*Also posted on my other site, Gimped Redneck*
I've been thinking much about people lately and their presuppositions of their place in the world. In reading the local small-town newspaper, I find about relatives visiting various townfolk, local politicians and their look of position, tragedies found, and obituaries of people who might have never before been found worthy of print.
I move on to the larger newspaper of nearby college/industrial towns, and find happenings of cultural value and people related to it. I also find about new businesses openings accompanied by hopeful smiles as would normally be found on the face of a new papa. I see commentaries on subjects of no real value to human life than the reason to rant, and I see tribute to the lives of the departed fortunate alongside the misfortunes of the less regarded. Everywhere I find someone has the ultimate way for me to save money by shopping at their establishment, or values on new cars I can only dream about.
On up to a paper/magazine of national or international scale, I find people mentioned for noble birth and caste, riots and the incivility of the human race, agenda's, and other notable mentions.
In all this, I am given a view of humanity as a whole. Here I sit in my little bedroom while my four kids play on the bed, I am privy to the lives, hopes, and tragedies of the world...Both my local and global neighbors are here. I wonder who has the answer to life and can offer a true definition of success.
"Grandma Jones was at her proudest moment when she was presented a great grandchild in her living room," while a thousand miles away, "Jack Doe is being toasted for winning a Pulitzer."
I see a picture of old Walter Thompson being helped from a pickup truck after returning home from the funeral of his wife of 47 years. The text quotes some of the talk inside his little house as they remember funny and memorable milestones in the life of his wife.Across a Continent I see Limousines with family members and associates being escorted to the graveside of their recently departed...owner of a Fortune 500 company.The text gives a breakdown of his success in business, then goes on to discuss how his empire will be divided.
At the funeral of Walters wife, I am told that he just stood with his grown children with a look of loss, as he wrenched at the brim of his hat, the photo's of the mogul's funeral shows the ladies in vale and men with starched faces.
In the end...Who will be the more sorely missed?
Maybe I should not read the papers for awhile...
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Friday, May 28, 2004
What's Life About?
Pondering the pursuit of wealth and where will it lead...Retirement center/quality of life? Making an impact...
I have noticed lately that in many people (including me)life holds two components depending on where one is in life.
For people like me, struggling to make ends meet is a major factor in my life. I have many responsibilities and most of them center around being able to afford provision for my family. Most of my time is spent trying to make money, figuring out how to make more money, or how to spend it and who gets the biggest cut first. Life is hard and it would seem that it is mostly due to this lack of finances.
I also have friends who are extremely well off, and much of their time is spent making money, figuring out the best way to make more, The wisest way to spend/invest their money, and protecting it. One advantage they do have over me though is the freedom from having to worry about keeping the kids fed, or how to keep the lights on. Their cars don't break down and if something needs fixed, a repairman is just a phone call away. But, they still have the stress of protecting and increasing it. They go on vacations while I rent a movie for the family to watch.
I have also noticed that in charity, most of the time, my $100 bill is matched by theirs. Not all that much of a difference in giving. I find this strange. Am I more charitable, or is there simply a set standard to give? While I do make a difference at times through my charity, they could really make an impact, but choose not to. Where I offer a band-aid, they have the ability to totally heal the wound, but don't. My giving always costs me much and my family always feels the impact of it. I wonder how much their giving really costs them? Do they have to maybe eat a little cheaper? Put off buying clothes the children desperately need? Maybe shuffle around their bill paying schedule...I don't know because I am not there.
Another thing I have noticed is that regardless of financial status, we all die the same. Some may get a nicer box to be buried in and more pomp and circumstance, but none-the-less, both end up in the same dirt.
I believe it would be wise if people could realize it is not the amount you give that makes the difference, but rather the price you pay, to make that difference. If some work of charity is to be of any real impact, it will always come at a high cost to the giver, and if not, then the work is all in the name of vanity. We can either pay up front, or in the end, but we all will pay!
Only we can decide how we want to be remembered...I prefer not to be happily forgotten as a vain person, but fondly remembered as a person of impact!
I have noticed lately that in many people (including me)life holds two components depending on where one is in life.
For people like me, struggling to make ends meet is a major factor in my life. I have many responsibilities and most of them center around being able to afford provision for my family. Most of my time is spent trying to make money, figuring out how to make more money, or how to spend it and who gets the biggest cut first. Life is hard and it would seem that it is mostly due to this lack of finances.
