28

May. ’23

I Should Have Been A Congressman

I have had a full-time job (including the military) since I was fifteen years old. There were times I worked seven days a week, working two jobs and once I had three. Hours working was from twelve to sixteen hours with a smile on my face. Why? I was making a dissent living and after paying the bills I had a little left over to have something in my pocket. Except for the military, there weren’t enough hours in the day for much partying, but I wasn’t angry about that.

               While in the military there was once a time when the military had just started direct pay to the bank for us and that was at the time when Congress didn’t pass the budget or something like that. I was stationed in Europe and really didn’t know what was going on. When I was in the military, I didn’t keep up with what the politicians were doing. Well, those that did not have direct pay did not get a paycheck. I was lucky because I opted to have direct pay because I regularly went TDY (temporary duty) elsewhere and I didn’t have to be on base to get paid.

               I said all of that to say this. As I write this millions of people are set to not get paid because Congress is not increasing the debt limit. They can’t get their act together and lookout for the little guy. This affects the entire world, economies will tumble, especially ours. The people in Congress have left town for the Memorial weekend. I had very few holidays off before I retired, I should have been a congressman.

               Thinking about being a congressman, they not only left town before okaying the debt bill, but they will get paid when the rest of us do not. This means social security checks, retired pay checks, government debt, etc. will not get paid but congressmen will. A little while ago they asked for a pay raise. I should have been a congressman.

               I also look at how congressmen act. They act as if they are above everyone else and can say and do whatever they want. Even the few that are caught in the act of doing wrong know that it will take a very long time to actually be formally charged, then another very long time to go to court. If convicted there will be appeal upon appeal before any possibility of jail. During all these years the congressman will be out on bail, most likely on their own recognize and will still be in office. Normal people would have been tried, convicted, and done the time in jail before the congressman goes to trial. I should have been a congressman.

               To be a congressman would make me feel dirty and I would hate to see people I know are doing wrong. I know it sounds bad to say I don’t want to be a congressman because it is a dirty job, but I have morals and most of them do not. But the bottom line is, I have worked all my life and I want and need my money. The congressmen need to do the job they are overly paid to do. 

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14

May. ’23

Oaths

Oath: A solemn promise, often, invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior.

               Everyone takes an oath, whether they realize it or not. I will name a few, not all, because I know I will miss a lot of them. Oaths are given when someone is taking a government job (federal, state, or local). This includes enforcement of the law, military, doctors, nurses. Lawyers, etc. When you rent an apartment, you will sign a contract or when you buy a car (promise to pay or that what you put on the form is truthful). There are many organizations and clubs that require it. I think you understand what I mean. Oath covers a lot of territory.

               Rep. George Santos has admitted he is a liar and took the oath of office. Now he is charged with several things including lying to Congress. A breach of the oath. He stated he will not resign but the people that voted for him and elected him knew most of what he is accused of before the election. Even the Speaker of the House stands by him and said he wants to see if he is found guilty or not. There have been many other people that have been accused of something and were made to resign. The Republicans can not afford to lose one vote and I think that is why they are standing by him until this is bought to a head.

               Another (this will ruffle feathers) is ex-President Donald Trump. Becoming President, he took the oath of office and shattered it into a million pieces. Before and after becoming President, he signed many contracts and rarely was he true to them. When he was charged with rape, he was given a chance to meet his accuser in court and did not appear. Yet, he told his followers he was not given the chance. I believe he did not appear because he would have had to take an oath. I do not understand why that matters to him because he broke his oath numerous times in the past.

               I will mention one last person and that is the guy that was in intelligence service for the military and posted on the internet what he wanted. Of course, he had to take an oath and he shattered that oath for whatever lame brained excuse he gave. He not only hurt our government but other governments around the world.

               To list all the government officials that took the oath and broke it is impossible to list. That list is too long to even think about, especially those from the last administration. Today, oaths mean nothing. Back in the day, a simple handshake was all that was needed. There was also a time when a person gave their word and that was all that was needed.

               I have taken many oaths and kept all of them. I could not afford to be caught breaking an oath because I am a little guy and before I could recite my name, I would be so deep into the catacombs of prison that daylight wouldn’t reach me. I guess keeping true to the oaths taken is for the little people like me.

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30

Apr. ’23

Burn Baby Burn

Every day looks gloomier, and gloomier when you look at the world of politics. I guess I am looking for a country set in a world of utopia but, as I wrote in a previous blog, there is no such thing as utopia. There will always be mistakes, miscalculations, and the inevitable upper crust people greed. Greed is one thing but being overly greedy is too much for me. However, there are those that are mindless about all of this and want the rest of us to fall into the same fire that has engulfed them.

