Sweet September

The following short poem was sent to me just yesterday from a former classmate at SUHI.  Her name is Linda Henderson.  Every first Tuesday of the month, Sweetwater High School graduates from the class of 1960 meet at Mike and Joe's Pizza House to socialize and reminisce.  Toward the end of every month,  Linda sends us all an email reminder, (bless her heart).  I kind of like this poem because September is special to me.......mainly because it marks the beginning of football season.  I suspect Linda "tweaked in" "pizza with friends in sweet September."  Thanks, Linda.  Please know you are appreciated.

Sweet September When August is a declining ember Enter in, sweet September... Now comes the time for miracles to unfold, with changing color--green to amber and gold. How well my heart and I remember Pizza with friends in sweet September.                          Credit to Joyce Hemsley                                             tweaked by Linda Henderson

Pursuing Self Interest

Pursuing your own self-interest does not necessarily mean that your intentions are to harm others.  It does not necessarily equate with being cruel or irrational.  Logically speaking, harming others does not benefit a person.  An exception to this concept may exist in the world of politics to a degree, but only to a degree.  

Power Surge

He insulted people for the the purpose of expressing his  power.  He disagreed to show how powerful he was intellectually.  The self perception of his own greatness caused a power surge.  It blew up in his face.  The electricity of his personality was burned out.  He lost face because he tried to destroy face.  He expressed a red face because he was unable to face others without a face of reason.  He had to be right.  It was not possible. He thought he was a legend.  Yes, he was,  in his own mind only.  He had a power surge.  The electrical circuit of his presence experienced a quick spike in voltage.  It caused a disturbance in power.  I have two words of advice for him.  Two words only..........try humility.  Those two words represent what is called by me:  "A power surge protector."

Work Out That Relationship

Work it out because it is worth saving.  Do not let your weakness rule.  Be strong enough to take it.  Do not be a toddler who is angered because he doesn't get his way.  You do not need to win every argument.  Is it about winning arguments or arriving at a place of peace?  Yes indeed, "love conquers all!"  It always has.  It always will.  Work it out.  Yes, work it out.

"No relationship is ever perfect, ever.  There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater...The love we have for each other is bigger than these small differences.  And that's the key.  It's like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece.  Love can make up for a lot."

Sarah Dessen,  "This Lullaby"

A Lysander Spooner Quote About Juries

For a long time, I have believed that the American jury system is the gem of the  of our justice system.  It has clearly been instrumental in arriving at actual justice for victims and the accused as well.  BD

"For more than six hundred years, that is, since the Magna Carta in 1215, there has been no clearer principle of English or American constitutional law than that, in criminal cases, it is not only the right and duty of juries to judge what are the facts, what is the law, and what is the moral intent of the accused; but that it is also their right, and their primary and paramount duty, to judge the justice of the law, and to hold all laws invalid, that are, in their opinion, unjust, oppressive, and all persons guiltless in violating or resisting the execution of such laws."

Lysander Spooner    (1808-1887) Political theorist, activist, abolitionist

Six Very Important Words

Without freedom, how can you pursue your goals?  Happiness? Dreams and  aspirations?  Without freedom, how can you unleash your potential?  What about injustice?  People demand justice.  And it is well that they should.  However, justice is best  practiced by individuals.  When it  directs the lifestyles of  persons, their attitudes and choices, it contributes to peace and harmony.  Justice is defended by law, but it is not confined to matters of law.  How about honor?  When we honor we respect.  We give things, people, positions, government, family, God, friends, associates, and humanity their just due.  We honor because we appreciate and are grateful.  As people, do we not have duties?  Do we not have responsibilities?  Can we not contribute to help make a better society?  Does not everyone make mistakes?  Shall we not forgive?  Shall we not be forgiven then?  A great teacher has said: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."  What about the future?  Can we not hope for something better?  Can we not dream, plan, execute and hope?

"All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope."

