Courtesy

Courtesy is important to me, even though I am not always courteous, I respect the practice of it.  It is a challenge and a responsibility.  It should be taught in schools, churches and families.  It should be a part of training programs for salespersons.   I know of nobody who does things "right" all of the time.  Nevertheless, courtesy is something we should all strive for.  I know of people who talk of world peace as if it were something easily attainable.  Some of those same people cannot get along with neighbors and relatives. A long time ago somebody told me: "Some people say they love the world, but in reality, they hate their neighbor."  Well, are they doing their part to achieve world peace?  Are they doing their part to make this world a better place in which to live?  My advice:  Be courteous.  I have stated this before in other blogs, and I will probably state it again sometime:  "If you want to make a better world, make yourself a better person.  By doing this, you have automatically made a better world."   Recently, I read a quote made by John Walter Wayland.  Wayland was a professor, writer and chairman of the history department at James Madison University in Virginia until 1931.  It tends to sum up what a good attitude is.  It tends to sum up those things that would contribute toward respect for others and being courteous toward them.


"The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe."

"Trevor" Is Not A Man

 

Trevor McDonald is a 27  year old transgender person from Winnipeg.  She was born a female.  She has given birth to a child.  She breast feeds her male infant.   So, what is the problem?  The problem is that she presents herself as a man.  This "man" has a beard.  "He" breast feeds.  Since "Trevor" was born a female, and has chosen to be a man, she has rejected God's decision for her life.  Now everybody pays.  "Trevor" is not a man.  She is a woman.  If she were not a woman, she would not be able to breast feed.  I am from America, and I believe in freedom in a very big way.  But this has nothing to do with freedom.  It has to do with the truth.  It is a lie to say something you are not.  She is inconsiderate.  She is self-centered.  She is a dishonest, selfish person who is inconveniencing and confusing others.  It is truly unfair of her.   Also, she is not a transgendered person.  "Transgender" is an oxymoron.  Transgender is an act.....not a fact.  It is a false claim, a display.  A lie, designed to deceive.

 Don't we all have our challenges?  This does not mean we give in to every inclination we feel.  This does not mean we yield to every temptatation.  There are boundaries.  If there were no boundaries, there would be no civilization.  "Trevor" is not a man.  She has menstrual periods.   How many "men" do you know who have menstrual periods?  If she uses men's restrooms, she needs to stay out of them.  Do I hate her? No.  Do I call her unkind names?  No.  How can she be helped?  She can be helped by seeking the one who created her.   She certainly did not create herself.   She confused/deceived herself......and others.  But there is hope.   Yes, there is hope.

Jerry Sandusky

I want to make something very clear.  Jerry Sandusky is gay.  He is attracted to the same gender.  He is a homosexual.  When reporting about him, the media needs to address his sexual preference accurately.  Obviously, he is in the news for committing serious crimes.  He is not accused of raping women.  He is accused of raping males.  The fact that these males are children, makes it an additionally heinous crime.  Yes, he is a pedophile.  What if he had sexually abused/raped female children? How would the media have handled it?  Sandusky had sex with boys who were as young as 10 years of age.  Sandusky is a criminal who has seriously harmed the futures of the boys he has assaulted.   How many of those boys will/have become gay as a result of the atrocities perpetrated upon them by a gay man?  Will they then say:  "I was born this way."  Jerry Sandusky is gay.  More accurately: He is a homosexual predator.  He made those choices.  He needs to stay in prison for the rest of his life.  The males Sandusky assaulted can go on with their lives,  it may be difficult at times.  Nevertheless, they can make better choices than the homosexual who assaulted them.  I want to make something else very clear.   Everybody makes mistakes.  Sandusky has made some very serious ones.  In spite of that, there is no need to hate him.  He can change.   He just needs to do it behind bars.

A Letter To Linda Henderson

Two years ago this month, the Sweetwater High School graduating class of 1960 celebrated its' 50 th class reunion.  What a time we had renewing old times!  One of the key people who helped make this possible was Linda Henderson.  Linda is my friend.  She is the former Linda Cunningham.  One day she contacted many of us and told us she had been in touch with our Senior Civics teacher..........Wadie Deddeh.  I thought, "no way, what a blast from the past!"  I proceeded to write her the following letter.


