With Ted Cruz coming out and announcing his run for the candidate for president on the conservative ticket, I find myself wondering who the Liberals or Democrats will pick to run.
I know that Ted Cruz is NOT a given win for the Republican ticket, though it gives me a measure of hope that we will have some good choices this election cycle.
I think, The average Democrat/liberal is going to HAVE to vote for a minority this next election. They will “HAVE” to prove that a “minority” of their choosing can be a good president. Ted Cruz is technically a minority. I say technically because the only "Minority" that counts according to Democrats are ones who believe the same as them. If the minority does NOT agree then he or she doesn't count "because"!
They are also going to try to claim that Obama WAS a good president.
They just cannot admit they are wrong on anything. Even when it is so glaringly obvious that they were.
Still, That last part will be difficult considering Obama's track record.
But for those who have been burned by Obama’s policies will want to show that they are “still right” and so they will want to vote for another minority so they can be “vindicated”.
So I wonder who will get the vote on the Democrat ticket. I hope that it is someone that makes it obvious how desperate they are.
March 24, 2015
A response for my liberal family members. (part 1)
I got into a discussion last election cycle with a certain family member. It all started on Facebook.
This person posted a meme saying that Democrats have always been better than republicans at creating jobs and improving the economy.
Specifically it made the claim that Obama (and Clinton) has done better than ANY of the last 6 or so republican presidents. but it started with the claim that ALL Democrats did better than Republicans.
I instantly jumped in and said that what was posted was a lie.
I Stated that Government does not make jobs. And that the economy has improved under Republicans, at least as much as if not more than it did under Democrats.
Then it got messy.
I specifically pointed at how during Reagan's administration alone the country saw improvement like never before.I pointed out how we came out of a HUGE recession from the 70's, eliminated the ongoing "gas Crisis" of the 60's and 70's and so on.
This family member whom I shall refer to from now on as Billy since that is a nice gender neutral name and I do not want anyone to be too offended, went on to ask for citations.
I provided those for Billy and then I went on to break things down for Billy.
Billy responded that the post was just meant to spark debate and not really change anyone's mind. I called Billy out on that point as well. Why post something that would cause a response such as mine if you did not intend for it to?
But at that Point Billy stated that Government DOES create jobs. Billy's job was "created" by the government.
A little Background, Billy works as a college teacher, and Billy is very Liberal. But let's move on.
I wanted to share with you the main crux of my argument. Mostly I was thinking that there may be many other people out there who are as misled or misguided as Billy so, without further ado... here is my response.
Government does not create jobs. It never has. It taxes businesses but true value comes from Businesses creating value. That creates worth and that enables jobs.
Government can make a situation where businesses WANT to open up and create jobs. But it has to do that through lower taxes, less red tape or easier access to needed raw materials. (usage of federal lands, easing of restrictions on importing or acquiring supplies).
This is not a statement that needs any kind of citation to prove. This is simple common sense.
However if you look at the links I have found so far they tend to prove my point.
(See links at bottom of page)
Most of my “original sources” for information are not online because I use more information sources than online. I do not trust traditional American media to present all the facts, so I look all over the place. Partly this is due to the fact that ALL the news outlets have thrown away their journalistic integrity.
All you have to do is watch the debates between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama and the “Independent Mediator’s” reactions to know that. Or for that matter the news that keeps coming out that they all refuse to admit too (it took MONTHS for any word about the NSA files the IRS harassment the Benghazi attacks, the Ebola mishandling and so on.)
See, I have a brain and I USE it to take in all the information available; then I reach my own conclusions. I do not just parrot what others say as if it were true without some thought. Much like it has been done for Millennia!
So I listen to the radio. I watch the news, but take it with a grain of salt.
I look (and listen) for information from other countries, such as Israel, Russia, Germany, Australia, Canada and England.
Then I look at what is going on in my immediate vicinity.
But this argument talks about a comparison. It compares to stuff from the past, what Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton or Bush (W) did doesn’t matter. What is important is what is happening right now. You are using the past to justify why we should vote a certain way now in order to impact the future.
O.K. Since that is the way we start I will oblige with a response in kind.
I have received seven decent raises since the day Obama became president. By decent I mean better than I ever got while driving for a government agency.
Yet the pay I receive now does not go as far as it did 10 years ago. My raises have been in line with any reasonable expectation for inflation so why the problem?
In that respect, Republicans have tried to do more to ease up on the burden of Businesses and Democrats have pushed more restrictions that tends to shut business (jobs) down.
The real problem here is that EVERY single point that I heard liberals griping about. Everything they said George W Bush did “wrong”, Barack Obama has doubled down on.
The high price of gas, that Obama himself said was a sign of the failure of the Bush presidency, was HALF what it is today. Obama, By his own description, screwed that up.
The patriot act? Yeah NOT ONLY did Barack Obama reinstate it when it was due to expire but he expanded it so the NSA now stores all our communications “Just in case”.
Broken promises… Yeah like “if you want to keep your doctor, you can. If you want to keep your insurance policy you can.” Or how about “the first thing I will do when I take office is I will close Guantanamo Bay [Prison].”
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? We still have troops over there and when He did start to pull troops out he didn’t first make sure that the infrastructure was there to support the vacuum created by our pullout. Now we have had to go BACK in and all those things my friends fought for were lost.
The liberals claim that they want to help the poor. Well what have they done to help?
ACA??? I am poor by the standards set by the government itself.
I would have to increase my pay by half again what I am currently earning in order to be considered out of poverty.
But the only thing the ACA has done is said I HAVE to buy a product that I couldn’t afford in the first place, it is not cheaper, it is not easier. This does not help. But I am one of the “Poor” they claim to want to help. What they say is the opposite of what they do.
I want to be able to grow and improve myself. But what motivation do I have to do so when I see all these “occupy Wall street” idiots attack “rich people” like the Koch Brothers as if working for your money is somehow evil? So if I improve my lot I will be vilified, if I create a fortune through some wonderful business practice or work ethic they will steal it from me?
(And what is up with that anyway? Why pick on just the rich conservatives? They already do more for charity than do any of the liberal rich. What about the rich people like John Kerry, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, even Barack Obama Himself and so on? I mean come on they have one example of conservative rich I have nine liberals)
But to bring it up to the present. Why I cannot support the Democrats is as follows…
1. Gun control. I think everyone should have the right to defend himself or herself against being raped, hurt, robbed or killed out of hand by bad people. I think, if anything, the government should be issuing handguns to everyone free of charge after they prove they took a class or course on how to use them safely. I am tired of a fear-mongering attitude about guns. They are no more dangerous than a power tool or a kitchen knife. If you want to stop people from using guns to cause harm treat the cause… the nutjob who wants to cause harm!
