I just realized that it has been over a year since my last post. In that time, my life has changed and stayed the same all at once.
Right now, I am exhausted beyond all belief, and while there are many things I want to say and write, I can only say that I hope you all are reading and watching the news; staying astute on what is going on in our nation and even locally in your own counties, cities and states.
Many people have forgotten the importance of local government, and unfortunately, many people I speak with don't understand the difference between their State Legislature and their Federal Government.
Please take the time to find out who is running for office where you live, learn what they stand for, how they will vote, support them, and then hold them accountable.
I started this blog six years ago when I first moved to Las Vegas for the Presidential election. Many elections have come and gone, and my leaders have failed me. But, there is power in numbers. Make your voice heard. Use your vote to make a difference.
We have a City Councilman here in Las Vegas who won his election by 10 votes in 2009. He has been THE steady voice of fiscal conservatism here, even in the worst economy in our state's history.
Will your vote be the vote that pushes a candidate over, or the one that allows the opposition to take control?
We have 50 days left until our Primary in Nevada. I am praying that we do not get weary of fighting for what we believe in. I pray that you all will continue to press on as well.
For now, this will be my last post until mid-June. Thank you for those of you who STILL read, even when I am silent. I'll be back soon.
In the mean time, check out some info on my candidates here in LV:
www.SueLowden.com / www.retirereid.com
www.PatrickMcNaught.com / www.VoteMichaelRoberson.com
www.BillyJohnson2010.com / www.VoteTyCobb.com
xoxo
gopbabeval
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
A Wake Up Call for the Right
As a conservative, I'm finding out more and more that I do not really believe in the Republican Party. Not as it once was, anyway.
I've started realizing that I am more Libertarian in my views, but if I want to continue to vote in Primaries, and be involved, I must stay under the big tent of the GOP, much as the Green Party must do with the Democrats.
I've never been an over the top republican. Even when I worked for the party. I believe in one fundamental right that the Constitution gives us: The government should stay out of my business and out of my wallet. These days though, it seems neither the democrats or republicans are holding true to this thinking.
I think I am a fairly intelligent person, with a good head on my shoulders. I'm not going to try to change your views on politics or religion, if you've already made up your mind. But I will say that there are a few things that are driving me mad at the moment. And keep in mind, this could be because of the recent CPAC weekend in DC, or just because its always bothered me & I'm finally speaking up.
Don't assume that I fall in line with Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, just because there's an R behind my name on my voter registration. Last week Janeane Garofalo said that conservatives are "self-loathing" and compared female-fans of Limbaugh to Eva Braun, Adolph Hitler's girlfriend. But then Rush Limbaugh turned around and called liberals "deranged". Where do we draw the line? I'm definitely for the first amendment and our right to speak our minds, but when does it just become petty name calling? I feel like we've all retreated back to the first grade and on this playground of life we are picking on others to make ourselves feel better.
Which brings me to this point: How do we expect to energize the future generations of voters, when all we are doing is calling each other names and comparing everyone to Hitler all the time?
Barack Obama won because he gave the young people of this nation something to hope in. While I found it to be completely asinine, some -actually- MOST young people were drawn to this.
I don't think we should go around saying we are the party of rainbows and unicorns and gumdrops and kumbaya; but at the same time, where is our current rhetoric getting us? Can't we find a happy medium?
I'm not suggesting that we silence Coulter (although sometimes Ann could use a lesson in graciousness) or Limbaugh (who recently said if you don't agree with him, you agree with Barack Obama), but I am asking, when will others who are tired of the game rise up and be willing to come up with valid arguments, sans name calling and finger pointing, and do something worthwhile for our party and our country?
We can either think of how we become relevant as a campaign winning and policy making organization or we can just be the voice of opposition. If we continue featuring the Limbaugh's and the Coulters, without other points of view, we will never appeal to Independents, soft D's or even Republicans for that matter. Who will be the spokesman for our generation?
I've started realizing that I am more Libertarian in my views, but if I want to continue to vote in Primaries, and be involved, I must stay under the big tent of the GOP, much as the Green Party must do with the Democrats.
I've never been an over the top republican. Even when I worked for the party. I believe in one fundamental right that the Constitution gives us: The government should stay out of my business and out of my wallet. These days though, it seems neither the democrats or republicans are holding true to this thinking.
I think I am a fairly intelligent person, with a good head on my shoulders. I'm not going to try to change your views on politics or religion, if you've already made up your mind. But I will say that there are a few things that are driving me mad at the moment. And keep in mind, this could be because of the recent CPAC weekend in DC, or just because its always bothered me & I'm finally speaking up.
