What Would Jesus Do?

***This post is a day late, but not a dollar short. Thanks to blogger being down two consecutive days, my two cents were delayed.***

The big news is about the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. al-Zarqawi was responsible for the murder of several civilians, by beheading, bombing and other methods. I think it safe to say this was not a nice man. Our troops and the civilians that are part of the corporate carpet bagging of Iraq are now a little (just a little) safer that this man is no longer breathing air.

My problem stems from the fact that our politicians seem to be glad-handing one another and talking about the success of the mission. On more than one occasion I have heard "congratulations" given to our military for this. (Most notably, Speaker Hastert (R-IL), just yesterday)

These are the same politicians that have amassed a majority in the House and Senate based on the principles of the religious right (I'm beginning to think they are neither). And if we are living in a new theocracy, shouldn't we abide by the tenets of the judeo-christian beliefs that are being imposed across the country?

God spoke all these words, saying: I am the Lord your God,who brought you out of Egypt, from the place of slavery. (1)Do not have any other gods before Me. (2)Do not represent [such] gods by any carved statue or picture of anything in the heaven above, on the earth below, or in the water below the land. Do not bow down to [such gods] or worship them. I am God your Lord, a God who demands exclusive worship. Where My enemies are concerned, I keep in mind the sin of the fathers for [their] descendants, to the third and fourth [generation]. But for those who love Me and keep My commandments, I show love for thousands [of generations]. (3)Do not take the name of God your Lord in vain. God will not allow the one who takes His name in vain to go unpunished. (4)Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. You can work during the six weekdays and do all your tasks. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God your Lord. Do not do anything that constitutes work. [This includes] you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maid, your animal, and the foreigner in your gates. It was during the six weekdays that God made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. God therefore blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (5)Honor your father and mother. You will then live long on the land that God your Lord is giving you. (6)Do not commit murder. (7)Do not commit adultery. (8)Do not steal. (9)Do not testify as a false witness against your neighbor. (10)Do not be envious of your neighbor's house. Do not be envious of your neighbor's wife, his slave, his maid, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20)

The ten commandments above are pretty much black and white if you proclaim yourself to be a Christian. And they don't simply apply to the individual, but also to a government made of men who want to claim the judeo-christian tenets as the foundation for their government.

If you believe in the Lord, then you realize that al-Zarqawi is a child of God. What right is it of ours, as children too, to take his life from him. God is to make judgement of us all when the time comes.

So when you see someone who you believe has a black heart and wants only harm for you, ask yourself what would Jesus do??? Would he strike him down with a might and fury that is unholy? Or would he offer his other cheek?

Richard Attenborough's Gandhi

Just watched Gandhi that I rented from blockbuster.com. (No, I don't get a kickback for that). A really well made movie. A great message. Gives hope to idealists like myself.

Watch it if you can.

Until Next Time...

Who wants to read this?

I was getting ready for bed when I decided just to look over the site-tracker information. I find it interesting that I have had people visit from Argentina, the U.K., France, Belgium and other countries.

I guess this is just a nice hello to you all. Feel free to drop a line next time.

Until Next Time...

A Declaration of Sorts...

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable 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' -- Declaration of Independence

Since those words were written, slavery has been abolished. Since those words were written, women have claimed their right as citizens. Since those words were written, we have strived to continue our nation in the spirit of the good and right and just.

Today's regurgitation of the ridiculous notion of writing into our Constitution an amendment that would castigate a segment of our society to the outer reaches is heinous, bigoted and above all hateful.

Love thy neighbor as thyself: Do not to others what thou wouldn't not wish be done to thyself: Forgive injuries. Forgive thy enemy, be reconciled to him, give him assistance, invoke God in his behalf.

Our neighbors are gay. Our neighbors are black. Our neighbors are Mexican. Our neighbors are Iraqi. Looking at this list we see people we have chosen to hate who have done nothing to slander or harm us.

Hypocrisy is rampant in our society today. We allow ourselves to be duped by this latest sham, The Marriage Amendment to protect marriage. The only threat to marriage in our society is divorce. And if the uber-right wing conservative 'Christians' really were anything other than homophobes, they would also insist on an amendment banning masturbation, infidelity, sex out of wedlock, women being allowed to stay in their homes during menstruation, the NFL, etc., etc., etc. All of these things, if allowed to happen, are abominations in the words of the Bible. But you won't see anything of that sort from them.