2. Abortion. There is no question in my mind that abortion is murder. Plain and simple. I do not think the government should be condoning, let alone legislating, murder. Worse Obama declared that children were a mistake and a punishment when he said he wanted abortion available because he didn’t “want [his] girls to be punished for making a little mistake”. Well excuse me, MY kids are not a punishment OR a mistake and I do NOT want anyone telling them so because that will hurt them.
3. Freedom. I believe that freedom means I can make my own choices as to how I will live. This includes, but is not limited to, The food I eat, The school/s I or my children attend, what goods and services I will buy or use, Where I will worship, how I will worship, Whether or not I own a gun, what I read, What I say. That means I will have to face the repercussions for the bad choices I make. It also means I will reap the rewards of the good choices. An example of the problem for me? Michelle Obama has made it her mission to tell us all what our kids ought to be eating. It isn’t any of her business it is mine and my wife’s we are their parents. The former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, telling us that we cannot buy sodas over 16 oz.
4. Foreign relations. Our strongest allies are England, Canada, Australia and Israel. We ought to be supporting and backing them as they have done repeatedly for us. Instead we are caught eavesdropping on them and we are giving Palestine and Hamas more credence than we are Israel.
5. Business and taxes. The claim I keep hearing from Democrats, is that we are going to tax the “greedy” businesses to punish them or to make things “fair”. But if the businesses really ARE that greedy all they will do is say one of two things. “We need to add this to our overhead costs and therefore raise our prices.” (which hurts me because I cannot buy as much). Or they will say “We have to cut costs somewhere else.” Which means more layoffs and, even if My job is not one of those cut, there are more people competing for what jobs remain which puts me in jeopardy anyway.
6. Hypocrisy. I keep hearing accusations of conservative hate towards Obama. I have not seen any of that, but I saw nothing but hate directed at George Bush from Democrats. They even accuse me of hating when I point out these issues. This is not hate this is pointing out the problems. But if they were really so worried about the issues and not just hating why do they give Obama a pass where they vilified Bush?
7. Racism. In line with the hypocrisy, I keep seeing and hearing top Democrats (Reid, Pelosi, Obama, Sharpton, Jackson, Wasserman Schultz) saying things that, if I said them, would be derided as the most hateful, racist, rhetoric imaginable. My view on racism is you have to see color and make decisions based on color.
(https://dictionary.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0LEVj3jO1lUiYMAR2pjmolQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?p=racism&.sep= , http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism)
The only ones I see really doing that are democrats. “they did this because of race, they are racist.” That statement starts by seeing race in the first place. But even more egregious. They declare white people to be racist because they are white. THAT IS A RACIST STATEMENT! (racism is to judge or have preconceived ideas about a person or people based on their race. Or to treat people differently because of their race. White is a race, to call all whites racist is to judge them based on their race. Therefore it IS racism.
8. Ecological issues/ Global warming/ Climate change. The Democrats keep pushing this as an issue. I am not sure where I stand on the issue. I am not a scientist. However I have noticed that for every one who says it is real there is one who says it is not. Or there is proof that the people who say it is real are making things up.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/28/weather-channel-founder-global-warming-myth_n_6060734.html)
But for the sake of argument, Let us suppose that it is real. What are the solutions for it? Republicans are trying to develop a positive environment for business so they can come in and find a solution. Democrats are screaming that we must raise the price of gas (which will hurt me because I cannot afford to pay more), Force people to buy electric vehicles (studies, from Britain, now show that before an electric car even hits the dealership it has already put about as much pollution into the air as a regular car having driven 80,000 miles, most of that from the manufacture of the batteries alone,
http://www.productsandpower.org/2012/05/10/second-thoughts-on-electric-vehicles/.)
they are making more ethanol which the United Nations has asked we stop doing because it is not helping and it is consuming food supplies needed for countries like Africa (plus creating Ethanol creates more pollution),
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/04/20/its-final-corn-ethanol-is-of-no-use/
then they tell me I am the one who has to pay for all this even though All the advocates of this refuse to do anything themselves to lower their carbon footprint even though mine is already smaller. In other words, again, EVERY solution the Democrats espouse makes the problem worse.
http://jacksonville.com/reason/fact-check/2013-06-02/story/fact-check-al-gores-mansion-lot-less-green-george-bushs-ranch, http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/22/peoples-climate-march-hurt-by-questions-about-carbon-footprint/, http://www.climatedepot.com/2014/09/21/hulk-actor-questioning-gore-dicaprios-carbon-footprint-defies-the-spirit-of-the-climate-march/)
9. War on women/the family. Democrats keep using this hyperbole about some stupid war on women. But everything I see them doing is, at best condescending towards women at worst more vicious then any examples they have of others doing this. And again Hypocrisy enters in, Obama IN THE LAST WEEK, declared that he did not “want Americans to make that choice”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHIlbIWhgQ
Make the choice about whether they were going to stay home and be a family that is. No the Democrats know best what I and my family ought to have and how we ought to live. My wife, based on that statement, is not smart enough to figure out for herself what she wants out of life she needs Obama to come along and tell her.
I look at the things that I DO know for a fact are going on. Then I look at what different people or groups are saying. Which ever side’s statement matches what I KNOW to be truth, are the ones I will believe.
Naïve? Maybe. Simplistic? I suppose. But that is the way we have to deal with our world.
There is no way to tax our way out of the hole we are in, there is no easy way to fix these problems but we do need to do something. And so far all I have seen or heard from democrats is a bunch of talk that means nothing. And a bunch of actions that have made My life and the lives of many people I know worse.
Is this Anecdotal? Yeah probably, for you anyway. But it is where I am right now. And really when I go to make my choices, that is what I have to use.
In short, As Ronald Reagan said, “are you better off today than you were?” And the answer for me is NO! Emphatically so!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EvFQLhqWPQ
And I do NOT see the Democratic Party doing anything for me, the country, the world or for anyone else.
Below are the original links I posted If they do not work please feel free to copy and paste.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/249516/job-creation-bush-vs-obama-veronique-de-rugy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/president-obamas-job-creation-problem--in-one-chart/2012/08/02/gJQA58tsRX_blog.html
http://mysterypatriot.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/the-facts-obama-vs-reagan-on-job-creation/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/briandomitrovic/2012/10/09/when-it-comes-to-job-creation-obama-doesnt-hold-a-candle-to-reagan/2/
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/61694
http://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2014/09/12/job-creation-same-as-reagan-not-even-close-says-economist
This person posted a meme saying that Democrats have always been better than republicans at creating jobs and improving the economy.
