Honoring Grandparents

Tomorrow is Grandparents Day. Since becoming a grandparent myself, I've become more tuned in to this often-overlooked holiday, probably because of the artwork I receive from my grandkids in honor of the occasion.

My own grandparents are models of the previous generations that built our country. All of them were teenaged immigrants, fleeing their impoverished childhoods in Ireland for the promise of a better life in America. A century ago, immigrants needed their checklist in order before entering the USA. From their firsthand accounts, I know that my grandparents were sponsored into the country by relatives already established here, who met them at the dock and served as escorts and witnesses to their identity. They needed to prove a place of residency and a job awaiting them, as well as pass a health exam, before being allowed off Ellis Island or out of any other US port of entry.

Sad to say, that's not quite our current immigration system.

I never met my firefighter grandfather. He died young, in the line of duty at the scene of a fire during the Great Depression. My other grandparents are vivid in my memory, especially my two grandmothers. It seems the older I become, the more I remember them, their inner strength, and the wisdom of their ways.

I can only hope and pray that I may hold a similar sweet spot in the memories of my own grandchildren.

 

Songs for Summer's End

Labor Day weekend is upon us already, the occasion that by long tradition marks the end of summer. That seemed fast, yes? But as long as we're here, I think we should try to relax and enjoy the holiday as we were intended to do.

I thought it would be fun to put together a playlist in honor of Labor Day. It was easier than I expected. Below are my Top Ten Labor Day songs:

1. Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
2. Working in the Coal Mine - Devo (1981)
3. I've Been Working On The Railroad - Johnny Cash
4. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
5. Workin' for a Livin' - Huey Lewis & The News
6. Five O'clock World - The Vogues
7. Uptown - The Crystals
8. Drill Ye Tarriers Drill - Tommy Maken & Liam Clancy
9. Work to Do - The Isley Brothers
10. Let's Work - Mick Jagger

No doubt there are plenty more. You could put your own playlist together--but don't work too hard. Then kick back, pop a cold one, and celebrate the hard-working American's designated day off.

Mischief Afoot

 Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt.

~ Julius Caesar 3:2

Okay, so the Democratic Convention is over and done. Praise the Lord, we can all now get on with our lives without being browbeaten, shouted at, lied to, and insulted. Where else except at the Dem's self-adoring pageant can you find mega multi-millionaires ranting their list of complaints against our dark and dangerous country?

Why, who has a chance here? Who can possibly get ahead if they start "way back there?" (Hint: Ask Justice Clarence Thomas how he did it.) Of course, the Vice President who had the presidential nomination handed to her without a single vote being cast for her believes that "everyone should end up in the same place."

You mean, everyone should end up owning four mansions like the Obamas? Oh no, I don't think Kamala Harris quite meant that. "Everyone" requires their exalted ruling class; "everyone" knows that.

But the media needed to pivot away from the VP with alarm and alacrity. News cycles are fast and unforgiving these days, and the American voters quickly moved on from the smoke and mirrors of the convention to today's story of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspending his independent run for president and endorsing Donald J. Trump. 

This is a stunning and historic turn of events. The Kennedy dynasty has been solidly Democratic for nearly one and a half centuries. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is risking his extensive family relationships as well as his political career, not to mention his life. Just as Donald Trump is a target for left-wing lunatics, Kennedy now will also be. Both are men of courage, an invaluable trait sorely needed in our troubled and tumultuous times.

Although I don't agree with all his positions, I like Kennedy. He is smart, sincere, and determined to make a positive difference. He certainly made a big difference today in our presidential campaigns. It will be interesting to see where it all goes.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorses Donald Trump for president

Objective Secure

Early this summer I stumbled across Green Beret Nick Lavery's story. I think I first heard him speak on Shawn Ryan's podcast (Episode #28). Completely captivated, I found and watched the entire interview on YouTube--twice. Also, I discovered an even more in-depth interview on Jocko Willink's podcast (#347) and watched that one, too--again, twice. 

I went on to order and read Lavery's book, Objective Secure. Discovering Nick's Instagram account, I immediately became a follower and sent him an IM--which Nick promptly answered. For his birthday, my son got his own copy of Objective Secure from me; he chuckles that I'm "a groupie." That's probably an accurate description. 

