I am writing this as I witness today's events unfolding. I'm a little annoyed that I have to watch this on CNN.com instead of my preferred Foxnews.com. Foxnews just wasn't coming through for me, so I switched.
I wasn't planning on participating in any way with the events of today's ceremonies, but I couldn't deny that what we're witnessing is a piece of history. I did not vote for Barack Obama. I do not agree with what he stood for during his campaign. The things he has done and said since the election has given me shivers - but not in the way the masses of drooling, idolizing fans have. They're the kind of shivers I get when I read about the great dictators of the 20th Century.
Ugh. Enough with the "Obama" chanting. Do they really understand that he is not the messiah? Certainly, he has gained greater following and hero-worship than actual Messiah did when he was on the Earth.
I can't even imagine what George W. Bush feels at this moment. I know what I feel. I watch as still-the-President George W. Bush walks down the hall towards the doors to the platform where he will hand the post over to Barack Obama and I am filled with a sense of all that we overcame and experienced during President Bush's tenure. Mostly I remember 9-11 and the events of that day that, like it or not, defined the next 7 and a half years of the 43rd Presidency of the United States. I wonder, with Barack Obama and the masses of people who believe he is going to redeem us from all our social ills, what is going to lie in store for us for the next 2 years?
I wonder about the next two years, because that is how long the conservatives and religious right of this country have to find good people to elect in the next congressional election - for it is they who are most likely to keep President Obama in check. For now, he has great potential to do whatever he wants.
And now, here comes Joe Biden - looking as brainless and slightly intoxicated as ever with a plastic, painted-on grin. I can't look at him without remembering the lies and disgusting way in which he treated Clarence Thomas during Justice Thomas' confirmation hearings for the US Supreme Court. Joe Biden is just one more reason I don't trust Barack Obama.
Ugh. Harry Reid. I went to church with him and thought him, well, retarded. I hate to insult the mentally challenged, but nothing else comes to mind at the moment.
Oh look - Nancy Pelosi. What a waste of oxygen. Hey Al - we may have found the REAL reason for Global warming (ever check the CO2 levels hovering over the Capital when congress is in session?).
Barack H. Obama. Interesting switch there - - everyone else got their FULL name read, but I'm guessing due to the overuse and the feeling that everyone gets when hearing "Hussein" that they left it off on purpose.
Okay. The chanting again. My goodness, if people loved Christ they way they love Obama, what a great place this world would be!
A co-worker just passed by my desk and invited me to come into the department library where they had the proceedings on and clapped when the swearing in was completed. I was glad that I did not join them. I wanted to be here and recording my reactions to the events, but more so – I did not want to join in with them. Comments such as “this is so wonderful” and the like could be heard as tears were being shed. What is so wonderful about this? What Obama going to do that is so different from anyone else? Nothing.
I’m grumpy now. Good and grumpy. I’m surrounded by people in a glow of Obama veneration. I am entrenched in pro-Obama homilies. Obamalies. For an Obamanation.
Well, what did we expect? For decades we’ve revered “free thinkers” and not independent thinkers. Free thinking is only free from thinking. We’ve preached freedom as being free from morals and free from working. We want free money and freedom from the work necessary to earn that money. We want to be free to pursue happiness and not joy.
Obama’s speech is laden with all kinds of socialist rhetoric (“the markets need a watchful eye”, etc.). A new era of the new deal is being born. Woodrow Wilson and FDR would be proud. George Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the rest are puking in their graves. I am puking at my desk. I am timorous of what this means for my country and for my life. For now, I will continue to cling to my God and guns and pay off my debts and pay off my mortgage with great fervor.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Anti-Inauguration Party invitation!
Who: Anyone who feels the same way I do.
