"Rainy Day!"

Have you ever heard the term, "Saving for a rainy day"? Some of us have retirement plans, others have money in the bank, and still others have property; all for the purpose of having something in reserve for the possibility of bad circumstances. Financial experts say that it is wise to have three months' salary put aside in case of a loss of income due to unforeseen circumstances. Many of our parents, who lived during the depression, had an ethic of saving money; "just in case"; they knew nothing was certain when it came to prosperity. My clever wife always finds ways to save money, "just in case", and I appreciate her financial wisdom immensely. "Rainy days" come in many forms; fires, floods, family tragedy or job loss are all possible "rainy days". If we don't prepare for those "surprises", we can be badly damaged by those situations.

Even the world can be caught up in a "rainy day". Last week, Egypt boiled over because of a bad situation that was left unaddressed for over thirty years. Massive unemployment and oppressive government have finally exploded into a situation that threatens the stability of the entire world; and could have a huge impact on the United States. Hosni Mubarak, the President of Egypt, is now the object of huge demonstrations and rioting across his nation. The people want him out; they want him out NOW! These demonstrations have already sent tremors around the world. The possibility of impact on world oil prices are already being discussed by world leaders. The possible interference of the operation of the Suez Canal could cripple energy resources around the globe. America is trying to influence an orderly transference of power to a democratic republic. This would be to America's benefit, but we must consider the presence of radical influences in the Middle-East. The radical, militant Muslim Brotherhood has a huge presence in this region, and is very powerful in Egypt. If a group like the Muslim Brotherhood gains power in Egypt, America can look forward to oil prices to skyrocket. This will drive up food and goods prices across the nation, and drive us down into a second recessionary cycle.

I believe our "chickens are coming home to roost". Carter, both Bush adminstrations, Reagan and Clinton allowed this to happen without complaint. We have allowed our own energy reserves to go unused in order to save frogs and birds, or to make sure deer don't have to alter their migratory paths. We have had our priorities upside down and backwards for years. We stopped drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. We have been cutting our own throats at the expense of the American people.

Barack Obama must now commit to an aggressive domestic energy program, using all of our resources. I'm sorry for the frogs and fish, but human beings come first and Mr. Obama must recognize this reality. An unstable Middle-East will affect every home in America. I hope we have not waited too long; and I hope our President can see the gravity of this situation as it will impact an already fragile economy. Sorry Kermit, it's time to drill! PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FROGS!

"Reputation and Rumor"

I went to school with a girl with whom I became friends. Linda was Italian, she was pretty and funny. She was very intelligent; she liked history, as did I. Linda wore her hair like "Cher", and she did resemble her. Linda and I were never a "couple", but we were great friends. When walking home from school, we would talk and laugh and generally have a good time. Linda had a girl friend named Chris. Chris was also a nice girl; but Chris had a "reputation"; I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. Chris was in my history class and she was smart, she really knew her stuff and her grades reflected it. I often overheard other people talking about both Linda and Chris; none of the gossip was flattering. This talk was hurtful and I knew it was untrue. I believe some of this "cheap talk" was rooted in jealousy; both girls were attractive and intelligent and boys looked at them. Eventually, over the course of four years of high school, this unintelligent rumor mill had its effects and people believed it. Lies that are said often enough are given an aura of truth; this is the beginning of hate and division. Perpetuating lies and half truths hurt all involved in the process. Sometimes we all have to admit to circumstances that we don't like; some people are smarter and some people are more popular than we are.

James Moran (D-Va.) gave an interview to an Arab television network recently. Mr. Moran is the "poster child" for everything that is wrong with the rhetoric in America today. Lies, conjecture and misinformation are spewing from his mouth at laser speed in this diatribe against the conservatives in America. Mr. Moran concluded that the reason the Democratic Party suffered a defeat in November was, "(defeat) happened because of the same reason the Civil War happened in the United States. The Civil War happened because the Southern states, particularly the slave holding states, didn't want a president who was opposed to slavery." Now listen to Moran's analogy; I find this insulting and extremely divisive: "In this case a lot of people in this country, I believe don't want to be governed by an African-American, particularly one who is inclusive, who is liberal, who wants to spend money on everyone and who wants to reach out to everyone in our society...". Once again the left cries racism! Barack Obama was elected President by the people of America. Over the course of the last two years the People of America have shown their disapproval of Mr. Obama's political agenda; this was reflected in the mid-term elections. This lunacy from the "sore losers" on the left only shows they have no cogent argument for their November defeat. Unfortunately, speech like this only perpetuates an untrue perception that everyone of conservative philosophy in America is a racist. This certainly doesn't help America's image across the globe. Mr. Moran should "suck it up", and face the fact that America made a choice over policy, not "color" in November. His speech is hurting America, both at home and abroad. Please, Mr. Moran, base criticism in fact and not hate speech: it makes you "LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT!"

"Don't Over-Rev America!"

One of my favorite possessions was my 1969 Chevy Camaro. This was my first major purchase after I got out of the service. I bought it used from a guy who couldn't keep up his payments. The car had not been well taken care of, but it had great potential. It had a 396 cubic inch engine, which I swapped out for a 454 cubic inch engine (I worked for a dealer and got the parts for cost). I put on "headers" which increased the horsepower; I also put on a larger carburetor on a competition manifold to increase the power even more. I had a competition clutch put on so I wouldn't burn it up while engaging in "street races". When it was finished, my Camaro was putting out approximately 500+ horse power. I spent over $3,000 on the power plant of my car; and I got the parts wholesale! After the engine work was complete, I had the cosmetic work done. It was originally an awful green with a black leather interior. The inside was in good shape, a good clean up was all it needed; but that green, UGH! I had a black vinyl top put on, changed the hood to a custom hood, and painted the car a bright yellow. It was "HOT"! It was "FAST"! It was the car of my dreams. I took great care of that vehicle, cleaning it regularly, and driving it carefully, making sure to treat that engine with the caution necessary to keep it from being damaged. I was careful not to "over-rev" the engine; that is, not pushing the engine beyond its limits. The result of "over-revving" is a blown engine; all you have left is a 500lb. anchor.

