Freedom of speech

The growth of knowledge doesn't happen without debate, When an opposing side suppresses the other side from voicing their opinion knowledge stops. Interestingly enough the side that's suppressing also probably fears that their opinion is wrong, that must be the reason they're afraid to hear anything other than what they already hear in their head. When the side that is being suppressed fears speaking out, that's the true form of terrorism.  One of the things that made the American great quickly and all of these years is that until now both sides were able to freely speak their own opinion and debate those opinions One of the things that made the American great quickly and for all of these years is that until now both sides were able to freely speak their own opinion and debate those opinions. In order to make America great again that freedom must be restored..

We must get back to remembering it doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong, it just matters everybody speaks what comes to their own mind freely

Dinner of Champions

Vote today soon

I finished filling out my mail in voter's card today.

I hope you feel your voter's card soon I'm not going to tell you who I voted for. Nor am I going to ask you who you vote for. I just don't believe that any of us has the right to complain about how things are if you're not even willing to take our given right to vote

Baby Boomers, The Largest Group is Retiring

From 1946 to 1964 the largest part of the United States population was born, around 76.4 million in fact.  That is almost 40% of the population.

Consumer goods became available via "plastic" and consumption started rising faster than wealth, creating new revenue centers that have now landed this vast group into nearing retirement.

Because of recent market trends one has to wonder are they financially fit enough to retire in a reasonable fashion? I think there will be many looking for alternative income streams.

Why I Wear My Wedding Band

     I often wondered why some people just don’t wear their wedding ring/band, so I did some research on the web.  First thing I did was went to Google and typed in “why I wear my wedding ring,” and I was very surprised at what the Boolean search returned.  Instead of articles from people that make declarations of why they wear their wedding band/ring, instead the first page was mainly articles from people saying why they don’t wear theirs, or articles depicting answers from the people that don’t.  Scrolling down, and going to pages after I really didn't find an article from someone sharing their reason for wearing a ring.

  

     While I was reading the other articles, it seemed to me most of the articles were trying to find an excuse not to wear it when in fact they just didn't want to be labeled “taken.”  Why wouldn't someone want to be labeled taken?  It would seem the main reason was so they could get attention from the opposite sex in improper ways.  Oh there were some that said one of the reasons was because they just didn’t like jewelry, or the ring was uncomfortable.  I guess the ring is comfortable for those that do wear their ring, but after they have worn it long enough to get used to wearing it.  Let’s face it, that excuse doesn’t hold much water, because it’s a foreign object, of course it’s uncomfortable for anyone.  It’s not the comfort that the ring signifies, is it?  Isn’t it your love and devotion, your commitment, perhaps even the comfort of knowing you’ve found the ONE you want to and will spend the rest of your life with?

     If you weren’t through getting attention from someone of the opposite sex, what are you doing getting married anyway?  Are you truly being fair and truthful to yourself even?

     The heading says “Why I wear my wedding band,” and I definitely have a reason for it.  Actually I have many reasons for it.  I am very proud to be married to my wife, and am not ashamed to show I am by wearing the symbol she put on my finger the day she made her commitments to me, and I made mine to her.  I wear it because when I look down it makes me smile knowing we are together and a couple.  I wear it because when someone makes an inappropriate gesture, or suggestion to me I can always hold my hand up and point at the ring, proudly.  I wear my wedding band, not because it’s physically comfortable, but because it’s spiritually comfortable.  I don’t need to be reminded I’m married, I don’t need it for letting me know I have a commitment to a wonderful woman already.  I don’t wear it just because I love my wife, or I want to show her that her commitment to me truly does mean something to me.  I don’t wear it to impress anyone, I am very impressed by my wife and everything she stands for, everything she does.  Is she perfect?  Well, yes she is perfect for me.  They even have a term for those that don’t want to wear their wedding ring/band and it’s a bit insulting, although I’ve chosen not to take it personally, it’s NF which stands for Naked Finger.  I have a fully clothed finger, thank you very much, and it shall stay that way.

What is Love?

     What is Love?

     What is love?  It's just a word.  What would you do for someone you loved?  What would you do to keep them safe? Healthy?  What would you be willing to endure?

     What love isn't is an emotion that one can make another have.  As a child, the fantasy that love is something that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling is quite common.  A warm fuzzy feeling that would flood through your body like a warm welcome shower of softened water.  That feeling is so desired that there may still be a hidden wish, a constant underlying want, even a definite hope that that sort of feeling can be attained through love.  However for most years of not attaining this love has made a different surface belief.  The new belief in many is that perhaps love is just another chore, not the hearts circling around your head.