Linda, You are the "bomb." It was so good to see you last week. I do hope that your stay was pleasant. I usually arrive a little late to the Tuesday mtgs. due to a responsibility that I have at the City Council. But not last week. We had fun. We will keep it going. Thanks for your motivation. Regarding Wadie Deddeh, how interesting that you wrote to him and he responded. As odd as it may seem, I think about him often. Our Senior year, he kicked Paul Spitz and I out of his classroom for being so disruptive. At that time I did not care, I had no plans of going to college anyway. But at least I graduated from SUHI. Here goes a little slice of my life: The decade of the sixties was a real nightmare for me. It actually did not end until 1975. I was a pathetic individual......a real hardcore drunk. I was arrested many times, and believe it or not, I was in 13 automobile accidents. I did work, but it was mainly to sustain my bad habit. Liquor was number 1 in my life, and number 1 did not get replaced for a long time. Well, the time came when it was either: Quit drinking or start preparing my funeral arrangements. I tried, but I could not stop. Then something happened, I was in Downtown San Diego by the old Horton Plaza. A preacher was preaching up "a storm." I listened. Hours later I stopped him on the street and asked him to pray for me. I never drank again. I will make a long story short. I went back to school. I got a teaching credential, (so I thought) but the Professor of the Education Dept. refused to sign it after he saw my arrest record. I contacted Sacramento. Guess who my Assemblyman was? You guessed it, Mr. Deddeh himself. Man........did he ever go to bat for me! I received my California State Teaching Credential in two weeks. There is much more to this story. To end my words, I will tell you that I am indebted to Mr. Deddeh. I am indebted to God, (He is # 1) and I am very grateful to you, Linda, for reminding me of Wadie Deddeh. I am so glad that he is still alive. I plan to write him and thank him. Thank you so, so much. God bless you.


Bobby             ps.. check out my blog:       bobbysparadigm.blogspot.com

Mark Twain And The Jews

For a long time, I have considered Mark Twain one of the greatest of American writers.  The man was extremely witty and prolific.  He was also an admirer of Jewish people.  So am I.  History shows us that a great deal of hatred has existed against the Jews.  I am persuaded that there exists a variety of reasons for this. However, I truly believe that it is mainly jealousy that has caused the hatred.  Those that hate the Jew often feel  intimidated by the Jew.  There is absolutely no need for it.  Jews have made great contributions to the betterment of this world in spite of their small numbers.  I only have one thing to say about this.  If you want to be a success......go for it.  Pay the price.   Study.  Work hard.  Postpone pleasures.  Make sacrifices.  Pursue your dreams.  Be disciplined. Above all: love God.

The following is a quote from Mark Twain.

"If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"

 Mark Twain

"Concerning The Jews,” Harper’s Magazine, 1899






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Child Marriage

A couple of years ago, I was talking to several teenagers about how in some societies throughout the world it is acceptable for very young girls to get maried.  They both blurted out:  "But thats' their culture!"  I thought that may be true, but it does not make it right.  I believe in tradition-breaking if a tradition is wrong. Well, what about culture?  Some may ask. I say culture is always changing.  Some of the changes may be incremental.  But culture is always changing.  Why should a 12 year old girl be forced to marry a 50 year old man?  Because  "that is their culture?"  I say no.  I say it is wrong.  I say cultures that practice such things find it necessary to keep people ignorant.  They find it necessary for men  to disrespect women and children. Since traditions are man-made, they can also be unmade.  The big question is: How?  A good start is for individuals to start rejecting such things.  After rejecting such things, something better must be put in place.  I know......easier said than done.   But it is not impossible.

Rick Gorka In Poland

"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."  Those are the words of Jesus.  Politics is a tough business.  It tests the patience of those involved in it.  Romney and any other politician needs to seek out aides who do not insult people.  They need to be people with a sense of kindness and a sense of humor. Reporters are reporters.  They are not paid to be courteous.  But politicians and their aides need to be watchful of what they say.  Recently, Mitt Romney visited the tomb of the unknown soldier in Poland.  Reporters kept badgering Romney, trying to get him to answer some questions.  He answered none.  Finally, Rick Gorka, a Romney spokesman, told a journalist: "Kiss my ass."  Some time later, Gorka told another journalist to "shove it."  Gorka needs to learn some people skills.  He needs to realize that he should refrain from lowering himself to the level of rude reporters.  Some reporters are like rats scurrying around a garbage can.  He needs patience.  There is absolutely no need to talk to people this way.  It is wrong.  Show some class, Gorka.  And Mr. Romney: have a talk with Rick Gorka.  Be sure to mention that there are plenty of other people who are qualified for his job.