*The NFL reference alludes to the touching of a pig's skin on the Sabbath for anyone thoroughly confused by that one.

Is it enough just to scream, "Stop the Insanity"???

Until Next Time...

When Good Friends Go Bad

No...not a FOX Tuesday night special....just my night at work, last night.

I have a friend. Quirky? yes! Insecurity? Uh...yes, again. But on the whole he is a good guy. So I have only confusion when I try to wrap my head around his behavior last night.

For those that don't know, I am working in a restaurant. You don't work in a semi-fine dining establishment without taking the job seriously. I make a better than decent living doing what I do. The job, as with any other service job has menial tasks. The most menial in a restaurant is sidework. This is the general maintenance and upkeep of the restaurant so that you don't have to re-invent the wheel daily. In our restaurant, as in many, your sidework is completed at the end of your shift, prior to counting out your money and going home. And one person is usually relegated to checking to make sure that everything has been completed to an acceptable standard.

Last night, (we'll call him Sam), Sam was the closer checking sidework. When I checked in with him and let him know I was done with my sidework, I also asked if there was anything at all I could do for him while he took time to check those items. Rather than saying yes, he then ordered me to do another sidework. This is not protocol. You do one set of sidework and are done. On nights when there are fewer servers, you might double up on a second one. But we were staffed appropriately. Also, you don't order someone to do something. Just general manners on that one. And the thing of it is, had he asked if I could have done the second group of tasks, I would have. Because he is a friend.

After being ordered to do the second task, I told him it wasn't necessary and he said, "Who's the closer, you or me?" My response was something akin to, "Does it matter? Sign my check-out." This pissed him off and he said something about how I have to respect him. Sam, however, didn't care to reflect about his own disrespect of me, as a co-worker and a friend, when he told me that I would do the second sidework or I wouldn't get a signature.

I know this is totally a vent entry. I am so blown away by the complete about-face Sam made towards me. I was able to blow it off last night but as I am about to go in for another shift right now, I am getting angry about it again. So work will be odd tonight, I think. I know Sam and I have to work together and I know I will have no problem doing my job, which will include pre-bussing, running food, topping off waters and teas in his station. But without an apology for his behavior last night, this may be a case where a good friend went bad.

Until Next Time

The IMAX Experience

I have never been one that would ever have a problem going to a movie by myself. The way I see it, I'm not there to have a lengthy conversation. I (we) would be sitting in a dark room staring at a screen for two hours. No biggie if I'm alone or not.

Well, tonight, after several missed attempts at trying to go with one or another of my friends, I finally took off for the IMAX presentation of 'Poseidon'. I didn't really get fired up about the movie when I heard about it and saw trailers. But when I saw it was also being shown in IMAX, I thought, "this I gotta see."

I have to say that I am a Wolfgang Petersen fan. He usually puts out really entertaining and thrilling movies, (e.g., Das Boot, In The Line of Fire, Air Force One, The Perfect Storm, Troy), but this one kind of missed the mark. Not once did I find that I was holding my breath during an underwater scene (The Perfect Storm) or have a sinking feeling as you learn the true identity or motive of your bad guy (In The Line of Fire and Air Force One).

One Plus???? Richard Dreyfus' character was a gay man. Not over the top, gay. No excessive flamboyances. He just was and you only learn it after brief matter-of-fact conversation at his dinner table. Bravo to Richard Dreyfus for having the courage and the talent to lend a humanity and realism to his character.

Though I wasn't impressed by the film, (didn't expect I would be), I enjoyed it in the IMAX format. But I am looking way more forward to Superman Returns in IMAX next month.

Until Next Time

The Next Big One

I am now within two months of my 30th birthday. It's not the biggest birthday ever. Just the biggest one I've yet experienced.

Why do we subject ourselves to the painful process of contemplation. Am I who I thought I would be when I was in the sixth grade? Am I who I thought I would be senior year? Am I who I thought I would be 5 years ago? The answer, each time, is no.

