war in the form of surrender!  Depending on the day, my attitude in this respect fluctuates.  I don't know how many o you out there knows, but I worked as a substance abuse counselor for many years and am a recovering alcoholic and addict..  I personally quit drinking and using drugs over 26 years ago (had to - nobody liked hanging out with me)!  More on that at a different time.  Pretty ironic, huh? An alcoholic owning a Beer Barn.  Alcoholics Anonymous gave me my out.  So, during my active addictions, I often contemplated the War on Drugs, mostly because I was one of the bad guys!  The longer I stayed sober, became educated and worked with people suffering fromthse malaqdies, the clearer things relevant became.  The first insight took the form of semantics and the power of words.  WAR!  The emotional attachment we have to the word itself is astounding and, historically. moves Americans to do great things. The Revolutionary War,  Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War (though really a conflict ) Viet Nam War (also a conflict ), War on Terror - all connote tremendous cost in lives to promote liberty and freedom to those deprived of same.  To me, the War on poverty, the War on drugs are an improper use of the word to provoke an emotional response to a social issue. This emotional attachment to war applied to these social social problems left poor Beto backed into a corner for suggesting open discussion relevant to one of these problems. I say good job, Beto, and keep thinking outside the box.  I'm tired, I'm gone for now.  Next time maybe I'll look at the pros and cons of legalization - maybe not.   

Storm Water Tax

If it's not one thing, it's another.  Thinking about this raises all kinds of feelings.  I wonder why the city neglected to have flood insurance to cover all this.  The premiums over the years must be cheaper than the repair!  If you and I don't have insurance on our home or business, we are SOL.  However, we trust our city representatives are thinking about this stuff in a meaningful way and when they don't we are SOL.  It continues to be more difficult keeping up with all the money the city wants from us to live in this beautiful city I have called home for 40+ years.  Then the county wants some, the State, and, of course the Feds.  I keep wondering what it is I'm getting for my money - I sure do bust my butt for it!  I'm certain it can be spent a little more reliably.  Come on, guys and gals, it's your city, too!      

 UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Anniversary #9 and so much has come to pass.  Economy's tanking. unemployment soaring, debt increasing and memories fading.  I took my grandson to a football game on 9/11 decked out in our finest patriotic attire, remembering the trajic day.  My grandson was 11 years old on that fateful day.  Now 20, we had reveiwed the day on the drive from El Paso to Las Cruces to see NMSU play, expecting a grand remembrance of 9/11. Halftime produced a great show honoring the Flag, but a simple moment of silence for the heroes of that fateful day.  We noticed only three other shirts indicating remembrance.  I was sad. I guess I expected more.  Silly American!