Winston Churchill

Choices

The following fifteen choices were taken from a motivational  Christian organization by the name of "Simple Truths."  my thanks to them.   BD

Choose Your Career Passion Choose to be in the "Driver's Seat" Choose to Make a Difference Choose Your Attitude Choose to Take Back Your Life Choose Financial Freedom Choose Kindness...and Watch it Change Your Life Choose Not to Give Up Choose to Start a New Business Choose to Change Your Environment Choose to Look at the Possibilities Choose Discipline in Your Life Choose to Love Choose to Simplify Your Life Choose to Take a Chance

All I Ask Of Filner

For a long, long time I have considered politics to be real dirty business.  I think it has the capacity to ruin good men and women.  Government is necessary, therefore politics is necessary.  Simply stated: politics is the struggle for power.  Perhaps that is too simple of a statement.  Perhaps not.  I shall get to my point.  Many of the citizens of the City of San Diego want the current Mayor, Bob Filner , to resign.  He has been accused of sexual harassment by 13 women.  He has been accused of being a bully and of being extremely difficult to work for.  Some of his staff have resigned. As of this writing, 77% of people polled want Filner to resign from his position as Mayor of San Diego.  I only ask Bob Filner to do one thing.  Do what is best for San Diego.  Please do not be an enemy of San Diego.  Please do not create a situation that will cost the city of San Diego millions and millions of dollars.  Please do not harm the future of San Diego.  Please do not harm the business of San Diego.  Please do not harm the residents of San Diego.  Please do not harm the environment of San Diego.  Do no harm.  Maybe it sounds naive on my part.  I am still an idealist.  I believe government leaders are servants of the people.  They are not autocrats.  They are not monarchs.  They are servants, public servants.  Mr. Filner.......do the City no harm.   That is all I ask.

Gizelle Studevent Bounces Back

My thanks to the San Diego Union for the excellent, and inspiring article about a young lady who was bullied in high school.  Her name is Gizelle Studevent. The bullying took place via nasty, abusive, racist, (she is half Mexican) and extremely demeaning notes and letters.  The tormenter was anonymous and relentless.  Part of the problem was that Gizelle was an outstanding basketball player.  To make a long story short, Gizelle worked harder and harder at her sport, and guess what?  She earned a scholarship to Penn State.  She has done very well there.   This story reminds me of the old saying:  "Success is the best revenge."  To date, Gizelle does not know the identity of her tormenter.  She was asked an interesting question:  "What would you say to the person who bullied you in school?"   She answered..........."Thanks."

This is a very short synopsis of the article.  There is much more.  If you would like to learn more, please log on to UT San Diego, Gizelle Studevent.

Legal Illegal Plunder

It has been said that "taxation is the price we pay to live in a civilized society."  I tend to agree with that statement.  Government is necessary, and government needs power in order to function properly.  It also needs revenue.  The two main questions then will continue to be asked:   How much? And, What for?  All institutions of society have faults.  All need to improve.  Government is no exception.

"The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is... legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay ... If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system."
Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before -- and immediately following -- the French Revolution of February 1848

"An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can bear taxation."   Justice John Marshal  (1755-1835) US Supreme Court Chief Justice

The Last American Bayonet Charge

This is  a piece of US military history.  Perhaps some would just consider it trivia.  I do not.   Lewis L Millet fought in 3 American wars, which were WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  Lewis L. Millet was a brave soldier.  He eventually reached the rank of Colonel.  Although he distinguished himself with many awards,  he is most well known for leading the last bayonet charge ever conducted by American troops.  It was very successful.  For this he earned the highest award given in combat to an American military person.........The Congressional Medal of Honor.  They also renamed the hill where it took place to "Bayonet Hill."
  
The following photo and biographical history was taken from Wikipedia.  I honor his memory.

