To Build or Not to Build...

The hot topic, should a mosque be built near ground zero of the World Trade Center terrorist attack? I am a believer in the Constitution and the 1st Amendment. I believe if someone chooses to build a church, mosque or temple they should be permitted.

However, is the choice of location in this specific instance in poor taste or worse, instigating a religious war albeit not intentionally? It was Muslim extremists that attacked the twin towers without regard to whom would be killed. They were attacking capitalism at its core and striking terror into all Americans without thought of what religion they may have been participants. I am certain all religions were harmed by the terrorists on that fateful day. I believe building a mosque at the very heart of this attack will instigate the Christian extremists in the same light. The newly built mosque will be a rallying cry for those looking for a reason to retaliate. If the Christian extremists attack the mosque, will they care if there is a Jewish family walking by? What if there is a Christian day care a block away? No, they won’t think of that. Ironically, their hatred will show no discrimination on religion just as 9/11 didn’t. Terrorist react to their own agenda without regard to children, elderly or religion.

All that being said, I don’t think it is wise to build this mosque but not because I don’t believe Muslims should be allowed to practice their religion where they choose but rather because I think the only way to increase religious harmony going forward is to show respect for what was lost. What that loss signifies to the survivors. Would it be respectful for the Aryan Nation to have its headquarters in front of a WWII death camp in Germany or would that be instigating a reaction? Would it be appropriate for an anti-American Japanese group to build on the edge of Pearl Harbor or is that confrontational?

I believe in the Constitution but moreover I believe in the greater good of all Americans and the unalienable Rights. ..”That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. When these rights are taken from American citizens the greater good needs to be protected by our government. Protecting our homeland involves more than guns and fighting. Stop the events that lead to battle before they happen. Build the mosque further away out of respect for those who lost their unalienable right to life. For the survivors that lost their unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness and to all Americans who felt their unalienable right to liberty was threatened and can never be taken for granted. Build it further away to gain respect from all Americans for the Muslim religion to show their desire to create religious harmony. Build it further away because it’s the right thing to do in this case.

My Dad Was a Lot of Things...

Now that I have your attention with the loaded title… I guess you could say that about anyone. Since this is Father’s Day I thought I’d reflect (in writing) about my Dad and who I thought he was and what he meant to me. My Dad was a working class guy who served in the Marines during World War II and as they say, once a Marine, always a Marine. He was a tough task master when I was growing up. He could be abrupt, sarcastic and tough… when I was growing up, I remember the tough part most of all. My grandfather died when my Dad was just 7 and he was the sole bread winner during the Depression so it goes without saying how difficult my own father’s childhood must have been. Raised by his widowed mom and mainly only females in his life, from the Marines he learned about being a man. Those lessons he carried forward to his role as father and raised my brothers and I to have the same grit as mini Marines. Not necessarily the discipline aspect but definitely the grit.

He was a blue collar worker and worked as a printer his whole professional life. When I was a young teen I remember asking him if he ever thought about being in management and he said why would anyone want those headaches… he had found a contentment in his job and was happy with it. Not many can say that. We didn’t grow up with a lot but we didn’t need for anything. I learned the important difference between want and need. When he was in his early 50’s he passed out at work, on the third level of a printing press that he could have easily fallen into… they pried his unconscious fingers from the railing when rescue came to treat him. Again, a life’s lesson in grit 101. Shortly after was the end of his working career. He spent a lot of his retirement time floating around the pool with a cooler of beer on the side. Somehow I think the sun must have frozen the toughness a bit and he became a pushover for my daughters. They could get all the hugs and kisses Poppy wanted to give. A grandfathers lessons in love passed to the next generation.

As I grew older and had children of my own, I started to appreciate everything he had done. I’m not saying he was perfect. No one on Earth since JC can make that claim but he provided and did the best he could with the lessons he learned. I was fortunate to get very close to my Dad as an adult. He showed me strength, courage, and humor in the most difficult situations. He taught me how to be a man. The individual my Dad had become was the man I hoped to emulate. Again… not perfect.. he knew how to tip back a few beers, liked to gamble and was still tough when the situation called for but overall a very decent man. The kind of guy I would have been friends with no matter if we were related. He became my best friend and for the time I had with him to share and grow in that relationship, I will always be grateful. It has been almost 7 years since my Dad passed and I often think about him. I miss him but I know my Dad loved me and he knew I loved him.

Happy Fathers Day in memory of my Dad and for all the Dad’s. To all the children reading this… reach out for your Dad and know he’s just a man doing the best that his lifes lessons have taught him.

To Be or Not To Be...

Let me begin by saying I am not against the death sentence but have a question. Why do some states even have a death penalty for a sentence? Ronnie Lee Gardner, a twice convicted murderer is in the news this week for his pending execution by firing squad on Friday in Utah. For crimes he committed over 25 years ago! How much money has been spent in appeals? Keep in mind Gardner isn’t denying he committed the crimes, just doesn’t deserve to die. Hey Ronnie…I think your victims felt the same way yet you denied them the opportunities that life had in store for them and their loved ones with your premeditated and deliberate acts!

