anotherlook

Photo Courtesy Of MSNBC

While some are calling the recent election in Virginia and New Jersey, where Republicans won major elections to high offices, as a setback for the Obama Administration, I call it a return to status quo, a return to business as usual. People call for change but the average person is afraid of change and this election proves that point, if nothing else.

Others are saying these elections are a statement directed solely at Obama and the concept of how people want their country back; that they want a better economy as well as a stop to government spending.

My question becomes “back” from whom? It seems obvious to me that one election changes nothing when it comes to how far down we have fallen and though Obama in no way caused the fall – it was in fact the Republicans that were in office for the previous eight years, through government spending – I’m not sure if that reality makes much difference to those who voted to put Republicans back in charge.

Clearly, Republicans have run this country for the previous eight years. They have run this country to the brink of financial ruin yet, Republicans are what the people are accustomed to and in spite of the efforts made by Obama to institute change, these elections are indicative of the fear Americans have of change.

More than anything these elections demonstrate that unless people get out and vote in the masses that took place during the presidential election, things will easily revert back to what it was. This election demonstrates that change is a scary thing and that most will stick with the devil they know as opposed to knowing another way. This election could even demonstrate that of the candidates being voted on, those who voted chose “the best man for the job.”

This election could demonstrate, as well, that we the people are still looking to politicians to change our lot in life; to lead us, individually to prosperity; to ease the burden that unemployment has caused. The economy is on the upswing, as predicted by Obama. When he originally said that things would get worse before they got better this too has occurred. Getting back on solid ground will take a while because the process is a process which hinges on layers of success.

As sad as it is, big business is the foundation and once they get on solid ground to the point they feel comfortable with sharing the wealth with “we the people” rather than their business partners, by once again hiring and in the case of financial institutions, lending, then we the people begin to have confidence in the system and we begin to spend more.

Once we begin to spend small businesses begin to prosper, as small businesses begin to prosper more jobs become available and the cycle begins in earnest leading to a stronger economy. Patience is the key to waiting, something Americans are proving they do not have a lot of; as is being demonstrated by the unrealistic belief that Obama had a magic wand that would instantly be waved and all things would magically go back to the way things were. Since that did not happen in the ten months allowed we have seen a shift in alliances as this elections may have even demonstrated.

Obama is not a dictator and therefore can not change major policies, such as health care or the closing of Gitmo or anything else of major importance, without the aid of Congress. Congress has proven they are nothing more than the proverbial cement block attached to the purposed progress, which holds down transformation in the tide waters of change sweeping the coast lines of financial security of this country.

Ten months is not enough time to have accomplished much when you have opposition holding back policy changes on the levels that have occurred since Obama has been in office and even those things that have been accomplished are not without criticism and skepticism as to whether they have played a critical part in the slow turnaround of the economy.

Ten months is not enough time to have given people back jobs that have been lost through mismanagement, excesses, greed, corruption, self-interests and bad business policies, however with all of the bonuses that have been given out, salaries for a number of employees could have instead been paid, but that is not how it works and although the ball has been pushed and is rolling in the direction of improvement, jobs are the last in a list of steps that must be taken before the economy’s improvement is felt by those who need it most.

The recovery will take time and the past ten months have shown that the implementations set in motion by Obama have at least a chance of stabilizing the shaky economy. Ten months is not long when compared to eight years of Republican rule which lead us to where we are today. I’m just saying, don’t read too much into the politics that just occurred with the 2009 elections because possibilities still exist to the contrary of how this election is being “analyzed.”

And that’s the way I see it.

Picture Courtesy of CNN Justice

Empathy is defined as the ability to identify with and understand somebody else’s feelings or difficulties. The lack of empathy is exactly what was displayed earlier last week-end, at Richmond High School, as a 15-year-old girl was brutally gang-raped outside a California high school homecoming dance.

Richmond High was the scene to one of the worse displays of total lack of empathy imaginable, as not only was this 15-year-old girl gang-raped but she was beaten unconscious while at least ten people took turns raping her and ten others watched and offered no help, but instead video taped the cruelty on their cell phones to show others.

Now this comes on the heels of the senseless beating death of Derrion Albert, who was beaten to death in a “mob-mentality” free for all, in broad daylight on the streets of Chicago with grown-ups driving by and doing nothing to break up the madness.