In sixth grade I was going to have a degree, a career, a wife, kids, cars, house, etc., etc. By senior year, I knew that part of the above wasn't going to happen. I just needed to figure out how I was going to let my parents know they wouldn't have grandbabies from me. Five years ago I resigned myself to less of the (I won't call it a dream because it was never an aspiration, it just simply was what was going to happen) reality of my sixth grade mind.

Sure, between 25 and now I have completed my first two years of college. Before that I was a professional (definition: paid) actor/singer. Before even that I worked on the QE2 and the Viking Princess. I have lived a lot of life. It just wasn't the life that I was expecting when I was younger. And I'm O.K. with that.

But my reflection, ever moreso since my return from volunteering in New Orleans, has been on a relationship. In my adult life, I have had only two meaningful, though abbreviated, intimate relationships. They both occurred in my early twenties. I have been alone for far too long. And I wish I knew why.

I take stock often. I am not a bad looking guy. I come from a family with good genetics. I am the shortest male in the family but I have a powerful personality that can command a room. I can also shrink and be the least visible person in a room. It just depends on my mood and motivation. I consider myself overweight. I am told that I have an average build. So, maybe I have issues there. In fact, I have told myself time and again that if I work out, put on muscle, that someone will want me. Oprah did the same thing a few years back. She said a simple but brilliant statement right afterwards (and I paraphrase), "You're still you".

Add to the fact that I am exceedingly picky. I am not cocky or stuck-up at all. I can pretend I am cocky sometimes....but I laugh right after I say anything and people know it was a joke, despite my dry sense of humor. But I feel I have a right to be picky. I have seen people who settle just because they don't want to be alone anymore. That is not me, at all.

I'm not saying that my life is completely off-course. I think the greatest thing about my life so far is that I don't have a marked course. I have a life that my friends envy. My friends have lives that I envy. The grass is always greener, right? And I'm not saying that my life will be perfect if only I find someone. I'm not that naive. I'm not a 14 year old school girl, afterall. But I have had experiences and successes in my life. I just want someone to share them with and who can share their experiences and successes with me.

C'est la vie!

Until Next Time...

Who doesn't love a little insomnia?

I have always had bouts of insomnia. Ever since I can remember. I go through relatively long phases where I can fall asleep, as if on command. But the opposite of that is my agonizing, seemingly self-afflicted insomnia.

I say self-afllicted because I putter around, read, watch TV, etc., as if I was trying to do anything at all, besides sleep. For crying out loud....I almost put Ghandi (thanks Blockbuster.com), on at 2:00am. And if I had, I'd be done with it by now. I foolishly thought I'd be asleep already. But on some level, I think I knew I wouldn't be.

This blog, being typed out at 5:06am CDT, is my last diversion before I allow myself some sleep. For now, I should count myself incredibly lucky that I have a very good paying career that allows me most of my day(and night) free for insomnia and the sleep that follows.

Until Next Time...

Mothers...Everyone Knows One!

We were driving in her 2 year old 1984 Datsun/Nissan Sentra Hatchback, beige in color. I think my older brother had recently acted out against my mom and I remember how upset she was because of it. I asked her why he would do that. She replied that he was rebelling, that it was completely natural and that everyone has to go through it. But it was obvious that even armed with that knowledge, it disturbed her terribly. So I boasted that I would buck the trend. I would never rebel against her.

Fast forward two years and I am packing up my stuff and moving to Florida to live with my dad. 4th grade was a tough year for the two of us. But I grew past that and really as I entered high school we had a metamorphosis in our relationship. That strength that was shared between us has really all but disappeared since my return from New Orleans. It was AWESOME of her to offer her house until I could re-build my depleted savings. But I really have to get the fuck out.

But this time she is the one rebelling. She has had medical tests and procedures in the past few months that have totalled over $30,000 (thank god for good insurance). Rather than heed her doctors advice, (who imparted their demands to me, as well), that she eat right, exercise more, cut out sugars and STOP SMOKING, she behaves as a petulent child, making stupid justifications such as, "Well, if I'm not enjoying myself anymore, whats the point to living?" My answer usually relates to grandchildrens graduations, weddings, etc. That usually just pisses her off.