I also have friends who are extremely well off, and much of their time is spent making money, figuring out the best way to make more, The wisest way to spend/invest their money, and protecting it. One advantage they do have over me though is the freedom from having to worry about keeping the kids fed, or how to keep the lights on. Their cars don't break down and if something needs fixed, a repairman is just a phone call away. But, they still have the stress of protecting and increasing it. They go on vacations while I rent a movie for the family to watch.
I have also noticed that in charity, most of the time, my $100 bill is matched by theirs. Not all that much of a difference in giving. I find this strange. Am I more charitable, or is there simply a set standard to give? While I do make a difference at times through my charity, they could really make an impact, but choose not to. Where I offer a band-aid, they have the ability to totally heal the wound, but don't. My giving always costs me much and my family always feels the impact of it. I wonder how much their giving really costs them? Do they have to maybe eat a little cheaper? Put off buying clothes the children desperately need? Maybe shuffle around their bill paying schedule...I don't know because I am not there.
Another thing I have noticed is that regardless of financial status, we all die the same. Some may get a nicer box to be buried in and more pomp and circumstance, but none-the-less, both end up in the same dirt.
I believe it would be wise if people could realize it is not the amount you give that makes the difference, but rather the price you pay, to make that difference. If some work of charity is to be of any real impact, it will always come at a high cost to the giver, and if not, then the work is all in the name of vanity. We can either pay up front, or in the end, but we all will pay!
Only we can decide how we want to be remembered...I prefer not to be happily forgotten as a vain person, but fondly remembered as a person of impact!
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Bring Our Soldiers Home!
Why are our soldiers fighting? Do they belong in Iraq?
I am currently a nontraditional college student (geezer going to school) and am constantly exposed to the liberal thought which says that the U.S. has no business in Iraq. I also happen to live deep in the country where most everyone is a gun toting conservative, and everyone believes we were right in our invasion of Iraq.
To complicate this a little bit more, my wife's baby brother is now in Iraq serving as a medic. Do we want him there? No! Should he be there? Yes! He is helping many people, both Iraqi and U.S. to hold onto life until they can get to a hospital, so his work is good and he is making a difference in the world. He doesn't want to be there, but feels as long as he can help save someone's life, then he does belong there. He has gone so far as learn some Iraqi on his own time in order to ask medical questions and offer comfort to the Iraqis. He just sees people. In this, we, as he, feel like he does belong there.
Another thing is the fact that he "chose" to join the military, and has an obligation to fulfill his contract. He knew the potential was there for military action. He was taught how to kill and how to survive. In this, he is mandated by honor to do the service he has agreed to.
With that said, I will admit to being a liberal conservative. I believe that we should mind our own business, but step up and fight when the cause is right. Do I believe the U.S. should have invaded? Yes, but not for the reasons given. This whole Weapon's of Mass Destruction has proven to have not panned out, and I honestly would not be surprised to find that Iraq had them. But, I feel that this reason of suspicion was not strong enough to invade.
My reason for supporting the invasion is as follows.
First, if you go to the U.S. State department and do a search on Iraq, you will literally find hundreds of documents with Saddam and his two sons as the topic of point. The issue is one of inhumane and cruel treatment of the Iraqi people. You can also go to Amnesty International or any other of a number of human rights groups and read just how evil this monster and offspring were. They were sadistic, psychotic, and maniacal in their actions. Think someone "might" look at you wrong...Throw them into an industrial shredder live. Torture for fear and fun seemed to be their hobby. This is my reason, and was so excited with this family being either killed or caught, as was the case with Saddam. The world will be so much better without those monsters.
Second, the U.N. (go to their website) had listed many reasons for supporting an attack on Iraq. Just read through the last few years, and you will find it.
Do I believe Iraq will become a peaceful and democratic nation? No. The world of the middle east is not one of a democratic culture. They have warlords and tyrants just waiting in the wings. While I believe there are some Iraqis who will try to make the plan work, they will most likely be overrun in the end. With all the oil at stake, some nation will corrupt and profit from it. Just ask yourself how Saddam, Yassir, and Osama got their strength in the first place.
