Why Patriotism Is Necessary And Compassionate

The problem with our current Administration is that it is being spearheaded by a man who has a "world view." He didn't grow up with American patriotic roots.  He had an Indonesian stepdad and a Kenyan father, which tailored his international relational outlook.

Patriotism is subjective to him, not something that was instilled in him as a boy. He sees the world stage as his political arena, not simply that within our borders.  This makes him govern with not our national interest solely in his mind as previous presidents (Dem and Rep) have done.

Leaders of nations are supposed to look after their own national interests first.  The liberal fallacy is that we can appease the world and make it a better place.  But no other world leaders are doing that; instead  they embrace their own national patriotism.  And that's something our current Administration does not understand: government must first and foremost be a champion of its nation and the people within its borders. 

The United States has a long history of offering aid and creating a better world (something people younger than 45 weren't taught in schools—it is distorted American history that they have learned).  We are a compassionate nation that has been able to simultaneously display great national pride while offering the world hope, and not see that a conflict of interest.  There is a reason that other countries keep their citizens as prisoners, and why so many people will do nearly anything to obtain our freedom--the very freedom our own government tries to squelch and squander.  We offer not only oursleves freedom and hope, but the world as well.

Unfortunately, we cannot continue to be a beacon on the hill to the world if we put the world's interests above our own.  We must protect and defend our nation so that we can continue to make positive influences in the world.  The liberals believe that if we weren't "so mean" and didn't "use guns" or "start wars" the world will love us.  They think like a typical abused girlfriend, if I just act more pleasing and submissive he will love me!  It doesn't work like that, and it never will.

We need more national pride, not less, if we're to help the world.  We need our citizens to be patriots, not to subject the world, but to save it.

Open-Minded Conservatives, More Prevalent Than You Think

So, there's a quiz going around on Facebook.  You know those quizzes...."Which Disney character are you?" or, "In which city should you live?" or, "Which flower are you?"  The quiz I took today was, "How open minded are you?"  I scored 70%.

You'd think I'd exclaim, "Wow, 70% and I'm a conservative!  No way!"

But, I wasn't surprised at all.

Most conservatives I know are open-minded individuals.  It's the Leftist propaganda and the media that portray conservatives as closed-minded, finger-pointing sticks-in-the-mud who want to hurt the earth and starve the poor.  In fact, Leftist propaganda and the Democrats have done such a good job of convincing everyone that conservatives are closed minded that even some conservatives believe it themselves.

Take my conservative friend Cici who stated that she was liberal on certain issues like taking care of the planet and talking to homeless people.  I had to remind her that she can be conservative and recycle, and be a conservative and nurture relationships with the destitute, too.

The charity works that conservatives and primarily churches do for those less fortunate comprise the backbone of this great nation.  Shut down the churches in America and the poor will literally starve!  (Shh, that's a secret, big government wants you to think that they do it all.)

We conservatives aren't the stereotype that liberals would like you to believe.  Are there some closed-minded conservatives?  YES!  And, guess what?  There are closed-minded liberals, too.  I'm sure that for every closed-minded conservative there's a doppelganger closed-minded liberal.

As my friend Ann said, "don't confuse people with a strong faith and a belief system with being closed minded."

True words.  I have faith.  I have a belief system.  And, I have an open mind...to help those less fortunate, to not be lofty or put on airs, to care for the earth that God gave us, to try new things and travel to new places, to understand other points of view and other cultures, to live and share and learn.

BFFs: Putin and Obama

A friend of mine has some wise words about the crisis going on in America and the World.  We should take heed.  Please know that she's a gorgeous, California-living, actor/model, bi-racial, intelligent free-thinker.  She is NOT a conservative conspiracy theorist.  She gets it.  Her words follow...

"Malaysia acting stupider than before. Release the manifest and not give "details." It is obvious that this aviation company is waist deep in heavy espionage and are not very good @ it. And I get the sick feeling Putin & Soetero-Obama jointly pulled this shit to distract the world from the Mid East. He was horrible at the press conference and not a shred of sympathy. Just glossed over like his eyes. Spooks should not run countries. They have too many favors to repay and too much dirt to hide. Malaysia knows what it has done, counter intel knows and I think it goes beyond the Barbie Doll factories. Bottom line is there are some evil droids running the show and they all serious sociopaths that need to be terminated. At this point Americans are so pissed if they pulled a Lincoln, we would not have a race war because the Blacks and Whites are pissed about the border, and in general feel maligned and conned. All that ammo stockpiled is to be kept from you to go into you. Can you not see that those that swim to uphold the law are so angry that they do as they please? They receive no discipline, the cameras break, the evidence vanishes, the hard drive is gone, the lights were off so the camera missed it. But when YOU do something they can tell you exactly when and where. We are being played like the last song on the RMS Titanic."

