Thought For Today — And Beyond

My reaction to the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia...

Independent of President Trump's statements about these events, I am concerned that too many in our nation have descended into the Cult of Victimology.

Self-pity, whatever the topic or cause — be it a legitimate or an illegitimate cause — is unhealthy for the body of our republic.

Furthermore, in my view, such victimology-identities predate the arrival of Donald Trump upon the political landscape.

We are watching the devolution of America.

Thought For Today — And Beyond

Recently, FreeThinke posted What Concerns You Most?, along with some choices of concerns.  See FreeThinke's post for the list.

I weighed in under the category of Other.

Here is my biggest concern, applicable not only to politics:

Thought For Today (With Addendum)

Those who are not American citizens do not have a right to come to the United States.

Do those individuals with valid visas or valid green cards have a right to come here?

Related reading: Why the ROBARTS HALT was wrong on Trump's travel restrictions, and why the Senate MUST MOVE IMMEDIATELY on Gorsuch.

Addendum: That Budweiser Super Bowl Ad Everyone Is Talking About? Turns Out It’s All a LIE.

Please discuss the above topics.

Post-Debate Thought

Comment I made yesterday during the second 2016 Presidential debate:

You know what I'm sick and tired of?

All sorts of "news" and entertainment media acting so offended and and horrified about braggadocio-male Trump when those same media people entities have been debasing American culture and the traditional American ethos for at least three decades!

And for the record...Donald Trump did apologize — at least twice.

Thought For These Times

For both better and for worse...

[image credit]

A weird story posted recently at WTOP: Lawn mower shoots 3-inch wire up man’s nose, into his head. Detailed story with images and video HERE. Perhaps strangest of all is that the man is none the worse for what happened.

Thought For The Day

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

Is there no safe place on the planet?  Is almost everybody on edge or in a state of short-fused rage?

Saturday, I was physically assaulted by an irate Asian Indian woman.  In front of the library's reference desk and several witnesses!  The altercation occurred because two groups, mine and hers, were seeking to acquire a first-come-first-served study room for two hours. 

The woman poked and shoved me, and it's a wonder that I didn't topple backwards.  I might have — except that she was at least a foot shorter than I.

Thought For Today

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

Mr. AOW has not driven a vehicle since his brain hemorrhage of September 15, 2009, and frequently makes use of MetroAccess, the paratransit service here in the D.C. area. Fares for door-to-door service range from a minimum of $3.60 each way to a maximum of $13.00 each way – in a limited service area.  

The service is heavily subsidized. Those vans are expensive to purchase and to fuel!  In addition, the drivers, who work long shifts, must be specially trained and paid a salary.

Thought For Today

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

We've become a nation that is obsessed with and demands infinite conveniences.  And we want rapid delivery of what we want — in other words, instant gratification. 

Perhaps this change is the result of a pervasive sense of entitlement.

Thought For Today

One of the elephants in the room today is the definition of "the right thing to do."

Obama himself has stated on many occasions: "It's the right thing to do!"

Constitutionality and any resulting burden of debt (taxation) don't matter if something is "the right thing to do."

On May 13, 2014, Obama again stated, "It's the right thing to do" — this time regarding immigration policy. Never mind the following:

...[A]report on Monday [May 12, 2014] showed that the Obama administration in 2013 released tens of thousands of criminals awaiting possible deportation, including some accused of murder, sexual assault, arson and kidnapping. A total of 36,007 illegal immigrants who committed nearly 88,000 crimes combined were freed last year while being processed for deportation, according to the report from the Center of Immigration Studies.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency gathered the statistics in response to a congressional inquiry. Besides violent criminals, ICE released 16,000 illegal immigrants convicted of driving under the influence. The report also showed that ICE released nearly 2,700 illegal immigrants convicted of assault, 1,300 convicted for domestic violence, and nearly 1,300 convicted for battery....

Let's return now to the first link in this blog post. The title of the article is Obama: (Insert Issue Here) ‘It’s the Right Thing to Do’.

What is the definition of "the right thing to do"? What if that definition contradicts the parameters of the rule of civil law established by our Constitution or the rights guaranteed by our Constitution? This blog post mentions the Obama administration, but could just as easily refer to earlier administrations.

We often speak of the dangers of moral relativism.

Perhaps we should also be examining the inconsistencies and dangers of political relativism.

Thought For Today

As the weather warms up from the long hard winter bringing woe after woe to Northern Virginia, people are out and about: jogging, bicycling, sightseeing, etc.  By noon, outdoor temperatures have risen significantly, and when the sun beats down, those who are out and about naturally get thirsty.  They are clutching their water bottles as if they are talismans absolutely necessary for survival.  Some people seem incapable of walking a city block without toting that water bottle!

Thought For Today

As I have mentioned at various locations in the blogosphere, my mother-in-law is in the final stage of Alzheimer's Disease. She is a pitiful creature, and all who love her are more than ready for the Lord to call her home.

Before she was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's, she was very difficult.  The word difficult doesn't begin to convey her personality.

Thought For Today

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

Please read this essay in the Washington Post: "Why being too busy makes us feel so good" (March 14, 2014).

Guilty as charged!

The status symbol mentioned in the article so often amounts to wasting our lives, and we should strive against being caught in the web of busyness.  But avoiding the status symbol of busyness won't be an easy task.

Your thoughts on this matter?

Thought For Today

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day.

There is a tsunami upon us, and America has not prepared for it. In fact, most individuals have not significantly prepared.

Aging Boomers is but one problem threatening our nation's economy. See Robert J. Samuelson's essay "America’s Demographic Denial" (March 2, 2014).

Even worse, America has become a nation willing to surrender individual freedoms.

America's best days are over.

The weather here today, however, is going to be a real taste of spring. Therefore, I won't be dwelling on the ugly realities but rather enjoying this earthly life, a gift that doesn't last forever.

Thought For Today

I've been rich.

I've been poor.

Rich is better in several ways.

But it doesn't necessarily follow that being rich always made me happier.

Benjamin Franklin observed:

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.