What: I'm gettin' a Pinata donkey (thanks for the idea, Mrs.G!). We can watch the speech and, like the drinking game, each participant will hit the donkey with whatever hitting tool they deem appropriate when their word is spoken (I'm thinking a Bible and Gun in honor of his "clinging to their God and Guns" comment - although I have too much respect for the Bible to subject it to that kind of abuse, so I may just name my baseball bat "Bible".) I'm taking the word "change." Who wants "hope" or "responsibility?"
As soon as the donkey spills its candy-laden guts, we turn off the speech and do something more fun, less nauseating.
Where: My place
When: Tuesday, January 20, 2008
Why: Because on this night of nights, I want to be as far away from the hero-worship of the President-elect as possible.
What: I'm gettin' a Pinata donkey (thanks for the idea, Mrs.G!). We can watch the speech and, like the drinking game, each participant will hit the donkey with whatever hitting tool they deem appropriate when their word is spoken (I'm thinking a Bible and Gun in honor of his "clinging to their God and Guns" comment - although I have too much respect for the Bible to subject it to that kind of abuse, so I may just name my baseball bat "Bible".) I'm taking the word "change." Who wants "hope" or "responsibility?"
As soon as the donkey spills its candy-laden guts, we turn off the speech and do something more fun, less nauseating.
Where: My place
When: Tuesday, January 20, 2008
Why: Because on this night of nights, I want to be as far away from the hero-worship of the President-elect as possible.
13 Virtues of a Founding Father's Life
Source: www.flamebright.com/PTPages/Benjamin.asp
You probably know Benjamin Franklin best as one of the Fathers of the United States, a great leader and diplomat. He signed the major documents of the founding of the U.S. including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Perhaps you know him as an inventor, or as a scientist who flew kites in lightning storms, or as a writer and printing press operator.
But did you know that in 1726, at the age of 20, while on an 80-day ocean voyage from London back to Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin developed a "Plan" for regulating his future conduct? He was partially motivated by Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." He followed the plan he created "pretty faithfully" even to the age of 79 (when he wrote about it), and he was even more determined to stick with it for his remaining days because of the happiness he had enjoyed so far by following it.
His "Plan" was made up of 13 virtues, each with short descriptions:
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
He committed to giving strict attention to one virtue each week so after 13 weeks he moved through all 13. After 13 weeks he would start the process over again so in one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times.
He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day.
Naturally, his goal was to live his days and weeks without having to put any marks on his chart. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, but in time he enjoyed seeing them diminish. After awhile he went through the series only once per year and then only once in several years until finally omitting them entirely. But he always carried the little book with him as a reminder.
Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues are unique and obviously served him well since he is one of the most respected and most accomplished men in the history of the United States.
What you can do: Take this list and adapt it to fit you and your family, then post them where you can review them regularly. Living by these standards will promote a better family, a better community, a better world.
You probably know Benjamin Franklin best as one of the Fathers of the United States, a great leader and diplomat. He signed the major documents of the founding of the U.S. including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Perhaps you know him as an inventor, or as a scientist who flew kites in lightning storms, or as a writer and printing press operator.
But did you know that in 1726, at the age of 20, while on an 80-day ocean voyage from London back to Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin developed a "Plan" for regulating his future conduct? He was partially motivated by Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." He followed the plan he created "pretty faithfully" even to the age of 79 (when he wrote about it), and he was even more determined to stick with it for his remaining days because of the happiness he had enjoyed so far by following it.
His "Plan" was made up of 13 virtues, each with short descriptions:
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
He committed to giving strict attention to one virtue each week so after 13 weeks he moved through all 13. After 13 weeks he would start the process over again so in one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times.
He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day.
Naturally, his goal was to live his days and weeks without having to put any marks on his chart. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, but in time he enjoyed seeing them diminish. After awhile he went through the series only once per year and then only once in several years until finally omitting them entirely. But he always carried the little book with him as a reminder.
Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues are unique and obviously served him well since he is one of the most respected and most accomplished men in the history of the United States.
What you can do: Take this list and adapt it to fit you and your family, then post them where you can review them regularly. Living by these standards will promote a better family, a better community, a better world.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)