Even as people are showing righteous indignation over both of these tragedies, you have to ask yourself, what part does society at large play in the lack of empathy shown in both of these cases as well as many more cases of violence kids today are participating in. It is all too easy to place the blame on the parents but truth is parents are not the only culprits in the raising of children in today’s world.

You have rappers, rapping about the street violence giving verbal praise to the madness, rapping in a manner that puts females on a level that encourages disrespect and the iPods as the means to blast this nonsense in the ears and consciousness of the kids, on a continuous basis, indoctrinating them into the world of violence that you see being displayed more and more often.

You have video games that take you to higher scores by beating down and killing computer generated people on the imaginary streets. You have police officers beating people down in the real streets as onlookers are denied the right to jump in and stop the madness for fear of getting beat down and arrested as well.

You have the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, talking as though empathy on the bench, therefore empathy in the world, is something that is not tolerated in decision making. You have Social Services and legislation telling you how to discipline your children not truly understanding that some kids you can talk to, some kids you can punish by taking toys and television away, you have some kids that only understand when you yell at them and still others who straight need their behinds whipped at an early age because each of us is different.

Then there are those kids who just do not get it until they experience it for themselves. Sometimes that experience teaches them and sometimes that experience makes it worse because it is too late after the experience happens.

Despite the fact that I am horror-struck by what I see kids taking part in today this lends credence to my statements that what society perpetrates it perpetuates and until you recognize your shortcomings and change your ways how can you expect anything differently from those you attempt to raise into thinking, feeling adults.

Yes, you can punish these kids by trying them as adults but the truth is that prison does not deter crime – isn’t that obvious at this juncture? Shut those kids away for life without getting to the core of what lead to the behavior and what purpose does it serve society at large?

While those you lock away may not be able to commit a crime on the streets again there still remains the attitude and the influences that allowed this criminal behavior to flourish and there will be others that follow this path of chaos and violence.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Supernova Sequence 2 CLIMAWARM

With all the debate swirling around the “public option” in the health care reform sometimes I wonder if this is being used to cover up something more sinister than giving the public an option.

Yesterday, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced a public option, which would allow states to “opt out” if this option was not something their state would need. My first thoughts on this “opt out” feature, was that states with a large population of minorities, lead by Republicans, could suffer the consequences of no public option.

Yet, on another level, this could bring into play accountability and influence political votes by the people. According to the “polls” there is a high percentage of the American public that is for the public option. If Governor’s refuse/opt out of the public option and the overwhelming percent of the public, in that state, prefers the public option this could affect re-election of the Governor making those who lead the state more accountable.

This is a tricky trigger because obviously the insurance industry has money which has fueled the opposition to the public option in the first place. Money wins elections especially when it is “freely” given and it is obvious, as well, that politicians will accept money when offered with no moral compass involved.

Secondly, I wondered if the public option, opt out, was final, that is, if a state chose to opt out, could they, at a later date choose to engage the public option under different leadership? Still another question is if a state preferred to choose a plan of co-ops would the same rules of “pre-existing” medical conditions hinder people from joining these co-ops.

The public option, with the “opt out” clause is shaky at best, however the important question is will it prove to be a legitimate way to include the controversial public option into the health care/insurance reform on the table? Already, the lone Republican who was on board, Senator Olympia Snowe, sates her disappointment in the inclusion of the public option.

As far as my limited knowledge but common sense tells me, the public option is the only option, I have seen on the table that has the potential to reduce insurance costs and add competition to the insurance industry, something most will agree is a necessary component of any health care/insurance reform legislation.

Some are suggesting calling the “public option” by another name and both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz have indeed come up with different names for the policy as a means to alleviate opposition. Pelosi suggested “the consumer option” where Representative Schultz has suggested “competitive option” as the name for the legislation.

Called by whatever name, the intent and the function would still be the same so what’s the point? I say it is time for Americans to stop allowing politicians and big business to tell us what is right for us, in a manner that hides the fact that it is more right as well as profitable for them, something that has been proven time and time again.

I say it is time to stop debating the public option and begin debating the means to make this option workable since one basis for rejection seems to be the poorly run government system of Medicaid/Medicare that is now used by millions today.

The debate, regarding the public option, as well as a number of other provisions, are expected to be under way for weeks to come even after the debates that have been going on for years regarding health care/insurance reform.

What the outcome of these pretentious debates will be is anyone’s guess. Though we are closer than we have ever been in making a decision on this important issue, the saying “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades” seems to be relevant here.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!!

