Making It In America

And so today begins a new chapter in the history of this fantastic country.  Reflecting on President Bush’s presidency in a realistic manner, one can see both positive and negative events.  As President Obama takes his place in history, many are counting on his to make this country different.  He is currently enjoying the tide of popular public opinion.  He got off to a good start today with an inspiring speech during his inauguration address.  May the things he said be the things he does.  May he continue on in public opinion because he serves this country well.  I have many hopes for the next four years, as I do whenever a new presidency begins.

I hope that the Congress and Obama will be able to work together for the good of our country.  I hope that the changes that allowed a man with African ancestry to become the president will continue in the direction of unity.  I hope that God is with President Obama and that America remains prominent in the world, helping and protecting those who need it.  I hope my money does not lose its value.  I hope the tide of economic woes will turn for the better.  I hope that, at the end of his four year term, President Obama has done such a fantastic job that everyone will want him for four more.

I have many other dreams and visions for our country, but if President Obama can just pull off a few of these while keeping our constitution intact I will be a contented American citizen.   And so I pray as we turn the page…..

Malia and Sasha Obama have just been entered into the arena of public opinion.  For the next four to eight years, everything they say or do will be reported to you by those who feel you have a right to know.  As they go through the awkward stages of a young girl’s life, somebody will be certain to tell the entire world.  Being ten and seven, right now most of it will blow over their little girl heads.  But before this is over they could, potentially have gone through a great deal of their teenage years.  I hope that they do not have to read about themselves as the Bush girls, Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter did.

I know the girls have to be brimming with excitement as the date of their father’s presidential inauguration nears.  They will be photographed and written about as they attend the different events, as they should be.  After all, this is an event that is a part of our country’s history and they are a part of events.  After the close of the inauguration, they will go home to the White House.  At times they will be involved in public events.  I will enjoy reading about them.  Again, they are meant for the public.

But, when they go to school, it is not the business of the public to know who their friends are, how they adjust, what they do well and where they struggle.  If they have a fight with a friend, as children tend to do, give them the chance to patch it up as children should.  It is not fodder for the news because it is their private life.  Our country has decided that, if a person puts himself in a public forum, everything he does is fair game.  Maybe that is true for the father, but the girls didn’t run for office and common decency says they ought to be able to grow up with a little privacy!

I hope no one was offended, but, as a plane full of 150+ individuals headed toward what may have become their watery grave, people on board U. S, Airways Flight 1549 began praying, calling on Jesus to save them.  Using the skill of the pilot, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, the plane was brought down on the Hudson River safely.  The last time a plane had a collision with a bird that caused an accident, people died.  Today, they suffered a little hypothermia, bruises and a few other minor injuries.  All I can think of as I watched the film footage and read the reports is “Thank God and Sully” for saving the lives of all those people!

Crimes against mother nature should include the crime of being stupid!  Stupid is even conceiving of or considering the idea of charging farmers or ranchers for cow gas.  Sadly, the United Nations thinks that cows cause global warming.  Sorry fellas, check out sun spots and a few more viable ideas.  Cow farts do not cause global warming.  Charging for the gas will not end global warming.  Hot air from the United Nations probably causes about as much global warming as the gas of one cow.  I think we should charge everyone who tries to pass this bill for existing.

Let’s see-cows have been around since God created this wonderful world.  It seems to me that there were an awful lot of cows about thirty-some years ago when our concern was global cooling.  Could cows eating grass cause global cooling?  No-it’s not the cow folks!

It is crazy that so few seem to understand that the global warming proponents are just interested in making money!  If they really think cows are going to make the world too hot with their gas, then they should kill all the cows.  Then, if this ridiculous idea were true, the problem would halt.  Oh, but they wouldn’t make any money!  It’s not about saving the planet.  It’s about control, power and money.  Until we start letting the ‘powers that be’ know we aren’t that stupid, we should be charged with crimes against mother nature-whoever she is!

Sometimes I’m a little skeptical, maybe even a little suspicious.  For example, I think that impeached Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich selected Roland Burris to cause a stink.  He is  playing a game and poor Mr. Burris is his pawn.  Angered because he got caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar, he’s making as much noise as he can before he is officially removed from office.  He has put the ugh in ugly politics.

There is such a stink in the Senate.  Senators won’t approve Roland Burris because he doesn’t have the proper signature on his paper.  The secretary of state won’t sign the paper because Blagojevich selected him.  Many are blaming everything on racism.   And the entire affair is tainted.  It is interesting that a governor who is suspected of trying to sell a seat should have been able to do anything naming its new occupant to begin with.  Mr. Burris may be a wonderful, upstanding citizen who will do a fantastic job filling the seat.  It is just too bad that he had to have any association with Blagojevich to gain the seat!

Still, I think that this mess has been created on purpose.  Maybe to take the headlines away from his own corruption.   Maybe to take the spotlight off of Barack Obama.  Maybe to gain his fifteen minutes of fame.  Or to prove, by golly, I can and I will fill that vacancy.  Point is, it doesn’t matter who he had chosen, the candidate would be accepted with the same lack of grace as Mr. Burris.