Specifically it made the claim that Obama (and Clinton) has done better than ANY of the last 6 or so republican presidents. but it started with the claim that ALL Democrats did better than Republicans.
I instantly jumped in and said that what was posted was a lie.
I Stated that Government does not make jobs. And that the economy has improved under Republicans, at least as much as if not more than it did under Democrats.
Then it got messy.
I specifically pointed at how during Reagan's administration alone the country saw improvement like never before.I pointed out how we came out of a HUGE recession from the 70's, eliminated the ongoing "gas Crisis" of the 60's and 70's and so on.
This family member whom I shall refer to from now on as Billy since that is a nice gender neutral name and I do not want anyone to be too offended, went on to ask for citations.
I provided those for Billy and then I went on to break things down for Billy.
Billy responded that the post was just meant to spark debate and not really change anyone's mind. I called Billy out on that point as well. Why post something that would cause a response such as mine if you did not intend for it to?
But at that Point Billy stated that Government DOES create jobs. Billy's job was "created" by the government.
A little Background, Billy works as a college teacher, and Billy is very Liberal. But let's move on.
I wanted to share with you the main crux of my argument. Mostly I was thinking that there may be many other people out there who are as misled or misguided as Billy so, without further ado... here is my response.
Government does not create jobs. It never has. It taxes businesses but true value comes from Businesses creating value. That creates worth and that enables jobs.
Government can make a situation where businesses WANT to open up and create jobs. But it has to do that through lower taxes, less red tape or easier access to needed raw materials. (usage of federal lands, easing of restrictions on importing or acquiring supplies).
This is not a statement that needs any kind of citation to prove. This is simple common sense.
However if you look at the links I have found so far they tend to prove my point.
(See links at bottom of page)
Most of my “original sources” for information are not online because I use more information sources than online. I do not trust traditional American media to present all the facts, so I look all over the place. Partly this is due to the fact that ALL the news outlets have thrown away their journalistic integrity.
All you have to do is watch the debates between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama and the “Independent Mediator’s” reactions to know that. Or for that matter the news that keeps coming out that they all refuse to admit too (it took MONTHS for any word about the NSA files the IRS harassment the Benghazi attacks, the Ebola mishandling and so on.)
See, I have a brain and I USE it to take in all the information available; then I reach my own conclusions. I do not just parrot what others say as if it were true without some thought. Much like it has been done for Millennia!
So I listen to the radio. I watch the news, but take it with a grain of salt.
I look (and listen) for information from other countries, such as Israel, Russia, Germany, Australia, Canada and England.
Then I look at what is going on in my immediate vicinity.
But this argument talks about a comparison. It compares to stuff from the past, what Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton or Bush (W) did doesn’t matter. What is important is what is happening right now. You are using the past to justify why we should vote a certain way now in order to impact the future.
O.K. Since that is the way we start I will oblige with a response in kind.
I have received seven decent raises since the day Obama became president. By decent I mean better than I ever got while driving for a government agency.
Yet the pay I receive now does not go as far as it did 10 years ago. My raises have been in line with any reasonable expectation for inflation so why the problem?
In that respect, Republicans have tried to do more to ease up on the burden of Businesses and Democrats have pushed more restrictions that tends to shut business (jobs) down.
The real problem here is that EVERY single point that I heard liberals griping about. Everything they said George W Bush did “wrong”, Barack Obama has doubled down on.
The high price of gas, that Obama himself said was a sign of the failure of the Bush presidency, was HALF what it is today. Obama, By his own description, screwed that up.
The patriot act? Yeah NOT ONLY did Barack Obama reinstate it when it was due to expire but he expanded it so the NSA now stores all our communications “Just in case”.
Broken promises… Yeah like “if you want to keep your doctor, you can. If you want to keep your insurance policy you can.” Or how about “the first thing I will do when I take office is I will close Guantanamo Bay [Prison].”
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? We still have troops over there and when He did start to pull troops out he didn’t first make sure that the infrastructure was there to support the vacuum created by our pullout. Now we have had to go BACK in and all those things my friends fought for were lost.
The liberals claim that they want to help the poor. Well what have they done to help?
ACA??? I am poor by the standards set by the government itself.
I would have to increase my pay by half again what I am currently earning in order to be considered out of poverty.
But the only thing the ACA has done is said I HAVE to buy a product that I couldn’t afford in the first place, it is not cheaper, it is not easier. This does not help. But I am one of the “Poor” they claim to want to help. What they say is the opposite of what they do.
I want to be able to grow and improve myself. But what motivation do I have to do so when I see all these “occupy Wall street” idiots attack “rich people” like the Koch Brothers as if working for your money is somehow evil? So if I improve my lot I will be vilified, if I create a fortune through some wonderful business practice or work ethic they will steal it from me?
(And what is up with that anyway? Why pick on just the rich conservatives? They already do more for charity than do any of the liberal rich. What about the rich people like John Kerry, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, even Barack Obama Himself and so on? I mean come on they have one example of conservative rich I have nine liberals)
But to bring it up to the present. Why I cannot support the Democrats is as follows…
1. Gun control. I think everyone should have the right to defend himself or herself against being raped, hurt, robbed or killed out of hand by bad people. I think, if anything, the government should be issuing handguns to everyone free of charge after they prove they took a class or course on how to use them safely. I am tired of a fear-mongering attitude about guns. They are no more dangerous than a power tool or a kitchen knife. If you want to stop people from using guns to cause harm treat the cause… the nutjob who wants to cause harm!
2. Abortion. There is no question in my mind that abortion is murder. Plain and simple. I do not think the government should be condoning, let alone legislating, murder. Worse Obama declared that children were a mistake and a punishment when he said he wanted abortion available because he didn’t “want [his] girls to be punished for making a little mistake”. Well excuse me, MY kids are not a punishment OR a mistake and I do NOT want anyone telling them so because that will hurt them.
3. Freedom. I believe that freedom means I can make my own choices as to how I will live. This includes, but is not limited to, The food I eat, The school/s I or my children attend, what goods and services I will buy or use, Where I will worship, how I will worship, Whether or not I own a gun, what I read, What I say. That means I will have to face the repercussions for the bad choices I make. It also means I will reap the rewards of the good choices. An example of the problem for me? Michelle Obama has made it her mission to tell us all what our kids ought to be eating. It isn’t any of her business it is mine and my wife’s we are their parents. The former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, telling us that we cannot buy sodas over 16 oz.
4. Foreign relations. Our strongest allies are England, Canada, Australia and Israel. We ought to be supporting and backing them as they have done repeatedly for us. Instead we are caught eavesdropping on them and we are giving Palestine and Hamas more credence than we are Israel.
