"Q,R and S' belong to Quite Right Sir!

In more than just an effort to get back on track, I have lumped these three into one resounding statement of praise to the Boston and other Metro Area police departments along with all those involved in the investigation and resolution of the Marathon Bombing.

In less than one week the case was solved, the suspects confessed to the carjacking suspect, and one is in custody awaiting resolution of his case. Some people are upset he hasn't (as of this posting) been read his Miranda Rights. In a case like this I do no think it is an abuse of his rights. Let's exam the facts.

1 - They committed an act of terror on this country. This is tantamount to treason in my opinion, and those who commit treason abdicate their rights as citizens.

2 - He was shot in the throat, making communication minimal at best.

3 - We, the USA, need to know if there are any others of his political ideas ready to unleash other homemade explosive around the country.

If, as some have speculated, this younger brother was only following an admired older brother, then he will give all he knows as soon as he can to negotiate a life sentence instead of the death penalty. But if he is equally guilty, then he should be treated as an enemy of the State and his rights are forfeit.

A huge shout out to the people of Boston for their collective response to the entire week. From bombing to lock down to joyous resolution they have exhibited the very best of what it means to be an American - faith in God, faith in country, faith in their elected officials.

Let us pray we don't have to experience another day like April 15, 2013 anytime soon.

Oh Well, Tomorrow is Another Day

The elections are over. No, my person didn't win but that's OK. Now it is time to move past the heat of the moment and concentrate on other important issues. Such as:

1 - Why does Wal-Mart start loading in the Christmas decorations before Halloween is even over? It is so hard to find turkey decorations unless I want mistletoe hanging over their heads. I want each holiday to have its own moment in the sun. Is that so much to ask?

2 - The Northeast, who got socked again today with another nor'easter. We should all pray for a quick restoration of services, especially for heating as the temperatures begin to drop further. It will be a long time before the Jersey Shore returns to their glory days.

3 - There's a blog hop coming next week! For those of us who are unfamiliar with the concept: over two hundred authors / bloggers will be devoting their columns to Autumn, and its importance to each of us. More importantly - there will be prize drawings on every blog, PLUS 3 Grand Prize Swag Bags drawn from comment posts on all sites. Be sure to visit - you never know what writer's can give away!

4 - This year is rapidly drawing to a close. That means it's time for holiday television shows and sale circulars. But this year why not try to spread cheer to someone less fortunate than yourself. Volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen, donate blood to the Red Cross, adopt an older dog or cat from a shelter, organize neighbors to collect items to send to those ravaged by Superstorm Sandy. Remember to give back - it is the gift no amount of money can equal.

America is, in my honest opinion, the best country on the face of the earth. Why? Because where else on this planet can over 100 million different people cast a ballot based on their personal convictions without fear of retribution or their ballot not counting. We need to look back at the ideals our Founding Fathers set on paper. True so of them are antiquated and not relevant today, but the basic principles still stand:

"We the People, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense, support the general welfare and secure the blessings of Liberty, for ourselves and posterity to ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America."

Happy Halloween!!

Just a quick note with my thoughts on the current issues around the country:

1) - Hurricane Sandy - Truly a monster of a storm when you can be affected by the storm more than 1000 miles from the center of the storm. I am glad all my family and friends are safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those not as lucky. Having gone through more than a dozen hurricanes in my life, I am glad that another area of the country go socked for a change. (Not really - I hope everyone knows that is only a joke!)

2) - Election 2012 - I promised my family I wouldn't get on a soap box about the elections, so much as I would love to sound off I will only say this. Don't forget to vote. It is a right many people have died protecting. Do not use that right without being informed as to each candidate's positions.

3) - Halloween - I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween. The Charlie Brown special has been played, the pumpkin's have been extinguished and I took my grandson in  love out for his first trick or treat. He was dressed as a Transformer. It was magical.

Don't forget to join in on the Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop, sponsored by Carrie Ann's Blog Hops! Be sure to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win a $10 Amazon gift card from me, and entered to win the Grand Swag Prize through Carrie Ann. Dates for the hop are November 9th through November 12th.

Politics, Religion, and the Great Pumpkin

Well, it's that time again - Election Time. Normally I don't practise politics in mixed company (Democrats and Republicans), but I thought it might be interesting to put my opinions down on paper; forgetting the cardinal rule in our family - Never discuss politics, religion or the Great Pumpkin.

Now I know you are wondering what the heck the Great Pumpkin has to do with politics. It doesn't. But he invokes strong opinions, just like the other two subjects. I have discovered people are very vocal about their own opinions regarding politics and religion.

Party-wise, I will say upfront I am a registered Republican. Do I vote a straight party ticket? No. Do I blindly adhere to all the planks of the Republican platform? No.. Do I use my brain? Always.

The greatest gift we enjoy in this country is the right to choose our leaders. But it can also be our weakest link. When it comes time to elect the men and women who will spend our hard earned money, it seems lately people are not studying the facts behind the rhetoric. News Flash People: not everything candidates or their commericals say is true. Both side stretch and distort until without research it is impossible to tell fact from fiction.

