Veterans Day

Today we pause to pay respect to the veterans of the past and present.  Veteran's day is a reminder of one of the faults of human beings. Ultimately we don't posess the ability to resolve conflicts without turning to acts of violence and destruction of each other. Our final solution is to annihilate each other in as vicious a manner as our minds can conceive.  We've used all forms of weapons from spears,  axes, arrows, cannonballs,  bullets, bombs of various destructive power, atomic bombs, and biological weapons to terminate the lives of our "enemies". 

Our enemies often are those whom we really are not familiar with on a personal basis. Instead our government's leaders have educated us that we have enemies who pose a threat to us. Sometimes our government uses such terms as "weapons of mass destruction" in that education process.

Those who carry out the protection of our country become our veterans.  Our veterans are the ones who pay the ultimate price for our violent ways of resolving conflict.  Lives are lost,  body parts destroyed,  emotional scars created.  All because human beings have decided that war is the ultimate answer to our disagreements or desires.

I am under the view that wars have ended the lives of men and women who would have contributed to improving our world.  People who could have helped find a cure to cancer.  People who could have helped create alternative forms of energy.  The list goes on.

So, we pause to honor the veterans of the past and present. We're sorry that you had to serve in armed conflicts due to the imperfections of human beings.  We still haven't reached our potential.  Maybe we should also utilize veteran's day as a reminder that we owe future generations actions that will make veterans day only a reminder and testament to the past.

Election Day 2014

A writer writes!

Some 30 years ago in a college Political Science class, the instructor made a profound statement.  He said that it doesn't matter if a Republican or Democrat wins an elective office.  In our instructors view, neither "party" had the answers to the problems of the day.  His opinion at the time seemed an outrageous viewpoint.  For years we had been taught that there was a Democratic way and a Republican way of resolving problems.

Time has shown that political parties by themselves do not have the "answers" to human problems.  Yes, there have been some specific approaches taken by the two major parties, but none of those approaches have solved human based problems.

Currently we have a Congress that has been highly touted as being a "do nothing" Congress.  Stuck in gridlock and playing political games where lack of any progress is the only result.  We pay these Congressmen a salary to basically accomplish nothing that makes our overall lives better.  It sounds like an ideal job for those who want to make $100,000 plus and enjoy the perks of a political office while accomplishing little.  There are those who try to make a difference.  Apparently we need more of those type people.

As you vote, look for that candidate who seems to be "different" in a positive way.  Avoid those candidates who are talking the same political chatter that you've heard time and time again.  If we're lucky, maybe half of those who win their election will actually work to effect positive changes.  If not, we will try it again two years from now.

Aging Is Bad Enough?

A writer writes!

I was typically bypassing all the "human interest" stories in the Comcast news home page when I saw one with the subject title, "Aging is Bad Enough".  I didn't read the article as I've found most of the "news" on Comcast's home page isn't news but what I call "gossip literature".  It normally has no redeeming value except to take up space.  It's human chatter because we as humans can say and do whatever we want to.

But a title of "Aging is Bad Enough"?  The topic itself assumes that getting older is the worst thing that can happen to a human being.  It assumes that somehow the years from birth to age 30 are our only reason for living.  If we somehow make the mistake of living beyond 30 we have doomed ourselves to endure a terrifying existence for the remainder of our desolate years.

If getting older and aging is a terrible thing, where are all the euthanasia companies that can help us end our miserable lives after we pass age 30?

Aging is just another part of the human process.  There is nothing "bad" about aging.  Regardless of the media being dominated by images of "youthful" looking people, if you are past age 40 celebrate the fact that you are still living.  The alternative is daunting to think of.

We all want to have bodies that function well, but like old cars, our bodily mechanisms wear out as they get older.  The warranty runs out and then we are on our own.  Don't let that spoil your life.  Next time you see something that says aging is bad, laugh to yourself, order a glass of wine, and slowly sip it as you celebrate being retired and not having to work every day as the "young" folks do.

Playing the "I feared for my life" Card!

A writer writes!

There have been a number of incidents over the past year with deadly results for African American males.  In each case an unarmed African American male was killed because the other person feared for their life.  Some of these incidents involved policemen, authorized to carry deadly weapons which they decided to use when they felt "fearful".

The question that came to my mind regarding those incidents is if the policemen were armed and the person they shot not armed, what were the policemen fearful of?  Were they afraid of being choked to death, beat up, or what?

In another incident a white male, who later was found guilty of manslaughter, claimed the reason he shot a young black male was because the white male was fearful of his life being threatened. Thankfully the court saw that there was an alternative to the man using deadly force.

The rationale that fearing for your life needs to be examined carefully in each individual case.  Yes, if someone has you trapped in a corner and is approaching you in a menacing manner, I would see a person being fearful for their life and taking the appropriate defensive/deadly action.  But if you are a policeman and someone is just approaching you without a weapon, I would question why would there be a need to shoot and kill an unarmed person.

Fear by itself is not the reason that defines that it's okay to kill another person.

Form Letter Responses by Members of Congress

A writer writes!