5. Business and taxes. The claim I keep hearing from Democrats, is that we are going to tax the “greedy” businesses to punish them or to make things “fair”. But if the businesses really ARE that greedy all they will do is say one of two things. “We need to add this to our overhead costs and therefore raise our prices.” (which hurts me because I cannot buy as much). Or they will say “We have to cut costs somewhere else.” Which means more layoffs and, even if My job is not one of those cut, there are more people competing for what jobs remain which puts me in jeopardy anyway.
6. Hypocrisy. I keep hearing accusations of conservative hate towards Obama. I have not seen any of that, but I saw nothing but hate directed at George Bush from Democrats. They even accuse me of hating when I point out these issues. This is not hate this is pointing out the problems. But if they were really so worried about the issues and not just hating why do they give Obama a pass where they vilified Bush?
7. Racism. In line with the hypocrisy, I keep seeing and hearing top Democrats (Reid, Pelosi, Obama, Sharpton, Jackson, Wasserman Schultz) saying things that, if I said them, would be derided as the most hateful, racist, rhetoric imaginable. My view on racism is you have to see color and make decisions based on color.
(https://dictionary.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0LEVj3jO1lUiYMAR2pjmolQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?p=racism&.sep= , http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism)
The only ones I see really doing that are democrats. “they did this because of race, they are racist.” That statement starts by seeing race in the first place. But even more egregious. They declare white people to be racist because they are white. THAT IS A RACIST STATEMENT! (racism is to judge or have preconceived ideas about a person or people based on their race. Or to treat people differently because of their race. White is a race, to call all whites racist is to judge them based on their race. Therefore it IS racism.
8. Ecological issues/ Global warming/ Climate change. The Democrats keep pushing this as an issue. I am not sure where I stand on the issue. I am not a scientist. However I have noticed that for every one who says it is real there is one who says it is not. Or there is proof that the people who say it is real are making things up.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/28/weather-channel-founder-global-warming-myth_n_6060734.html)
But for the sake of argument, Let us suppose that it is real. What are the solutions for it? Republicans are trying to develop a positive environment for business so they can come in and find a solution. Democrats are screaming that we must raise the price of gas (which will hurt me because I cannot afford to pay more), Force people to buy electric vehicles (studies, from Britain, now show that before an electric car even hits the dealership it has already put about as much pollution into the air as a regular car having driven 80,000 miles, most of that from the manufacture of the batteries alone,
http://www.productsandpower.org/2012/05/10/second-thoughts-on-electric-vehicles/.)
they are making more ethanol which the United Nations has asked we stop doing because it is not helping and it is consuming food supplies needed for countries like Africa (plus creating Ethanol creates more pollution),
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/04/20/its-final-corn-ethanol-is-of-no-use/
then they tell me I am the one who has to pay for all this even though All the advocates of this refuse to do anything themselves to lower their carbon footprint even though mine is already smaller. In other words, again, EVERY solution the Democrats espouse makes the problem worse.
http://jacksonville.com/reason/fact-check/2013-06-02/story/fact-check-al-gores-mansion-lot-less-green-george-bushs-ranch, http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/22/peoples-climate-march-hurt-by-questions-about-carbon-footprint/, http://www.climatedepot.com/2014/09/21/hulk-actor-questioning-gore-dicaprios-carbon-footprint-defies-the-spirit-of-the-climate-march/)
9. War on women/the family. Democrats keep using this hyperbole about some stupid war on women. But everything I see them doing is, at best condescending towards women at worst more vicious then any examples they have of others doing this. And again Hypocrisy enters in, Obama IN THE LAST WEEK, declared that he did not “want Americans to make that choice”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHIlbIWhgQ
Make the choice about whether they were going to stay home and be a family that is. No the Democrats know best what I and my family ought to have and how we ought to live. My wife, based on that statement, is not smart enough to figure out for herself what she wants out of life she needs Obama to come along and tell her.
I look at the things that I DO know for a fact are going on. Then I look at what different people or groups are saying. Which ever side’s statement matches what I KNOW to be truth, are the ones I will believe.
Naïve? Maybe. Simplistic? I suppose. But that is the way we have to deal with our world.
There is no way to tax our way out of the hole we are in, there is no easy way to fix these problems but we do need to do something. And so far all I have seen or heard from democrats is a bunch of talk that means nothing. And a bunch of actions that have made My life and the lives of many people I know worse.
Is this Anecdotal? Yeah probably, for you anyway. But it is where I am right now. And really when I go to make my choices, that is what I have to use.
In short, As Ronald Reagan said, “are you better off today than you were?” And the answer for me is NO! Emphatically so!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EvFQLhqWPQ
And I do NOT see the Democratic Party doing anything for me, the country, the world or for anyone else.
Below are the original links I posted If they do not work please feel free to copy and paste.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/249516/job-creation-bush-vs-obama-veronique-de-rugy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/president-obamas-job-creation-problem--in-one-chart/2012/08/02/gJQA58tsRX_blog.html
http://mysterypatriot.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/the-facts-obama-vs-reagan-on-job-creation/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/briandomitrovic/2012/10/09/when-it-comes-to-job-creation-obama-doesnt-hold-a-candle-to-reagan/2/
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/61694
http://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2014/09/12/job-creation-same-as-reagan-not-even-close-says-economist
January 17, 2015
I was there first.
Months ago I came up with a thought. Either I expressed that thought to the right people OR someone else had the same thought. Either way I love to see it when My ideas happen in the real world.
“What is he talking about?” you ask.
Simple, I noticed that there were a LOT of kids AND adults these days who are totally clueless about how or society works.
They could not name the Vice President, (Joe Biden) their Congressman, or even the three branches of Government, which are, The Executive/President, the Legislative/Congress and the Judicial/Supreme Court.
Sadly that LAST example was a CONGRESSMAN (Democrat) who thought the three branches were the President, the House, and the Senate.
All of these were (are) CURRENT event issues they could not come up with correct answers for.
Unfortunately, it is worse when we are talking about historical events, their significance and what the legal documents are that govern our nation.
Well one day I was listening to someone talk about their frustration on the subject. During the conversation they offhandedly commented that Legal Immigrants who apply for citizenship have to pass an exam. Therefore many of THEM have a MUCH better understanding of the Constitution, our Government and how it works and the history of our country.
Tell you what, for fun, Here are a few sample questions that might appear on a citizenship test, let’s see how many YOU get right.
( )
Before you start in about Hypocrisy, Yes I took these tests, and more, just for kicks and giggles at the time, and yes I passed them… Easily.