Spyware Doctor con AntiVirus

While Republicans use people like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Fox News to spread the hate filled fear against the President of the United States that has gripped the nation, they are now criticizing Hollywood for “doing Obama’s bidding” to promote giving back to your community through volunteerism.

Glenn Beck is no better than Osama Bin Laden with his propaganda spreading agenda. How ridiculous is this. I never thought I would live to see the first black president nor did I believe some people could get more ignorant than racism. I was wrong on both levels.

I briefly watched a tirade Glenn Beck went on, calling this, supposedly, Obama/Hollywood connection a level of communism by stating “Well, this is fantastic. It’s almost like we’re living in Mao’s China right now.”

Schools refusing to air a conversation Obama had on the first day of school requesting that children stay in school, irrational people hating the message because they hate the messenger, regardless of whether the message is relevant or not. The more people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh talk, the more they seem out of control, straight crazy to me and I question the media that allows this fanatical rampage to continue.

With all the people who are unemployed, doing something positive with their time could help their mental and emotional perceptions of self as they look for work. This is, in fact, the perfect time for people to get out and volunteer with nothing but time on their hands. It beats sitting around doing nothing or sitting around listening to the madness that is allowed to parade as news coming out of the mouths of people like Rush and Glenn.

What the hell is wrong with people? Beck jumps around in his seat, uses sarcasm, acts overly animated as though he is a child as he delivers his childish rant. Does he not realize how foolish he looks as he attempts to make volunteerism seem like a bad thing, a form of propaganda on the same level as communism?

Beck rants that celebrities are coming together to make it ‘cool’ to volunteer and even Disney is getting into the act by giving a free day at the park. While Beck claims this is all fine, the thing that irritates him is that he feels the call for volunteering comes from Obama and nothing Obama says or does is relevant or worth acting on.

This is way too irrational to me, and that’s putting it mildly. This says more about who Glenn Beck is than who Obama is.

While the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a Hollywood charitable organization, who is behind the push for volunteerism states that this was a thought of theirs, to promote volunteering, as early as last year, I say it does not matter whose idea it was because the idea is a good one.

With some neighborhoods mimicking war zones, kids running wild, teenage violence at a high, people should be volunteering just on this level, with kids. People should want to volunteer in their communities because only you can change where you live.

You have a choice to make, follow Glenn Beck and his irrational, hate filled rants while sitting around complaining about the economy, health care reform, the neighborhood you live in, the violence that is taking over that neighborhood, children today or take a stand and volunteer, make a difference in someone’s life, build stronger, safer communities. It’s up to you. Take the first step by visiting iParticipate to find volunteer opportunities near you.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Passion by Elizabeth Taylor Dusting Powder 2.6 Oz

I watched Latino In America, hosted by Soledad O’Brien, a level headed, mixed race, beautiful young lady, the other night on CNN and for some reason it saddened me. Latinos have been in this country for a while now and while I rooted for Sonya Sotomayor as she breezed through her confirmation hearings, as I watched this programming I realized the depth of my ambivalence about being born in America and my ambivalence comes from not truly having a “heritage” that all other races have. I also recognized that America is not conducive to “family” the way other nations are.

While some blacks may try to claim Africa as their heritage, I have never lived in Africa, I do not speak the language, cook the food or share their day to day struggles – my struggles are American struggles, soul food, which is the most detrimental to your health, was the leftovers from the tables of the “master” and the only culture that we, as a people have is that culture that we have made up or been passed on to us by those who hated us.

I watched as the discussion, on Latinos In America, took a turn towards assimilation and how as the children of these Latinos attempt to assimilate here in America, the family has a tendency to break-down with the parents pulling in the direction of their customs but the children wanting to become “true” Americans.

I also noted that, without calling any names, one Latino lead on CNN seems to get some perverse pleasure out of cleverly elevating Latinos at the expense of blacks, more often than I feel comfortable watching. Now I have sensed this aggression for some time but I was so glad Wednesday when a guest speaker pointed out to this Latino that there were black Latinos in America as well. People are so fickle sometimes as they cling to being accepted by people who may accept them anyway but may not accept them regardless.

Speaking from the experience of being black in America and the lack of respect for my forefathers and their families, I see the breakdown of immigrant families as a destructive nuance of American culture.

