Saturday, July 28, 2007
Wrong Question!
Today we ate breakfast (late) at a small, cozy, homegrown/hometown restaurant called The Pancake Station. Excellent food, with that homey treatment and feel. As we were seated, a young man met us at our table and handed us our menus. When he asked what we'd like to drink, I asked him what kind of soft drinks they had. He looked at me quite puzzled and said, "What???" What a dope! I'm in the Texas panhandle now, for Pete's sake. Once the realization of what I said hit me, I promptly re-phrased my question. "What kind of Cokes do you have?" This time, a list immediately rolled off his tongue. "Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Mt. Dew,....." You see, here in Texas all "soft drinks" are referred to as "Cokes". I knew that, but why "soft drinks" came out of my mouth, I'll never know! I guess I still have a little bit of assimilating to do.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Another Independence Day
I'm one of the few people that gets to celebrate two Independence Days every July.
After a year and a half of game-playing, lying, and various shenanigans, on this day in 2006, my freedom became a reality. My ex tried everything in the book to try and get me to go back East. (She didn't know me very well, even after 27 years of living with her.) She tried to use sickness, used the grandkids, destroyed or had destroyed one of the vehicles I left behind after she let the insurance lapse, doused my son's new mini van with gasoline for the purpose of burning it up, used everything she could think of to get me to have a change of heart. She even tried some crap about having a brain tumor to try to get me to stop action - I mean, since she's dying anyway, why bother, right? It didn't work. It's been well over a year since she used the brain tumor ruse, and she's still very much alive - and no mention of the brain tumor since. Maybe it miraculously disappeared. Nah. She lied, as with everything else. Numerous delays came because her lawyer couldn't get hold of her. She was "out of pocket" many times at opportune weeks.
This day marks the one year mark, when the judge signed my divorce petition, granting me what I asked for - to get out of that marriage and only keep what I had in my possession when I came here. I gave up everything else for my freedom - my house, land, everything but some of my personal belongings that the judge said I was entitled to. I can celebrate my personal Independence Day every July 26th from here on. It is cause for celebration.
After a year and a half of game-playing, lying, and various shenanigans, on this day in 2006, my freedom became a reality. My ex tried everything in the book to try and get me to go back East. (She didn't know me very well, even after 27 years of living with her.) She tried to use sickness, used the grandkids, destroyed or had destroyed one of the vehicles I left behind after she let the insurance lapse, doused my son's new mini van with gasoline for the purpose of burning it up, used everything she could think of to get me to have a change of heart. She even tried some crap about having a brain tumor to try to get me to stop action - I mean, since she's dying anyway, why bother, right? It didn't work. It's been well over a year since she used the brain tumor ruse, and she's still very much alive - and no mention of the brain tumor since. Maybe it miraculously disappeared. Nah. She lied, as with everything else. Numerous delays came because her lawyer couldn't get hold of her. She was "out of pocket" many times at opportune weeks.
This day marks the one year mark, when the judge signed my divorce petition, granting me what I asked for - to get out of that marriage and only keep what I had in my possession when I came here. I gave up everything else for my freedom - my house, land, everything but some of my personal belongings that the judge said I was entitled to. I can celebrate my personal Independence Day every July 26th from here on. It is cause for celebration.
Happy 26th of July!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Independence Day in America
Once again, our Independence Day is upon us - the Fourth of July. Let this post be a reminder of what brought this Country of ours into being. Read the words carefully. Never forget what brought us here, for those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. There are many who have forgotten, or were never taught how we came to be as a country. Some are among us, and some are in our government in various positions. They do not know the strife, tyranny and oppression our forefathers were dealing with. They do not know what it took to eradicate it from their lives. They do not know the cost of maintaining that which our forefathers won for us with their blood.
From The Declaration of Independence:
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The Preamble to The Constitution of The United States of America:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
(The Preamble clearly pertains to the citizens of The United States. Non-citizens are not covered. Yes, they have human rights and some civil rights, but they do not have Constitutional Rights by default.)
**************************
Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
(As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.)
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
United - - That means that we have all come together.
States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?
- Red Skelton
Hear it HERE.
From The Declaration of Independence:
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The Preamble to The Constitution of The United States of America:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
(The Preamble clearly pertains to the citizens of The United States. Non-citizens are not covered. Yes, they have human rights and some civil rights, but they do not have Constitutional Rights by default.)
**************************
Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
(As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.)
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
United - - That means that we have all come together.
States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?
- Red Skelton
Hear it HERE.
Press "1" For English
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