               I am thinking about all the problems our country is mired in and there seems to be no end to any of this. Especially when there is a faction that wants to unravel what is good and decent and only wants to cause discontent. When you add the craziness of some of these people into the mix, there is nothing but chaos and either nothing gets done or there is a slowdown of everything. Then again you add into the mix liars that are only out to destroy everything.

               There are many things on the table that need to be resolved including the abortion issue, the Supreme Court issue, our conflict with China, Russia and, in minor form, some other countries. Add in humanitarian aid to several countries and aid to many states in this country. There is still a big border problem which is not going to go away any time soon. Yet, there is a blockage in Congress to get the money to resolve some of this plus we have the upcoming debt ceiling deadline.

               Thinking about the upcoming debt ceiling deadline, I cannot see why Republicans want to cut money to our military, especially VA (Veteran Administration) hospitals, when they have said they wouldn’t. They want to cut employees from the VA as well as funding. How can we care for our injured vets (we can barely do it now) with fewer personnel and less money? Who would want to join our military knowing that if they get injured care is not a priority?

               Looking again at the Supreme Court and I see a court I would not want to handle my case, if I had one, because I would know they will decide on which way the money, politics, and friendship flow. This is the highest court in the country, and it is so tainted that being corrupt is the lowest I can think of without using a cuss word.

               The country is on fire, and we are all burning in the flames that are thrown in our direction. As the perpetrators of this mess will burn in hell for continuing to cause this, those that condone this mess and are attempting to drag others into this mess will burn also. I wrote about this in my other blog www.faithingodministries.net and I see it all coming true. The devil needs more fuel for his fires, and we are supplying it. Souls will add to the fuel, and I do not want any part of it. There is so much more I could write but I do not want to write a book. We all will burn because of this fiasco. Burn, baby, burn.

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16

Apr. ’23

In Retrospect

We are in the age of retrospect, or we are quickly on our way there. All we must do is look at what is happening and what was happening not too long ago. This is happening across the entire spectrum, especially here in the United States. I will not investigate every facet of the situation because I am sure I will miss something, but the handwriting is on the wall. Let’s look at some of this.

               The biggest item in the news is about abortion. Looking back, women did not have a way to have an abortion and had to carry the baby to term. The man always wanted a male heir and most female babies were killed. Women did not have a say into anything, and they were not educated. This is still found in most Muslem countries, and their religion wants it to spread to all the other cultures. The woman must stay home to cook, clean, care for the children, and do whatever the man tells her to do. The USA have not taken away ways for the man not to have children but have caused ways for women to have children. This is a regression, not a progression.

               Then there is a caste system among the have and have not. Congress refuses to do anything about the millionaires and billionaires paying their fair share of taxes. They even get better treatment in the judicial system. The middle class cannot afford or barely afford food, housing, vehicles, gasoline, or time off to recharge their bodies. The country that has a large caste system is India although most countries have it in some way. Everything costs more and more because the wealthiest of people want more and more.

               Many years ago, most people could not read or write and what was written had to be approved before it was released into the public realm. Now they are saying there is too much sexuality in books and people should not be exposed to it. Does that mean the Bible? In the Bible you’ll find incest, homosexuality, murder, etc. Will the Bible be banned next? Children can read and the Bible is not hidden from sight. Some of the most well-known books in the world have some form of forbidden material in them. It is ludicrous to rewrite well-known material, cover well-known statues, remove works of art because someone think it is vulgar.

               We are a people that supposedly abide by laws written by and for the people of this country. These laws are to apply to all the people however there are some people (in the highest caste?) that feel as if it doesn’t apply to them. When I look at the Federal Government (including the Supreme Court) I see quite a few believing the laws do not apply to them. This was the way it was for untold centuries. They make the laws for us, and the courts and law enforcement enforce them upon us and not upon them.

               These are just a few things (and there are a lot more) that come to mind when I think how we are going backward instead of forward. Modernization means nothing. I’m gonna get on my horse and wagon and move on down the road. I’m too old to fight this any longer. I fought for civil rights and now I’ll let the younger people take over. I hope they are up to the task.

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02

Apr. ’23

Education

Education: the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgement, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. Think about the ending words, for mature life. When there is no education, life does not mature or barely matures.

               Education has been on the news for a long time. There are people for education and there are people against education. For your information, I am for education, and I do not understand how anyone could be against it. It is said that people are not against it, they just don’t want certain material presented to the children. I agree and disagree. I would say to present it as age appropriate when presented. That brings in banning books (I just saw that art is being banned also).

