Here’s you plan….

I find it a little sad that the President had to release a 38 page Victory in Iraq plan.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he did it… Maybe it will shut some people up… (not many, but some)  I just find it sad because everyone in this country should already know the plan.  I do.  The plan is to stay in Iraq until it can successful defend its people and their freedom.  The President has stated that America is committed to democracy in the Middle East and the end of Terrorism.  He has also stated that our Military Commanders in Iraq get whatever they need to get the job done.  He has also made very clear what a democratic Iraq will mean for the larger peace.

The sad fact is that the President had to release this plan to attempt to squash the constant barrage by the media and the LibDems.  You do not hear from these people that all but three of the regions in Iraq are secure, reconstructing, and prospering.  The insurgency (made up of Iranians and Syrians) is in three unstable regions of the country.  It is only a matter of time until these regions are under control and on track.  Elections are happening.  The country has a Constitution!  I heard a report of a Wendy’s open in the main city of one of the regions!  

But the President has to put out a lengthy document and make a speech about the plan for victory.  I just wish that the loudmouth critics of the President were as committed to victory as the President.

Oh, and one more point…. If there needs to be a plan for victory, as the other side screams everyday, just where is their 38 page document and speech?  

The Real Thanksgiving (thanks Rush!)

It is amazing that many of our major holidays have two versions….the mass distribution version and the real version. With Christmas the two versions are intertwined, with the real one being debunked with novelty. Easter has been secularized to the point of embarrassment with the stupid Easter Bunny. Thanksgiving has been turned into “Turkey Day” with stories of the Indians and the Pilgrims sitting down to share the bounty of the harvest in the season following the Mayflowers arrival. Now that Thanksgiving is past I would like to spend a few minutes sharing with you the true story of Thanksgiving.

Rush relates this story every year on the day before Thanksgiving. He reads it from chapter six of his second book, See I told you so. In short the pilgrims made their perilous trek from Holland to the New World to live with religious freedom. The crossing of the Atlantic was hard, the winter in which they arrived even harder. Many of the pilgrims died during that harsh winter.

The struggling colony began operating under its original charter. This agreement (between the pilgrims and the merchants who owned the Mayflower) called for communal living. The agreement outlined that everything belong to the community. The housing, the land and its fruit, the supplies.. all belong to everyone. The colony, operating under this mantle, barley survived.

William Bradford, the Pilgrims’ leader and now colonial governor, decided to scrap the original agreement. He assigned every family their own piece of land. The individual was responsible for growing the food needed for their survival. They could use the bounty as they wished, for food or trade. With this change the colony began to flourish. Trading posts popped up. Trade opened with the Indians. The debts owed by the pilgrims to the Merchants in England were paid.

The colonists scrapped socialism and embraced capitalism. They realized that individual drive to succeed, produce, survive, and better him or herself was a much more powerful force than obligation to the communal well-being. They celebrated a community day of Thanksgiving for their success and survival and God’s many blessings, not for a great community harvest. These people were early, great Americans.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if this version was actually taught in public schools and in holiday TV specials?

Thankful

Growing older still amazes me….  I am in no way enamored with it, but there is a certain amount of knowledge and wisdom that comes with aging that makes it somewhat palatable.  

Thanksgiving has always meant a great deal to me.  When I was young it was my favorite time to travel down Route 201 and head to Boons Camp.  At my Grandmother’s (Mamaw) house awaited great food, cousins, and the yearly trip “back on the hill”.  It was and is my favorite time to go to Mamaw’s.  The thing about this day was always family to me, not that the meaning of the day escaped me, but youth prevented my true appreciation of the day.

With a very little of that wisdom and knowledge kicking in, I’m starting to appreciate the significance of Thanksgiving a little more.  I have not been on this earth very long, but I have plenty to be thankful for…

God has blessed me with an amazing, extraordinary, beautiful partner, my wife Rhonda.  For those who know the story, Rhonda and I were steered towards each other by the events of life as directed by the Lord himself.  I truly thank God for her, definitely my better half!

God has also blessed me with two amazing parents.  I grew up in a house were the two people in charge loved each other, loved me, and loved God.  They brought me up in a wonderful church, corrected me when I was wrong, praised me when I was right, and accepted me for who I am (or was at any given time growing up, e.g. Sherlock Holmes, a Ninja, Indiana Jones, etc.)