To her credit, she has worked hard to change her diet, to exercise more, cut out sugars, etc., etc. But she is still smoking. That was one component (though a major one) that her cardiologist insisted on. She thinks since she has made strides in the other areas that she can allow herself this one small vice. At least she smokes outside, I guess.

Today we went to my nephew Colin's 3rd grade graduation, (cue The Incredibles, "It's not a graduation....he's going from the third to the fourth grade", Alan paraphrases). Things were great, even with having to drive through some horrendous traffic with her. You never know what will set her off these days....but traffic can usually be counted on. We drove home after graduation. Situation still good. We decided to go to lunch. Macaroni Grill (note to self....don't ever go to Macaroni Grill with mom again). Ahhhh....music. Yes...the trigger that set her off and made her almost impossible to sit with ("that music is too loud. I won't be able to eat."....yeah, the logic is lost on me, too), was the fact that a speaker in an open-concept restaurant happened to be above the table behind us. Add in a waiter who is mumbling the special. A dash of bad eyesight. A hint of a few expletives (deleted) when I try to calm the situation. That should give you the dysfunctional cocktail I enjoyed with my lasagna.

I'm taking stock of everything now. I am paying down my debts. I am re-building my savings. With the Lord, God Almighty and a few extra thousand dollars, I should be ready to move out by the time she returns from up north.

Don't let this rant paint a picture that I don't love my mother. I do. I don't know anyone who could hate their mother....but I am sure they are out there. I love my mother. I just don't have to like her all the time.

A New Post

I have been less than faithful to this blog. I always have these great ideas to write about but just can't get my sometimes busy/sometimes lazy ass to the computer. I'm trying out a new blog.....gonna name it in a few minutes....thinking http://throw-the-bums-out.blogspot.com

I want to write about the most corrupt of the corrupt in Washington and Austin. If nothing else, maybe I can put some idle time to my political passion. I'm going to try and set up the blog now. If you get the chance...stop in and read it sometime.

Until Next Time...

The Acknowledgement of Wealth

With Fat Tuesday came the necessity for me to swear off something that I love for Lent. As it happens, my lenten sacrifice is a little more permanent than 40 days. I gave up my beloved BMW.

See, my BMW was 16 years old. I had been its' caretaker for the last 7 years. I know that whomever takes it over from me will have a good car. But it was time for a change. I bought a new car on Tuesday. It's not really new, per se. But it is new to me. I purchased a 2000 Mercedes SLK 230. Though almost a full 6 years old itself, this vehicle appears very new. Its' body styling could best be described as "classic". That distinction will help it to age very well. Very much like my BMW. The appearance of the vehicle is what leads me to the topic of today's blog entry: The Acknowledgement of Wealth.

For those of you reading this, you know that with my recent self-funded foree to New Orleans, I am far from being considered a person of wealth. But my new car purchase has gained me entry into a club I didn't even really know existed. The Wealth Club, as I think I would like to call it, is a group of people who pay no real dues (excepting of course perhaps a car payment), have no scheduled meetings, and don't even have a newsletter. But go ahead.....ask yourself...."How does Alan know this club exists? What evidence has he been privy to?" Well, I am glad you asked.

On Thursday of this week, I received my first odd salute. All salutes I have received, it should be noted, were offered to me by persons more aged than myself, as if to say, "Welcome, youngster! We are glad you made it. Now keep this hush-hush." I hope my betrayal doesn't lead to dire consequences. I've seen 'The Skulls'. (I haven't really, but it seemed funny to say something like that.) And so some don't jump in and say, "Alan, I drive a (jeep, motorcycle, mini, VW bug, etc) and other drivers in/on my car/bike wave at me all the time", it is important to note that all three salutes came from drivers of vehicles of different auto manufacturers. Their only common thread is that they are sold in the higher end market.

Anyway, Salute 1 came from a man in a Q45 Infiniti as I was pulling out of my bank parking lot. Nothing major. Just a wave and a sly grin. So subtle was the encounter that I really thought nothing of it. Just a kindly older gentleman, of my parents age. Perhaps he had thought I had yielded right-of-way to him, though I had not.