Government Represses; Free Enterprise Empowers

Just read an article that the EPA is imposing harsh regulations on how to dispose of waste grains that will cripple small brewers and dairy farms.

Our government exists only to make our lives harder, make us pay more, and does NOTHING to create growth, jobs and wealth for the American People, the people it's charged with serving!

As we get poorer, the politicians get richer, then they come up with schemes like promoting "Income Inequality" to trick the public into thinking that biz owners and wealthy are keeping them down, when it's really the government that prevents average citizens from becoming wealthy.

There isn't a finite amount of money available.  Nine of ten millionaires made it themselves, they didn't inherit it.  Eight of ten billionaires, the same.

When are people going to wise up to these wolves in sheeps' cloaks in elected office???  When will have some relief from their tyranny?

Campus Intolerance

With phrases such as "evangelical types," "peddle hate and intolerance," "outsiders coming into our midst to provoke us, to taunt us," and more, he clearly shows that the UCSB campus is not an academy of higher learning, where ideas are questioned and explored, and differing viewpoints are accepted, but rather an institute of indoctrination where only one point of view is regarded as the correct one.  The thought police patrol the halls of UCSB much like at other universities, and those who may feel differently due to religious or political beliefs are relegated to second-class citizens at best, or even enemies of the state.  I'll post the letter in its entirety here, so you can come to your own conclusion regarding the content.

Letter from Michael D. Young, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UCSB

March 21, 2014

To: Campus Community

Fr: Michael D. Young Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Re: Students and Free Speech at UCSB

Below you will find an email communication that I sent out earlier this week to all UCSB students expressing my views on free speech. Sincerely, Michael D. Young Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

March 19, 2014

Dear Students:

Over the past several weeks, our campus has been visited by a number of outside groups and individuals coming here to promote an ideology, to promulgate particular beliefs (at times extreme beliefs), or simply to create discord that furthers a certain personal agenda. Some passionately believe in their causes, while others peddle hate and intolerance with less-than-noble aims. 

Whatever the motives and goals, the presence of such people and groups on campus can be disruptive and has the potential to draw us into the kind of conflict that puts at risk the quality of exchange of ideas that is fundamental to the mission of our university.

What is happening now is not new: evangelical types have been visiting UCSB and university campuses since time immemorial. What we see at UCSB today is simply the most recent generation of true believers, self-proclaimed prophets, and provocateurs. 

During the past few weeks, UCSB has been visited by various anti-abortion crusaders. Some have been considerate and thoughtful in promoting their message; others have openly displayed images that many in our community find distressing and offensive. 

We have also seen earnest and thoughtful religious missionaries, and we have seen proselytizers hawking intolerance in the name of religious belief. As a consequence of interactions with the more extreme of our visitors, students have expressed outrage, pain, embarrassment, fear, hurt, and feelings of harassment. Moreover, I have received requests that the campus prohibit the peddling of “fear,” “hate,” “intolerance,” and “discord” here at UCSB.

Those of you who know me are aware that I have strong views on the matter of intolerance. You also know that I hold equally strong views on the sanctity of free speech. If you have heard me speak at Convocation or at anti-hate events, or if you have seen me officiating at the Queer Wedding, you know that my message on both counts is clear. Recent events lead me to believe that this message bears repeating.

First, the principle of freedom of expression resides at the very foundation of our society and, most certainly, at the foundation of a world-class university such as UC Santa Barbara. Freedom and rights are not situational: we either have freedom of speech or we do not. We cannot pick and choose which views are allowed to be aired and who is allowed to speak. If that were the case, then only those in charge — those holding power — would determine who gets to speak and whose views are heard.

Second, freedom is not free. The price of freedom for all to speak is that, at times, everyone will be subjected to speech and expression that we, ourselves, find offensive, hateful, vile, hurtful, provocative, and perhaps even evil. So be it! Law and policy ban only an extremely narrow band of speech and expression-”yelling ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre,” for example, and child pornography. The price we pay to speak our own minds is allowing others to speak theirs, regardless of how oppositional their views are to our own. Our Founding Fathers-all white men of privilege, some even slave owners-got it right when designing the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Having firmly stated my support for freedom of expression, I hasten to follow with a lesson my mother taught me when I was a small child, a lesson that has remained with me the rest of my life and that I relay to our entering students every fall at Convocation. My mother taught me that just because you can say or do something doesn’t mean that you should. Civility plays an important role in how we choose to exercise our right to expression. We all have the right to say odious things, to display offensive slogans and placards, and to hurt and disrespect groups and individuals that disagree with us. The question is: should we? Should we engage in these behaviors just because we can or because they serve our political, religious, or personal agendas?

