My prayers go out to those in Japan and Southeast Asia, what a tremendous tragedy. It is amazing that with such a devastatingly powerful earthquake, there was not more damage and more people killed. While you will hear from those with an agenda, that the problem's the Nuclear power stations are having right now prove that nuclear power is not a safe option. Keep in mind that mother nature has thrown it's worst at Japan and its nuclear program, and while there has been some concerns, overall the worst seems to have been averted. To ad perspective this was one of the top 5 most powerful earthquakes, and yet this natural disaster was not a devastating as it could have been.
Jim Tressel, I have respect for you and you seem to be a good man, so I am going to chalk this up to making a mistake, learn from it and continue to lead these young men, but understand there is a shorter leash now.
Freedom what does it mean? I think that with the happenings in Wisconsin and the passage of SB-5 here in Ohio, we are beginning to see what happened when smaller government meets tea party member's. We have to understand that freedom and smaller government will mean that our lives will necessary have to change. We can not restore the Constitution with out having to completely restructure our own lives and way of life. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO RESTORE THE CONSTITUTION, you must be willing to live by the principle's of the Constitution, and base your actions on Principle's and Value's.
As a Catholic, this week is the beginning of lent, I will spend the next 40 days reminding myself that through sacrifice and commitment and Grace, I will be a better person and more worthy of the sacrifice made for me.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Time to choose.
My Heart breaks for our country and state, how have we gotten so divided? Just last Saturday I was around town and saw firefighters and others standing out in the rain on street corners holding signs that ask our representative’s to oppose SB5. I felt for them because I know how much passion one must have to take time away from your family and to stand out in the rain and snow, getting the one finger salute, to try to get your message out.
The street corner protests were a stark contrast to the video of intimidation and anger that is being displayed in Columbus and Madison, WI. The unions there are acting like thugs and revolutionary’s they have even likened Madison to Cairo, Referencing the recent overthrow of the government in Egypt. I asked myself why is there such disconnect between what I saw on the street corner and what is happening in the capitals of Ohio and Wisconsin? The difference was night and day.
“Despite what some among us would like to believe, it is not because of our creative ideas; it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children; and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child.
The NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them"[i]
Look at the protests in Madison; they are attracting the likes of Michael Moore, International Socialist Organization (ISO) and comparisons to Cairo, Egypt. Why would Michael Moore a noted Socialist and anti-capitalist as well as the (ISO) be joining the union protests? Surely those Firemen on the corner do not believe that we need to end capitalism and transform into Socialism as Moore and the ISO want. Surely the average teacher does not believe as Moore does when he talks about “the rich’s” money
“That's not theirs, that's a national resource, that's ours. We all have this -- we all benefit from this or we all suffer as a result of not having it,"[ii]
Have the union Bosses become enamored with socialism? Or are the socialist organizations just joining a fight that they believe will lead to socialism? Either way, average Joe firefighter, average Jane teacher are these values you want your union promoting? Is this what you believe in: Socialism, intimidation and anger? If not why are you allowing these folks to define your struggle?
It is a tale of two unions as I see it, the Union Bosses trying to hold onto power, their money to influence elections and aspiring socialist VS the average firefighter, policeman, teacher and public worker, which wins out I do not know. Either way my heart breaks for those folks on the street corner in the rain, because I have been there. Both of us believe in something enough to step out of our comfort zone, we both care passionately about the direction our country is heading and I have faith that we can get together and figure out a solution, but I have no sympathy for the Union Bosses that foster anger and intimidation or the socialist that seem to be involved in the protests.
My question to the rank and file is which one are you the street corner protester or the angry, intimidating, socialist?
If you are the passion peaceful street corner protester, then let me give you a quote from President Lincoln that sums up were we are,
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”[iii]
“you’re breaking my heart! You’re going down a path I cannot follow!”[iv]
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