YOU SURE ARE OLD

While waiting in line at Walmart I struck up a conversation with a little tike sitting in the buggy in front of me. After a few preliminary exchanges he cocked his head to one side and said: "you are old." I agreed and the conversation went on to other subjects.

 

Later, after reflecting on this bit of obvious wisdom I began to consider the worth or lack thereof of old people. Experience came to mind. No one was around to answer it so I asked myself this question. Why do interviewers usually ask young to middle aged pundits their reaction to and advice about current events and historical precedents relative to news stories? Why not ask the geezers? We know more than these whipper-snappers could begin to know. Wait until they are old fogies then they might know something.

 

I submit my resume':

 

I was born during the early part of World War II in the southern state of Georgia. I lived through the Korean War (conflict, for those who think there is a moral difference). I never knew slavery but I was well aware of the infamous Jim Crow. White and colored water fountains, movie theaters, libraries, taxi cabs, schools, restrooms and blacks in the back (buses) were standard fare. I never attended a school where blacks were admitted. Even the janitors were white. I never knew the pain that black people were experiencing, but then I was never expected to understand for I was in a different world and social norms were never violated until the sit-ins began. I didn't understand them (I do now).

 

I served in the US Navy during the early part of Vietnam. I understand the mind of a military man.

 

I've been a sinner (still am--saved by grace) and a saint (sometimes), have accomplished things I am proud of and some things not so much.

 

I have served on six juries from a civil suit to the murder of a police office. I've been a plaintiff, a defendant, and a witness in court, as well as a lay Guardian ad Litem. I've seen crooked judges, lawyers, and jurors, but more often than not honest hard-working judges, lawyers and jurors. 

 

I have run for political office and lost, run for political office and lost and run for political office and lost (there's no typo, that's three times).

 

I have reared three daughters and have three granddaughters and have been married to the same wonderful lady for nearly forty seven (47) years. I know about family.

 

I was reared to say ma'am, sir, please and thank you, give my seat to a lady and respect the flag ministers, adults, and those in authority.

 

As a child calling an adult by their first name was a punishable offence and one of which I was never convicted. A good lesson for today I might add.

 

I have worked in the private sector as an electrician's apprentice, riveter, lineman, system technician, and supervisor.

 

God called me to the ministry and I have pastored six churches.

 

The list is far greater than the aforementioned but I am sure few have read this far so it is time to sign off and submit my resume' with the admission that I am not as qualified as many in my age group but it will have to do.

 

My point is simply. The experience of the elderly is overlooked by young and old alike. The shame is that we who have been there know the score and will be willing to share if only asked. Don't neglect the wisdom of the aged for they know far more than the young and can bring clarity to much of the ills of today's world if just given the chance. There's a great deal more to old age than bingo, shuffleboard, arthritis and false teeth.

 

So to you young-uns (that's anyone under 50), SHUT UP AND LISTEN.   

 

   

 

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM

A DREAM BECOMES REALITY AND THEN DIES.

Two hundred and fifty plus years ago a dream was born in the hearts of Americans that one day they would become free of the oppression of the tyrannical foot on their necks wielded by Great Britain.
This dream developed into a movement unrivaled by any people who had ever inhabited the planet.

After years of prayers, planning, and perseverance the days of Declaration and eventual victory were realized. A treaty was signed, a Constitution draw, and the great American experience was at last under way.

Many years passed through wars and trials but the experiment developed into the greatest nation the world had seen or will ever see. The world clamored to our shores for a taste of liberty, freedom, and opportunity. The melting pot was awash with honest hard working people whose only plea was for a chance. They were rewarded with the fruits of their labors by establishing great factories, small business and mom and pop store fronts. Workers in these enterprises were rewarded with salaries commensurate to their talents and not to the abilities of their negotiators.

But then, the dysfunctional years of the 1960s crept in like a slithering snake and slowing, insidiously, began to infect our country with a poison that was so subtle that even the most vigilant were unable to detect. However, before the destruction of our dream was complete the good and believing people of America began to feel the ever growing danger of complacency and reacted with dismay but very little constructive movement. The destruction continued and by the late seventies and early eighties the damage was seemingly irreversible.

There were a few years of hope for a resurgence of American exceptionalism in the eighties and early twenty first century, but the enemies of the USA were entrenched so solidly that to rout them seemed to be an impossible task. And so it seems still.

The reelection of Obama was, it seems, to be the finale. What was great is no more. What was holy is impure. And what was just is corrupt.

It is often said that good people are lazy. No, lazy people are not good. Those who stay home and allowed the evil elements of our society to rule are as guilty as the Christians and Jews of Nazi Germany who said nothing as Hitler destroyed lives and country. After the carnage of that maniacal vermin the cry was "never again," however, the cry has been forgotten.

And so the dream has become a nightmare and the great hope of society has become a "what if." A what if that has paused for a requiem.

VOTER FRAUD---REALLY?

To the many who say voter fraud is a myth or the incidents are so rare they don't rise to the level of serious discussion I offer an example that shows the buying or coercion of votes and voters is nothing new and has been in place since the genesis of our republic.

 In the book "Georgia A Short History" by E. Merton Coulter, published in 1933 and updated in 1947, the author states, in reference to the Gubernatorial election of 1894, that "The Republicans made no nominations as most of their votes were, as usual, for sale to the highest bidder." ......"The Democrats succeeded in buying the greater number and the price in this election was $1 apiece[votes]."

 The author of the aforementioned book also gives examples of emancipated black voters, who as a threat to a particular party were gotten drunk and locked in rooms so they could not vote. This was a standard device of Democrats, Republicans and upstart third parties.