In any case, that is when MY idea hit me.
If you want to be a FULL citizen of our country maybe you ought to have to pass an exam like that. You should at least show that you KNOW why our nation exists, and the responsibilities, rights and privileges you have as a citizen.
Last night, I was listening to the news on the radio and I heard that Arizona, MY home state I am proud to say, has now just passed a law that states, before any student can get their High school Diploma they have to pass a civics test. Basically what I was saying to begin with.
I want to detail MY thoughts/plan on the subject though since I took it further than they do.
First of all If you are born in the U.S.A. You get a partial citizenship. A sort of, “you are recognized as part of, and protected by the laws of, this nation,” thing.
You are recognized as being a ward, or in the care of someone else (your parents/guardians probably someone who IS a full citizen.) until you are “of age” to participate as a full member of the citizenry.
That age, By the way, is dependent on your own abilities! If you can pass the test and be personally responsible then you qualify no matter the actual, physical age you might be.
In order to gain full citizenship, you would need to,
(1) Take a test/show knowledge of the history of our nation, the values we hold and the way our government works to include the current leaders of the nation who represent you. (President, Federal congressman/senator of your state/district, local authorities like the Sheriff, Governor, Mayor, State assemblyman etc…) OR,
(2) Join the military or other Government programs, which put an emphasis on what it is to be an American and to be of service to your community (Local, County, State, or Federal) for a year.
Why should anyone want to become a full citizen?
In order to vote you have to have full citizenship.
In order to file taxes/get refunds, and receive certain Government benefits, you have to have full citizenship. (Remember, if you do NOT have full citizenship you are considered to be someone’s ward / in the care of another person. That would mean THEY could claim you on their taxes as a dependent).
In order to have any government job, run for political offices or certain other full time employment, you have to be a full citizen.
Anyway that is my thought on the matter. I know there would be people who would disagree with me, I can even hear their arguments already. But, really, I am not asking for the moon here. We need to find SOME way to cultivate an understanding of our homeland and it’s place in the world. Why we are who we are. Where we ought to go from here.
In short, I am tired of all the low information voters who are clueless about the way our nation is supposed to work and who vote based on popularity or selfishness, instead of what the NATION needs as a whole.
In closing I would like to ask you a few more questions, a few more things to think on. Do you know these?
1. Did you know that we are NOT a Democracy but rather a Democratic Republic? Every one always says this is just a Democracy. WRONG.
2. Do you know what document limits what our government can do to us? (The Constitution)
3. Can you name what person was one of the most influential in our nation’s founding he signed the Declaration of independence, but he never served in an elected position? (Benjamin Franklin)
4. Can you tell me which document this quote belongs in, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. (Declaration of Independence)
5. Who made that “famous ride” warning that the British were coming BESIDES Paul Revere? (William Dawes)
6. Who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Thomas Jefferson)
7. How many men signed the Declaration of Independence? (56)
8. Can you name just any FIVE of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
(Button Gwinnett.
Lyman Hall.
George Walton.
William Hooper.
Joseph Hewes.
John Penn.
Edward Rutledge.
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lunch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton.
John Hancock.
Samuel Chase.
William Paca.
Thomas Stone.
Charles Carroll.
George Wythe.
Richard Henry Lee.
Thomas Jefferson.
Benjamin Harrison.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee.
Carter Braxton.
Robert Morris.
Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Rush.
John Morton.
George Clymer.
James Smith.
George Taylor.
James Wilson.
George Ross.
Caeser Rodney.
George Read.
Thomas McKean.
William Floyd.
Philip Livingston.
Francis Lewis.
Lewis Morris.
Richard Stockton.
John Witherspoon.
Francis Hopkinson.
John Hart.
Abraham Clark.
Josiah Bartlett.
William Whipple.
Samuel Adams.
John Adams.
Robert Treat Paine.
Elbridge Gerry.
Stephen Hopkins.
William Ellery.
Roger Sherman.
Samuel Huntington.
William Williams.
Oliver Woolcott.
And Matthew Thornton.)
9. How many Amendments are there in the Constitution? (27)
10. When was the last Amendment added? (May 7th 1992) and What was it? (Limiting Congressional pay increases)
11. Which Amendment cancels out another Amendment and what are the two Amendments about? (21st and 18th. The 18th Abolished liquor in the U.S. passed on January 16 1919,enacted one year later, the 21st repealed the abolition on December 5th 1933).
12. How many articles are there in the original Constitution? (7)
13. What President served more than two terms? (Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
14. What caused us to become involved in World War 2? (the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii)
15. Who said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”? (John Fitzgerald Kennedy)
16. Which was the 50th state admitted to the Union? (Hawaii?)
Just for the record I had the answers to ALL of these questions sitting in my head with the ONE exception that I could not have named all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence cold. (I read the Declaration again to find the names. If I can do it then I think it ought to be possible for ALL Americans to do it.
“What is he talking about?” you ask.
Simple, I noticed that there were a LOT of kids AND adults these days who are totally clueless about how or society works.
They could not name the Vice President, (Joe Biden) their Congressman, or even the three branches of Government, which are, The Executive/President, the Legislative/Congress and the Judicial/Supreme Court.
Sadly that LAST example was a CONGRESSMAN (Democrat) who thought the three branches were the President, the House, and the Senate.
All of these were (are) CURRENT event issues they could not come up with correct answers for.
Unfortunately, it is worse when we are talking about historical events, their significance and what the legal documents are that govern our nation.
Well one day I was listening to someone talk about their frustration on the subject. During the conversation they offhandedly commented that Legal Immigrants who apply for citizenship have to pass an exam. Therefore many of THEM have a MUCH better understanding of the Constitution, our Government and how it works and the history of our country.
Tell you what, for fun, Here are a few sample questions that might appear on a citizenship test, let’s see how many YOU get right.
( )
Before you start in about Hypocrisy, Yes I took these tests, and more, just for kicks and giggles at the time, and yes I passed them… Easily.
In any case, that is when MY idea hit me.
If you want to be a FULL citizen of our country maybe you ought to have to pass an exam like that. You should at least show that you KNOW why our nation exists, and the responsibilities, rights and privileges you have as a citizen.
Last night, I was listening to the news on the radio and I heard that Arizona, MY home state I am proud to say, has now just passed a law that states, before any student can get their High school Diploma they have to pass a civics test. Basically what I was saying to begin with.
I want to detail MY thoughts/plan on the subject though since I took it further than they do.
First of all If you are born in the U.S.A. You get a partial citizenship. A sort of, “you are recognized as part of, and protected by the laws of, this nation,” thing.