Our economic deficit is approaching the 14 trillion dollar absorption point; America will owe more than it can pay in a very short time! We are "over revving" our economic engine. Soon, if nothing of real substance is done, America will face an economic collapse similar to Greece. Our founding fathers designed our nation to operate within its means, offering opportunity to all according to each man's ambitions and dreams. They guaranteed success to no one; they did guarantee a chance. Somewhere along the way, our government decided that America should guarantee success to everybody; this philosophy is unsustainable! A welfare society will not function for a very long time; it will eventually reach a point where entitlements will surpass productivity: IT RUNS OUT OF MONEY! Social justice can only be achieved when people treat each other as fellow human beings on their own accord. You can't legislate morality. Fair treatment can be addressed in our justice system, as it should be. Our Constitution guarantees fairness and equal treatment, not a free ride. Spending cuts are not only something to be desired, they are vital to our nation's survival. Further spending from the federal government on new public entitlements, including this over blown health care initiative, will bankrupt America! If we don't slow down, soon America will "BLOW ITS ENGINE!"

"HALF-TIME!"

Well fans, we are now coming to the apex of the football season; the "SUPER BOWL"! I have mixed feelings this year as my Bears fell short against the Packers on Sunday; but I have great friends who support the Packers and I will wish them well on their quest for a league championship. I must say that this year I have seen some of the best play-off games I can remember in recent history. I was surprised by some games; as favorites were thrown by the way side in stunning upsets. I sat on the edge of my chair for extended periods of most of these games. These coaches deserve hearty congratulations for their play calling and motivational tools used to bring victory from their respective teams. I would like to bring up the "PEP TALK" and the "Half time speech" as tools used to fire up the team! Knute Rockne, Vince Lombardi, George Halas, Bill Parcells and many other coaches use these venues to inspire their teams to great performances on the "field of battle". Sometimes a coach has to have a rousing half-time speech to bring their team back from a deficit in the first half. Ranting and raving, or soft inspirational methods are among the arsenal of every coach's vocabulary in his quest to rally his team. All the stops will be pulled out in order to get the team's mind right for victory. The coach will say whatever he needs to say to get the team behind him. If the team doesn't believe, your game is lost.

Last night we saw Barack Obama's "half time speech". I was a bit confused by Mr. Obama's rhetoric, he lauded the extension of the Bush tax cuts, then asked that, once again, we tax the wealthy. Is this a mixed message? He also said he would veto bills with earmarks (pork), yet he also endorsed more government spending on "shovel ready" government projects. Is this a mixed message? Some of the members of his "team" don't quite agree with Mr. Obama; Harry Reid called his speech so much "pretty talk"; he doesn't sound like he believes Mr. Obama. Mr. Obama also said he wants to roll back spending; he said the same thing last year. What about that? It seems that the President was looking at the "score board" at the half and he wasn't happy with the results (November!) thus far. His play calling isn't going down to well with the "fans".

The "second half" is about to start, and the speech is over. The big question is, will the coach have a change in his game plan; does he have any "trick plays" up his sleeve, or will we see the same plays masked to look like something else? If we see the same "game plan" in the second half, there might be the need to change coaches at the end of the "season". Will this be a "GAME CHANGER"?

"Transformer!"

I like all the special effects that they can do in today's movies. You can see the world turned upside down right before your eyes. I rented "Avatar" not too long ago, and I found it astounding. When I was ten years, old I saw the original "War of The Worlds" and I thought it was pretty cool; George Pal won the Oscar for special effects that year. I remember going to the movies to see Christopher Reeve fly as the "Man of Steel"; the ads said "You'll believe a man can fly", and he sure looked like he was flying. Over the weekend, I watched "Transformers" on television. When it first came out, I dismissed it as a kid's movie, but my daughter said I should watch it, I would probably like it. I had a couple of hours to waste, so I gave "Transformers" a shot. I wasn't too familiar with the cartoon and perhaps that helped me enjoy the film a little better. "Transformers" are a robotic race at war with one another, and of course, they battle here. These machines change from cars and trucks into these amazing robots right in front of you. Radios and small appliances were also changed into fighting machines; it was all very cool! Nothing in this movie was what it appeared to be!

Tonight, President Barack Obama will make his State of the Union Address before Congress. Since November, we have seen many statements from the Democrats that certainly don't match up with their previous actions of the last two years. After two years of massive spending and passage of an enormous health care initiative, suddenly the Democrats are fiscal conservatives! Obama himself now says he advocates "trimming the spending", although his speech is said to advocate more federal spending on government projects. After two years of left-wing spending, it seems Barack Obama is transforming! Personally, I believe this is Barack Obama's first campaign speech of the 2012 election season. In November, the American people spoke loudly about deficit spending and huge government entitlements. I believe this "threw a scare" into the liberal ideologues, including Barack Obama. Wow, look at those "transformers"! Yes, America, liberal free spenders now are becoming responsible servants of the people right before our eyes! What will be their next "form"? Even Nancy Pelosi says she was financially responsible while she was Speaker of the House! Was I on another planet while she was in charge, because I don't remember any financial common sense from her term as speaker?

Be careful America, tonight the "master transformer" is going to show you something that may not be genuine; it may only be a facade, masking something completely different than what it seems to be. Tonight, Barack Obama is once again saying what is necessary to get your vote! Be aware America, he may be a TRANSFORMER!