The only way I see of changing this culture would be to imprison the culture for life, while taking the very young and raising them as "we" would want them to be...Democratic pawns.
I am currently a nontraditional college student (geezer going to school) and am constantly exposed to the liberal thought which says that the U.S. has no business in Iraq. I also happen to live deep in the country where most everyone is a gun toting conservative, and everyone believes we were right in our invasion of Iraq.
To complicate this a little bit more, my wife's baby brother is now in Iraq serving as a medic. Do we want him there? No! Should he be there? Yes! He is helping many people, both Iraqi and U.S. to hold onto life until they can get to a hospital, so his work is good and he is making a difference in the world. He doesn't want to be there, but feels as long as he can help save someone's life, then he does belong there. He has gone so far as learn some Iraqi on his own time in order to ask medical questions and offer comfort to the Iraqis. He just sees people. In this, we, as he, feel like he does belong there.
Another thing is the fact that he "chose" to join the military, and has an obligation to fulfill his contract. He knew the potential was there for military action. He was taught how to kill and how to survive. In this, he is mandated by honor to do the service he has agreed to.
With that said, I will admit to being a liberal conservative. I believe that we should mind our own business, but step up and fight when the cause is right. Do I believe the U.S. should have invaded? Yes, but not for the reasons given. This whole Weapon's of Mass Destruction has proven to have not panned out, and I honestly would not be surprised to find that Iraq had them. But, I feel that this reason of suspicion was not strong enough to invade.
My reason for supporting the invasion is as follows.
First, if you go to the U.S. State department and do a search on Iraq, you will literally find hundreds of documents with Saddam and his two sons as the topic of point. The issue is one of inhumane and cruel treatment of the Iraqi people. You can also go to Amnesty International or any other of a number of human rights groups and read just how evil this monster and offspring were. They were sadistic, psychotic, and maniacal in their actions. Think someone "might" look at you wrong...Throw them into an industrial shredder live. Torture for fear and fun seemed to be their hobby. This is my reason, and was so excited with this family being either killed or caught, as was the case with Saddam. The world will be so much better without those monsters.
Second, the U.N. (go to their website) had listed many reasons for supporting an attack on Iraq. Just read through the last few years, and you will find it.
Do I believe Iraq will become a peaceful and democratic nation? No. The world of the middle east is not one of a democratic culture. They have warlords and tyrants just waiting in the wings. While I believe there are some Iraqis who will try to make the plan work, they will most likely be overrun in the end. With all the oil at stake, some nation will corrupt and profit from it. Just ask yourself how Saddam, Yassir, and Osama got their strength in the first place.
The only way I see of changing this culture would be to imprison the culture for life, while taking the very young and raising them as "we" would want them to be...Democratic pawns.
Friday, May 21, 2004
An Honest Education
Going to school in the seventies I was told that I needed to be part of the physically and that if I really tried, I could be anything I wanted to be. By the time I grew up there would be a woman for president and if I wanted, I could walk on the moon. With this in mind, I decided that indeed I wanted to be an astronaut, or at the least an air force pilot. The educators kept telling us this through their curriculum and I continued to believe it. What they did not tell me was how I needed to go about becoming what they had fostered.
While it is true there was a counselor to advise us, the closer I got to graduation, the faster I realized I had no direction. I would ask about pursuing my goals, and they would say study hard. Upon graduation in the early eighties, with diploma in hand, I promptly became a chicken de-beaker for one of the local poultry contractors.
In our little “working-class” town, I was somewhat successful as I was known to be a hard worker, industrious, and someone who earned their way. Of my graduating class, I can only remember maybe 4 of my peers who went to college, which was mostly because their parents insisted upon it; two of them graduated. This was not an idea I found pushed in the school system, unless the student had an outlined plan for their future. For the rest of us, we were told to work hard…make something of ourselves.
In seeing that my jobs were getting me nowhere, I decided to go to a local vo-tech where it was decided that I should be a diesel mechanic. I loved the theory part of class, and even the lab, but quickly realized I did not want to be a diesel mechanic, so I quit. After a few more years of work, I found myself leaning back on the same conclusion of needing an education, which ended up sending me on to a technical school to become a “HVAC” engineer (heat and air serviceman), thanks to a wonderfully crafted Television commercial. Once again, I loved the theory and lab, but hated the practical part of what the outcome would be. I had no desire to fix someone’s air conditioner! After graduation I became a hard worker again.