You are recognized as being a ward, or in the care of someone else (your parents/guardians probably someone who IS a full citizen.) until you are “of age” to participate as a full member of the citizenry.
That age, By the way, is dependent on your own abilities! If you can pass the test and be personally responsible then you qualify no matter the actual, physical age you might be.
In order to gain full citizenship, you would need to,
(1) Take a test/show knowledge of the history of our nation, the values we hold and the way our government works to include the current leaders of the nation who represent you. (President, Federal congressman/senator of your state/district, local authorities like the Sheriff, Governor, Mayor, State assemblyman etc…) OR,
(2) Join the military or other Government programs, which put an emphasis on what it is to be an American and to be of service to your community (Local, County, State, or Federal) for a year.
Why should anyone want to become a full citizen?
In order to vote you have to have full citizenship.
In order to file taxes/get refunds, and receive certain Government benefits, you have to have full citizenship. (Remember, if you do NOT have full citizenship you are considered to be someone’s ward / in the care of another person. That would mean THEY could claim you on their taxes as a dependent).
In order to have any government job, run for political offices or certain other full time employment, you have to be a full citizen.
Anyway that is my thought on the matter. I know there would be people who would disagree with me, I can even hear their arguments already. But, really, I am not asking for the moon here. We need to find SOME way to cultivate an understanding of our homeland and it’s place in the world. Why we are who we are. Where we ought to go from here.
In short, I am tired of all the low information voters who are clueless about the way our nation is supposed to work and who vote based on popularity or selfishness, instead of what the NATION needs as a whole.
In closing I would like to ask you a few more questions, a few more things to think on. Do you know these?
1. Did you know that we are NOT a Democracy but rather a Democratic Republic? Every one always says this is just a Democracy. WRONG.
2. Do you know what document limits what our government can do to us? (The Constitution)
3. Can you name what person was one of the most influential in our nation’s founding he signed the Declaration of independence, but he never served in an elected position? (Benjamin Franklin)
4. Can you tell me which document this quote belongs in, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. (Declaration of Independence)
5. Who made that “famous ride” warning that the British were coming BESIDES Paul Revere? (William Dawes)
6. Who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Thomas Jefferson)
7. How many men signed the Declaration of Independence? (56)
8. Can you name just any FIVE of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
(Button Gwinnett.
Lyman Hall.
George Walton.
William Hooper.
Joseph Hewes.
John Penn.
Edward Rutledge.
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lunch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton.
John Hancock.
Samuel Chase.
William Paca.
Thomas Stone.
Charles Carroll.
George Wythe.
Richard Henry Lee.
Thomas Jefferson.
Benjamin Harrison.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee.
Carter Braxton.
Robert Morris.
Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Rush.
John Morton.
George Clymer.
James Smith.
George Taylor.
James Wilson.
George Ross.
Caeser Rodney.
George Read.
Thomas McKean.
William Floyd.
Philip Livingston.
Francis Lewis.
Lewis Morris.
Richard Stockton.
John Witherspoon.
Francis Hopkinson.
John Hart.
Abraham Clark.
Josiah Bartlett.
William Whipple.
Samuel Adams.
John Adams.
Robert Treat Paine.
Elbridge Gerry.
Stephen Hopkins.
William Ellery.
Roger Sherman.
Samuel Huntington.
William Williams.
Oliver Woolcott.
And Matthew Thornton.)
9. How many Amendments are there in the Constitution? (27)
10. When was the last Amendment added? (May 7th 1992) and What was it? (Limiting Congressional pay increases)
11. Which Amendment cancels out another Amendment and what are the two Amendments about? (21st and 18th. The 18th Abolished liquor in the U.S. passed on January 16 1919,enacted one year later, the 21st repealed the abolition on December 5th 1933).
12. How many articles are there in the original Constitution? (7)
13. What President served more than two terms? (Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
14. What caused us to become involved in World War 2? (the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii)
15. Who said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”? (John Fitzgerald Kennedy)
16. Which was the 50th state admitted to the Union? (Hawaii?)
Just for the record I had the answers to ALL of these questions sitting in my head with the ONE exception that I could not have named all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence cold. (I read the Declaration again to find the names. If I can do it then I think it ought to be possible for ALL Americans to do it.
August 22, 2014
Depression and more reactions
This is really the third part of a set, I just want to expand it out some.
I wrote in my last two blogs about Robin Williams and depression. This time I want to talk a little bit more about our reactions to things.
Obviously I want to reference the blogs of the last two days but I also want to talk about other events.
I saw a post on Facebook the day after Everyone went off about Williams’ Death that was titled “Well this changes everything.” The point to it was the widow of Williams stated that he had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. My first thought was “No this changes NOTHING! He is still dead, he did so by his own hand and society is still filled with a bunch of knee jerk reactionaries who feel they are somehow better than anyone else.”
The only difference is that these people are more prepared to cut Williams a little slack. But the points that I made in my first (and second) blog on this subject still stand. If anything they are even more valid.
Moving on
Another recent event that has the country up in arms are the events in Ferguson. There is rioting and finger pointing and all kinds of issues there.
But most of them are based on preconception and people jumping to conclusions.
We need to learn, as a society AND as individuals, that what we believe does not make the whole truth. We need to get the facts and ALL the facts before we jump to a conclusion. We need to stop trying to divide like certain people do and start finding the truth.
This applies to anything and everything out there. Whether it is the suicide of a celebrity or political maneuvers or any other events going on.
So that is what I am calling for today. Learn the facts learn the truth. In cases where there are differences of opinion realize what is backed by fact and what are truly just opinions.
Stop treating opinion like it is fact! And get off the bandwagon Make up your own mind and do not let other’s choices draw you.
I wrote in my last two blogs about Robin Williams and depression. This time I want to talk a little bit more about our reactions to things.
Obviously I want to reference the blogs of the last two days but I also want to talk about other events.
I saw a post on Facebook the day after Everyone went off about Williams’ Death that was titled “Well this changes everything.” The point to it was the widow of Williams stated that he had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. My first thought was “No this changes NOTHING! He is still dead, he did so by his own hand and society is still filled with a bunch of knee jerk reactionaries who feel they are somehow better than anyone else.”
The only difference is that these people are more prepared to cut Williams a little slack. But the points that I made in my first (and second) blog on this subject still stand. If anything they are even more valid.
Moving on
Another recent event that has the country up in arms are the events in Ferguson. There is rioting and finger pointing and all kinds of issues there.
But most of them are based on preconception and people jumping to conclusions.
We need to learn, as a society AND as individuals, that what we believe does not make the whole truth. We need to get the facts and ALL the facts before we jump to a conclusion. We need to stop trying to divide like certain people do and start finding the truth.