My Russian associate tells me how his, born in America six year old, makes comical comments about his accent. While we both laugh at the things she says, being in America is already straining the sense of “custom” within this family.

Even with this strain so obvious, there will be times that this child will grow up and possibly come back to her roots where I, being born in America over generations of mixing, have no true roots to return to, my features are not like those of Africans and on some levels as I watched Latinos in America, this thought broke my heart.

Not only did it break my heart but for the briefest of moments I felt resentment and the thought crossed my mind that America is in my debt. I quickly pulled that resentment back as well as the thought of the debt and grudgingly accepted that, it is what it is and the debt that is owed is too late for me to collect on but as for my children and my grandchildren, America needs to recognize just how ugly their actions were towards blacks and change their ways.

I guess my lack of heritage has always been a motivating factor that leads me to fantasize so much about living outside of the United States – at least then I could pretend easier of a connection with a heritage if I was away from the states. However, with the world as it is United States is probably the best place to be when you are as broke as me.

Latinos are the fastest growing nationality in the United States. I can not begrudge them for who they are and some of the food they have brought to my awareness I enjoy eating. The Latin beat in music is appealing to my ears and I understand that even though the “doors” are opened to many in America, American people are not as accepting on all levels as the diversity of people continues to branch out and so on some levels, the struggles of Latinos have been mines to bear as well.

My advice to Latinos is that you keep what is yours, your heritage, your culture and stay unified because as I have experienced being black in America over the years, with the games that were played on our forefathers and in our continued struggle for significance and to some degree acceptance, blacks are on no level unified and that is our biggest downfall. Hang in there Latinos and welcome aboard!!

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

The Global Advantage

How many terrorist plots are brewing here in America and when will the time come that one slips below the radar and is hatched before our very eyes leaving hundreds dead and millions living in the aftermath of destruction, both emotional and physical. More importantly is our involvement in the Middle East helping or hurting our chances at peace in our own lands. Is our involvement in the Middle East truly preventing the violence of terrorism?

While Obama may have promised bi-partisanship on the floor of Congress, which was and is truly his hope, he failed to realize he had no real control over people and their idiosyncrasies. As he puts his best foot forward to accomplish all he needs to accomplish, in the hearts and minds of those around him it is business as usual, which involves, to a large degree, political games.

Having not been able to pass a health care/insurance reform through the brick walls of Congress, allowing him to move on to other crisis issues with a clear mind and with the political games played by both Democrats and Republicans, he is now being criticized for his thoughtful hesitation for not acting on McChrystal’s request for more troops.

A house divided can not stand, a house divided falls short of its goals and a house divided is the United States of America. How this house can be in favor of sending youngsters off to die without hesitation but be so totally against something as basic as health care, both costing the United States billions of dollars but one being more of a choice while the other being a necessity for the stability of our financial future, I will never comprehend.

It is obvious that fighting the war in Afghanistan is creating more problems than it is solving, both financially as well as adding a new divide amongst the people of the United States. Logically speaking if we do not have enough money to finance health care for the people of the United States how do we have money to support the war in Afghanistan, donate money for reconstruction and to support a counterinsurgency in Pakistan.

While people are using the fact that the health care reform is too costly, so too are the wars we are knee deep in. While people use the excuse that the war is necessary to stop violence on our soil, there have been two plots to wreak havoc on American soil in two months.

The most recent was a “home grown” terrorist by the name of Tarek Mehanna who grew up in an upscale Boston suburb and had plotted to kill shoppers in U.S. malls and kill U.S. troops in Iraq, an area the United States is holding up as the poster child for a military surge in Afghanistan even though the violence has not really stopped in Iraq.

The thought process of the American public, as well as those in charge of protecting and serving the American public worries me. As far as I can see, Obama is the only one that is showing a true concern for the American people in all he attempts to do yet with every step he attempts to make there are those who are placing concrete slabs on his ankles in an attempt to hold him back at a time in the history of America where decisive action is not only necessary but not without grave consequences if left unattended.

Recognizing the need for decisive action has not limited the games that are being played and I am left wondering how, supposedly, grown rational people can be so childish as I ask myself why these obvious games are being played.

I am left wondering how long this absurd, pretentious, ego driven, money hungry health care debate will go on. I am left wondering will mankind ever be capable of living in the world in peace and harmony as my senses tell me that we are moving in a dangerous direction with no one willing to stop the madness.