Don't assume that I fall in line with Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, just because there's an R behind my name on my voter registration. Last week Janeane Garofalo said that conservatives are "self-loathing" and compared female-fans of Limbaugh to Eva Braun, Adolph Hitler's girlfriend. But then Rush Limbaugh turned around and called liberals "deranged". Where do we draw the line? I'm definitely for the first amendment and our right to speak our minds, but when does it just become petty name calling? I feel like we've all retreated back to the first grade and on this playground of life we are picking on others to make ourselves feel better.
Which brings me to this point: How do we expect to energize the future generations of voters, when all we are doing is calling each other names and comparing everyone to Hitler all the time?
Barack Obama won because he gave the young people of this nation something to hope in. While I found it to be completely asinine, some -actually- MOST young people were drawn to this.
I don't think we should go around saying we are the party of rainbows and unicorns and gumdrops and kumbaya; but at the same time, where is our current rhetoric getting us? Can't we find a happy medium?
I'm not suggesting that we silence Coulter (although sometimes Ann could use a lesson in graciousness) or Limbaugh (who recently said if you don't agree with him, you agree with Barack Obama), but I am asking, when will others who are tired of the game rise up and be willing to come up with valid arguments, sans name calling and finger pointing, and do something worthwhile for our party and our country?
We can either think of how we become relevant as a campaign winning and policy making organization or we can just be the voice of opposition. If we continue featuring the Limbaugh's and the Coulters, without other points of view, we will never appeal to Independents, soft D's or even Republicans for that matter. Who will be the spokesman for our generation?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Two Americas
So I think if we all try really hard, we can remember back to 2004 - Remember John Edwards "Two Americas" speech? One America was the hard working miners & workers in the saw mills & union dues paying folks. And the other, those evil, greedy, wealthy Americans. You know the types...so often the media portrays them as Republicans. (But if you really look closely, the ambulance chaser, Edwards, was one of those too)
Well, now we've had THREE appointees to the Obama administration come under fire for their tax issues. Mostly the fact that they never paid their taxes and penalties, not until it was absolutely necessary. After all, who was going to know? No one. Not until the vetting process began for their Senate confirmation.
Not to mention the fact that Charlie Rangel (D-NY) also is under the microscope for his lack of "rendering to Caesar what is Caesars" - Bill Richards is under investigation for corruption charges. Daschle had a personal car & driver that he didn't claim on taxes. Gaithner didn't pay his self-employment taxes. Nancy Killefer didn't pay into unemployment for her housekeeper.
It seems to me that these Democrats who are "for the people" have lost touch with the people.
The last time I checked, I have to pay my taxes. I don't have a chauffeur. I don't have a housekeeper. Or a nanny.
I know that on April 15th my taxes better be in order.
I know how to correctly use Turbo Tax, and I'm not being considered for a position within the Administration, not even as a Schedule C appointee.
So why is it that these so called "leaders" are allowed to live by a different set of rules? Fact of the matter is, President Obama is saying that he can't allow it to look as if there is a different set of rules for the American people, but as far as I'm concerned, with the confirmation of Timothy Gaithner, it already does.
Well, now we've had THREE appointees to the Obama administration come under fire for their tax issues. Mostly the fact that they never paid their taxes and penalties, not until it was absolutely necessary. After all, who was going to know? No one. Not until the vetting process began for their Senate confirmation.
Not to mention the fact that Charlie Rangel (D-NY) also is under the microscope for his lack of "rendering to Caesar what is Caesars" - Bill Richards is under investigation for corruption charges. Daschle had a personal car & driver that he didn't claim on taxes. Gaithner didn't pay his self-employment taxes. Nancy Killefer didn't pay into unemployment for her housekeeper.
It seems to me that these Democrats who are "for the people" have lost touch with the people.
The last time I checked, I have to pay my taxes. I don't have a chauffeur. I don't have a housekeeper. Or a nanny.
I know that on April 15th my taxes better be in order.
I know how to correctly use Turbo Tax, and I'm not being considered for a position within the Administration, not even as a Schedule C appointee.
So why is it that these so called "leaders" are allowed to live by a different set of rules? Fact of the matter is, President Obama is saying that he can't allow it to look as if there is a different set of rules for the American people, but as far as I'm concerned, with the confirmation of Timothy Gaithner, it already does.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Fight On, Americans
On Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 an historical thing happened in our great nation.
The American people have spoken, and it is clear that we will have our nation's first ever "African-American" president.
Anyone who knows me, knows that President-Elect Barack Obama was no where near close to my ideal candidate. It is not because he is black, and it is not because I fear change.
It is because I fear the type of change that this man wants to bring to our country.