This applies to anything and everything out there. Whether it is the suicide of a celebrity or political maneuvers or any other events going on.
So that is what I am calling for today. Learn the facts learn the truth. In cases where there are differences of opinion realize what is backed by fact and what are truly just opinions.
Stop treating opinion like it is fact! And get off the bandwagon Make up your own mind and do not let other’s choices draw you.
August 21, 2014
Understanding depression part 2
Please bear with me, I want to sum up my last post before I get started on this one…
To those who suffer from depression and heard from unfeeling jerks about how you should lead your life…
I am sorry that you had to face people who would disregard others like that.
I support you and I feel for what you are going through.
Now for all of you who want to say things like "get past it."
People, you are not the one suffering and you do not know what those people are going through,
Even if you have been through something “similar” you are a different person with different pain thresholds and tolerances so even if you have "been there" you do NOT know what THIS person is experiencing.
Stop making the situation worse! accept that this person is suffering, offer support and be there.
Stop judging! Do NOT say things like get over it because a major component of a lot of depression(s) is the fact that the person in it canNOT just get over it and to say they should adds to an already unbearable burden.
Love these people, care for them, give them a shoulder to cry on.
Most of all, if you feel the need to tell them to get over it or they are being cowardly or selfish... then the best advice I can give is SHUT UP! Do not say ANYTHING and just be there.
Now on to an expansion. I got to thinking about the last post after I typed it and all and then I thought of something else which I wanted to share. There are people who say a suicidal person is selfish and I started questioning that supposition.
See here is the thing. The depressed person is going through his or her own personal hell. That is not rhetoric by the way. They are suffering great amounts of mental anguish and pain. Sometimes beyond anything that anyone else can even imagine.
There is nothing you can compare that pain to. Nothing else steps up so extremely in life. Trying to compare the pain of ANYTHING else to suicidal depression is like trying to compare a light breeze caressing your face to an F5 Tornado.
So, when you say someone is being selfish for being suicidal, who is really the selfish one?
Why do people say this is a selfish thing? Because they are made to be unhappy when the depressed person commits suicide?
Because they are uncomfortable talking with these people?
Look if that is your reasoning, that they are being selfish because you or someone else might be slightly discomfited then maybe you ought to readjust your concept of selfishness because I would contend that YOU are the one who is really being selfish.
Yes that’s right. I see it as MORE selfish to demand that someone remain in their own personal hell just so you can feel better to be the real selfishness. You insist they give up any sense of relief so you don’t have to feel a little bad. Aw you poor whiny thing.
So my advice for you, before you point your fingers at who is selfish, look in the mirror. Then shut up, suck it up and go be there for the person who is hurting.
August 20, 2014
Trying to understand depression
I think there is no one in this world who does not know about robin Williams’ death. I wonder how many have thought about the reactions of so many people.
I will not name names but I have seen some reactions that appall me. I read a blog where the author concluded that Williams was being selfish, one famous actor stated the same thing, another famous person stated that he was a coward.
Newspaper articles also berated him for his actions and said how awful it was that he should be so selfish or whatever.
I have to tell you that I was offended at that. I have known many people who suffered from depression. True clinical depression. And the thing that I find common to all of them is that unless you, Unless WE, have been there we ought not to jump to conclusions about their motivation.
When someone is going through depression there is little reason involved. At least there is little that we might be able to identify as reason.
Let me try to explain some of the thoughts of a person who is depressed. Here are some of the things that I have heard and seen in people exhibiting these signs.
“The world would be better off without me.”
“I am so weak.”
“I am useless or worthless.”
“No one wants me or needs me.”
“I am a miserable horrible person. It would be better if I had never been born.”
“The world is a worse place because I am here.”
“I make people around me miserable I ought to just not be here.”
“Life is so hard, I do not know how I am going to cope.”
“Everything is getting worse.”
“No one loves me.”
I said earlier that there was little reason involved but in reality there is a kind of reason, it just is skewed. Sadly society feeds that reasoning. Some of it is self-fulfilling. The person who is depressed has little control over the paths of their thoughts. They will see people around them stressed or upset because of the depression and so the thought that they are making these people unhappy is validated. Then because the depression is uncontrollable, the person suffering will reason that the only solution is to remove the problem, since the problem is themselves they will reason the only real solution is suicide.
Another form of reasoning might be, “I am to focused on myself and I cannot stop, so the only solution is to stop ME. People who say a depressed and suicidal person is selfish feeds this and makes things worse because they validate the opinion of the depressed person.
The person who is thinking that he is weak would likewise see validation in the statement of how he is being a coward.
The things we tend to say, in other words, feeds the depression and makes it worse. The only real good solution is to get them professional help. Sadly many depressives will not seek help because they are afraid of the stigma that goes with psychiatric care. Or they are afraid of losing things that they enjoy in their lives. If someone likes to target shoot and only feels better when he is doing that is afraid that a diagnosis of depression will cause him to lose his gun/s.
The sufferer who likes to let off steam through extreme sports is worried that she will be locked away because people want to “protect” her.
And they are right, at least to an extent.
What we need is to reach out to these people help then support them and get them treated. NOT take away all their rights or deny them the things that make them happy.
Yes keep them from hurting themselves. BUT do not go so far overboard that the situation is worse. After all is it so bad letting the guy have a gun or the girl participate in extreme sports, if that keeps them from becoming a danger to themselves?
While taking the guns away may inspire the guy to hang himself or keeping her from her sports may cause her to overdose on pills. How is that better?
I guess what I want to take away from here is, do not judge people for their depression. You do not know where they are or what they are feeling. They may be stronger than you think, you do not know because you are not in their shoes.
I will not name names but I have seen some reactions that appall me. I read a blog where the author concluded that Williams was being selfish, one famous actor stated the same thing, another famous person stated that he was a coward.
Newspaper articles also berated him for his actions and said how awful it was that he should be so selfish or whatever.
I have to tell you that I was offended at that. I have known many people who suffered from depression. True clinical depression. And the thing that I find common to all of them is that unless you, Unless WE, have been there we ought not to jump to conclusions about their motivation.
When someone is going through depression there is little reason involved. At least there is little that we might be able to identify as reason.
Let me try to explain some of the thoughts of a person who is depressed. Here are some of the things that I have heard and seen in people exhibiting these signs.
“The world would be better off without me.”
“I am so weak.”
“I am useless or worthless.”
“No one wants me or needs me.”
“I am a miserable horrible person. It would be better if I had never been born.”
“The world is a worse place because I am here.”
“I make people around me miserable I ought to just not be here.”