I say violence begets violence and as we live in subtle fear of not knowing when the next terrorist attack will occur, it should be teaching us that lesson and that the war in Afghanistan does nothing to prevent a terrorist attack here in America.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Essentials of Abnormal Psychology (with CD-ROM)

As I read this article this morning regarding Bank of America CEO, Kenneth D. Lewis who received close to $100,000 more last year for personal use of a corporate jet and all the other perks and benefits these bailed out business men received and are still receiving, all I could do is shake my head in disgust. These people don’t care about you, the very people that bailed them out.

This morning I listened to a news report of how Americans are becoming depressed over unemployment. The commentator related a story of one of her friends who had a very high level position, lost their job with no hope of that job being returned to them. Basically she stated that the job defined her friend and now that the job was gone so too was the friend’s image of themselves. This has caused many to become mentally confused, caused a psychological breakdown of sorts.

As I listened to this analogy, for some reason the rage filled faces of the recent town hall meetings flashed in front of my eyes. I came to realize that psychologically, because they fooled themselves into believing they are what they do, people have lost their identities. They are essentially lost souls floating into an abyss with no direction. Most feel they are too old to “start over” and are stuck in the feeling that someone has to be blamed for snatching their identities.

Survival is not for the weak of heart or spirit. Survival is about adapting to the situation whether you caused it or it was forced on you. Survival is about re-inventing yourself. Blaming others for the situation is counter productive and a bit irrational. Blaming others leads to rage and to me, as I listened to this news commentator, I realized how Obama is being blamed for the loss of identity these people are experiencing.

All my life I have known that there are those with money who basically control the rest of us and those with money will always have money. For a brief time the trickle down effect was in play however, now that the crisis has hit the gap between those who have and those who have been fooled into believing they have has become the abyss and many who thought they had, are floating in this abyss, lost, confused and suffering the consequences of the allusion.

But is Obama truly the blame for all these lost souls? Obama can not give you back “self” that is something you have to find on your own. The tides have turned and you no longer see yourselves through the eyes of your position, your job. What you should be realizing is that the position never truly defined who you are. Who you really are is defined by your will to survive in spite of your temporary loss of identity and by recognizing truths.

One truth that should be beating you over the head is that you are more than the position you held. Along with that truth should be that it may be time to re-invent you. Take some classes in a field that is growing. Use the skills you have perfected over the years of employment that you have had. Reassess your financial situation and determine just how much it would take to hold on to what you have and if holding on is not an option, let it go because material things come back around if you work for them.

Sitting around waiting on a Politician to change your lot in life is giving up your power – it is also not what a survivor does. Blaming others for things you yourself were gullible enough to believe is emotionally draining and it shifts accountability for your life which is your responsibility.

Jobs come and go for some this is a constant reality. There are jobs out there to be had. You may not start off at the top but if your skills are what you think they are you will begin to rise to the top but it may take a few additional college credits that will broaden your scope and make you more diverse in your perceptions of self. Those that have will initially watch out for themselves and their cronies as is being demonstrated by large corporations that have been “bailed out” with taxpayers’ money.

Bailed out banks are doing business as usual with this money they begged for but they are not, thus far, including you the consumer instead perks keep rolling for them – this should tell you another truth about who is really to blame about your loss of identity.

Recognize truths, stop sitting around waiting for someone else to hand you back your identity, reinvent yourself, take responsibility for your station in life, loose the anger and accept what is, for only through positive movement will a new you emerge and in the end the new you will be stronger, wiser and more adaptable.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!!!

Give Praise To God

Looking back, now that everybody was duped by the balloon boy story and the Heene family drama, all I can say is this shows how gullible we can all be at times – keep that in mind as the health care/insurance reform is going through the process and the lies are being told to dissuade.

I watched this for at least an hour and a half as it was unfolding. The balloon did not move as though it had a six year old in it but yet I watched with the thought of the possibility.

As I watched it gently float and spin across the sky on television, I was more amazed at the heights it soared as I imagined the danger if, in fact, a child was in there. However, as I watched the movement of this beautiful contraption, I knew there could not possibly be anyone in there.

Now that everything is out in the open and the truth has come to light that this was drama with a purpose, no more than a hoax, are we mad at ourselves that we were duped so easily that punishment is mandatory for the parents of these children.

Yes, the parents should be charged, yes, the parents should be made to pay the tab for the expenses incurred, probation for the felonies they will be charged with but involving Child Protective Services (CPS), threatening to take the kids away from their parents, jail time all seem a bit much to me.

