Random but Important

Bear with me. I have a wealth of ideas and quotes to share with you and I've gotten behind schedule. So allow me to clear some of the decks today.

First one questions our priorities. Remember the second Iraq war was waged on false premises and faulty information. Also a bunch of lies preceded the outbreak of hostilities.

“One quarter of the Iraq war budget would've fixed  Social Security for the next 75 years.” ~ Charles M. Young

Thank you Mr. Young. Guess the states aren’t the only government entities having problems funding public pensions. Uncle Sam does too. Only the entire population pays for this colossal gaff!

 Now one for the National Rifle Association by none other than conservative Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger:

“The Gun Lobby’s interpretation of the Second Amendment is one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American People by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime. The real purpose of the Second Amendment was to ensure that state armies – the militia – would be maintained for the defense of the state. The very language of the Second Amendment refutes any argument that it was intended to guarantee every citizen an unfettered right to any kind of weapon he or she desires.”

  

That is the thinking our nation engaged for two centuries. Now we are to believe we were wrong and the Second Amendment was meant to guarantee each of us the right to own a gun and use it for unrestricted mayhem? Just like the early years of the Old West? I don’t think so. Most Americans don’t think so. So why does the NRA get a nod on this? Might it be that they generously fund their self righteous candidates for Congress and make the rest of us pay for their narrow point of view. Remember, please, 500 or more kids each year die of bullet wounds, most of them unintentional. Then recall the mayhem of murder throughout our nation – over 35,000 gun deaths annually. More than most other nations combined. A sad truth for each of us to bear.

Fred Rogers recalls this story from his youth:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

Yes, and they are the ones like most of us. We lend a hand when we see a need. We also speak up to caution peace and kindness rather than hate and meanness. How did we become so uncivil? Was it in the 1990’s? And who was fostering this ill tempered citizenship?  I have my theories. Do you?

Rawforbeauty.com provides this Native American thought for us to ponder:

“Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.”

A crucial and essential truth to weave throughout our lives.  Powerful.

And a final thought for the day, this one coming from Sidney Hillman:

“We want a better America, an America that will give its citizens, first of all, a higher and higher standard of living so that no child will cry for food in the midst of plenty.”

That comes naturally if we are pulling the oars in the same direction! And if we agree on the basics. We don’t have to rob Peter to pay Paul. We can work hard, earn fairly, and pay just taxes so all may prosper. That isn’t socialism. That’s American Democracy at work. We share the load so all might benefit. That’s also solid Christian theology.

Public peace and civility will result if we follow this simple dictum:

“Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust if gained. Loyalty is returned.”  ~Anonymous

With that I bid you peace for the ‘morrow.

November 1, 2013