In the current economic times, we need someone who believes in hard work, prosperity and job creation. Instead, we see a man before us who believes in redistribution of wealth, bankrupting the coal industry, and who has made it quite clear that he wants to bring socialism to our Great Nation.
How can we live in a country that relies heavily on the coal industry, and have many states within our union that has a main source of economic strength from the coal industry, yet have a President-Elect who believes it is within our nations best interest to put these mines out of business?
How can we live day to day, striving toward & working on achieving the "American Dream", yet we have a President-Elect who wants to take that away.
We teach our children to work hard, and one day they will become something they could only imagine in their wildest dreams. We teach our children it is better to work hard for something, rather than to steal it. We teach our children that anything is possible when we put our minds to it.
I ask then, why should I work hard when I now will be paying for someone else to raise their family? Why should I work hard when I will be paying for someone else's health care?
Why have I taught my children the value of working hard, when we have a man in the highest position in the land who is going to teach them that we punish those who work hard by redistributing their hard earned money?
Its very simple. There is nothing that can be done now about this election.
I am hoping we all can look back and say that we did our best, and tried our hardest and worked fervently for the cause that was greater than ourselves.
I ask that each of us pray for our country, and our newly elected leaders. Just as we would have done if John McCain were elected.
Pray that we do not see two new Supreme Court Justices seated during this Presidency.
Pray that we do not give up on the War on Terror, or on our soldiers in harms way.
As Americans we must continue to fight on. Hold your head up.
We may have lost the battle, but we WILL win the war.
Victory in 2010. Let's get rid of Harry Reid.
Onto 2012.
The American people have spoken, and it is clear that we will have our nation's first ever "African-American" president.
Anyone who knows me, knows that President-Elect Barack Obama was no where near close to my ideal candidate. It is not because he is black, and it is not because I fear change.
It is because I fear the type of change that this man wants to bring to our country.
In the current economic times, we need someone who believes in hard work, prosperity and job creation. Instead, we see a man before us who believes in redistribution of wealth, bankrupting the coal industry, and who has made it quite clear that he wants to bring socialism to our Great Nation.
How can we live in a country that relies heavily on the coal industry, and have many states within our union that has a main source of economic strength from the coal industry, yet have a President-Elect who believes it is within our nations best interest to put these mines out of business?
How can we live day to day, striving toward & working on achieving the "American Dream", yet we have a President-Elect who wants to take that away.
We teach our children to work hard, and one day they will become something they could only imagine in their wildest dreams. We teach our children it is better to work hard for something, rather than to steal it. We teach our children that anything is possible when we put our minds to it.
I ask then, why should I work hard when I now will be paying for someone else to raise their family? Why should I work hard when I will be paying for someone else's health care?
Why have I taught my children the value of working hard, when we have a man in the highest position in the land who is going to teach them that we punish those who work hard by redistributing their hard earned money?
Its very simple. There is nothing that can be done now about this election.
I am hoping we all can look back and say that we did our best, and tried our hardest and worked fervently for the cause that was greater than ourselves.
I ask that each of us pray for our country, and our newly elected leaders. Just as we would have done if John McCain were elected.
Pray that we do not see two new Supreme Court Justices seated during this Presidency.
Pray that we do not give up on the War on Terror, or on our soldiers in harms way.
As Americans we must continue to fight on. Hold your head up.
We may have lost the battle, but we WILL win the war.
Victory in 2010. Let's get rid of Harry Reid.
Onto 2012.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
You Have to Wonder
I have to wonder lately what my local politicians are thinking...and feeling.
My current congressman (I say current, because as of late I believe he will be former come November 5th) is on a liberal streak of voting. If the conservative base is against it, he votes for it.
The Farm Bill, that subsidizes farmers to NOT grow food, while food prices are on the rise, my congressman voted for it. Then, as an additional slap in the face, he voted to over-ride the President's veto.
The "energy" bill touted by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; you know the one...it allowed us to drill in places where there is no oil. Thus being the NON-Energy bill. Yup, my congressman from CD 3 voted for that too.
The $700 Billion bailout bill that everyone knew wouldn't help out the economy, he voted for that, too. Even after House democrats resorted to mudslinging and name calling like a bunch of children on the playground, he kept his "Yes" vote.
He has brought millions of dollars back home to Nevada - however, was it worth it? The special interest money, the earmarks that were unnecessary and unwanted...
My congressman dismisses the ideas and opinions of his constituents, and allows his campaign and office staff to do the same.
I have to wonder where his head is.
I have to wonder where his heart is.
I have come to the conclusion that Jon Porter no longer wants to serve his country, or serve the people that put him in office. He only wants to serve himself.