It's more effective if you hear and read Nick's story for yourself, but I'll say this much: this man should be dead at least a dozen times over. In three separate combat incidents, he was wounded by shrapnel, shot in the face, and had his right leg destroyed by enemy machine gun fire. The numerous medical threats and complications that accompanied his third, catastrophic injury, resulting in an above-the-knee amputation, defy belief. 

Also defying belief is the fact that Nick was determined to return to active duty as a Green Beret--and he succeeded, as a Special Forces Warrant Officer. The obstacles he needed to overcome were staggering. He is the first Special Forces combat-wounded, above-the-knee amputee to return to the battlefield. When you learn his story, you'll understand why. It's obvious to me that Nick is meant to live, to teach, and to inspire.

It's a comforting thought to know that such men as Nick Lavery still walk among us.

An Unlikely Alliance

There have been violent street protests against the unending influx of illegal aliens into their native land in the United Kingdom, including in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this weekend.

One must know a bit of Irish history to realize that seeing the British and Irish flags flying together in protest against their government's policies was an unimaginable sight for centuries.

People can only be pushed so far until human nature triumphs over trepidation, and the firm cry of "No more!" rings out. Much of the violence is wrong, but the message is not. Those in government power have been quick to blame their own people. If they would look beyond their ideological agendas and pay attention to their native citizens that they are duty-bound to represent, they might have a line of sight to begin reaching a solution.

Ireland's tri-color flag and the Union Jack flying side-by-side?

The Globalists should pay close attention and step carefully.

Republic of Ireland's Flag

Symbolic of ancient enemies united for Northern Ireland

United Kingdom's Flag

  

Not In the Games

The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology. ~ Red Auerbach

I haven't watched a nanosecond of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Nor will I.

A fleeting glimpse of online clips from the Opening Ceremony were enough for me to conclude that this particular Olympics was not worth my time. Drag queens recreating the Last Supper? Really? 

“There was never an intention to show disrespect to a religious group,” a Paris 2024 spokeswoman said. “If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really sorry.”

Just a thought, but if disrespect was "never an intention," then it might have been wise to avoid a direct attack mocking that religious group's most sacred institution. It's safe for them to apologize now; their deliberate smear of Christianity has been accomplished. Christians aren't stupid. We can tell the difference between "freedom of expression" and a targeted insult.

I'm grateful I visited the Normandy beaches two years ago, because I'll never set foot in France again. Au revoir, blasphémateurs insensés. Now excuse me, s’il vous plaît. I need to get to Mass.

An Interesting Time

 I'm no youngster, and I've seen more than my share of interesting, chaotic, turbulent times.

The first upheaval I experienced was the President Kennedy assassination in 1963. In 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy Sr. were also assassinated in quick succession. There were brutal riots between protestors and police at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that year, and President Johnson announced his refusal to run for a second term during the ongoing carnage of the Vietnam War. I remember watching that special news broadcast with my father. (Dad's retort to the television screen was along the lines of, "Good! Leave now.")

The USA moved on to Richard Nixon, the Watergate scandal, and a presidential resignation. Jimmy Carter's unsuccessful presidency followed, with the Iran hostage crisis, gas lines and shortages, inflation, and the "malaise" of a discontented populace. Reagan followed and came close to assassination early in his tenure, followed closely by an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. The end of the Cold War brought short-lived promise, but an ominous Russia rose again. And the alarming evolution and progression of an aggressive China is a whole other story.

The Clinton presidency brought its own sordid scandal. I've lost count of how many recessions I've cycled through. September 11, 2001, changed the world as well as the country--and not for the better. Technology took over all our lives in recent years, with its own devious pitfalls. In recent days, we've watched worldwide commerce come to a shocking halt when software fails. And that is a frightening place to be.

Last week a former president was almost murdered by gunfire while running for a second term. I think America has grown weary of the stealthy gunman do-loop being replayed so often.

And today, our current president announces--on social media--that he will not run for a second term, throwing his party into an uproar. After all, the election is only three-and-a-half months away. Think fast, Democrats.