I wound up working in a specialized human service industry where I worked hard and made my way up from the lowest level, to the position of second in command alongside another hard worker. I had finally realized some amount of success and was told that upon the retirement of my superior, I would be the best qualified for the position. Things were good, and the time of his retirement came as I had been grooming myself for the step up. Was I ever ready!
The outcome was a little different than I had expected. It was decided that a college intern that worked there would be the perfect fit for this position, so I settled in staying where I was, as I was told that I should feel honored to have the position I currently held, especailly in light of the fact that I had no college education. A year later and the place of some twenty-five years shut its doors. Now this couldn’t be due the lack of experience on the part of the educated director, but more along the lines of a poor economy, (not like the company hadn’t weathered hard times before).
While in an admittable amount of disbelief and shock, I still held a certain degree of hope for the future. In my former position, I had worked alongside engineers, HR directors, and plant managers of many national and international businesses. I was in the know, had the contacts, and a list of great references that would open any door. Another thing, which boosted my confidence, was the fact that many of the corporate people I worked with, made less money than me, and surely I could walk into their world with little problem…my hard work and good attitude would carry me through. In fact, many of the lower level line workers were college graduates and this served as a boost to me in the thought that it was the person and not the pedigree that insured success. The reception I found was a little different than I expected though. While I was experienced, the “good” jobs were reserved for those with college degrees. All my “hard work” just wasn’t enough.
Back in 1983 with dream in hand, I had not the faintest idea of the course life would take. Some twenty years later I find myself going to college, which is what I would have done in the first place had someone told me the truth. I now have professors younger than me who are trained in areas of scholarship, yet have no practical experiences in the field. I sit and listen to them teach what I have experienced, and know their recipe will not always work. I have to take classes of no interest but high expense in order to attain a degree that will allow me to “work hard.” I am guaranteed no success, but rather, am being enlightened. I have found that I need to be tolerant of everything…don’t weigh the intent or outcome, just tolerate. I am disciplined to concentrate on the mechanics more than the idea, and that conservative republicans are evil, but there is no God. I am learning to embrace all religions of the world and to shun Christianity. The most important thing I am finding is that in the United States of America, a country with English as it’s national language, I will not be allowed to gain my college diploma without learning the Spanish language. I am definitely getting an education. In all fairness though, there are a few exceptions I have found, and they are truly professors of scholarship and have my respect.
As I sit in class with student’s young enough to be my children, I wonder what they have been taught. They have shared much knowledge in how we shouldn’t harvest trees; some have learned it is wrong to eat meat, and that they are ahead of the game due to their lack of judgment against their (his or her) fellow citizens of the world. I have also found them for the most part, are not educated in any of the hard sciences, and many can only spell their own name with any degree of confidence. Good portions of them are from split, mixed, or single parent families, and I can safely say some have even functioned as the head of their family. This bothers me much.
In wondering what went wrong for these students, and how they got where they are I have realized that it is my generation that was at the helm. The ones who were pushed to dream and be whatever they wanted to be. The girl sitting by me in class just might be the daughter of "Madame President." Yes, it was my generation who went from dreams to despair and in such, has birthed a generation of disregard and submission through the guise of tolerance.
It would seem that I was the product of an open ended agenda. My childhood education was little more than me being a product of manufacture for one of the strongest businesses in the country; the public school system. Their intent was not for my best interest, but to produce another cog for the machine, which is now wearing out. Tell me what I want to hear and I just might follow you all the way to hell. Oh, "Hell" doesn't exist...nevermind.
There is so much more I would like to say on this subject, but I must wrap it up, as I am expecting a call from N.A.S.A!
While it is true there was a counselor to advise us, the closer I got to graduation, the faster I realized I had no direction. I would ask about pursuing my goals, and they would say study hard. Upon graduation in the early eighties, with diploma in hand, I promptly became a chicken de-beaker for one of the local poultry contractors.
In our little “working-class” town, I was somewhat successful as I was known to be a hard worker, industrious, and someone who earned their way. Of my graduating class, I can only remember maybe 4 of my peers who went to college, which was mostly because their parents insisted upon it; two of them graduated. This was not an idea I found pushed in the school system, unless the student had an outlined plan for their future. For the rest of us, we were told to work hard…make something of ourselves.