"Editing Imagination"

When I was a little boy I saw the Broadway play of "Peter Pan" on television; Mary Martin was the lead, and she was terrific. I sat in front of our set with my sisters gazing at the "flying" with amazement. This was a great exercise in fantasy. As I grew older, I watched many Saturday morning westerns; Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey, the Cisco Kid and Wild Bill Hickok were staples of my morning entertainment. Each story was a morality play; good vs. evil was always the message; and the "good guys" always won. I understood this was only television, as the villains that were slain always showed up on other shows as villains once more. All of my heroes wore six-guns, and all my heroes used them for fighting evil. Oddly, they also only shot the guns out of the hands of the "bad guys", never intending to issue a fatal wound to the evil doer. I remember my "Fanner .50", it was made by Mattel Toys, and it was great. My gun was a replica of a Colt .45 peacemaker, and I spent countless hours shooting imaginary bad guys in endless battles of good vs. evil. I never wanted to go to school and kill my classmates. I didn't bring my toys to school, as it was not permitted to do so; yet, we still played "good guy vs. bad guy" in the school yard and no one was ever harmed. Years later, "Star Wars" was in vogue with American youth, and children were happily dueling with imaginary "laser sword": just like "Luke Skywalker". I'm sure many an imaginary limb was severed in those bouts of fantasy. Kids play, kids use their imagination; that is one of the best parts of being a kid!

Our society seems dedicated to the control of every thought and movement we make today. We are chastised if we use the words that may make someone else uncomfortable. When I grew up, we would use the word Negro when addressing black people, then that became incorrect and now it seems that African-American is the acceptable phraseology; I just like the term AMERICAN, it can apply to all of us! We are being told what to eat; no high fat, no processed sugar, don't eat too much meat; we are even trying to legislate people into the government's idea of fitness. Now we have a seven year old boy who is facing an in-school suspension for "pointing his finger" in the shape of a gun. I find this to be ridiculous; censoring imagination and punishment for child's play. If that had been the case when I was growing up, nobody between the ages of five and ten would have been in class! Wyatt Earp and Matt Dillon would have to be thrown off television if we continue to follow this ridiculous premise. We would be better served in the editing of some musical lyrics that call for the "killing of cops" than worrying about the imagination of a seven year old boy!

I thank God for Roy Rogers; he showed me what it meant to be a "good guy"; even though he shot a gun! Guys like Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey taught a whole generation what it meant to stand up for what is right, and help those in need. I pulled many an imaginary gun on "bad guys" in an attempt to mirror those values expressed by my Saturday morning heroes. Let's forget about suspending those seven year old kids, and concentrate on protecting their right to be children so they may be able to use their gift of imagination.

"Go After The Bad Guys!"

Why does an animal attack? Normally, an animal will attack if threatened, or to kill for food. We are different from animals; we have killed for philosophy and we have killed for profit; we have "head cases" who kill for pleasure or because of some mental disorder; some kill because they have abused some substance, both legal and illegal. We kill with guns, knives, hammers, bricks, baseball bats, pots and pans. We are a nation of improvisers, we are creative when a situation calls for quick thinking; we can kill with most household utensils. Some of you may remember the phrase "Lizzie Borden took an axe; and gave her mother 40 whacks..."; we use our initiative in pressure situations; just ask Lizzy! Motorists kill thousands of people every year, sometimes by accident, sometimes through stupidity. Some are drunk, some are on cell phones and some just drive too fast for conditions. People are killed every day at the hands of others. Obviously, the most emphasized killings are murders. Gangs in major cities kill on a regular basis; some require a murder as a gang initiation right. Most of these deaths are caused by firearms. Most police will say the gangs are even better armed than the police department. Most police will also say that those gangs are armed with illegal, unregistered weapons. Oddly, criminals won't follow the gun laws that legal gun owners do! Imagine that!

In the wake of the Arizona shootings, the spokesmen from the left have once again launched an attack on gun ownership in America. Michael Moore has said people only own guns because they are "racists" and afraid of people of color. Once again, the left pulls out the racist card; I believe it's their favorite ploy. When in doubt CRY RACIST! This argument is getting really old.

I am a gun owner; I own a number of guns; no automatic weapons, just legal licensed firearms. I know several gun owners; none are racists, none are lunatics, none are gang members. My fellow gun owners are normal American citizens; they have jobs, go to church and some of them are BLACK! I even know some pastors who own firearms! Guess what; none of them are racists!!

This perceived racism of gun owners is crazy. This belief that crime will fall by taking away second amendment rights is also crazy. I've said it before and I say it again, the first thing Hitler and Stalin did was take away privately owned weapons; the Red Chinese have done the same thing. What does that say? Leave my Constitutional Rights alone! Improve our pursuit of gang violence; close our borders to criminal drug dealing killers. Don't take the right of self protection from honest Americans. WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY!

" To Cause No Harm"

Today I was going to write about gun control, but I am putting that off for a day. What is a crime? Crime has degrees of severity; 1st degree, 2nd degree and misdemeanor, among other things such as city ordinances and minor traffic offenses. Some crimes are more heinous than others; murder, rape, armed assault with intent to cause bodily harm, molesting (at any age); this list is long and disturbing. My Dad said when I was young "Don't ever make me come to pick you up from jail!" Honesty was important to my Dad; it spoke to your character and upbringing. Being of Italian heritage, I've heard the name "MAFIA" on many occasions; sometimes I laugh it off, sometimes I take offense to it. No group, neither racial, ethnic nor of national origin can be grouped into an inherent predisposition for being criminals. No legal vocation is more crime prone than others. Some professions are looked upon as being prestigious; the most respected always seems to be doctors. Doctors take an oath, the Hippocratic Oath; that promises to heal and protect lives, and to cause no harm. I remember my Mom saying how wonderful it would be to have a doctor in the family; this was almost as good as being a priest. Doctors were "men of honor and respect". They had high character and morals.

