The angst in our country has certainly peaked in this year of 2016. The political arena has pulled the scab off of our wound. The major party candidates are both universally disliked, but the relativity between the two makes one of them less reviled. Having read lots of articles about both over the past months, coupled with impressions formed over the a few decades, it's time to weigh in.
Up front, I will say that I am a Christian, and have always considered myself a conservative. In today's climate, my position is really more right of center independent. I do not believe that being a Christian in America means you have to be a conservative Republican.
We have in Donald Trump a man who has tapped into an anger in our nation. That anger has built up over the years as the right wing conservative elements have slowly taken over the Republican party. Now, we have a Republican candidate who disdains parts of our Constitution that the Right claims to hold so dear. We have in him a person who is fanning the flames of bigotry. He has said that if he loses the election it will be because of a rigged election. What can we make of this?
When we look at other parts of the world, we see the same types of things in play. We're just a bit behind the trend but catching up. Germany, Britain, Sweden, and others have seen extreme right wing groups on the rise. Leaders are emerging who typify the strongman, the one who can save us from the onslaught that threatens our way of life. The Philippine president is such a person. Trump wants to be such a person.
The strongman always emerges when there is a populace that thinks things are out of control, and the only way we can be saved is with someone who will crack down on what is causing the problem. The trouble is, the problem is always some identifiable group. The fix is simple: do away with that group and your troubles are over. Even Bernie Sanders had his group: Wall Street.
Today, in our country, there are two main groups that are targeted: Hispanics and Muslims. Despite what Mr. Trump and his surrogates say, it is the control of these two groups of people that will ensure our survival. Nothing else really matters. The economy, trade agreements, they are all incidental. Just get a dedicated force to round up illegal immigrants and get them out of the country. Identify all Muslims so we know who they are and where they are. Problem solved. We will see high economic growth, a job for everyone, and a vibrant America. Of course, our civil liberties, the decline of which is a conservative lament to date, will be severely curtailed and our Constitution flaunted. But, hey, as a white person, I won't be affected.
Mr. Trump has simple solutions to complex issues. He will be in good company with others emerging in this world. It is so troubling that, after all these centuries of human progress, we continue to put a face on our problems. And that face is always some other group. We Christians, as a whole, can be the worst offenders because we know better. We have thousands of years of God's Word, and especially that of Jesus Christ, and yet we still can let bigotry raise it's ugly head. We talk a big game. As it's said in Texas, "All hat and no cattle."
I could go on, and maybe I will later. I'm disappointed that we are at this point in our country. We should be better than what are seeing in this land today.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
WELL, HELLO THERE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
This is the first post in almost six years. I don't know why I haven't done more, really. This blog started out primarily for communication with family. It seems that as technology progressed, social media expanded, and smart phones became smarter, other forms supplanted using this blog. However, some things aren't easily expressed in 140 or less characters. So, perhaps blogging still has a place in my life. We'll see, as I've contemplated a shift in what I would post.
Much has happened in our lives since I last wrote something in 2010, but we don't need to dwell too long on that. Got older, moved to a new-to-us home, lost pets, gained pets, made new friends, lost some old ones, new granddaughter. Life continues it's wonderful, exciting, inexorable pace. For everything, I am grateful.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
US Open 2010
A few months ago, Sean suggested that he and I go to New York to watch tennis at the US Open. This sounded like a great time in the making. The birth of Daniel and Emmie put planning on the back burner for a while, but we finally made all the arrangements to go. After many weeks of anticipation, we left on August 29th. This also happened to be Janell’s birthday, so I had to do some pre-emptive work to eliminate any issues.
With Janell staying with Tara and the twins, Sean and I went sojourning. We arrived in New York on Sunday evening and got settled into our hotel. The next morning we got up, basted ourselves with sunscreen, and rode the tour operator’s shuttle bus to Flushing Meadows. For a small town guy, even this was part of the experience. Lots of sights and sounds to take in.
We had opted to attend the opening rounds. Considering that the top players in the world compete, there really isn’t a bad match. We had some courtside seats on Monday and Tuesday, which gave us a really neat
Just going around on the tournament grounds was quite a deal. I think that there must have been five or six thousand folks walking around at any given time. Add to that all the folks in the stands of the many courts and stadiums, and you have lots of bodies. I imagine that it isn’t any more significant than big time football, but for tennis, it’s a pretty big deal.
We stayed for three days of tennis. Tuesday and Wednesday we got there about 10:30 am and left about 1:00 am. We were hot, sweaty, drank a thousand gallons of water, walked a hundred miles, and were tired. But it was worth it. The best thing – I got to spend some time with my son, just he and I for the first time in a long time. That was worth everything.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Off To See The Babes
Yesterday we arrived in BCS to visit the twins and relieve Tara's mom for a few days. The little babes are three weeks old. Everyone is so blessed by their arrival, and we have anticipated this trip. The little video is not long and gives you a idea of Emmie's and Daniel's cuteness. Okay, okay, I know I'm prejudiced, but they are pretty adorable. View on.