A few facts:
• “The additional cost of confining an inmate to death row, as compared to the maximum security prisons where those sentenced to life without possibility of parole ordinarily serve their sentences, is $90,000 per year per inmate.” California- Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice June 2008
• “…the average cost to Maryland taxpayers for reaching a single death sentence is $3 million - $1.9 million more than the cost of a non-death penalty case. (This includes investigation, trial, appeals, and incarceration costs.)” Maryland- “Death penalty costs Md. more than life term,” by Jennifer McMenamin, The Baltimore Sun, March 6, 2008
• 12.68 years is the average length of stay on Death Row prior to execution. Florida-FDOC website

There are many more facts I could state but won’t. I believe in due diligence to prove guilt before execution but in the case of an admitted murderer… as in the Utah case, a premeditated murder the 2nd time he killed… why does it take 25 years and huge amounts of taxpayer money before the sentence is imposed? That is ludicrous and makes the judicial system a joke in my opinion. Sentence to life without a possibility of parole and throw away the key instead of taxpayer money. The convicted and the defense attorneys know how to play the game, the judicial system is manipulated for their purpose. The rights of the convicted have overtaken the rights of the victims…the rights of the people who should be represented in the case. Justice is served when the sentence from the court case is completed. Again, I believe an eye for an eye and a life for a life. What we have now is a sham and needs to be changed.

What is wrong with the politics in Washington D.C.?

“..That government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth”, Abraham Lincoln. What happens to a government that has gone astray from that very principal? Our government has developed into a machine run by a congress made up of individuals that manipulate the populous to get into office and continue to perpetuate the inefficiencies that are going to make our country bankrupt. The elected officials have proven time and time again they are bankrupt of morals by the scandals of Presidents and congress but now have our government on the brink of financial ruin. The pork barrel spending and excessive personal gain have continued to send us in the wrong direction. Mr. Lincoln certainly isn’t resting in peace.

Just a couple points:

Socialism. How else do you describe a government that takes the wealth from those that work and earn a living to those that don’t? The more money one makes, the more one is taxed. That doesn’t encourage capitalism but encourages a society of entitlement. I was raised to believe this is a free capitalistic society and the harder you work, the more you can provide for yourself and your family. I believe in charity and hoping those that are looking for a hand up…not a hand out. How can an individual who may pay in $1000 to the IRS through payroll deductions during the year get a return for $4000? These are hypothetical numbers but the situation exists. The additional $3000 comes from those that work hard to try to get ahead. I’m not talking about disabled individuals who truly deserve some additional aid. I’m referencing those that have learned to have the system pay them instead of working to get ahead. Why is this allowed? Ask your representative in Washington who has permitted it.

Wasteful spending. Last week I received a color mailer from my Congresswoman, Corrine Brown. What was it for? The IRS Earned Income Tax Credit. Why did she feel it was necessary to send that information to her constituents? It is already handled by the IRS. It’s on their website, included with the directions for completing the forms. Individuals that might have the form completed for them would be made aware by the company they PAY to fill them out… even the places that complete and ‘loan’ the refund to the filer in advance. Her name and picture were prominently placed on the flyer printed on over sized stock paper. Is this an excuse to remind those she is attempting to get to vote for her in the next election on who she is? Is it campaigning at the taxpayer expense? It states in the smallest print on the flyer (of course) , “this mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense”. This epitomizes waste and is indicative of nothing else but self promotion.

Evan Bayh a well respected Democratic Senator has decided not to run for re-election. This is during a time when his party is in control of Congress and a Democratic President is in office. Why? These are excerpts of what he said.
“For some time, I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should. There is too much partisanship and not enough progress -- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving. Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples’ business is not being done.”
“Two weeks ago, the Senate voted down a bipartisan commission to deal with one of the greatest threats facing our nation: our exploding deficits and debt. The measure would have passed, but seven members who had endorsed the idea instead voted “no” for short-term political reasons.”
He recognizes that the efforts of one can not stop the corrupt political machine that exists in Washington. I personally wish he would run…and more like him would run. Instead we get self serving politicians who run the country for their personal gain, either financial or egotistical.

I will continue to vote for those that I think we’ll best serve the country as a whole. Not those that are only trying to be elected. Unfortunately, once in Washington even those with the ideals I counted on become tainted by the system and conform under the pressure of those that run the committees that control the actions in Congress. In the last Presidential election we were promised change. I was hopeful that meant change for the good. I’m still waiting.

Haiti

In an already impoverished corner of the world, natural disaster has driven the human condition to desperation. The magnitude 7 earthquake in Haiti has death tolls rising while those that survived the initial devastation are scrambling to survive its aftermath. With little or no food, water, medical necessities or shelter… the living will continue to suffer. There isn’t much else I can say other than to encourage each of you to find a charity that you believe in to make a donation towards the cause of aiding your fellow citizens of our planet. Here is a link to a list provided by NBC Nightly News in case you need a starting point.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
1 Corinthians 13:13