Today, I read about a man who traded honor and respect for cash. In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia District Attorney accused Dr. Kermitt Gosnell of the murder of seven babies. It is alleged that Dr. Gosnell performed partial birth abortions while unlicensed to do so, and snipped the spinal cords of fully delivered, breathing, living infants. Dr. Gosnell is licensed for "general practice"; this means his abortions were all illegal. It seems that Dr. Gosnell was using his position as a doctor in a poor area as a cash cow, trading on a desperate situation to inflate his bank account. Dr. Gosnell destroyed many of his records prior to his arrest, so we may never know the gravity of his crimes. It is alleged that the doctor made millions of dollars over the course of his years of "infanticide". The doctor is now sixty-nine years old; he has been a "healer" for many years. I wonder how the doctor's Alma mater is feeling about him today! He has certainly gravely smeared the medical profession. If these allegations prove to be true, it would make this doctor a murderer on the level of a NAZI war criminal.

Life is precious; a doctor is supposed to be a guardian of life. Callous disregard for life by one who is pledged to "do no harm" is unconscionable. I don't know if there is a death penalty in Pennsylvania, but if there is, I certainly hope the district attorney is considering its use in this case. I wonder what Hippocrates would say?

"Divide or Unite?"

Remember the "flower children" of the 1960s; you know, Hippies? They certainly were an unusual group; not like most of their parents who faced WWII and saw the fruits of tyranny bloom in Japan and Germany. The Hippies preached love and peace to a war torn America; oddly, they also called for the downfall of the "man", or the "establishment". Those times were marked by rioting and protests that were initiated by the "love generation". Many of those "peaceniks" were the folks who chose not to serve in the military for "reasons of conscience", and participated in some activities that included bombing government installations. The "Weathermen" and the "SDS" were prominent in those illegal activities. We certainly had a divided nation during the 1960s. We were also divided along racial lines across the country. When I was in the South taking some of my military training, I saw numerous examples of "separate but equal" treatment of Black Americans. I, coming from an urban background, had much interaction with people of different ethnicity. I formed friendships with other men from large cities, some were Black. When I was stationed in Alabama, I wanted to go into town and asked a friend "Chico" to go with me. Chico was black from Philadelphia; he said "Thanks Joe, but those folks don't want people like me in their town", and he was probably right; their necks were "redder than a fire engine". America has come a very long way from the 1960s.

This week, we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was a man of peace and freedom who called for the uniting of all Americans in love and equality; a pretty good message; a message of unification, not division. I don't know anyone that practices cogent thought who would disagree with Dr. King. This message doesn't limit itself to political lines, it speaks to all Americans. Continual divisive speech will do little to bring Dr. King's dream to fruition.

This week, Chris Matthews had a program to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. This was an opportunity for Mr. Matthews to say things to unify America. Instead Mr. Matthews used this occasion to try to further divide our nation. Matthews said "..older Americans, specifically older white Americans, still have a problem with this guy (Barack Obama)". He went on to say this statement was a generalization and he would "stick with it". I am an older "white guy", from the "love generation", and I find Matthews words most offensive. I worked all of my life, I served my country, and I believe in the American dream for all Americans. I believe it is Mr. Matthews who has the real problem here. He can't believe that someone can disagree with the President without being a racist. Race is not the issue, and it should never be the issue in this country. For Mr. Matthews to vilify an entire group through his narrow perception is neither valid nor fair.

Isn't it strange that the folks on the left, who preach tolerance and dialogue, are also preaching division and generalization of others. Please, Mr. Matthews, could you at least give the illusion of non-bias in your rhetoric? I believe Dr. King spoke to all Americans; perhaps you should try it!

"Who is Seditious?"

Several months ago, I wrote a blog concerning Glenn Beck and some accusations that he was seditious in his monologues to the American people. I believe it was from a news person on CNN; you can check my older blogs to get the individual's name. Sedition is a very serious charge toward any individual, it carries serious penalties. Sedition advocates the violent overthrow of our government through incitement and surreptitious methods. Our government is designed through our Constitution to be changed through peaceful legislation. There is no valid reason to select violence to change our government, unless it tries to rest our Constitutional rights through force of rule and arms and have eliminated our Constitutional rule of law. When a person petitions for citizenship, they must swear that "they don't intend to overthrow the government through force or violence"; probably a good thing to swear about. People have come to this country for over 200 years because they have the right to voice their opinions without consequences. Every college campus is filled with young people who voice their opinions on a daily basis; I know because I live in a university town. I have heard every side of every issue discussed in stores and restaurants all over town. I believe in the free exchange of ideas; this makes America great. Educated exchanges benefit all involved. They must be peaceful, and they must reflect the peaceful change our founding fathers advocated. Sedition is not an option!

Francis Fox Pivens is a radical philosopher from the 1960s. Every person from my generation knows what that time was like. Viet Nam was a cutting issue, especially among the youth of the day. Mao was espoused by several "voices of the people" who advocated the overthrow of traditional America by the use of force. I believe our President exercised unusual restraint during those tumultuous days. Obviously, bomb throwers were pursued by the law enforcement agencies. Little was done to pursue those who advocated the violent overthrow of the United States by the use of force through their speech. First amendment rights are our most precious, and should be guarded. Ms. Pivens uses her 1st amendment with words like these,"..jobless should rise up in a violent show of solidarity...", "So where are the angry crowds..", "protesters need TARGETS..", this is the advocating of violence (Beck has never done this). Hudson Institute senior fellow, Ron Radosh said, "..she is calling for the chaos and violence engulfing Europe..", we all know what is happening in Greece and Europe today; America doesn't need this behavior here. Pivens' socialist revolutionary spoutings are now becoming standard reading across America with very little criticism from the media. Oddly, Beck, Limbaugh. Hannity and other conservatives are continually called to task for their critiques of the government; yet they never advocate its violent overthrow. Our Congress and our President must recognize who the real villain is in our national forum. We need to recognize sedition and shine a light on it; rioting and incitement are not to be an option to any group. Remember peaceful change!