While I do NOT want to see Titus in office, I am beginning to wonder if the two are the same...
My current congressman (I say current, because as of late I believe he will be former come November 5th) is on a liberal streak of voting. If the conservative base is against it, he votes for it.
The Farm Bill, that subsidizes farmers to NOT grow food, while food prices are on the rise, my congressman voted for it. Then, as an additional slap in the face, he voted to over-ride the President's veto.
The "energy" bill touted by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; you know the one...it allowed us to drill in places where there is no oil. Thus being the NON-Energy bill. Yup, my congressman from CD 3 voted for that too.
The $700 Billion bailout bill that everyone knew wouldn't help out the economy, he voted for that, too. Even after House democrats resorted to mudslinging and name calling like a bunch of children on the playground, he kept his "Yes" vote.
He has brought millions of dollars back home to Nevada - however, was it worth it? The special interest money, the earmarks that were unnecessary and unwanted...
My congressman dismisses the ideas and opinions of his constituents, and allows his campaign and office staff to do the same.
I have to wonder where his head is.
I have to wonder where his heart is.
I have come to the conclusion that Jon Porter no longer wants to serve his country, or serve the people that put him in office. He only wants to serve himself.
While I do NOT want to see Titus in office, I am beginning to wonder if the two are the same...
Friday, October 03, 2008
Debate Slip Ups...Caught on Camera
Please see the McCain campaign's response to Joe Biden's debate performance last night.
"Joe Biden graduated from his trademark verbal gaffe to outright lie in tonight's debate. Each time Senator Biden was on his heels, he looked directly into the camera and lied -- more than a dozen times by our count. He lied about John McCain's record, his own record, and Barack Obama's dangerous policies. Governor Palin showed the American people tonight why a McCain-Palin Administration will bring real reform, leadership, and straight talk to Washington." --Tucker Bounds, spokesmanMcCain-Palin 2008
JOE BIDEN'S 14 LIES TONIGHT
1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted "the exact same way" as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOTVOTE THAT WAY.
2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.
3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, "Drill we must." But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to"raping" the Outer Continental Shelf."
4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it's passage.
5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he's always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coalplants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.
6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain's record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.
7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes onpeople's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offsetany tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack isfalse
8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax.
9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.
10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.
11. IRAQ: Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was "deadwrong on Iraq", because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where John McCain has been proven right.
12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn't see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.
13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn't meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of "a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20."
14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama,Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.
"Joe Biden graduated from his trademark verbal gaffe to outright lie in tonight's debate. Each time Senator Biden was on his heels, he looked directly into the camera and lied -- more than a dozen times by our count. He lied about John McCain's record, his own record, and Barack Obama's dangerous policies. Governor Palin showed the American people tonight why a McCain-Palin Administration will bring real reform, leadership, and straight talk to Washington." --Tucker Bounds, spokesmanMcCain-Palin 2008
JOE BIDEN'S 14 LIES TONIGHT
1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted "the exact same way" as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOTVOTE THAT WAY.
2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.
3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, "Drill we must." But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to"raping" the Outer Continental Shelf."
4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it's passage.
5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he's always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coalplants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.
6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain's record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.
7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes onpeople's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offsetany tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack isfalse
8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax.
9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.
10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.
11. IRAQ: Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was "deadwrong on Iraq", because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where John McCain has been proven right.
12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn't see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.
13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn't meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of "a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20."
14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama,Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Its Not the Great Depression...Yet
I have been watching a lot of the news lately. More-so than usual. Mostly because I want to see what "analysts" are saying about our current economic situations.
I find it interesting that everyone is predicting doom and gloom, when two short years ago we were the most prosperous nation on Earth.
We need to remember that we are Americans. We've had tough times before. If our great grandfathers & great-great grandfathers could make it out of the Great Depression, then why can't we make it out of a drop in the markets?
We haven't reached that time in our current day where we have hit the Great Depression. Yes, we are in grave danger of a depression. We are not out of the woods on that yet, however, keep your chin up, America.
A friend's mom sent this to me, and I think everyone should read it. And after you've read it, read it again. And then forward it to a friend, or eighty.
+++
"Through the 200 years of American history, this country has been constantly besieged by bad news. If the early settlers believed things were as bad as they sounded they would have given up the fight to settle the new world and sailed back to England, and the dream of freedom would have perished.
From that day to the present, the people of this nation have listened to the bad news for a while, then they turned their backs on that which was bad, placed their faith in God and faced toward that which was good.