Next, and only a few hours later, was my second salute. Still subtle. But I immediately reflected back to Mr. Infiniti. I wondered could there have been a correlation? But certainty would not come to me until almost 1:00pm, this day. I pulled my car into the dealership to have it washed. I am still parking it in the driveway while I am cleaning out my side of the garage and it had rained the night before. I just wanted the water spots taken care of. When I pulled my car into the service drive, I parked immediately behind an almost identical version of my car. The only difference that I noticed was that hers was the SLK 320 and had wood grain in the cabin. This woman not only started a conversation based on the coincidence of our vehicles, but she then enlisted me, until only moments before a complete stranger, to aid her in making a decision, the outcome of which would either cost her several thousand dollars, or not. Though I have to admit the conversation came to a screeching halt, in my mind, when she confided that she loved her car so much, she wanted to keep it and get one of the new "smaller" Hummers. That could be a blog entry for another day, though.

From clandestine head nods and stealthily planned waves to an overt request for assistance in a major financial decision, it became clear to me that I had unwittingly joined The Wealth Club. But I will keep vigilant for future Acknowlegdements of Wealth. I think, much like my "Target Shoppers Unknowingly Dress In Red" observation, this one too, may have legs.

A Tangled Web

A Tangled Web

Rhetoric aside, need to get to bottom of 'Washington outsider's' uranium claim

Originally printed Sunday, July 20, 2003

Times-Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas

With all the rhetoric aside, what have we learned this past week?

George W. Bush ran for president as a self-professed "outsider" to Washington. I don't know if I would be proud of that moniker, knowing that my own father had been a president, vice-president, director of the CIA, ambassador to Beijing, permanent U.S. representative to the U.N., a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and had actually served in the armed forces. And that my grandfather had been a senator.

Despite those ties to Washington, it was a claim he made. And a lot of the voters fell for it. This is because it was fashionable in the late 1990's to assign the same venom to "them Washington types" that we once held in reserve for "them Commie reds."

The intelligence gaffe, the unwillingness to utilize any diplomacy, the laughable (if you can keep from crying) relaxations on environmental policies, the assault on the Bill of Rights perpetrated by an ingeniously named USA Patriot Act, and a tax scheme with ramifications we won't fully realize until he is not elected, again. I guess we have learned maybe it is OK to be one of "them Washington types."

I may not like the fact that my mechanic is going to charge me $900 to fix my A/C in my car, but I'm sure as hell not going to ask my dry cleaner to give it a shot.

So, what about the slip up in intelligence? Direct translation: LIE. Well, at least I hope it is a lie. Not for the politicization of the matter, but so that I might retain some confidence in an intelligence community that could let Sept. 11 happen.

If the president didn't lie, then we are at Square 1. We have intelligence agencies that have none. However, if he lied, as all evidence is suggesting, then perhaps they are capable of learning from past mistakes and they were working to keep us safe. If he lied, he has led us, unnecesarily, into a war and subsequent period of rebuilding that has destabilized the region and put the sons and daughters of our nation in harm's way. If he lied, then there are 150-plus U.S. soldiers' and countless Iraqi citizens' lives on his head. If he lied, he is guilty of a high crime and misdemeanor.

"But what evidence is suggesting he lied?", I'm sure you are asking, right? Well the lap dog journalistic community has decided it doesn't like the bones being handed it by this administration. They are, for the first time since Sept. 11, doing their jobs.

Political speeches are being taken apart word by word. Although Bush's handlers are stating that the uranium quote was a single component in our rush to war, we now know that the U.N. Inspections teams and the IAEA, led by Hans Blix and Mohammed El Baradai, respectively, effectively debunked all of our other components, prior to our attack.

On Wednesday of this past week, the FBI made public an investigation into this matter. With any luck, we'll soon be able to ask Bush where his buck stops.

Honor, Above All

HONOR, ABOVE ALL

Sacrifice only acceptable when cause is a just one
Originally printed Sunday, August 3, 2003
in the Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas

I was a 17 year old senior. I knew that I wanted to serve my nation and, taking the lead of my brother-in-law, whom I idolized, knew that the Army was the best.