I cannot believe that transit police officer Johannes Mehserle is not behind bars.  Having watched the video, I do know this-if you or I had pulled the trigger that killed Oscar Grant we would be in jail!

I understand that there needs to be a trial.  I know how the justice system works.  But the man with the gun shot before he thought.  There was no imminent danger.  Grant wasn’t resisting as he lay flat on the ground.  He was totally vulnerable and unarmed and now he is dead.  At the hands of a police officer.  Someone who takes a pledge to serve and protect.  And he’s still free.

Some have suggested that  Mehserle thought he was going for his taser. In looking at the tape I’m wondering, why would he need a taser?  Who did he need it for with all the police officers there and nobody fighting them?  The truth is that he didn’t need any weapons at the moment.

It isn’t acceptable to ‘protect your own’ when they are guilty.  I believe the lack of an arrest is part of what has angered the citizens of Oakland.  I wasn’t there and I’m not in the guy’s head, but it sure looks like he’s getting away with murder.  He should at least have a trial so we can find out! Someday his four year old child will want to know.

It always amazes me when I watch Westerns. Some how, every bad guy in the county knows exactly when the biggest gold shipment is going to be on the stage coach. They know the best time and way to hit because they are aware of all the details of the transfer. I always wondered what would happen if no one told them. I know, simplistic thinking, but logical too! Thing is, I guess things haven’t changed all that much!

Today I read a headline that stated, “Feds say inauguration attractive terrorist target.” In reading the article, not one threat, foreign or domestic, has been detected,. I guess they just wanted all the bad guys in the county to know what was going on.

My favorite part of this incredibly insane news article is when they tell everyone that the lone wolf is the greatest threat. In other words, a lone wolf has the greatest chance of being successful in a terrorist hit. I can’t be sure that there is any intent to cause a bad situation by the feds reporting this in detail. It does make me worry about the decisions they may make in defense of our country though. Can anyone tell me the rational for making this known? I’m racking my brain but, just like in the Westerns, it is not making any sense.

 Personal networking sites like MySpace are very popular among young people.  The site has set an age limit of fourteen to become a member.  There is little they can do to police it and, let’s face it, people lie!

Now, I’m sure you are probably thinking, at least my child isn’t involved.  Think again!  I have listened to students as young as eleven discuss their MySpace accounts.  I have even had students that did not have computers in their homes discuss their pages!  (Friends check it for them.)  I have been begged to let them check the site at school-something I do not allow.  I think these sites represent a big danger for our young people today.

First, they are too trusting.  In a small Ohio town of 20,000, they found seven registered sex offenders with MySpace accounts.  In this same town, students had posted pictures of themselves in bikinis and, though they don’t give their address, they did give their small hometown.  One girl’s family was the only one in town with her surname.   I do not even like to think about the possibilities!

Second, they have a sense of being anonymous.  They are more free to take risks when they do not see the face to face reaction.

Third, they are too trusting.  One student I had had given her password out to only a couple people.  Only problem was, once we tried to figure out who had sent out vicious emails from her account, the number grew and grew and grew.  We need only remember Megan Meier and her death from a MySpace encounter to realize how trusting our children are and how easily they can be fooled.  It can be a deadly experience.

Fourth, some of the at risk behaviors include posting pictures of themselves that get spread around.  These pictures can come back to haunt them some day, and once they are gone, they are gone!

Don’t think I am against MySpace.  I have an account.  What I am against is the inability of today’s moms and dads to accept their children will join networking sites and these things can be their realities.  Everyone likes to think their child is the more mature, more responsible child.  Parents, put those computers out where you can see them and walk by-regularly.  It isn’t worth the risk that you might be wrong!

When was the last time you have gone a week without hearing that a “nice, sweet” child used a gun and murdered somebody?  Maybe I’ve got it all wrong, but in my mind, nice, sweet children do not kill people when they are angry.  They do not plot to attack or kill their teacher for scolding them.  They just do not!

I wonder what the wonders of the media have done for our children.  Years ago, I spent hours previewing movies to make sure my children did not see any material that  was not appropriate for them.  Today, it seems that many parents think their children are mature beyond their years and they let them watch everything.  Children are performing acts my children didn’t even know existed at the ages of eight to twelve. 

Where have all the children gone, long time passing?   Where have all the children gone, long time ago?  Where have all the children gone?  I don’t even want to know the ending of this song.   If parents don’t wake up and realize what is happening to their children soon, the incidences like this are only going to increase.

It is time for America to wake up and reclaim the innocence of our children.  Now.  Today.  Before it is too late.

Today a great voice was silenced.  In spite of treatment she was undergoing in New York, Eartha Kitt succumbed to colon cancer, a battle she had been fighting since 2006.  How ironic that she, whose voice I have been hearing over and over again for the past twenty-five days, would die today of all days, Christmas!  After learning of her death, her most famous song was played on the computer.  Her list included cars and mines among many others.  What a shame she did not ask “Santa Baby” to bring good health down her chimney last night.  She will be missed by all who enjoyed her mellow, melodic voice.