This Blog gives me an outlet to voice my concerns about serious issues
we are facing in America, share some information, and indulge in the
occasional rant. It should also help me learn more about the stuff I
write about because I hereby resolve to back up my posts with
referenceable facts and figures. Well, unless I indulge in just some
bitchin' and complainin' - in which case I'll admit to that up front and
you can just skip that post.
Hey, maybe
you'll learn something by reading this Blog. Even better, maybe
you can help me expand my
perspectives by sharing your viewpoints and information. My only request
is that you be at least fairly polite and include sources for facts and
figures - I will not publish anything with hateful language or tone. If you want to contribute an original Post to this Blog, just
use the Contact form on the left to send me a message.
If you look near the top of this web page, you'll see some tabs - Civil Liberties, Defense, Justice, etc. You can click on these tabs
to see some specific information and/or opinion about those subjects. Other than that,
I'll just be making Posts and using subject labels like Civil Liberties,
Economy, Justice, etc. so you can pull up by subject - look in the left side column for the links.
Look in the right column to share this Blog, to Subscribe, to submit your email address to receive Blog posts, and/or to become a Follower.
A few things about me (so you know where I'm coming from)
and why I believe we need to restore some balance in America
I am a 50+ year old white woman currently living in beautiful East Tennessee. I am a military retiree, having served 20+ years in the US Air Force and Air Guard. I grew up in the Caribbean of an American father and Barbadian mother. I have traveled around the world quite a bit and lived in a lot of different places. I like dogs and cats and chocolate.
I have worked just about all my adult life and am nearly debt-free, mostly because of good planning and a frugal nature. I firmly believe that no one gets anywhere on their own. There have been times in my life when the encouragement and support of my family and friends made all the difference in where I was going and how I got there. I am not so foolish or arrogant as to take full credit for the good things in my life, and I realize not everyone is as fortunate as me.
I am Christian in baptism but Agnostic in outlook. I don't quite have the gumption to call myself an Atheist. I'm reserving the right to take up God in the event something really bad happens and I need some help. Nonetheless, I do consider myself to be a Spiritual person: I try to keep an open mind, question current beliefs, and strive to better understand others' beliefs. I believe I am connected to others and with the world around me, and I find myself searching for meaning, purpose, and direction. And, despite what I wrote above, I do believe in a higher power but am not sure from where it springs - God, nature, or mankind.
And speaking of mankind... I believe that humanity can be good and courageous and strong. I also know that we can be selfish, cruel, and evil. Its a mixed bag... like a family reunion. You know what I mean. I don't say this to be flippant, but we might as well be honest about our multifaceted selves.
I have voted Republican in the past but not since Bush, Sr. The extremism of certain GOP factions make that party too
fundamentalist for my comfort zone. Likewise, the "Far-Leftness" of some liberals
is also scary, but the Democratic party is generally less
extreme than today's GOP. Remember, I am entitled to my opinion same as you. The fact
is, however, I would like a third party to emerge called the Moderates or
some such thing but I ain't holding my breath. I am considered Liberal on some issues and somewhat Conservative on others.
Read my posts and you might guess which is which.
I am a Patriot. I stand proud when I say the Pledge of Allegiance
or see the Stars and Stripes waving in the breeze. I am frequently
moved to tears when I hear our National Anthem. I support our troops
without reserve, and know first-hand the sacrifices those brave men and
women make every day.
But I am also very concerned about the direction our country is taking as a nation and as a society.
In the last decade, we have waged a preemptive war, been accused of
torture and other war crimes, and executed more people than any other
Western nation. We have a shrinking middle class and millions are living
in poverty. Our Congress is dominated by squabbling children who spend
their energies trying to make each other fail, rather than taking care
of our country. And, our politicians are quick to ditch honor in favor of votes: they are as comfortable telling a lie as they
are shaking a hand.
But the worst of all is that Americans have become divisive and
hateful toward strangers, neighbors, and even family members that have different views on how things should be done. Our anger and frustration (and perhaps even fear) has pushed us to the point where we can no longer debate
and disagree without resorting to nasty words and combative phrases
like, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." But
despite all this passion, most of us can't back up our points of view
with any substantial information, facts or figures. We have latched-on
to viewpoints with a blind passion... and anything else is the Devil's work.
Well, this blind passion is hurting us as a nation. It is not constructive. It does not help us resolve national problems. It does not help us protect our nation, or our environment, or our society.
Instead, let's
choose to become more knowledgeable so we can intelligently challenge viewpoints and discuss the issues. So we know when politicians are blowing smoke. So we can compel our Leadership to be accountable. So we can demand that Congress to get to work.
So we can restore some balance in America.