I visited the recruiter, knowing that I wanted to be a Ranger, just like him. But my ASVAB had different plans for me. I was bound for military intelligence in the field of linguistics. And had a condition that precluded my enlistment not been discovered, that is exactly what I would have done. My service would have to be directed down another, equally important avenue.

Last Monday, I celebrated my 27th birthday. I suppose most of us do a little soul searching around that certain day of the year. So I was particularly struck when, for research purposes, I learned that the average age of the fallen soldiers in Iraq came to 26.915 years of age.

I couldn't help but think, "there but for the grace of God...". These brave men and women are in a position where they are not allowed to question orders. They are unable to hold their commander-in-chief to any account. Their sacrifice ensures that I must. This is my duty. This is my service. And I do so, in honor of them.

Two-hundred-and--fifty is a number that some believe to be an acceptable sacrifice. But therein lies the problem. It is a number. It isn't 20-year-old Spec. Christian C. Shultz from Colleyville, Texas who died on July 11. Nor is it 21-year-old Petty Officer, 3rd Class, Doyle W. Bollinger Jr. of Poteau, Okla., who died on June 6 when an unexploded piece of ordinance went off in the area he was working. It isn't Pfc. Lori Piestewa of Tuba City, Ariz., who was one of 10 who lost their lives when they were ambushed while repairing stalled vehicles that had become seperated from their supply convoy. It isn't 51-year-old 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin of Bethlehem, Pa., who died when his vehicle crashed into a ditch to avoid striking a civilian vehicle.

It is a number. It is cold. And it can never accurately humanize this conflict. It is an insult to the lives and deaths of these brave men and women to say that their sacrifices, and sacrifices yet to come, are acceptable.

And that leads me to the topic of sacrifice. Sacrifice is only acceptable when the cause is just and we are defending against pure evil. You will know when we are against that evil because the sacrifice will extend back home, to all citizens of America. Our biggest sacrifice, to date, asked by this administration? Go out to dinner; see a movie; spend lots of money on this tax-free holiday weekend. Um, you mean all I have to do is buy this pair of Nikes I've been wanting and I'm helping us to win the war?

Think again.

True sacrifices were made in this country during World War II, and that was against pure evil. That was against real threats to our homeland. Before "Operation: Stir Up The Beehive Of Muslim Fundamentalism," the only verified threat to our homeland was Osama bin Laden, a man whose al-Qaida network breached our vulnerability and brought us headlong into this brave new world. The administration can't find and end this man or his network. And the only place you'll find him, lately, is on the inside back cover of the Sunday Times-Record News Op-Ed section.

You had better be certain that the cause is just when you ask our brave men and women to sacrifice the promise of youth. They are unable to hold their commander-in-chief to any account. Their sacrifice ensures that I must. This is my duty. This is my service. And I do so, in honor of them.

Life Isn't Fair

Life Isn't Fair

Unfortunately, there are times when the bad guys win

Originally printed Sunday, August 17, 2003

in the Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas

When the editorial board sat down last week, I had given three possibilities that I was going to write about for this week's column. What you are reading now is not one of those initial ideas.

In addition to being a student at Midwestern State University, I am also employed by the department of Housing and Residence Life as a resident assistant. This week has been one of the more challenging weeks, both mentally and physically.

My fellow RA's and I have been waking before 7 am and going through our day, almost non-stop, until as late as 10 pm, all in the effort to prepare for the worst-case scenarios that can occur in college life. And believe me, there are a lot of worst case scenarios.

Through this grueling process, our staff begins to bond, create relationships and, at times, get to their wit's end and bicker and complain. Emotions can run high.

It was when emotions were at their most fevered pitch this week that I was reintroduced to the theme of today's column: Life isn't fair.

That's right. Life isn't fair. There are times when the bad guy wins. There are times when you are not respected. There are times when you fail to respect others. It is human nature. But it occurred to me that when faced with adversity, when you learn that life isn't fiar, the easy road is to accept that fate and move on.

Or, another option is to not choose acquiescence, which soon leads to cynicism.

No. When faced with an injustice, raise your voice and be counted as against it. The other side may still win, but you will have been heard.

For 27 years, I know I have lived a lot of life. That is why I was particularly struck that I was brought face-to-face with this lesson here, in Wichita Falls. Not to say that I can't learn anything here. Quite to the contrary; I am learning daily while here. I am just surprised that such a basic lesson had been overlooked until now.