 The exploitation of prospective voters, especially the uninformed and generally ignorant, is nothing new and is as alive today as it was in the past.

 The problem is universal and is not exclusive to any party and will continue as long as the greed for power is the fuel that drives the souls of mankind.

 " Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton 1887

EDUCATION OR LACK OF IT STINKS

Am I the only one who is sick and tired of all the Bravo Sierra about how to improve education in our school systems? The answer to how to teach is so simple I am perplexed and disgusted at the many and sundry methods that don't work proposed by so called experts. Let's look at a few.

First, there is the spend more money solution. Balderdash. North Carolina is already spending approximately $11,000 per student and is accomplishing virtually nothing. If money were the answer then we would have the most brilliant and well education children in the world. But it is not so.

Second, add more days of instruction to the already too long school year. Nonsense. If the students were being taught now, we would not need more days.

Third, pay the teachers more so we could get the best. Nuts. Many of the teachers are intelligent and capable but aren't allowed to teach but were not taught how to present their lessons in an interesting and palatable manner.

Fourth, Give the educators more electronic tools. Screwy. We are gadget heavy now. Too much technology destroys the ability to think.

A few years ago I was working as a substitute teacher with a student teacher as my aid. As an aside, I asked the student teacher if it would be difficult to teach if she didn't have a computer, Smart Board, or other devices? Her answer: "difficult?", "I could not do it." Incidentally, she was very intelligent, just undereducated.

I asked another teacher if she preferred writing her own tests or using the ones in the teachers aids. Her reply: "I never write my own tests." How can an educator educate if they do not know their students better than an academic in some ivory tower writing tests and books without contact with the real world? One size does not fit all.

Fifth: "Green Stuff." We need to dump this environmental brainwashing that wastes major amounts of instructional time.

Sixth: Don't worry about Americanism, it's archaic. Hogwash. Our students and teachers are pathetically ignorant on the history of our country and the Constitution. Without understanding our heritage we as free Americans will be a historical bullet point and we will be relegated to servants of a tyrannical government.

I am presently conducting a survey in which I ask one question; "who is our current vice-president?" The result at this point is: 98% DO NOT know the answer.

I have mentioned six things that don't work. Now for the simple solutions. Teach teachers to teach, make sure they know their subject, fire those who don't perform, hold parents accountable (make it hurt if they are lazy), teach morality (don't give me that junk about it being unconstitutional), and enact discipline on students whose objective it is to cause others to fail.

Finally: The "Special Ed" students are getting good attention and help and the top IQ students can get it even with poor teachers, but the ones in the middle are getting the shaft and it's the fault of screwed up politically correct governments (federal, state, and local), liberal universities, lazy parents, undereducated teachers, and brain dead school boards just to name a few.

FULL DISCLOSURE

For those of you who might think I am too harsh on Christians and Christians Pastor, you need to know that I am a Christian Pastor who has lost many pulpits due to my outspoken challenges. I intend to continue.

KG

"WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY......"

When the hippies of the sixties started to take over our country Christians did nothing. When the pro abortion zealots began to raise their ugly heads Christians said little. When the White House was desecrated during the Clinton years Christians' protest was little more than a whimper. When the drug dealers raced across the Mexican/US border and illegals flowed like water over a falls Christians hardly hiccuped. When Obama and his minions took over the Executive branch of government and have proceeded to destroy America, Christians said, "oh well, life happens." And now that Islam is trampling on our Judeo-Christian heritage Christians will more than likely fall asleep. And when America is no longer the land of liberty and freedom guess who will look like dumb ducks sitting on a pond and wondering what happened. That's right...CHRISTIANS.

Pogo, from the 1971 cartoon strip by Walt Kelly, stated: "We have met the enemy and he is us." It is a description of environmental pollution, but I think it also aptly applies to Christians, especially Christian Pastors today. Not about the environment but about the degradation of the moral and social status of our once great country.

If America is "right" of center as most polls state then the question must be asked; why are liberals running the country? The answer is simple. Christians and Christians Pastors are political lazy and are afraid of the government that threatens to take away their precious tax exemptions.

So what's to be done. How about the "Black Robe Regiment." The what? LOOK IT UP!!!

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE LIES

My wife and I sat at breakfast in Myrtle Beach recently when a Muslim teenager wished us a merry Christmas. The youth explained his name meant Jesus. A short while later my wife engaged the Muslim father in a brief conversation about Islam and Christmas. The elder Muslim assured my wife there was no real conflict between Christmas and Muslims in that Abraham was our common ancestor. The conversation went on for awhile as the Muslim father tried to convince my wife that there is no real problem between Muslims and Christians. What he didn't realized is that my wife is savvy about the lies of Islam. He (the Muslim) was trained in effective ways to con the gullible. My wife was not fooled. Unfortunately many are.

To say that all Muslims are on a mission to destroy the foundations of our county and institute Sharia Law is certainly not accurate, but enough are to effectively undermine our Christian heritage, and it is assured that even the majority of the non-activist ones would not make any effort to curtail the movement.

The number of those who support Islam in America is rising at an alarming rate and although that number cannot be curtailed constitutionally, Christians and Jews can certainly rise up and insure that our vote drunk politicians and power hungry judges are not allowed to gut our Judeo-Christian heritage. Conservatives, especially those of faith, must not be stupefied by threats from state and federal governments, rather Patriots must get a backbone and say "enough is enough."

If America can be saved,(there is much doubt) it will not be by those who are obsessed with, "American Idol," Letterman, Leno and all those mine-numbing social networking sites where the most exciting thing that is discussed is the latest football score or who is having a baby, it will be by those who work, work, and work to insure this great American experience will last for generations to come.