Lewis L. Millett
Millett in 1985
Born	(1920-12-15)December 15, 1920 Mechanic Falls, Maine
Died	November 14, 2009(2009-11-14) (aged 88) Loma Linda, California
Place of burial	Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Army National Guard United States Army Air Corps Canadian Army United States Army
Years of service	1938–1940 (National Guard) 1940–1941 (US Army Air Corps) 1941–1942 (Canadian Army) 1942–1973 (US Army)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Purple Heart (4) Croix de Guerre (France) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry

Lewis Lee Millett Sr. (December 15, 1920 – November 14, 2009) was a United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor during the Korean War for leading the last major American bayonet charge.

He enlisted into the National Guard while still in high school and then in 1940 joined the United States Army Air Corps. When he thought that the United States would not participate in World War II he deserted and went to Canada with a friend where they joined the military and were sent to London. The U.S. did enter the war and by the time he made it to Europe they were in the fight so he transferred to the U.S. Army. While serving with the Army in World War II, he received a Silver Star for driving a burning ammunition truck away from a group of soldiers, before it exploded.

During the Korean War, he was awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. The citation explains that he lead a bayonet charge against the enemy. He later served in the Vietnam War as well. He retired from the Army in 1973 and died of congestive heart failure in 2009.

	Table of Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Korean War

Freedom of Speech

The following quote means a great deal to me, particularly because I preach the Gospel in the street.  Some people tell me to shut up.  Some people tell me to leave.  Some curse at me.  I am neither shutting up nor am I leaving.  When one person put his hands on me he was totally out of line.  I have freedom of speech, and that is just the way it is. I will not stop speaking just because someone disagrees with me.   I live in America.  I do not live in Iran, Pakistan, Syria or Somalia.  I live in America, and I have freedom of speech.  Hugo Black made it quite clear when discussing this freedom.

"Freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have, or the views they express, or the words they speak or write."     Hugo L. Black  (1886-1971)      US Supreme Court Justice Source: 1963

The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.  I am of the opinion that it is one of the most important political documents in the history of the world.  The section that I have quoted below is likely the most quoted throughout our history.  I submit to you that it is powerful, reasonable, just and easy to understand.

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

Some Thoughts About Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda has been an actress for many years.  During the Vietnam War, she was an anti-war activist.  She earned the nickname "Hanoi Jane."  To this day, many hate her for what she did.  I do not appreciate what she did.  She did what she thought was the proper thing to do.  I refuse to carry the burden of hatred for her.  Forgiveness is a Christian trait and a commandment from the Lord.  Has she asked for forgiveness?  I do not know.  Maybe she thinks she did nothing wrong.  If I take time to investigate, I can possibly find out.  Nevertheless, it is still between God and her.  As you may recall, there were many, many war protesters.  Jane Fonda was high profile.  Since she commiserated with the enemy, I have wondered at times, why she was never arrested for treason.  I am not going to concern myself with it.  The Vietnam War was an unpopular war.  Nevertheless, I refuse to disrespect any veteran (living or dead) of that war who answered his nation's call and completed his responsibilities honorably.  He has my respect and my gratitude.  And what of those who came home seriously injured, blind, some with missing limbs, and serious mental problems.  The government has remembered them.  So do I.  Please.....thank a veteran.  And also remember, it does nobody any good to hate Jane Fonda.

Laziness Kills

"The desire of a lazy man kills him."  (Prov. 21:25)
Laziness is no good.  It prevents a person from fulfilling his goals and aspirations.  This is obviously not a new idea.  Nevertheless, there are plenty of lazy people around, even as we speak.  God is the creator of the human race, therefore, He is the greatest evaluator, judge and critic of human nature and human conduct. Yes, a lazy man has desires.  Those desires can kill him because he is unwilling to do the things to help him fulfill those desires.  He is a lazy man.  Therefore, he will blame others.  He will criticize others.  He will demand from others.   It will kill his reputation.  It can kill his ability to have friends.  It will kill his character.  If he wants to assign himself to those groups of people who have no desire to unleash their potential, he may do so.  He will receive the consequences.  He may or may not like them.  Nevertheless, he has made his choices.  "The desire of a lazy man kills him."