“Life is so hard, I do not know how I am going to cope.”
“Everything is getting worse.”
“No one loves me.”
I said earlier that there was little reason involved but in reality there is a kind of reason, it just is skewed. Sadly society feeds that reasoning. Some of it is self-fulfilling. The person who is depressed has little control over the paths of their thoughts. They will see people around them stressed or upset because of the depression and so the thought that they are making these people unhappy is validated. Then because the depression is uncontrollable, the person suffering will reason that the only solution is to remove the problem, since the problem is themselves they will reason the only real solution is suicide.
Another form of reasoning might be, “I am to focused on myself and I cannot stop, so the only solution is to stop ME. People who say a depressed and suicidal person is selfish feeds this and makes things worse because they validate the opinion of the depressed person.
The person who is thinking that he is weak would likewise see validation in the statement of how he is being a coward.
The things we tend to say, in other words, feeds the depression and makes it worse. The only real good solution is to get them professional help. Sadly many depressives will not seek help because they are afraid of the stigma that goes with psychiatric care. Or they are afraid of losing things that they enjoy in their lives. If someone likes to target shoot and only feels better when he is doing that is afraid that a diagnosis of depression will cause him to lose his gun/s.
The sufferer who likes to let off steam through extreme sports is worried that she will be locked away because people want to “protect” her.
And they are right, at least to an extent.
What we need is to reach out to these people help then support them and get them treated. NOT take away all their rights or deny them the things that make them happy.
Yes keep them from hurting themselves. BUT do not go so far overboard that the situation is worse. After all is it so bad letting the guy have a gun or the girl participate in extreme sports, if that keeps them from becoming a danger to themselves?
While taking the guns away may inspire the guy to hang himself or keeping her from her sports may cause her to overdose on pills. How is that better?
I guess what I want to take away from here is, do not judge people for their depression. You do not know where they are or what they are feeling. They may be stronger than you think, you do not know because you are not in their shoes.
April 27, 2014
A goodbye to my Mom
“Your mom has cancer!”
These are devastating words to hear. And these were the words I heard over the phone just about a month ago.
The doctors didn’t give her very long either. Two weeks was what I heard. They found cancer in her lungs, Breast, Bone and Brain.
They started treatment and she was upbeat and she told me that she was “looking forward to watching Gabriel (My one year old son) dance at his wedding.”
She was determined to fight this thing. But as the treatments went on they proved to be too taxing, too grueling for her to continue and she made the choice to stop treatment.
I am devastated once again. I feel as if my heart is shattering into little tiny pieces which no one can put back together again. It hurts more than I can express.
But,
I want to tell you about my mom.
She wasn’t perfect.
No she wasn’t but she was human. And she taught me what it is like to be human.
She wasn’t rich. We never had a lot of money but she did help me to see all the things we did have.
She wasn’t famous. To be honest there are a lot of people who are going to be totally unmoved at her passing.
BUT she was famous to me. She was MOM and if there is any name in the world that is more famous than that one I dare you to tell me what it is.
She made her mistakes, and I loved her! Sometimes because of those very mistakes!
As I said before, She was Human. She loved, she hurt. Much the same as all of us. And through that process she taught me how to go on even when those things happen to us.
It was my mom who loved me unconditionally. She taught me to love the things she loved, Animals, Reading, Theatre, Music… I love these things. She taught me how to.
There is a special bond between a mother and her child. I will miss that bond! I will miss the chance to call her and ask for her help in making sense of life, I will miss the times when I could call to tell her about the newest thing my kids are doing , I will miss the times I would call her to cry over a hurt or heartbreak.
When I was growing up sometimes it seemed as if all we ever had was each other. But we were able to persevere because we knew that whatever else happened, whatever else we faced we DID have each other. We knew there was always someone else standing in our corner and backing us up.
I will miss that.
She did her best to raise me, and she thought, as do I, that she did a pretty good job of that.
I am lucky that I found a wife as wonderful as she is. I will probably be able to go on because if that.
Sure she made mistakes, we all do. But she also did A lot right!
I still love her and she will always have a special place in my heart and in the hearts of her grandchildren.
What I think I am most thankful for right now is that she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, which means I can see her again someday. And when that day comes I want to run into her arms and tell her how much I love her and give her a great big “Bear Hug”. Like I always used to do.
I love you MOM. And I will miss you.
Love Steve.
These are devastating words to hear. And these were the words I heard over the phone just about a month ago.
The doctors didn’t give her very long either. Two weeks was what I heard. They found cancer in her lungs, Breast, Bone and Brain.
They started treatment and she was upbeat and she told me that she was “looking forward to watching Gabriel (My one year old son) dance at his wedding.”
She was determined to fight this thing. But as the treatments went on they proved to be too taxing, too grueling for her to continue and she made the choice to stop treatment.
I am devastated once again. I feel as if my heart is shattering into little tiny pieces which no one can put back together again. It hurts more than I can express.
But,
I want to tell you about my mom.
She wasn’t perfect.
No she wasn’t but she was human. And she taught me what it is like to be human.
She wasn’t rich. We never had a lot of money but she did help me to see all the things we did have.
She wasn’t famous. To be honest there are a lot of people who are going to be totally unmoved at her passing.
BUT she was famous to me. She was MOM and if there is any name in the world that is more famous than that one I dare you to tell me what it is.
She made her mistakes, and I loved her! Sometimes because of those very mistakes!
As I said before, She was Human. She loved, she hurt. Much the same as all of us. And through that process she taught me how to go on even when those things happen to us.
It was my mom who loved me unconditionally. She taught me to love the things she loved, Animals, Reading, Theatre, Music… I love these things. She taught me how to.
There is a special bond between a mother and her child. I will miss that bond! I will miss the chance to call her and ask for her help in making sense of life, I will miss the times when I could call to tell her about the newest thing my kids are doing , I will miss the times I would call her to cry over a hurt or heartbreak.
When I was growing up sometimes it seemed as if all we ever had was each other. But we were able to persevere because we knew that whatever else happened, whatever else we faced we DID have each other. We knew there was always someone else standing in our corner and backing us up.
I will miss that.
She did her best to raise me, and she thought, as do I, that she did a pretty good job of that.
I am lucky that I found a wife as wonderful as she is. I will probably be able to go on because if that.
Sure she made mistakes, we all do. But she also did A lot right!
I still love her and she will always have a special place in my heart and in the hearts of her grandchildren.
What I think I am most thankful for right now is that she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, which means I can see her again someday. And when that day comes I want to run into her arms and tell her how much I love her and give her a great big “Bear Hug”. Like I always used to do.
I love you MOM. And I will miss you.
Love Steve.
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