"A Life Given"

I always liked having days off from work; sleep in, eat breakfast out, watch television and nap whenever I wanted to. Some of us spend those days doing projects around the house; fix loose boards, paint, hang pictures or any multitude of things that seem to pile up on out "to-do" lists. Some days off lend themselves to celebration; Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, New Years Day all seem to call for a salubrious times, filled with music, parades, food and sometimes fireworks. Some of our days off are more solemn than others; Memorial Day and Veterans Day usually lend themselves to "moments of silence", and patriotic speeches. We spend a portion of those days honoring the memories of those who have served, and died, for America. New Years Day seems to be a day of just crazy celebration, noise makers and fireworks are the order of the day; also there have been rumors of alcohol consumption by celebrants. We have days where we take time to thank God. We celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas to give honor to our Creator for His providence (if you're an atheist, you aren't expected to celebrate; it is your option). We Americans like days off!

Today Americans are celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I don't think there will be any fireworks today; I do expect some "moments of silence" and some speeches of remembrance to honor Dr. King's life and legacy. For some reason, there are states that don't recognize this holiday; I don't understand their reasoning. Dr. King was a beacon of freedom and reason during some of America's most distressing times. Dr. King held a mirror up to the face of America, and we were forced to examine our national image; "warts and all". I don't know if the Civil Rights Movement in America could have found a better leader than Dr. King. He was a man who preached peace, without being "sheepish"; he believed in human dignity for all men. He believed in the "content of character"; something we would be well served in looking at today. There is still an element of "low foreheads" in America who hate Dr. King; and I'm sure all thinking people know who those people are (pointed hats, and tiny brains). Dr. King was murdered by a racist lunatic at a tender age. We will never know what was destroyed by the acts of a mad man. The saddest thing in any individual's life is unfulfilled potential.

When we begin to enjoy this "day off", it would probably be a good idea to remember why we are home today. A courageous man dedicated his life to make the lives of others better. Try to remember, it wasn't only given for one portion of America, it was given for all of America. Each of us should realize that today America is a better place because of Martin Luther King Jr. We are blessed to have had him.

"1984?"

I remember my sophomore English Class as an introduction to some pretty good books. One of my favorites was "1984", written by George Orwell. I found this work fascinating and compelling. It was a study of a totalitarian society; socialist, if you will. The government was controlled by a leader called "Big Brother", whose presence was seemingly everywhere. I believe most of us have heard the term "Big Brother is watching you"; this quote is from the novel and offers a chilling look at a closed society. "Big Brother" stood as the unquestioned leader of the people, followed by the "inner party", then the "outer party" and finally the "Proles" (common citizens). The language of "1984" was "NEWSPEAK", an edited version of English. The logic behind "NEWSPEAK" is that by limiting words, the state limits opposing views and opinions; it limits free expression. The "THINKPOL" (thought police) assisted in the implementation of "NEWSPEAK", by promoting "good think"; thoughts and words which were supportive of "BIG BROTHER". Orwell wrote this book in 1949; it seems oddly appropriate today.

Over the last week, we have seen an unprecedented attack against our first amendment rights because of a false perception that opposing opinion caused a lunatic to act out violently. We have also seen an attempt to edit classic literature. It seems that there is a movement that wants to edit Mark Twain by eliminating or altering words used in "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn". I find this attempt to alter written words very disturbing; these works were a reflection of the times in which they were written and should be preserved to maintain the author's intent. Political correctness has reached absurdity by this ridiculous act of idiocy! We are allowing "Mein Kampf" and the "Communist Manifesto" to sit unedited on our library shelves, but we find Mark Twain offensive! Isn't this the "THINKPOL" in action! Why don't we call for editing of the Quran, as it calls for the death of "infidels". Some people might find those words threatening!

I see a very frightening trend creeping across America. It is becoming unacceptable to have an opposing opinion in today's forum. Questioning is being perceived as disloyalty. We seem to be entering an era of Orwellian values. What will happen next? Will "goodthink" be the new order of the day? Is "BIG BROTHER" starting to dictate what proper speech is?

As Americans, we can't allow this to happen! We must protect the integrity of free thought! Once we allow this "political correctness" to infringe on our right of free expression America will be in a dire situation. Don't participate in "goodthink", continue to "FREETHINK!"

"Punishment!"

Did your parents have a list of things that were not acceptable to do when you were growing up? I don't mean a written list of do's or don'ts'; I mean things that were implied by your Mom or Dad. Disrespect to an elder was on our list; and it was enforced. Lying was on our list; Dad didn't do well with those who chose to lie. There were minor infractions, such as not cleaning your room, or fighting with your siblings (no hitting). Some of the infractions required loss of privileges; some required corporal punishment (Dad seldom used it, but it was his option). We all understood the laws of our home; and the authority my parents wielded in the household. Our grandmother, Nona, acted as our lawyer in some situations, and I am forever grateful for her presence in some situations. I remember her intervening with the plea of "Joey don't hit him!", and my Dad would listen to her. Punishment is something we all face at one time or another during the course of our lives. Sometimes punishment is tempered with mercy, and sometimes it isn't. We have all heard the term "extenuating circumstances" in the commission of a criminal act; and I'm sure that possibility does exist in some situations. Sometimes Nona will step in!