     Love is a choice, this is not a totally foreign notion to everyone.  Love is something you choose to do, and many times it's not an easy choice.  What or whom you've chosen to love may not now or ever show you any sort of love back.  So, when one makes that choice, the choice to love, you must choose to make it a "True Love."  My wise grandmother used to quip lots of quotes, and one that is relevant to about any task, is definitely relevant to loving.  "When a task is once begun never leave until it's done.  Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all."  So this would indicate that love isn't that hearts flying around your head, but something a great deal more substantial.  There are actually many times when the decision of love may work against your personal wants and desires, in favor of the one you have chosen to love.  There are those that say there is no purer form of love than what a parent has for their child, and if this is a glimpse into that mystery, then for one to love another they must be prepared to endure whatever the one they've chosen to love dishes out.  The excuse many use for opting out of this pure type of love is either "I don't want to be taken advantage of," or "that's just being naive."  Both of these statements signify the lack of truly understanding the very nature of love, because there is no naivety nor worry of being taken advantage of, in fact quite the opposite.  The one who is loving has consciously put themselves in a position of being taken advantage of fully and consciously, and blind naivety is nothing less than illustrative that they are quite serious about it.

     Often times the one being loved will make it exceedingly difficult for another to love them, by being rude or shut down, even painfully brutal actions. Helen Keller achieved amazing feats in her lifetime, yet she attributes her starts and perhaps a great deal of her successes to Annie Sullivan her childhood teacher, mentor and person that persevered in showing her love. (A & E Networks, & BIO True Story 2013).  A pretty well known story about the lady who became world renowned as an educator and champion for the betterment of others, the true story starts and continues in her educator Ms Sullivan.  Ms. Sullivan didn't have someone who taught her this enduring compassion and persevering ability to withstand the continual abuse from Ms. Keller, Annie's own father was purported to be a harsh and mean man who had no patience.  So Annie's love is a true illustration of love being a choice, and one that she committed to for the rest of her life (she stayed with Helen Keller until her own death October 20, 1936).

     When you have chosen to love someone else, it's counter illustrative of your love to complain about the abuse, no matter what form it takes.  If you are asking yourself "is this fair?," then you must take yourself a step farther and ask yourself "have I really chosen to love."  In the "ME" generation the concept of this true love may be lost, or at least very well hidden.  Many times in the ME generation the general attitude seems to be "what's in it for me," or "what am I going to get in return for my efforts?"  Could this actually not be love, and in fact perhaps the opposite of love?  Could this even be realistically be called self love, where one is putting oneself above or ahead of all else?  When you feel the urge of what am I getting for doing this, or who will notice the great deeds I've done, that is when it's time to stop and re-evaluate your own level of commitment to love.

     Doing something for others without the possibility of them returning the favor might be the starting road to understanding what love is.  When you can truly adopt the attitude of doing things for people anonymously  with out any chance of reciprocation, only then may you be scratching the outer barrier of what love truly is; perhaps even partially discovering the essence of "True Love."

    It isn't hard to believe that if this definition of love were adopted the divorce rate would decline sharply, perhaps even coming close to disappearing (absolutes are fictional).  Wars would have no value beyond political, and child, wife even husband abuse would vanish.
  
     Think of it on an individual basis, if you truly loved your spouse not expecting anything in return, would it be even slightly possible for that loved one to disappoint you on any level?  If you truly accepted them on every level, with all of their "flaws", with all and anything they have ever done, or will do no matter how much it may oppose your personal philosophy, could it make you ever quit loving them?  Can you separate the person from the action?  Are you keeping track of how many times you have to forgive them?  Do you find yourself criticizing them about odd or non-essential things?  Do you feel there are good reasons to endow your ultimate wisdom on them, even though they may not have asked you what your opinion, or advice is?  Do you find yourself trying to justify your criticisms as well meaning, or "for their own good?"  Did you do something for them, and then immediately either consciously or unconsciously put it under the label of "another good deed I did for ______?" (in other words, are you keeping track of what you have done for a named individual, or even for others as a whole perhaps even placing some sort of value on it?)  Have you fallen into the modern trap of the best love, is loving yourself, or "how can you love someone else, if you don't love yourself."  What about how can you find time to love someone else, if you are so busy loving yourself?

     This might indeed sound like a radical definition of love.  Indeed it greatly seems to oppose the current popular definition (that just doesn't seem to be working for most), yet it might be the one that is actually real, perhaps even the original meaning of love.  So, let's sum it up, Love Is:

1. Selfless
2. Patient
3. Quiet
4. Relaxed
5. Chosen
6. Work
7. Void of Expectation
8. accepting-fully
9. forgiving always and forever (no counting)
10. Kind
11. Has no envy
12. isn't boastful
13. isn't proud
14. never dishonors others
15. isn't self seeking (doesn't look for what it can get in return)
16. Doesn't keep record of wrongs
17. always protects 
18. always trusts (no matter what the past held)
19. always hopes
20. always moves ahead and keeps on going
21. is not angered easily
22. committed to self sacrificial action for the full benefit of another
23. Suffers a long time, but remains kind
24. bears all things

     Having this kind of definition of love, one will perhaps think twice before choosing that word as their primary emotion towards another human or thing.

The weekend

While growing up it was always TGIF (Thank God its Friday). Now I wonder what all the fuss was about. I am generally glad when the weekend is finally over with. Maybe I am just doing it wrong.