I have a sister that is dearer to me than I can express.  She is an amazing woman who married a good man.  Erin is a giving soul.  She is passionate about her family and her faith.  And she’s as stubborn as her Father and Grandmother.  I wouldn’t have her any other way.

I grew up a stone’s throw from two of the greatest people I’ve every known, John and Aurilla Crosson.  My maternal Grandparents, were two people who gave up security and a home to follow where God lead them.  Missionaries for fifty-five years, these two people touched more people in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ than I can count.  They taught me that life is not a path of have and have not, but a path of give and live.  They also taught me that faith in God is not only the most important thing, but the most vital sustaining part of life.  

By the grace of God I have a family that I can proudly say is my own.  As I said before, the folks that congregate in Boons Camp a few times a year are my family.  When you say “my family” to yourself you know who comes to mind.  these people are who come to mind for me and they mean more to me than they will ever know.  They are so much a part of who I’ve become and part of the experiences and lessons I draw on from life.  

Early this year Rhonda and I had quite a scare…. Our cat, Alex, had a pretty severe health crisis.  Thankfully he is fine and doing quite well for 16!  

A number of years ago I spent the two most terrifying hours of my life with twenty-two fellow classmates wondering if any of us would leave Room 108 at East Carter High School.  This experience changed me in more ways than I can explain, but I thank God for it.  There are things about my life that would not have happened if not for the events of January 18, 1993.  I hate many of the ways I am because of it, but I would not give up the number of things that I gained.  I am thankful for the aftermath and my safety.  

God has blessed my with a roof over my head, a good job, a mode of transport, good friends, and an abundance of opportunities that I enjoy everyday.  He has blessed me with various talents and skills.  He has given me a history and a future.  

Thanksgiving is more than a day to eat turkey and watch football (although both are very important).  It is a day to reflect on life and its blessings.  It is a time to be grateful for your past and hopeful for the future.  On this day I chose to sum up my brief ramblings with this single, simple phrase… Thank You dear Lord, Thank You.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Bloggin down to the British

Can you imagine if the mass communication, media, and instant news cycle that we “enjoy” today was available in the 1770’s and 1780’s?

Here’s the way the events of that time might have played out… Please excuse the loose use of historical events and timeline!

In 1776, in response to tyranny (in the form of high taxes and domestic oppression) from a dictating sovereign authority, the colonists declare their independence for the Mad-Man King George. The mainstream media, both TV and print, would be abuzz with the overwhelming response of support by the populace. Many in the press, in the form of editorials, would discuss the apparent need for war, but bemoan the use of violence to achieve victory. The left-wing blogs and web sites would be up in arms over the use of the newly formed militia in an instance where politics and diplomacy would produce greater results. However, with the everyday citizen convinced of the necessity of war, the politicians and the media would lend (token) support to the effort.

During the first few years of the war the newly formed patriotic spirit would be broadcast on high in song, blogs, websites, independent newsletters, etc. General Washington would enjoy approval ratings rarely seen for generals. The media and the politicians would remain positive on the war, with only occasional jabs at pro-independence politicians and General Washington.

After the third or forth year of the war a growing war weariness would begin to swell across the country. Terror Attacks by Indians and British loyalists, reported on what seems like a daily basis on the nightly news, would further erode the colonists resolve for the fight.

On the Sunday morning news shows, pro-independence and pro-British American Politicians would debate the reasons for going to war. Pro-British Politicians would accuse the Continental Congress and General Washington and his chief staffers of misrepresenting intelligence and British position on the colonies. The approval ratings of Congress and Washington would plummet.

By the days of Valley Forge, the colonists want nothing more to do with war. With the constant attack on the War, Congress, and the militia the polls would show that a majority of colonists now believe that the reason for going to war was wrong and that Congress and General Washington had no real plan going into the fight for independence. A mother of a fallen volunteer soldier follows General Washington across the landscape, protesting the war, independence, and the General himself. Actors for the theaters in Boston and New York rattle off anti-War speech from the stage and during acceptance speeches for awards.

Embolden by public sentiment, Pro-British members of the Continental Congress begin pushing for an immediate disbanding of the army and an open discussion with the British about what America can do to regain their favor. Radical blogs and web sites would go so far as to claim that King George was not so bad and that the colonies should submit to his rule.