This week in Illinois a bill abolishing the death penalty went to the Governor's desk. I'm a proponent of the death penalty; I believe there are crimes that are so heinous that the forfeiture of the perpetrator's life is merited. Callous crimes perpetrated upon children, premeditated murder for revenge or profit, rape (even if the victim is not killed) all should be considered as possible capitol crime. We have all heard the term "rehabilitate" in terms of prison. I believe we should try to salvage lives when it is appropriate, yet I also believe the "punishment should fit the crime". We seem so committed to the criminals' treatment that we have lost sight of the victim. By eliminating the death penalty, we give criminals a sense of freedom; a cushion of belief that nothing they do will have deadly repercussions. We must remember this is PUNISHMENT for an act that has already been committed; it is a consequence of action. We should not remove this consequence!

In Arizona, there is a young man with a mental disturbance that caused him to commit a heinous and deadly act. Nothing we do to him will bring those lost lives back. He is deranged, he is not a gang member, he is not a MAFIA hit man and he is not a terrorist. This young man needs to be in a secure mental institution for the rest of his natural life. I'm sure he knew what he was doing when he committed his crimes; but he was listening through a clouded mind. Could this have been detected earlier? Nobody really knows for sure what could have been done for him. He doesn't deserve death; he's crazy! He is the exception. "Don't throw out the baby with the bath water", we need not sacrifice proper punishment for the sake of being fashionable.

"Modest Pay!!"

My first real job was working at Riverview Park in Chicago. My job was six days a week, with Monday off. When you're 16 years old, Monday off really screws up your social life, as all of your friends usually have week-ends off. I made the kingly sum of $1.22 per hour for a six day week; this comes to $58.56 per week! I had to "know somebody" to get this job; and I was happy to get it. My Dad was proud and happy that I was working during the summer. I believe he wanted me to learn responsibility. I was a new driver, and Dad said if I wanted to drive a car, I needed to pay for insurance; which was $200.00. I did my best to spend as little as possible in order to get my insurance money rapidly. I was required to give my Mom $20.00 from every paycheck; Dad believed nothing in life was free (although he was a pretty soft touch). My job was physically hard; "grunt work", entry level, the kind of a job that would help a young man learn the value of a dollar and an education. I was thankful for every paycheck; after all, I could now afford my own pizza! That $58.56 a week was a king's ransom to me!

Across America, we are continuing to experience poor economic conditions. Most of the jobs listed in our local paper are starting at around $8.50 per hour, and people are standing in line to get them! Jobs for over $10.00 per hour are rare and the competition for them is fierce. People with years of experience are willing to take massive pay cuts just to be employed. Older workers have been just about eliminated from the employment pool. Those folks that are 55 years old or older face some very difficult days ahead. Jobs are scarce and high wages are non-existent in today's economy.

On January 5th, President Obama said goodbye to Robert Gibbs, as he is stepping down from his job as Press Secretary. He lauded Gibbs' service and said he was sorry to see him go. Gibbs has been in the Obama camp since 2004, a loyal supporter of the President. Obama said Gibbs has been going at a 24/7 pace for years for relatively "modest pay". I guess for Washington $172,000 per year is "modest pay". I know a lot of people who would love that "modest income"! Junior White House staffers earn somewhere in the vicinity of $40,000 to $60,000 per year. I know a lot of people who would love to make those paychecks! Government workers make an average salary of $67,691! These salaries seem pretty good to the folks who are standing in line for $8.50 per hour. I believe Mr. Obama needs a reality check; he's been in government too long; he has no clue as to what the average American is dealing with on a daily basis! Mr. Obama would be well served if he had to get by on what Mr. and Mrs. America does every day of every week of every year. Mr. Obama needs to redefine his definition of "modest pay". It sure looks more than modest to us "REGULAR FOLKS". Maybe we should pay government workers $8.50 per hour!

"Don't Be a KNEE-JERK!"

Have you ever heard the term "knee-jerk reaction"? I'm sure every guy knows it. It means a reaction without thought; it's instinctive. Animals that are backed into a corner will act out of instinct to preserve their lives. A dog will bite if he feels threats from a source he can't flee from. On 911, we had a "knee-jerk reaction" from many Americans. Some of us wanted to bomb every Muslim nation in the world; a really bad idea! Some of us questioned why we were attacked and wanted investigation; a better idea! At times, I'm sure all of us have heard second hand rumors that were disturbing to us. When one is adolescent, we take these rumors very seriously and, at times, react too quickly with words and sometimes violence.
"He said, she said," can cause conflicts as quickly as a punch in the nose. Rapid action and uninvestigated allegations are a lethal combination. My Dad said "Act in haste and repent in leisure". I have found this to be good advice throughout my life.

Since the Arizona shooting tragedy, we have seen a plethora of "knee-jerk" responses from the media and some political leaders. I am saddened that this tragic event is degenerating into a chance to make political hay from the blood of the innocent. Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity have all been castigated by the left as having influence in this tragic situation, when the facts have revealed that this man seem to be mentally disturbed with very little cogent thinking involved in his decision to kill.

Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) is quickly acting to legislate further limits on firearms in the wake of the Arizona incident; she wants to get something done this week. She is already blaming second amendment advocates for the shooting. Along with the acts toward gun control, Pennsylvania representative, Robert Brady, is proposing free speech limits. Mr. Brady wants to ban designated language and symbols for use on the public forum. He believes these words and symbols can be viewed as threatening and inflammatory. Does this mean it would be inappropriate to criticize a representative at a town hall meeting, as he may feel threatened by the language used?

As Americans, we cannot allow this hasty type of action to dictate what could do great damage to our first and second amendment rights. Once legislation is passed, it is very difficult to undo, as we are now seeing with Obamacare. I understand the feelings of many Americans as a result of this tragedy yet we must not react too quickly or we may regret our actions over the course of closer examination and historical perspective. We must be very careful before we surrender any of our Constitutional rights; once they're gone, we probably won't get them back! Don't be a "KNEE-JERK"!