Down through the years, through tragic civil war, two world-wide wards, a series of smaller conflicts, recession and the great depression of the 1930's, we have heard again and again the words of Citizen Tom Paine, "These are the times that try mens' souls." in every case the people rejected the bad news and overcame whatever obstacle was facing them at that time.
Once again, we are put to the test. Everything we hear is bad. we are smothered with a never-ending succession of newspaper, radio and television reports on Watergate, drug abuse, crime in the streets, decadent morals and lack of honest and competent leadership. If Citizen Tom Paine were alive today, he could well utter again his famous quotation.
It is impossible to lock your door against the invasion of the news media into every nook of your home and office. They dont make the news, they merely report it (obviously MSNBC wasnt around then ;o) -but I digress). Tell it as it is. We have the option of acceptance or rejection. We can bemoan what is happening in our world, wring our hands and cover our heads, or we can reject the bad and look about us to the good.
When I was a boy on a small farm in Grant County, news wasnt as quickly available as it is today and reached us mainly by word of mouth. A "drummer" would come by or one of our neighbors returned from a trip to Little Rock or Memphis and we saw the news through tehir eyes. Mostly it was about what was bad in the big cities or throughout the country.
After listening a while, my father would say, "That's enough bad news for one day. Let's go to work." America has heard enough bad news for a while. Now is the time to go to work. Turn your back on the bad news and look around you at what is good. You don't need to look very fa. Your family, your children, your friends and neighbors, they are good.
We live today in the greatest country the world has ever known, filled with opportunities which never existed before. The highest standards of living, more leisure time, better health services, better schools, more ojbs, finer homes and freedom to enjoy these wonders.
This is indeed the time to turn our backs on the bad news and face the future with thankfulness.
W.R. "Witt" Stephens
** Mr. Witt sent this memo out after "Black Friday, October 1987" his wisdom and good advice lives on.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1773 for more information on Mr. Stephens life.
I find it interesting that everyone is predicting doom and gloom, when two short years ago we were the most prosperous nation on Earth.
We need to remember that we are Americans. We've had tough times before. If our great grandfathers & great-great grandfathers could make it out of the Great Depression, then why can't we make it out of a drop in the markets?
We haven't reached that time in our current day where we have hit the Great Depression. Yes, we are in grave danger of a depression. We are not out of the woods on that yet, however, keep your chin up, America.
A friend's mom sent this to me, and I think everyone should read it. And after you've read it, read it again. And then forward it to a friend, or eighty.
+++
"Through the 200 years of American history, this country has been constantly besieged by bad news. If the early settlers believed things were as bad as they sounded they would have given up the fight to settle the new world and sailed back to England, and the dream of freedom would have perished.
From that day to the present, the people of this nation have listened to the bad news for a while, then they turned their backs on that which was bad, placed their faith in God and faced toward that which was good.
Down through the years, through tragic civil war, two world-wide wards, a series of smaller conflicts, recession and the great depression of the 1930's, we have heard again and again the words of Citizen Tom Paine, "These are the times that try mens' souls." in every case the people rejected the bad news and overcame whatever obstacle was facing them at that time.
Once again, we are put to the test. Everything we hear is bad. we are smothered with a never-ending succession of newspaper, radio and television reports on Watergate, drug abuse, crime in the streets, decadent morals and lack of honest and competent leadership. If Citizen Tom Paine were alive today, he could well utter again his famous quotation.
It is impossible to lock your door against the invasion of the news media into every nook of your home and office. They dont make the news, they merely report it (obviously MSNBC wasnt around then ;o) -but I digress). Tell it as it is. We have the option of acceptance or rejection. We can bemoan what is happening in our world, wring our hands and cover our heads, or we can reject the bad and look about us to the good.
When I was a boy on a small farm in Grant County, news wasnt as quickly available as it is today and reached us mainly by word of mouth. A "drummer" would come by or one of our neighbors returned from a trip to Little Rock or Memphis and we saw the news through tehir eyes. Mostly it was about what was bad in the big cities or throughout the country.
After listening a while, my father would say, "That's enough bad news for one day. Let's go to work." America has heard enough bad news for a while. Now is the time to go to work. Turn your back on the bad news and look around you at what is good. You don't need to look very fa. Your family, your children, your friends and neighbors, they are good.
We live today in the greatest country the world has ever known, filled with opportunities which never existed before. The highest standards of living, more leisure time, better health services, better schools, more ojbs, finer homes and freedom to enjoy these wonders.
This is indeed the time to turn our backs on the bad news and face the future with thankfulness.
W.R. "Witt" Stephens
** Mr. Witt sent this memo out after "Black Friday, October 1987" his wisdom and good advice lives on.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1773 for more information on Mr. Stephens life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)