This is just a random list of the "interesting" events that have populated my lifetime. I didn't mention the Civil Rights Movement, the NASA tragedies, or the Great Recession, among many other happenings. Yet here we all are, still alive, reasonably comfortable, and able to stand and fight for our own freedoms. Buried in all the societal, political, and economic chaos I find a sliver of hope that somehow, tomorrow may be better than today--if we are determined to make it so. That would certainly make life interesting.

The Shoe Drops

 "It’s time to put Trump in the bullseye."

~ Joe Biden, 7/8/24

What happened yesterday was not unexpected. After witnessing the ongoing, relentless, often lawless onslaught against Donald Trump for more than eight years, his attempted assassination was inevitable. I must confess that I've been waiting for it.

I'm sick and tired of the "both sides" argument. No, that's not accurate. The Right does have its fringe outlaws, but it is the Left that most often endorses, encourages, and perpetrates violence. Go back to the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting. That was done by a leftie. The BLM rioting during the summer of 2020 wrought deaths, injuries, and destruction across the country. And remember the screaming threats of Chuck Schumer against the Supreme Court justices, resulting in an assassination attempt on Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Think of the image years ago of a severed head representing Donald Trump being held aloft by a left-wing "comedian." Just recently, look to the cover of a magazine showing Trump merged with an image of Hitler. This despicable tactic of demonizing an individual is straight out of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals. 

We are in a new era now. There's no predicting where it will lead. But as surely as I was convinced that there would be an attempt on Donald Trump's life, I am equally convinced that Trump is being protected in a seemingly supernatural way. Call it karma, the Universe, a Higher Power, guardian angels, whatever you like. I believe God's hand is on this man. That doesn't mean I believe he's preordained to be the next president--that's up to the voters (legal ones).

What it does mean is that recent events seem to be aligning in Trump's favor. This was the summer we were supposed to be talking non-stop about the "convicted felon" running for office. We were supposed to be seeing him sentenced and possibly sent to prison this past week. The lefties were gleeful, convinced they had engineered Trump's end.

Yet what have we been talking about since June 27? Joe Biden's dismal debate performance and endless questions regarding his fitness for serving as the presidency. The ludicrous legal actions against Trump are falling apart or being postponed.

Hurl the epithet "dictator" at Trump as much as you like. When he was president, he followed the law. He protected our nation's borders, honored Supreme Court decisions, eliminated crushing regulations against business owners. When his term was up, despite his disbelief that Biden had defeated him, Trump left promptly. He did not even attend Biden's inauguration ceremony, in protest of the questionable election. And Trump knew his presence would be unwelcomed, so he left.

Joe Biden has ignored the Supreme Court ruling on canceling student debt. He has continuously broken his Oath of Office by allowing the unfettered invasion of our country by illegal aliens, aided and abetted by the entire Biden administration. He has corrupted our nation's legal system, a cornerstone of our liberty, for the sole purpose of destroying a political opponent--Donald Trump.

So, tell me, who is more of a "threat to democracy" or guilty of the title, "dictator"--Biden or Trump?

And yesterday, Donald Trump narrowly, perhaps miraculously, escaped assassination. To quote our national motto, In God We Trust.

"Fight!" ~ Trump 2024

Hitting the Iceberg

"If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”

~ Joe Biden, 46^th US President

 

“Not even God himself could sink this ship.”

~ attributed to an employee of the White Star Line, owner of the Titanic

It’s never a good idea to pronounce God’s plans. So, I felt a small chill when I read Joe Biden’s quote declaring the Lord is “not coming down” to instruct him not to run for a second term. Such certainty regarding the Almighty’s course of action is too reminiscent of the famous quote about the ill-fated Titanic ocean liner being “unsinkable,” even by God.

You remember the Titanic, the ship that hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sunk—quickly.

I don’t know what will happen to the beleaguered Joe Biden presidency. But I know the sound of a destructive impact when I hear one. What Biden said seemed like what Titanic’s collision with an iceberg must have sounded like. For now, there’s no predicting how much damage was done and the depths it might reach. Only the "Lord Almighty" knows.

 

Titanic sinks - April 1912

America the Beautiful

Despite our country's wounds and conflicts, tomorrow we pause to honor the 248th birthday of our home, the USA. I, for one, am grateful.