The applications of this lesson are far reaching, too. In the 1960's, life wasn't fair for the black population of this country, but they stood up to the inequality, to the injustice. And while there is still progress to be made, the distance behind is far more than the distance ahead.

The same could be said for the advancement of women in our society from second-class, subserviant behavior. Or the current "culture war" concerning the gay and lesbian citizens of the United States. All three have stood against unjust opinions and beliefs. And they are being heard by a more informed, more enlightened citizenry.

There is a line from the Broadway musical, "Ragtime" that really hits this nail on the head. Sung by Coalhouse, the lead character:

My path may lead to heaven or hell,

and God will say what's best,

but one thing He will never say

is that I went quietly to my rest.

In that line, he states that man is not accountable to man but to his higher power, alone. Where injustice is concerned, you cannot stay silent. Not for injustice against you. Not for an injustice against others. Raise your voice and be counted against it.

Who Says You Can Never Go Home Again???

Yes! That's right. I am back in the grand D/FW area. I am back in my boyhood home (oh the horror) and I am gainfully employed in the service industry, once again.

On starting at this new restaurant, I feel as though I have entered some alternate universe. There are reincarnations of many of my favorite (and some not-so-favorite) people that I have worked with in the past. It seems that my Mercury days have come to recreate themselves. Waiter Jason has been recreated in an amalgum of two of my current co-workers. One insanely smart and aware of current goings on, the other funny in a big, dumb oaf sort of way. Sean is represented by someone who is his own mirror image. He has kids but no wife. Sean, of course, has had a wife (wives) but no kids. I wonder if alternate Sean wants a wife as badly as Sean wants kids. Jennifer's double is also named Jennifer. Though I don't think Jennifer was much of a singer. But then maybe new Jennifer isn't much into fashion design.

Other personalities abound and it is slightly disconcerting how many similarities there are. So, it is a nice return to the metroplex. I feel very much at home in my new surroundings. It's almost as though I never left. That comfort always makes change that much more bearable.

Words Can Never Describe.....

I arrived in New Orleans yesterday. Everything that I had seen on the television, horrific as it was, was magnified and larger than life. Taking I-10 into downtown, the icon of Katrina, the Superdome, rose from the land standing as sentry for a city destroyed.

I had spent the previous two weeks living in Winnie, Texas and working in Nederland, Texas, working to repair O.C. Wilson Middle School and Nederland High School. It was satisfying work. Especially the middle school, because the completion of the work allowed students to return. We started working at the high school on the same day that students returned and it felt somehow less necessary and carrying less of an impact for victims. So perhaps it was kismet when Janet Pace of the United Way, who I had been talking with two weeks previously, in Baton Rouge, called to tell me there was a medical clinic in New Orleans that needed volunteers.

As it turns out, the Common Ground Cooperative was far more than just a clinic. In fact, my background in communications has come into play and I am learning facets that I previously had little knowledge of. Common Ground is a truly grassroots effort, started immediately following hurricane Katrina. It is focusing on the more severly disadvantaged sectors of New Orleans, (Algiers, the 7th Ward, the 9th Ward, etc.) and providing and teaching residents to establish and maintain self-sufficiency. It is a truly inspirational group and I have only met a small percentage of those involved.

It is an impressive idea to me that I can post on my blog from here. One of many advances made by the throngs of dedicated volunteers that saw suffering and injustice and rushed to offer aid and comfort.

Well, this is my first entry and hopefully I will find time to post often.

Until Next Time...

Really! What In The Hell!!!

I am writing this from my family home. I am still not acquiring "things" except for books, but they are a good thing to acquire, I think.

But I am back home this summer Tuesday morning because I am interviewing for a job back in the area this afternoon.

Oh, and as for not posting in soooo long? I don't have a computer or internet anymore. Consider it the simplification that I have been struggling for.

But here we are in the late summer and I am intending to work for another company than the one I currently work for. The position will pay $10,000 more a year than what I am currently making for ultimately the same work. I guess I can tuck that away and put it into my plan for Europe.