"American Tragedy"

I usually plan my blogs a few days in advance in order to make sure my facts are straight and I can give an accurate account of what I'm writing about. If one jumps into any subject without as much information as possible, he is doing a disservice to his readers and himself. When an event of great magnitude takes place, there is often a flood of information released about the participants in these events. Some news people and pundits immediately begin to draw conclusions about the cause of these incidents. We are a curious people, and that's a good thing. Americans want information and they want it quickly. Fast is good, yet accurate is better.

I remember the Kennedy assassination when I was in high school. The school buzzed with information for the first hour or so until the tragic news of our fallen President was confirmed. Even back then, talk of conspiracy started almost instantly. History has proven that a single shooter was responsible. Oswald was a prisoner of his own disturbed thinking when he fired those fatal shots in Dallas; no conspiracy was ever discovered. John Wilkes Booth was consumed by his own failure in the shadow of his brother Edwin: he needed something to blame for his shortcomings and he choose the President. Deranged thinking, once again, causes national tragedy.

Saturday in Arizona, Representative Gabrielle Giffords was the victim of an attempted assassination. Along with Rep. Giffords, six people lost their lives and several others were wounded. The news of this incident spread like wildfire; everything else on the news stations came to a halt. Several scenarios were put forth from several individuals as to the reason for this attack. Thus far, we have some ideas as to the actions of the alleged perpetrator. His name is Jared Loughner. These stories that have surfaced over the last day reveal a young, disturbed individual with the signs of mental problems that went unchecked throughout his life. His inane ramblings were reported on the news. They ranged from his belief that the government was spying on him to the lack of proper grammar by the population. It seems to be senseless rubbish from a confused mind. Mr. Loughner's sketchy biography seems to reflect a young person who was a loner with little achievement and much anger. He was rejected for military service for not passing a drug screening, and also had a failed attempt at college. Oddly, no one around him spoke out too vigorously about his unusual behavior; he seemed to be a bomb waiting to go off.

I'm sure we will see investigations launched very quickly about this tragedy. I sincerely hope we will find out why this young man acted out so violently. I also hope none of those investigating will use this incident to achieve a political goal. This act is a trauma to all Americans. No American, regardless of political affiliation, would advocate this violent act. Neither the left, nor the right should be showcased in this matter. Like Oswald and Booth, Loughner is a disturbed individual with perverse thoughts; he needs to be put away. Don't allow this incident to become another division for the American people; it is a tragedy for all of us.

"Perception vs. Reality"

I guess I'm in football mode this week as we approach the first weekend of the playoffs. As a Bears fan for over fifty years, I have a vision of what Packer fans are like (apologies to a dear friend). For years I've enjoyed hating the Packers, and their supporters. I have imagined them sitting in their living rooms eating large wheels of cheese and plates of bratwurst, followed by endless cans of warm beer. They would all be wearing those silly "cheese heads" with orange hunting jackets and insulated boots. All of Green Bay would be shut down from February to September, as there is nothing of any value done there in any of the other months. All family conversations center around the Packers. The shooting ranges have pictures of George Halas, Mike Ditka and Dick Butkus used as targets. Each church has an altar dedicated to Vince Lombardi, with candles being lit for Bart Starr every day. They all have pictures of Brett Favre draped in black ever since he defected to Minnesota. Before any of my Packer friends get too upset, I would like to say that my actual encounters with many Packer fans have been pleasant; and they seem to be normal people for the most part. Game days are just as crazy in Chicago as they are in Green Bay; each team has its' share of "nuts". Generalizing about others is doing them a disservice, and it doesn't speak very well of the person doing the generalizing.

House Minority Whip, Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), has made some statements about the TEA Party members. Rep. Hoyer said, "...My presumption is they have unhappy families...". This was part of another leftist diatribe against the conservative group. No matter what the left says about tolerance, I guess it never applies to anybody with a conservative philosophy. If a conservative were to make any similar statement about any leftist group, they would be labeled as intolerant or racist. Howard Dean (remember his campaign rantings) said the Tea Party is " the last gasp of old, white folks afraid of change", "...the generation that has trouble with diversity..".

I have serious doubts that Rep. Hoyer or Howard Dean really know anyone who personally believe in the principles of the TEA Party; they are so immersed in the progressive philosophy that any diversion from that philosophy seems traitorous to them. It seems to me the real unhappy families are those who can't accept the fact that other people can have opinions that don't match their own.

Unlike Bear and Packer fans, it seems that the left will never find common ground with the right. Ultimately, football fans all admit that they love the game even more than their teams, after all, we all watch the Super Bowl regardless of who's playing. I feel it is unfortunate that some of our political leaders seem to love their philosophy more than they love America; only America will suffer!
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"READ IT!!"

Over the last couple of months, the NFL network has been running a series on the top 100 football players of all time. As a football fan, I've found this series fascinating. From the first episode to the last, I've enjoyed the profiles of the many great players that have been listed. Every player named exhibited great skill throughout their collective careers, compiling statistics and records that still stand today. I'm pretty old, but there were players listed that tested my memory of the game. I grew up watching players like Bill George (Bill was a middle linebacker before Dick Butkus), George Blanda, and "Night-Train Lane". I'm not old enough to have seen "Red" Grange, but I've seen old films of him, and he was very impressive! Most of those old players didn't get paychecks in the millions of dollars; unlike today's players, those guys usually had to work on other jobs in the off season. Even Bart Starr had a car dealership to run when he wasn't running the Packer offense. In old interviews, those old pros often cited past players and their admiration of their work ethic and knowledge of the game. They could all recall the history of the game with reverence and affection. Those men all thought it was important to know what the pioneers of the game intended for the game of football.