Friday, June 4, 2010
A Much Needed Update
It's been a long time since I posted anything. We've had lots of things happening but haven't taken any time to write about them. A bad case of procrastination or something.
The thing about retirement is that time just moseys along. Most of the time I have to think about what day of the week it is because I really don't have a need to know. Having to put the trash out a couple of days a week helps keep me grounded, though.
While we had the sadness of losing Johnnie, we've been recently blessed with the arrival of Sean and Tara's twins. Emmeline Kay McGuire and Daniel Timothy McGuire were born on May 26, 2010. They are the result of God's gifts to each and every one of us. Healthy and thriving, we are most thankful for them. While having one baby to take care of as a first time parent is daunting, two is almost indescribable. Tara's mother is taking on a much needed support role during these first few weeks. We're on call as necessary while Sean and Tara adjust to the new normal in their household.
We've made a few trips to see Stacy's family, enjoying Hutch and Elsa as much as possible. It is so much fun watching them grow and learn. Our trip last April coincided with pretty good weather, so we were able to do things outside. Hutch still loves anything that's got wheels, and Elsa is learning a lot from big brother. They are both their own people, though.
Yesterday, June 3rd, our best dog Ollie turned fourteen. We have enjoyed him all these years. He still retains a lot of enthusiasm when we have company. The more the merrier for him. Age hasn't deterred him from holding out hope of finding something to eat, whether real food or not. He's moving a lot slower these days, can't hear worth a flip, and has some vision loss. However, he always has unbridled joy when he sees us, giving us generous tail wags as he has done all these years. He continues to be noisy, drinking loudly, clattering on the hardwood floor, and knocking things off the table with his ever-moving tail. Despite all the vagaries of old age, he thinks he can do everything he's done all his life, and pursues them with as much vigor as he can muster. Happy Birthday, old boy. Here's to many more.
The thing about retirement is that time just moseys along. Most of the time I have to think about what day of the week it is because I really don't have a need to know. Having to put the trash out a couple of days a week helps keep me grounded, though.
While we had the sadness of losing Johnnie, we've been recently blessed with the arrival of Sean and Tara's twins. Emmeline Kay McGuire and Daniel Timothy McGuire were born on May 26, 2010. They are the result of God's gifts to each and every one of us. Healthy and thriving, we are most thankful for them. While having one baby to take care of as a first time parent is daunting, two is almost indescribable. Tara's mother is taking on a much needed support role during these first few weeks. We're on call as necessary while Sean and Tara adjust to the new normal in their household.
We've made a few trips to see Stacy's family, enjoying Hutch and Elsa as much as possible. It is so much fun watching them grow and learn. Our trip last April coincided with pretty good weather, so we were able to do things outside. Hutch still loves anything that's got wheels, and Elsa is learning a lot from big brother. They are both their own people, though.
Yesterday, June 3rd, our best dog Ollie turned fourteen. We have enjoyed him all these years. He still retains a lot of enthusiasm when we have company. The more the merrier for him. Age hasn't deterred him from holding out hope of finding something to eat, whether real food or not. He's moving a lot slower these days, can't hear worth a flip, and has some vision loss. However, he always has unbridled joy when he sees us, giving us generous tail wags as he has done all these years. He continues to be noisy, drinking loudly, clattering on the hardwood floor, and knocking things off the table with his ever-moving tail. Despite all the vagaries of old age, he thinks he can do everything he's done all his life, and pursues them with as much vigor as he can muster. Happy Birthday, old boy. Here's to many more.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
El Diorama
Before Janell and I married, I bought and assembled a kit for a Civil War era Parrot rifle cannon. Sometime later, I purchased a kit for the limber. Along the way, the cannon was damaged and spent about thirty years in a paper bag on our closet shelf. A few months ago, I got the urge to repair the cannon model and put together the limber.
Wanting to keep the model from getting dusty and subject to harm, I decided I'd put it in a case of some sort. Then, in keeping with my propensity for complicating things, I figured that a diorama was in order.
Searching for some reference material after which to model the diorama, I happened to find a picture (Library of Congress, online) that showed four Parrot rifles on a hill. Further investigation provided some interesting information. Now you will be subjected to all that if you read on.
In the Spring of 1862, the Army of the Potomac began the Peninsular Campaign aimed at capturing the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia. In late May, the fighting was centered just east of Richmond known as the battle of Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks). On the night of May 31, several Federal horse artillery batteries were ordered to cross the Chickahominy River so there would be support for the next days fighting. The river was swollen due to heavy rains. The four pieces shown in the original photograph were the only cannon to make it across the river. They were Battery B, 1st Regiment, New York Light Artillery, commanded by Captain Rufus Pettit. For the diorama, this photo is the background, with the model being an addition.