Different people raise their children in different ways. What you may view as dangerous another parent may view as a learning experience. I am sure these parents are not putting their children in harms way without a clue, chasing storms. These children may enjoy riding with their parents chasing storms.

It is no different in fact it is less violent, than putting a gun in the hands of a seven year old and allowing them to kill a defenseless animal on a hunt. Those kids are saver in the hands of their parents than putting them in the system, in a foster home where they can easily be abused or murdered. CPS does not always have such a good track record themselves so how can they judge these people. I definitely would not want any of my relatives stuck in that system.

While some may say, me included, that it was over the line to have those kids taking part in a lie. When the six year old told the truth there were no repercussions for telling the truth. Don’t be so quick to criticize what you do not understand. Just because you would never take your kids out to chase a storm does not make it wrong. I would never put a gun into the hands of a seven year old but people do it all the time.

I would never allow my young children to curse in front of me, but people allow that. I would never allow one child to bully another child but people allow that. What you need to be doing is making sure you are raising your own children in the right way – nobody is perfect when it comes to raising children sometimes you learn as you go. Whether you have children or not how can you sit in judgment of this “family” and the lessons they chose to teach their children.

Drama, the Heene family is full of it. That’s who they are, that’s how they met, that’s what they are used to, that’s how they live their lives and it is their life to live. Those are their children and as parents they have rights to teach their children what they want to teach them. Get off your pedestal stop standing in judgment of someone else’s life and stop being so ready to send these kids through a system that is overloaded, uncaring and full of possible danger.

Reality television was not invented by the Heene family and as much as I dislike reality television it seems to be the thing at this particular time. As a result, these are the things you can expect, drama from people who want that attention.

You created the Heene’s and now you want to punish them for acting out. I just don’t understand the thought process of people. I remember when the Octomom was receiving death threats after she made a choice to have more babies. You would rather see her die than allow her to raise the children she chose to have – that was so irrational.

You yell about this freedom and that freedom for yourself but are constantly attempting to limit someone else’s freedoms every chance you get – how hypocritical.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

24 MONSTER PULLBACK TRUCKS

Recently Morehouse College, an all-male college in the Atlanta, Georgia area, has instituted a new dress code for its students. According to the new dress code, things like sagging pants, clothes with derogatory language, do-rags, jeans, hats/caps or hoods and sunglasses are not to be worn to class or to school sponsored events and some of these articles are not to be worn on campus at all. The penalty can be as strong as academic suspension.

I say, it’s about time!!!! I say this style of dress should be prohibited in public schools as well (K-12). I say part of education is to teach children that there is a time and place for everything, that boundaries are important, in most situations. Once you start crossing boundaries, things sometimes become chaotic as has happened in schools across America.

Along with the dress code should be a restriction on foul language. Some high school teachers allow kids to curse in front of them with no consequence to the foul language. I have seen it happen too many times. Those children feel that if they can curse in school, they can come on the school bus and curse. Their whole conversation consists of f*** this, f*** that, you motherf***in’ b****.

When you write a child up for cursing on the school bus, after repeated warnings, nothing happens to that child and the child feels it is ok to use this language. The bus driver loses some control if they do not know how to force the issue without involving the school.

Teaching a child respect is a community thing because a parent is not always around. You teach a child to respect themselves as well as others and foul mouthed conversations do not show respect. Children today use dress as a form of disrespect. I have seen children on the way to school with pants sagging way below their behind. Is this a subtle message telling the world to kiss their a**?

While everybody runs around screaming about their freedom to say this or do that, I feel I have freedoms that you infringe upon by showing me your underwear, by cursing in my presence, by acting out with violence, by using the language Rush Limbaugh uses in his divisive rants, by demanding that I can not hang the Christmas decorations of my religious choice in my mall windows, as well as any number of other acts that are permitted in our society today.

In fact, back to Morehouse, they have prohibited the wearing of female clothing, high heel shoes, tank tops etc. and the few openly gay students there are taking offense. These are the things that trouble me about gay guys especially and to some extent gay women as well. Gay guys can not have it both ways either you are a boy or a girl. If you feel so womanly that you are compelled to dress in female clothing, then you do not need to be going to an all-male school.