This is on purpose people! If it is hard to check the facts, people won't do it. Let's face it, as a society we expect the newspeople to check our facts for us. Second News Flash - newspeople are not neutral! There was a time when journalists reported the news without bias, but that ended with CNN. Both sides report things as they see them, which may or may not be accurate depending on which side of the argument they agree with.

So, what do I believe it? I believe in America, not as a political system, but a country built on the premise that with his own hands, a man can go from indentured servant to prosperous businessman. A country that said it didn't care where you came from or who you were - this is a land of new beginnings.

I want a conservative approach to giving away my money. If a country doesn't like us, why should we try to buy their friendship? How well has that worked for us so far? How about we take some of those millions going overseas and spend them right here at home, where the money is truly needed. Remember the adage - charity begins at home? I don't think Congress does.

I think government should stay out of healthcare. I favor a strong military as a deterrent to other countries thinking we are sitting ducks for another 9/11. While I personally object to abortion, I will defend to the death a woman's right to make her own decisions. It's called free will, and if it's good enough for our Creator, it's good enough for me.

Our tax system isn't fair to any of the classes, and the small businessman is being squeezed. If all that stimulus money had gone to the companies who create jobs, it would have gone to the small local businesses.  And, no matter how you re-name it, wealth redistribution smacks of the basic tenents of Communism.

For more than two hundred thirty-five years, this nation has survived internal strife, war on our soil and across the oceans, civil rights battles, and anti-war demonstrations. But I am afraid that apathy by our own citizens might be the downfall of the greatest democracy / republic the world has ever seen.

So in prepartion for the November elections - do yourself and everyone else a favor. VOTE!

December 7

I just noticed the date. December 7th. The day that will live in infamy. On television they are showing "Pearl Harbor" and "From Here to Eternity" while the last remaining survivors relive the day they can never forget. It has been seventy years but for those who were there, it was only yesterday.

As a child we visited Hawaii. It was the late 1960's and the rush to develop and exploit the islands was in its infancy. I will always remember my father, a WWII veteran describe the significance of the Punchbowl, the volcano turned into a cemetery and seeing the Arizona memorial from a distance. He wouldn't go out there. I think he was afraid there might be someone in there he knew. I remember thinking if the volcano were to suddenly erupt, would it rain coffins all over the city?

Too many of us have forgotten the lessons of Pearl Harbor. The world does not love the United States like they did. We have been lucky. Except for 9/11 we have taken the war to others, never suffered the wounds on our lands. On this day, as on Veteran's Day or D-Day, we as Americans need to look back and remember. Remember those who took the words of the Declaration of Independence to heart - "We hold these truths self evident...all men are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

But our happiness is not necessarily those of others. If we force our form of democracy on other countries are we allowing them to experience their own pursuits of happiness? Once upon a time, our government practised a policy of non intervention in countries that were not in our hemisphere. Perhaps it is time to renew that policy.

Perhaps it is time for Americans to realize, we are not the world's caretakers. We have our version of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It does not apply to every person in every country. Each must find their own happiness. If it is the same as ours, wonderful. But do not forget the men who have died to defend the world's liberty. They gave the ultimate sacrifice and it is to them we owe our gratitude.

Thomas Jefferson where are you?

Our country is in a serious downward spiral. The economy is sinking faster than a concrete block. Jobs are being lost in the blink of an eye and our government is wandering around in a self serving haze.

In New York, Atlanta and other cities around the country, young people are protesting Wall Street and the dysfunction in our banking system. Over the weekend, many saw themselves arrested or harassed. Is there any difference between those who protested the Vietnam War and the draft with those who are now upset with the financial situation here in America? Absolutely not, but that also means these protesters need to accept that with civil disobedience comes the possibility of government retribution.

Our Constitution guarantees us the right to disagree with our government, so long as it is peaceable, which for the most part these young people are maintaining. If we disagree with our elected officials, the time is coming to let them know. That is the second part of our disagreement rights. Exercising our right to vote for our government officials is the most important right we have.

Many people think only national elections are of any importance, and I certainly don't want to diminish them in any way, but local and state elections are the places where many of the laws that affect you personally are decided. If you don't think your local state representatives are protecting the things you cherish, then let them know. Be strong, be polite and be willing to vote the cad out if nothing changes.

If we do not exercise our rights, the government could easily take them from us. Don't ever forget - the consent to govern is mandated by and comes from the people. They should have our interests as a whole country in their programs. That has not been the case for many years.  Maybe we should just throw the entire lot out, or make them all work for minimum wage and have to sign up from Obamacare. Bet we would see things happening them

But Wall Street and the Financial problems require more. Mostly, it will require strong monetary reforms. No more programs like the 'Voodoo' Mortgages. There needs to be common sense exercised in this country. That is, if we can find enough people who still possess any.