A light, or horse, artillery battery typically consisted of four to six pieces, each with a limber drawn by six horses. The cannon were hooked to the limbers which also carried ammunition and necessary supplies. A single caisson was a horse drawn wagon that accompanied the battery, and it carried extra ammunition, a spare wheel, and other supplies.
A Parrot rifle was a major improvement in artillery. It was named after the designer who conceived the idea of a rifled cannon, giving greater range and lethality. This is particularly interesting to us because of our visit to Savannah, Georgia a few years ago.
We went to Savannah with Sean and Tara when they lived in Athens. We visited Fort Pulaski, which had been occupied by Confederate forces. The fort was besieged by Federal forces which included the first use of rifled cannon. The fort had been designed to withstand bombardment by smooth-bore cannon in the early 1800's. However, the rifled cannon were able to open a hole in the wall of the fort over the course of one night, causing the fort commander to surrender for fear of a round hitting the magazine and blowing up the facility.
All this work rekindled my interest in a book Sean and Tara gave me a couple of years ago. It is a memoir of a Confederate general who commanded the artillery in Longstreet's Corps. Written in 1907, it provided insight into many of the major battles, including the one on which this diorama is based.
It's interesting that we have more ties to that area of the country than I would have thought. First off, I spent three months at Fort Lee, Virginia during 1970-71. It's located in Petersburg, which is just south of Richmond, and was the last major battle of the Civil War. Then, of course, the Jehles lived in Charlottesville, VA for two years. Finally, we found out recently that one of Janell's uncles on her fathers side of the family died in a military plane crash near Richmond in 1945.
Wanting to keep the model from getting dusty and subject to harm, I decided I'd put it in a case of some sort. Then, in keeping with my propensity for complicating things, I figured that a diorama was in order.
Searching for some reference material after which to model the diorama, I happened to find a picture (Library of Congress, online) that showed four Parrot rifles on a hill. Further investigation provided some interesting information. Now you will be subjected to all that if you read on.
In the Spring of 1862, the Army of the Potomac began the Peninsular Campaign aimed at capturing the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia. In late May, the fighting was centered just east of Richmond known as the battle of Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks). On the night of May 31, several Federal horse artillery batteries were ordered to cross the Chickahominy River so there would be support for the next days fighting. The river was swollen due to heavy rains. The four pieces shown in the original photograph were the only cannon to make it across the river. They were Battery B, 1st Regiment, New York Light Artillery, commanded by Captain Rufus Pettit. For the diorama, this photo is the background, with the model being an addition.
A light, or horse, artillery battery typically consisted of four to six pieces, each with a limber drawn by six horses. The cannon were hooked to the limbers which also carried ammunition and necessary supplies. A single caisson was a horse drawn wagon that accompanied the battery, and it carried extra ammunition, a spare wheel, and other supplies.
A Parrot rifle was a major improvement in artillery. It was named after the designer who conceived the idea of a rifled cannon, giving greater range and lethality. This is particularly interesting to us because of our visit to Savannah, Georgia a few years ago.
We went to Savannah with Sean and Tara when they lived in Athens. We visited Fort Pulaski, which had been occupied by Confederate forces. The fort was besieged by Federal forces which included the first use of rifled cannon. The fort had been designed to withstand bombardment by smooth-bore cannon in the early 1800's. However, the rifled cannon were able to open a hole in the wall of the fort over the course of one night, causing the fort commander to surrender for fear of a round hitting the magazine and blowing up the facility.
All this work rekindled my interest in a book Sean and Tara gave me a couple of years ago. It is a memoir of a Confederate general who commanded the artillery in Longstreet's Corps. Written in 1907, it provided insight into many of the major battles, including the one on which this diorama is based.
It's interesting that we have more ties to that area of the country than I would have thought. First off, I spent three months at Fort Lee, Virginia during 1970-71. It's located in Petersburg, which is just south of Richmond, and was the last major battle of the Civil War. Then, of course, the Jehles lived in Charlottesville, VA for two years. Finally, we found out recently that one of Janell's uncles on her fathers side of the family died in a military plane crash near Richmond in 1945.
Monday, November 2, 2009
A New Post
Okay, I know it's been a few weeks, maybe months, since I've posted anything. We seem to have had so much happening that time whizzed by. We managed to sell Janell's mother's house, which put a major goal behind us. We went to Missoula, MT a couple of times; once for Elsa's first birthday and a second to help babysit while Alex was out of town (good excuse). In October, Janell's mother was in the hospital for over a week. She is home now. And, of course, I participated in two Habitat for Humanity house building projects.
I'll soon post some pictures of some sort.
I'll soon post some pictures of some sort.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)