Boundaries again come into play here. This is what concerns me about the “don’t ask, don’t tell” concept in the military. Will the breakdown of don’t ask, don’t tell create more openly gay men in the military? Will they be allowed to dress in female clothing on their down time while attempting to act out in womanly ways? Will your young son be caught in a life or death situation, laying in a ditch with an openly gay man who proposes a “blow job” to your son prior to possible death?

While all gay guys/females are not on this level there are those that are and I have known enough gay guys to understand that they are constantly on the prowl and that they have been known to pull in a “newbie” every now and then if only for the experience.

I say boundaries are useful in the real world. Dress codes teach lessons and it takes a community to raise a child – we are all failing our children when we abuse the freedoms that have been granted, sending a clear message to our children that rules are made to be broken, that boundaries interfere with freedoms.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Flexfit Baseball Hat - Solid Color with Contrast Stitching

Iraq is proof that winning in Afghanistan is nothing more than a pipedream. There is still an insurgency in Iraq and they are attempting to undermine the government prior to what may prove to be an important election in Iraq.

Nineteen people died on Sunday as a result of a car bomb that went off in an area that had become a symbol of restored peace in Baghdad. This is a strong indication that while the insurgency has declined in their actions, the intent as well as their capability to pick up where they left off is still of grave concern.

Last week eight people lost their lives at an open-air market which was attacked by a car bomb. While the Iraqi officials are saying that these attacks are isolated and not an indication that the insurgency is regaining its footing, I say that these are warnings made by the insurgency that they have not been defeated, that their presence is still strong and that their intent has not changed.

Is America deluding itself into believing that they have disrupted the insurgency to a point that they are no longer a viable threat to Iraq? Are the insurgents sending a message to America as well as to the Iraqi people that they are still around, that they will not be defeated, that they will not simply go away?

Are we fighting a losing battle in both Iraq and Afghanistan? It would seem that the message is clear in Iraq that as American’s begin to pull out, the insurgency will increase. They are demonstrating that although they have pulled back to some extent, they are regrouping and even though their attacks have been sporadic, they still have the potential to inflict terrorism with the unexpected bombing of busy areas whenever they feel like it.

With this in mind, what was really accomplished in Iraq besides the capture and murder of Saddam Hussein? Why is Iraq such a perfect example of America’s accomplishments in the war against terrorism and proof of what a surge in American troops can do for the Afghan war?

More importantly, Pakistan had a crisis situation over the week-end in an eighteen hour stand off at a military site, while bombs went off in India as well. This is further indication that the American presence in these lands, have no real affect on the mentality of terrorist; that a surge of troops only postpones the inevitable violence that the terrorist seem to enjoy and that the American presence seems to encourage.

Recruitment for the insurgency takes place on campuses, at markets and mosques and probably on line via the internet. Recruitment never stops nor does the number of people willing to die for the cause decrease along with those who are forced to participate in the madness.

America is even considering the possibility of paying Afghans, directly or indirectly, not to fight by appealing to the economics of their poor economy. How ridiculous is this idea. This, to me would encourage others to join the fight in order to get paid by the American government who refuses to pass legislation for medical coverage of its own people yet are only too willing to pay for an economy where so many of their own troops are dying and the fighting never stops.

As the confusion continues, indecision is rising and opinions are raging in both directions as to whether or not to send more troops off to die or not to send more troops. How long do we fight this war and encumber our economy with the cost of the war alone, not to include the money donated to get people in Afghanistan not to take up arms against us. What purpose are we really serving and how do we get to a point where we can just walk away?

While the consensus seems to be leaving is not an option, after eight years what has the reward been for staying? More violence, more death, more expenses, more grief and a never ending supply of hate, anger and Taliban. – Something is not right about this picture. I say this area of the world, the same area of the world that took his life, needs Jesus and until they accept the concept of Jesus, turmoil will be their daily bread, hate will be their motivating force and peace will never happen.

As this seems to be a proven fact over many years of violence and corruption in these areas, why did America allow itself to be drawn in with no exit strategy? Why must we continue to babysit these foreign countries where the “enemy” is not truly known to us and the people themselves are not really decisive enough to take more than a half-hearted stand against their oppressors?

How are these rational efforts by a nation as great as America and would our participation have been so intense if our dependency on oil had not been as great. We gave them the key to our weakness and they are controlling our existence both in our own land and in theirs – did we not see this coming?

And that’s the way I see it!!!!!

Rooted - New Testament