I re-read my previous posts this morning and damned if that didn't seem forever ago. Since then, I have gotten a job with the local police department. I have been reading voraciously, (because I sold my TV....thank christ). And I have been eating amazingly well and working out often. I am seeing the results of this hardwork too. Not terribly disappointing.

I really don't have a point to this post. I think mainly that it is being written simply because it has been forever and a day since my last post, (actually just under 5 months), and I wanted to at least check back in.

Well, I'm off to shower and get ready for my interview. Wish me copious amounts of luck.

Until Next Time.

Not a day goes by....

.....because it was actually 13 since I last posted. However, in my defense, we did get rid of our broadband and dialing up to post takes up the phone line for too long a time. So, in case anyone is reading me with any regularity, it may be a few days, from time to time, that I might post.

I am doing a TON of writing though. Unfortunately, it is all in my head at this point, but I have a great children's story coming together. It's actually not really a children's story, its a story for adults, but told from an ant's perspective. I hope to finish the draft this weekend and begin polishing it soon.

I am working again because the move to Europe has been delayed a bit. I will, most likely, leave sometime in the summer (mid to late). But I am still feeling that loneliness. I think that because I am such a social person, the sting of loneliness is that much more unbearable for me. My friends that I had have, for one reason or another, completely withdrawn from me. I believe it is in anticipation of my leaving. Ahhhh....cest la vie!

Until Next Time!

Oh! A Reward....

So apparently some well-meaning wealthy socialite up in DC wants Gannon's head, and those of the prominent Government Officials he's been "entertaining". Check out this site address.

Who is this Jeff Gannon/James Guckart, anyway?

I don't know how many of you out here in the blogoshere have even heard of this guy. The reason for my uncertainty is the apparent unwillingness for the mainstream media to report on this issue. Not only is it a thrilling story that can appeal to the basest of instincts (think Monica Lewinsky, but she's a he and he's a gay hooker), but there is also actual substance there, (something that was lacking in the former).

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal (and you can access it via the americablog.com site), that seemed to try to brush this story under the carpet. I think it is deplorable that legitimate news sources are trying to pull this pseudo-journalist into the fold and protect him from investigation. And it begs the question, "Are they protecting Jeff Gannon/James Guckart? Or is there somebody bigger?"

I had sent off an e-mail to the two reporters responsible for the story, along with CC:ing the Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal. I am suggesting that anyone else that wants the media to finally hold this administration to any account do the same. I post a copy of my letter here for anyone to use as a guide in your own letter writing. Keep Fighting The Good Fight!!!

Gentlemen,

I appreciate your work on preparing a brief history of fringe reporting in the White House Press Corps. The story had a great amount of sources to back up the direction you wished to head.

THAT BEING SAID:

Your reporting failed to investigate why it was that Jeff Gannon/James Guckart was welcomed into the press room before he was ever associated with any news reporting agency. Why it was that he was given day passes over the next years, once GOPUSA formed Talonnews.com, more than a full month after he first was admitted into the press room. Why it was that he signed in with his real name for those day passes, but was recognized by his alias by the press secretary and the President, displaying complicity by the White House in this affair. Plus, with the shadiness surrounding the Valerie Plame case and Gannon/Guckart's possible involvement, it should be the responsibility of our free press to investigate this issue and either disprove it flatly, or continue the investigation to its ultimate conclusion.

Rather than offering the protection of the public with your freedom of press, you have done a huge disservice, trying to paint for your readers the picture that this is a common practice in White House Press Briefing Rooms, current and past. Your readers are expected, it seems, to view this story as a non-story. What you have successfully done is welcomed into your ranks a fake reporter and given him protection. Ask yourself this......if you had gone through the education required for your current position, and you were brought into the public light, not for supporting the President, but holding him to any accountability, how many in the press, right-wing, liberal or otherwise, would offer you the same protections.

I am very disappointed not only in you and your reporting, but in the editorial direction your paper seems to have taken on this issue.

Most Sincerely,
NAME WITHELD (from this post....for my own security)

The two reporters addresses are:

christopher.cooper@wsj.com, john.mckinnon@wsj.com

And the Managing Editor is:

paul.steiger@wsj.com

Happy Letter Writing.

Until Next Time!