04.30.08
Posted in Family, Miscellaneous at 9:04 pm by
Well, it’s been almost a week since she came into our lives. We’d talked about picking up a pup and checked our local pound. They had few younger dogs to choose from, and of those only two that looked like what we wanted, small non poodle type pups. Well, I picked one out and made arrangements for her to be spayed and then I’d pick her up. When we came by on the appointed day, she’d contracted the parvo virus and didn’t survive. And nothing else in the pound caught our eye. So we went to the neighboring city pound and there we found much better conditions for the animals as well as a way to check them out better, we could actually interact with them in an open yard. There was one little black pup that caught my eye, but she was more than shy, she seemed terrified of people. They had three month old or so pups that looked about ready to burst from their overstuffed tummies, but they had a lot of poodle in them (apparently) and I didn’t want one THAT young either. There was a three legged bitch that kept following me around, but she was much older than we’d thought and I wasn’t sure about my ability to adjust to the needs of a three legged animal. And there was an ugly mutt with a severe undershot jaw and a hairdo that looked like something out of the movie “Gremlins”. But the one that really stood out was a small black and tan bitch about three to four months old that while not overly friendly wasn’t extremely shy either. And when I saw her brighten up at the sight of the folks who cared for her, well that clinched the deal. So we asked for more info and they said she’d shown up with one eye hanging out, apparently abandoned on the street and who knows WHAT happened. But they got her eye back in and she’d healed up well. So we signed on the dotted line and brought her home, with a commitment to take her back for her shots and spaying once she’d overcome the swelling still found around her eye. No permanent damage apparent there, but she also has a hernia. Poor thing, she’s had a rough life, but you can’t tell it now! She does well in the backyard on her own when we’re out, no whining or fussing at all. And when we’re in the house and let her in, she’s right behind us, nipping our heels and letting us know she loves attention. She’s no longer the shy little scrawny pup we picked up just five days ago, she’s really blossomed out and is already gaining weight. Our main worry is that she’ll not be as small as we’d thought, if she keeps growing like this she may outgrow her crate! Anyway, enough for words. I’ll toss in a couple thousand words’ worth below…
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04.19.08
Posted in Christian, Faith, Firearms, Freedom, Politics, Religion at 6:12 pm by
233 years ago today a group of simple village and farm folk stood up against the forces of an empire which desired to force upon them its ideals and laws. They “fired the shot heard ’round the world” and after several long years of war they attained their goal - a free and sovereign nation that was built upon Biblical principles with freedom for all. May we all be grateful for the legacy passed down to us by those brave men. It is because of their resolve and dedication and sacrifice that we enjoy the freedom that we have a US citizens.
Now we have candidates to the presidency of the US who would take away the very freedom by which our nation was founded. We have a candidate who denigrates “fly over land” as “bitter people clinging to their guns and religion”. I stand amazed at the current crop of candidates and can only wonder what happened to the spirit of the men who stood that April morning against the forces of a far off king and set the stage for a grand new nation’s entrance upon the stage of the world. Oh that their spirit may spring once more to life in the hearts of my fellow citizens.
Concord Hymn
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps,
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream that seaward creeps.
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone,
That memory may their deeds redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.
O Thou who made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free, –
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raised to them and Thee.
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04.07.08
Posted in Freedom, Miscellaneous at 9:03 am by
Lately I’ve noticed a tendency on certain internet communities to bash all law enforcement officers for the actions of some. This is a worrisome trend and although I understand WHY folks distrust people in uniform it is something that needs to be addressed. It does not behoove a fair man to use of a broad brush in characterizing any group of people. Yes, there is a disturbing trend in our law enforcement circles to take upon themselves powers not granted to them by the US Constitution. And yes there is a disturbing trend towards militarization of our police forces. And yes there is a disturbing trend towards an “Us vs Them” attitude amongst those who are charged with enforcing our society’s laws. However, there are also many good men who wear the uniform and who put their lives on the line daily in an attempt to reign in the criminal element that lives amongst us.
Over the years I’ve seen abuses committed by people in other walks of life as well. The priest, preacher or other religious figure who abuses his position for personal gain or sexual gratification is beneath contempt. The teacher or professor who hands out good grades in exchange for sexual favors is likewise the scum of the earth. And yet we realize that these are the exceptions to the rule. In the same way, the person who utilizes a firearm to commit a crime is despicable - but in no way is he representative of the majority of the gun owning public.
Just as in any profession, the bad apple gets the press. Those who use a badge to bully and intimidate are the ones who get all the attention. What about those who are doing their best to do the right thing?
The old adage of “walk a mile in their shoes” is one that we should take into consideration. When the cop pulls over a vehicle he doesn’t know if he’s going to find a parish priest late to mass, a soccer mom talking on a phone or a serial killer with a gun in hand and a corpse in the trunk - or just John Q. Public with a chip on his shoulder and disdain for the man behind the badge. The cop, by the very nature of his job, gets to focus in on the seamier side of life. His job is to deal with those who break the law. And since that is what he sees the most, he may very well begin to believe that ALL people are that way. This does not excuse him, but it does help one to understand WHY he has become what he has become.
Some of my friends are either currently serving in law enforcement or have been in law enforcement. To a man they are honest citizens who’s only concern is to do a good job and get home at night to the wife and kids - alive. I believe they are representative of the majority of law enforcement. And my friends are NOT the ones who will kick down doors to enforce anti-constitutional laws and mandates. However, they are also members of smaller town and city departments where folks still have the basic values upon which our nation was founded.
We are at a critical time in our nation’s history. For too long we have sought to improve our society via human philosophies rather than solid Godly principles. And we are reaping the results thereof. We’ve taught folks that there is no personal responsibility and then wonder why our corts are clogged with “not my fault” suits. We have taught that criminals have more rights than tax paying citizens and then wonder why our streets run red with blood. We turn repeat violent offenders out on the streets and punish the law abiding for the crimes the perps commit.
In other words, the perceived problems in law enforcement circles are mere symptoms of the greater ills suffered throughout our entire society. Rather than bashing all police officers for the actions of the over zealous and overbearing jack booted thugs that some are, why not seek positive steps to turn our nation back to a better time? We need good men to step up and fill the ranks of our legislative, executive and judicial branches of government on all levels. We need good men to step forward and fill the ranks of law enforcement and military positions. We need good men to step forward and fill the ranks of our educational establishments. The problem is that there are fewer and fewer good men because too many have taken the position that there’s no such thing as good and bad.
The problem is that we bash law enforcement for the ills that our entire society are guilty of. Instead of scapegoating all cops for the actions of those who abuse their position, why don’t we take responsibility for the changes that we as individuals can make in society - and make a difference by our example?
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