The new House of Representatives wants its' members to read aloud the Constitution of the United States. There are folks on the left who find this to be a dramatic attempt to bring attention to the new mandate that this Congress must face; they believe it's showboating! Talk show hostess, Joy Behar, has said "Constitution loving is getting out of hand" and is calling the reading of our most precious document a "Hollywood Stunt". I, for one, believe it is probably a good idea for law makers to have, at least once, read the Constitution. Why is the reading of our founding document so offensive to some folks on the left? Knowing the rules, understanding the principles, and honoring the intent of our founding fathers seem like a good and proper thing for our legislators to do.

The last Congress made it clear that the Constitution was of little interest to them as they jammed Obamacare down America's throat. Congress needs to know its duties and limitations, and that they serve at the pleasure of the citizens of the United States of America. I believe it is a good thing to "love the Constitution"; it is all that stands between freedom and oppression for all Americans. Read it Congress, you may learn something!

"Selective Memory"

Do you have "selective memory"? Do you recall the past with a mental "editing" that doesn't always reflect the actual events as they took place? I think all of us have the ability to "alter" our views of past events in our life; to enhance the good things and diminish those things that weren't so good. As we leave the holiday season, I'm sure most of us had the time to talk about the "good old days" with friends and relatives. I'm sure we laughed and joked about the past while we enjoyed collective memories. At my senior status, I am a bit of a family historian; being the eldest, I can recall things that sometimes elude my younger siblings. We rarely speak of the bad things that have occurred over the years; no one wants to remember things that made them cry. I will always remember the way my Dad made us all laugh, or how my Mom gave us loving advice in tough situations; yet, I try to put aside the memories of how disease devastated them in their later years. I choose to recall only the best, and forget the worst.

Today a new Congress is being sworn in. Today a new era is about to take place in the House of Representatives. There is now a Republican majority in the House. The Congress with the lowest approval rating in history is now over. Allow me to repeat "THE LOWEST APPROVAL RATING IN HISTORY"; nobody has ever been lower than the last Congress!

Nancy Pelosi had a press conference yesterday. Nancy was recalling her "halcyon days" as Speaker of the House. Nancy said "I don't really look back, I look forward.."; probably a good choice, as her past record doesn't sit too well with the American people. Pelosi said, "We have no regrets..". Wow, "NO REGRETS", really Nancy, now she must really have a selective memory! Nancy says she will now focus on jobs and reducing the deficit. In two years, Ms. Pelosi did nothing of any real substance to create jobs in the private sector, and her Congress is responsible for the highest rate of deficit spending in the history of the United States! Suddenly, the former Speaker is going to watch out for runaway spending! Where was this person while money was being spent by the truck load on programs that the public didn't want (Obamacare)?

When Nancy looks back in years to come, will she recall those low approval ratings, or the mass of Americans who stood outside Congress protesting against a health care bill 70% of the people were opposed to? Will Nancy recall saying that the TEA Party movement was an "astro-turf" and un-American group?

Thankfully, I will no longer have to see Ms. Pelosi on the news being addressed as Speaker of the House. I will no longer have to see an arrogance that was pervasive during her term as Speaker. I hope Ms. Pelosi will take ownership of the massive deficit that her Congress has generated over the last two years; but I doubt it. I'm sure we will all see the selective memory of Nancy Pelosi, and her boss Barack Obama. Let's make sure we don't use a selective memory in 2012!

"Resolutions"

As a husband and father, I have made many promises throughout my life. I'm sure I haven't kept all the promises I have made, although I try my best to keep promises; sometimes memory and circumstances make the keeping of promises difficult, or sometimes impossible.

This time of the year we all make promises; or, as we like to call them "resolutions". These resolutions are promises to us to become better people to ourselves and others. The most common promise is to LOSE WEIGHT. If I were to make a wager, I would bet that a huge percentage of Americans have pledged to lose weight this year. I wish all of you the very best in your efforts to "beat those pounds"! I used to pledge that pledge every year; unfortunately, my resolve is seldom victorious in those efforts. I'm Italian, and there is pizza out there with my name on it! I will try to moderate my intake; but total pizza denial is not possible for me. I also want to be more sensitive to the feelings of others. As I have strong conservative leanings, I have engaged many people in philosophical discussions on our current President and his administration, and at times, these discussions have become heated, leaving some hurt feelings in their wake. This doesn't mean I will water down my principles; but, I will try to be kinder in my response to those with whom I disagree. Pray for me!

We are about to have a new Congress take office. I have hopes this new Congress will do some house cleaning from the last Congress. Obamacare is foremost in the public interest as this session begins; many Americans want to see changes made before this program is fully engaged. There have been several politicians who have promised to "repeal" Obamacare. Personally, I would love to see this program repealed, but I don't believe this will happen while Barack Obama sits in the White House.

When President Obama was campaigning for President, his slogan was "Hope and Change" and "Yes We Can". I believe many Americans have taken those slogans to heart; sadly for Mr. Obama, it seems that America is "hoping for a change" in the White House, and they also believe "yes they can" do that in 2012. It seems Americans have made their own "resolutions" about progressive politics.

Mr. Obama has made some conservative noises since the "drubbing" his progressive Congress took in November, yet, I have trouble believing his sudden change to fiscal responsibility. Is Mr. Obama making a promise he doesn't intend to keep? Is Mr. Obama already in his campaign mode for 2012? He now has less than two years to "change his spots" and become what he believes America will vote for. I wonder what Mr. Obama's resolutions are for his future?

(Thanks to those who have prayed for me while I have had some physical problems; I'm not 100 per cent, but I'm a lot better. T.P.)