Members of Congress allow their constituents to contact them regarding issues.  Based on the member of Congress being too busy, the response from the member of Congress is normally compiled by a staff member rather than the Congress member.  That response normally is a compilation of data and statistics and standard political double talk in the form of a form letter response to the inquiry.  That form letter may be signed via a machine rather than the Congress member's personal signature.

For the various category of issues, a staff member of Congress has already compiled a standard letter designed to fit the category that your question falls into.  There are standard responses to letters that cover Health Care, Gun Control, Terrorism, and many other topics you see in the  "choose from" column of your Congress members website.  It's obvious from standard form letter responses, that most Congress Members really don't care to really communicate with a constituent after they have received your vote.

Yes, it may be difficult to compile a personal letter to each letter from a constituent. But I would like to see the member of Congress try to spend more personal time to respond to a constituent.  You owe that person your time, especially if you took their time via a phone call or an in person conversation during your election campaign to then seek their vote.

The form letters I have received in response to a question often are global responses someone just dug out of a file and returned to me.  Then that staff member "checks the block" proudly, and feels good about having responded to the inquiry.  Well guess what, your standard form letter responses are insulting at best and show no real effort to respond to the constituent.

I challenge all Congress members to ensure each letter they received is personally responded to rather than responded to via a standard form letter.  Make sure the constituent's questions and concerns are responded to.  To casually send a standard form letter that is closest to answering the questions or concerns is a disservice to yourself  and your constituent.

Congress already has a bad reputation.  Sending form letters to respond to your constituents only adds to the bad reputation.  Show that you really care.  Send a response that is personal in nature and that really answers the questions raised by your constituents.

Ebola - The Easiest Terrorist Weapon

A writer writes!

To no one's surprise, Ebola has made it the the United States.  A man in Dallas who came to the country from Africa to visit, apparently contracted Ebola while there.  Maybe no one wants to say it publicly, but Ebola is a walking biological weapon available to terrorists.  It would be very easy for someone willing to give their life to interact with those who have Ebola, lie about having any contact with someone who had Ebola, and then catch a plane to a major population center in the United States before displaying Ebola symptoms.  That person then goes to an event that is well attended, football game, etc. and spreads Ebola to to others before getting too sick to walk around further.  You don't have to be a CIA analyst to figure that scenario out.

So, what is our government doing to prevent such an occurrence?  Who knows?  But, I think I will send my Congressman a quick note and ask her for the answer.

In the meantime, drug companies should start going into major production to manufacture the drug that is supposed to be helpful in combating Ebola.  Who knows, a pill that prevents you from contracting Ebola may become the most desired Christmas gift during the upcoming commercial holiday period!

The MCL Crowd

A writer writes!

Famished and fighting off an approaching lack-of-food armada headache, I stopped by my local MCL restaurant for a complete meal.  Having visited MCL for the first time in over 15 years a month ago, I knew that MCL wouldn't let me down.

My image of MCL was always that it was the place where older people went for a decent meal.  I have no idea what "MCL" stands for.  Obviously for those who frequent it, the name stands for good food at reasonable prices.  For anyone who knows the history of the naming of MCL, send me a note and I will send you my coupon for a slice of pie for the cost of 99 cents.

As I entered MCL to first wash my hands, cleanliness is next to Godliness, I saw 4-5 older people sitting in a lounge area.  They looked semi dressed up in sport coats for the men and dresses for the women.  I said to myself, maybe it is their big day out for the week.  Having someone to meet and bond with is always great, at any age,  I surveyed the people inside the restaurant and in line, and quickly surmised that in the event of any conflict breaking out, I could take any of them and even a group of them in one-on-one combat.

The line was slowed by an elderly woman who was having problems moving at a quick rate.  I could have shoved her aside, and feigned food hysteria but better manners prevailed.  MCL does a good job of lining up the food in an orderly fashion.  The food looks all fresh and colorful.  To the point that you may find your mouth drooling while in line, which isn't a pretty sight.  I ordered everything I had not had in the past few weeks, liver and onions, fresh backed rolls so soft they slide down your throat, summer squash, (is there a winter squash?) pumpkin pie for dessert, and several more items along with the classic sweet tea.  At the end of the line I pulled out my trusty coupon for a whole dollar off an entree!

I joined the other "older" people in the eating area.  Although I did see a family and a man who must have been in his late 30s or 40s, I came to the realization that I officially am a senior.  I was eating with the other older people.  I can see myself now putting on a sports coat and tie, and making my way to MCL to join my fellow seniors for a decent meal.  The workers busing the tables are very friendly and must be to handle some of the banter the senior crowd delivers.  I heard one older woman railing about how they should not have let the person who contracted Ebola into the country.  Her recommendation was that no one from Africa should be allowed back into the United States.  Her "visit Africa and stay there policy" might become very popular if an Ebola breakout occurs in Dallas, Texas based on one person so far being found to have contracted Ebola after coming to the city from Africa.

I figure that in future visits to MCL I will gain knowledge from conversations with other seniors or just by overhearing their conversations to others.  Maybe MCL will one day be a recruitment center for those looking to find mature people with definite opinions on a variety of topics.  Until then, save a piece of pecan pie for me!