At UCSB, our students have proven that we are better than this. While it has not always been easy, time and again UCSB students have demonstrated that they can disagree about the critical issues of our time — fundamentally and passionately but within a framework of humanity and civility, respecting the dignity of those whose views they oppose. Time and time again, UCSB students have demonstrated that they understand their role in defining the character and quality of this campus community — revealing their unwillingness to lower themselves to the tactics of those whose agenda comes wrapped in intolerance and extremism.

And now we are tested once again, outsiders coming into our midst to provoke us, to taunt us and attempt to turn us against one another as they promote personal causes and agendas. If we take the bait, if we adopt negative tactics and engage in name calling, confrontation, provocation, and offensive behavior, then they win and our community loses. While urging you to engage with differing ideas and opinions in a civil manner, I also want to remind you that you have the option not to engage at all. You do not have to listen to, look at, or even acknowledge speech or expression that you find provocative or offensive. The Arbor Mall is a free speech area, as is the area in front of the University Center. If you do not want to be confronted by certain materials or expressions, you should avoid the free-speech areas when you expect that you might encounter them, or simply ignore them. I promise you the visitors will hate that.

And, finally, if you think demonstrators, activists, or proselytizers are violating the law, report them to the UC Police Department. If you think they are violating campus policies, report them to the Office of Student Life (OSL). Similarly, if you feel harassed or think you are being subjected to offensive speech or material as an involuntary audience, please contact the Office of Student Life immediately. Katya Armistead, Associate Dean of Student Life and Activities, can be reached at 805-893-8912. If you do not reach her, someone at the general OSL number (805-893-4550) will be able to relay your message to her. The campus regulations address UCSB’s free speech policies further: :http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/Regulations/campus_activities.aspx<http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/Regulations/campus_activities.aspx> 

What I am suggesting may not be easy, and it may feel more satisfying (at least for the moment) to lash out. (My mom often reminded me that doing the right thing is difficult.) If you feel that you must respond, hold a peaceful, thoughtful, civil, and dignified counter-demonstration, and show how students engage intellectually and politically at UCSB.

Sincerely, Michael D. Young Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

How to Mine for Gold

I have found a gold mine and it's not in the hills.  It's on the hill, Capitol Hill, that is.  To unearth this prolific mother lode, I need to form a company.  Most importantly, one that researches problems in public transportation (or buildings, or schools, or whatever) and always cites "monetary deficiency" as the root cause.  Then--poof!--the Powers That Be will shower me with riches.  Gold strike!

Recently, such a firm teamed up with my state to find out that--now this will be a shocker--traffic and poor infrastructure are costing taxpayers thousands annually, and more revenue is direly needed to reinforce and maintain a decaying system, including bridges that do not. even. meet. code.  whoa...

No good sleight of hand is worth its weight in gold without an accessory, though.  Thank God for the Mainstream Media.  They lap up studies and research reports like kittens' milk.  The media will state or print the press release verbatim and pull in suckers (their audience) with a sensational teaser or headline.  The public is aghast!  The public is outraged!  Children will die unless we do something!

Smooth as silk, the politicians move in to fix the problem, only...oh, darn-it, there's no more money in the coffers.  We want to save your babies, we really do, but there's not a dime left.  If only there were some way, some obscure way we could help solve this calamity, we would.  Hey, wait a minute!  We know you're not going to like this, and it's an election year, but safety transcends politics, you know.  We're left with no other option. We coooooould raise taxes, just a little, to save children's lives.

And, they swindle the public into believing that the only viable solution to any problem is a tax hike.  And, we keep buying their load of pigs' droppings.

Politicians use these reports to gin up support for tax increases so they don't have to do the hard work of budgeting.  They'll pay these research firms big bucks to keep their jobs easy.

I've got to join this gold rush!

  

Let Them Eat Cake

So, Senator Dianne Feinstein is outraged that the CIA may have snooped into her computer use.  BUT, she's perfectly fine with the NSA spying on us average citizens.

This is the hypocrisy that is Washington.  What's okay for me, you, and the baker down the street, ain't so kosher for those who sit upon thrones up on the Hill.

All citizens, regardless of party affiliation or social agenda, should be livid that the politicians, the ones we elected to work for us, regard us as nothing more than vote- and money-generators.  They revel in their protected special status as Washington Elite.

This political elitism, to me, is the class-warfare we should be worried about.  The reprehensible gap in our country is not the fallacy and triteness of "rich versus poor," but rather, the Grand Canyon that exists between politicians and average citizens.

Washington has voted itself into a ruling class and has forsaken us, the ones who sent them there to do our bidding.  We are a proletariat so far removed from our reigning government that we might as well live on another continent.  We are the peasants to our rulers in Washington, and just as the Founding Fathers had fought against nobility--most notably George Washington who refused to be called "king"--today's politicians are our very own dissociated monarchy.

Dianne Feinstein and the others might as well be saying to us, "Let them eat cake!"