In seeing that my jobs were getting me nowhere, I decided to go to a local vo-tech where it was decided that I should be a diesel mechanic. I loved the theory part of class, and even the lab, but quickly realized I did not want to be a diesel mechanic, so I quit. After a few more years of work, I found myself leaning back on the same conclusion of needing an education, which ended up sending me on to a technical school to become a “HVAC” engineer (heat and air serviceman), thanks to a wonderfully crafted Television commercial. Once again, I loved the theory and lab, but hated the practical part of what the outcome would be. I had no desire to fix someone’s air conditioner! After graduation I became a hard worker again.
I wound up working in a specialized human service industry where I worked hard and made my way up from the lowest level, to the position of second in command alongside another hard worker. I had finally realized some amount of success and was told that upon the retirement of my superior, I would be the best qualified for the position. Things were good, and the time of his retirement came as I had been grooming myself for the step up. Was I ever ready!
The outcome was a little different than I had expected. It was decided that a college intern that worked there would be the perfect fit for this position, so I settled in staying where I was, as I was told that I should feel honored to have the position I currently held, especailly in light of the fact that I had no college education. A year later and the place of some twenty-five years shut its doors. Now this couldn’t be due the lack of experience on the part of the educated director, but more along the lines of a poor economy, (not like the company hadn’t weathered hard times before).
While in an admittable amount of disbelief and shock, I still held a certain degree of hope for the future. In my former position, I had worked alongside engineers, HR directors, and plant managers of many national and international businesses. I was in the know, had the contacts, and a list of great references that would open any door. Another thing, which boosted my confidence, was the fact that many of the corporate people I worked with, made less money than me, and surely I could walk into their world with little problem…my hard work and good attitude would carry me through. In fact, many of the lower level line workers were college graduates and this served as a boost to me in the thought that it was the person and not the pedigree that insured success. The reception I found was a little different than I expected though. While I was experienced, the “good” jobs were reserved for those with college degrees. All my “hard work” just wasn’t enough.
Back in 1983 with dream in hand, I had not the faintest idea of the course life would take. Some twenty years later I find myself going to college, which is what I would have done in the first place had someone told me the truth. I now have professors younger than me who are trained in areas of scholarship, yet have no practical experiences in the field. I sit and listen to them teach what I have experienced, and know their recipe will not always work. I have to take classes of no interest but high expense in order to attain a degree that will allow me to “work hard.” I am guaranteed no success, but rather, am being enlightened. I have found that I need to be tolerant of everything…don’t weigh the intent or outcome, just tolerate. I am disciplined to concentrate on the mechanics more than the idea, and that conservative republicans are evil, but there is no God. I am learning to embrace all religions of the world and to shun Christianity. The most important thing I am finding is that in the United States of America, a country with English as it’s national language, I will not be allowed to gain my college diploma without learning the Spanish language. I am definitely getting an education. In all fairness though, there are a few exceptions I have found, and they are truly professors of scholarship and have my respect.
As I sit in class with student’s young enough to be my children, I wonder what they have been taught. They have shared much knowledge in how we shouldn’t harvest trees; some have learned it is wrong to eat meat, and that they are ahead of the game due to their lack of judgment against their (his or her) fellow citizens of the world. I have also found them for the most part, are not educated in any of the hard sciences, and many can only spell their own name with any degree of confidence. Good portions of them are from split, mixed, or single parent families, and I can safely say some have even functioned as the head of their family. This bothers me much.
In wondering what went wrong for these students, and how they got where they are I have realized that it is my generation that was at the helm. The ones who were pushed to dream and be whatever they wanted to be. The girl sitting by me in class just might be the daughter of "Madame President." Yes, it was my generation who went from dreams to despair and in such, has birthed a generation of disregard and submission through the guise of tolerance.
It would seem that I was the product of an open ended agenda. My childhood education was little more than me being a product of manufacture for one of the strongest businesses in the country; the public school system. Their intent was not for my best interest, but to produce another cog for the machine, which is now wearing out. Tell me what I want to hear and I just might follow you all the way to hell. Oh, "Hell" doesn't exist...nevermind.
There is so much more I would like to say on this subject, but I must wrap it up, as I am expecting a call from N.A.S.A!
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