By 1783, The British Empire control a strengthened American Colony. The infrastructure of the local government and the appeasement of the colonists through token votes (that give them the illusion they have a say in the Empire) would allow this control.

The United States of America has fought a number of wars in its short history. In the late 1700’s we fought a war for independence. In the 1860’s we fought a war for union. In the first part of the 20th century we fought wars to end tyranny. In the late 20th century we fought a Cold War to end Communism. How much different would the world be if the linguini spine mass media and liberal politicians would have worn down American resolve to win these wars? And now in the early part of the 21st century we are fighting a War to end Terrorism. The media and LibDems are wearing down American resolve. I can’t imagine what the world would look like if they succeed and America is defeated. How much different will our grandchildren’s lives be if America backs down?

Thank God for strong men and women in this country that have position of power and influence that are fighting to make sure we reconstruct Iraq, win the War on Terrorism, and protect our homeland. Please don’t get worn down in this fight, Please….

Tired of the Crap!

I spend an overwhelming amount of time reading and studying about politics.  I do not do this because I am a political groupie or because I have a particular party or politician that I am enamored with, I do it because the happenings bear a direct assault on things I do hold dear, my Country and my Faith.  

I am certainly registered to vote as a member of a political party.  However, the actions of members from all parties make affiliation with any of them less than palatable.  Instead of political affiliation, I focus on the ideals and principles that I hold dear and that my Country was founded upon….

It is with that prism that I digest the world.  I do not see things such as the LibDems hijacking of the Senate a couple of days ago as the evils of a misguided party.  I see it as a chess move between politicians in their game of control and power.  Do I have harder feelings toward that political party? Sure.  The problem is that Republicans are equally guilty of political stunts.  Most of the time a side acts out with stunts when they are out of power.  It is power that makes the political wheels go round.  Unfortunately it is power that drives many in Washington to act, not good will and Country.  Are they all like that?  I don’t know the ones that are squawk the loudest so they get the attention!

I have all of that to set up this statement.  I grow very tired of the reaction of many of my fellow citizens to the events of the day.  I truly believe that a great number of people either follow party lines or party philosophy in their interpretation of the world around them.  I can say this because I can be very guilty of this… If I don’t think critically about things.  I am tired of hearing about how “horrible President Bush is” or “this is all the President’s fault”.  As I have expounded on in previous entries, President Bush and the Government do not control your life and many of the elements in your life.  Sure, the number of Government programs that people unfortunately rely on is an example of the control people refer to, but not everyone rely on these programs.

The dirty little secret is that President Bush and Congress do not control things like gas prices, the “income gap”, and the economy.  Can they do things that influence each of these? Of course! But the President is not letting the price of oil go up and up to make his so-called Oil Buddies rich.  Congress is not purposely abstaining on things to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.  And neither of them can wave a magic wand and make the economy better or worse.  The truth is that distribution and the futures market have the greatest impact on oil prices.  There maybe gouging… I don’t know.

The so-called income gap is the talking points way of saying that there are people in this country that have run with their opportunity, skill, and talent.  They make money and ebb and flow according to the changes in market demand.  Others either don’t take advantage of opportunity, remain in places with no opportunity, or just don’t take the initiative to do better.  I’m not saying that they are not people that are poor despite their best efforts.  Heck, I’m poor and I moved away from home and have a master’s degree!  But I know why I’m poor and I’m working a second job to correct it!  

My overall point is that I am fatigued with the notion that everything in the world is bad.  That there is no hope and everything is just going to get worse.  If I believed that and lived my life like that I would jump off a bridge!  I am tired of hearing people blame my Country, this President, and Corporations for the problems of some in our nation.  The truth is that America is still the land of opportunity.  It is still the land of the free and home of the brave.  Do you think that millions of people from all over the world would be trying to get here if it sucked and the President’s Oil Buddies were going to get all their hard earned money?  NOOOO!  Do you think that thousands of the most incredible people in the world would volunteer to lace up boots and pick up a rifle to defeat Terrorism and spread Democracy to countries that without them have no shot at it?   NOOOO!  The truth of the matter is that by the Grace of God Almighty, America has endured for over two-hundred years.  It is the lone light of freedom and opportunity in this world.  It is a nation founded on the principles of Christian morals, limited government, and individual responsibility.  

If you do not believe that, please exercise your freedom of speech somewhere else… I don’t want to hear your negative crap!