               It is getting so bad that there are demonstrations on both sides. Remember, Hitler banned books and so has some Islam countries. Also remember, the first step to control people is to make them ignorant. We are attempting the first step, but I also see that people becoming ignorant have been slowly on the move for a long time.

               What I mean by slowly on the move for a long time is that for long-time parents are not involved in the education of their children. In my day my parent made sure I did my homework every day, she did what she could to help me, and attended the PTA meetings. I did the same for my child. There are PTAs and school board meetings for the parents to come to and help, or at least express their opinion, about the curriculums for the students. The meetings used to be crowded but not anymore.

               I have a problem with book-banning, but I have a bigger problem with parents gripping but they are not involved in the education of their own children. It seems that they want others to raise their children, educate their children, but they do not want verbal and physical discipline of the children. The children want to act as adults (so do the parents) but lack the training and understanding.

               People want kids and some get involved with them but far too many have them and leave them. Using my era of growing up, when an adult spoke, whatever I was doing immediately stopped, I paid attention, and I did it. Today, the children do what they want to do and will talk back. In my day, talking back, arguing, and not doing something was a death sentence (not really but close).

               Education is needed everywhere but when students cannot read about Rosa Parks and others, it is a sad day. There may not be an agreement on what is read but in it is at least general knowledge. I don’t understand politicians getting involved in this, it should be the parents. I had chores to do before and after school. At times I even held a job as well as what I had to do at home and then my homework. Today children have it easy and still complain. I was lucky to get six hours sleep but kids today get twice that.

               Everyone needs an education, but the parents need to get back into teaching their own kids. When no one can say, touch, or have anything to do with your child, then they cannot effectively be taught. When the teacher gets hurt in class because of the unruly child, then the child cannot be taught. When the parent does not have control of their child, then the child cannot be taught. Parents…let’s educate the children before it’s too late.

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19

Mar. ’23

Rotten Apples

When I was a child, my mother taught and said many things. I do not know if my mother and grandmother knew that their words were lessons to be able to deal with life when I go out on my own. They taught a lot through metaphors and one of them was ‘one rotten apple spoils the barrel’. I didn’t know what that meant then, but I well know now and they were right.

               For my non-American readers, and others, I will give a short background to where that saying come from. Back in the day, most items were stored in barrels and transported in barrels. It was common to pick out the rotten or getting close to be rotten fruit out of the barrel because it would cause the entire barrel to rot.

               Another headline was in the news, seven people (law enforcement) had a shackled and handcuffed man face down on the floor and they were on his back. He died and they are in deep trouble as they await, in orange jumpsuits, the outcome of the justice system. It has happened so many times that it is almost a back page article, not a headline.

               The same analogy can be said about almost anything, especially politics. It only takes on rotten congressman to taint the congressional body. There have been many rotten apples in congress for a long time. However, I think there are more today than usual. I could name people but I am sure I will miss many people that should be named along with the others. There are undercover apples that are rotten from their core outward.

               Getting back to law enforcement, the majority of officers attempt to do their job correctly and with integrity. It is a shame that a few taint the wellbeing and good deeds of the majority. When I was among them, I knew a few and have seen their conduct, however, there truly is a ‘blue wall of silence’. Why is it hush-hush when the right thing to do is report it? 1) you do not know how high the rot have spread and you could be speaking with an accomplice. 2) you will find yourself, most times, alone in everything you do. There will not be any association with you in any manner. 3) you could accidentally die. This has happened in the past and will happen again. 4) the command tier don’t want transparency, they want to deal with it themselves to keep their names clean.

               Keep in mind, rotten apples are everywhere, in every thing we do and see. The problem is recognizing the rot before you are caught-up in it and become tainted also. Remember not to be naive because you will never know how high the rot goes or who is becoming tainted. We had a President that tainted everything he touched. In this case, the rot trickled downward, not upward.

               There is another problem. If you were able to pick out all the rot in whatever agency, where would you get replacements that do not have a rotten spot? Look out for the rot.

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05

Mar. ’23

Yes I Can

I am a loner. A strong statement but one that is true. I’ve found that staying to myself and keeping my thoughts to myself have taken me further than I thought I would go. Playing one side against the other and simply listening to what is said around me have given me insight into those that pretend they are my friend but is giving hints of attempted manipulation. Some attempts are under the table, softly spoken, and some are outwardly loud. I see them and most of the time I go along with them to meet my own end, but sometimes, when I feel it is necessary, I reject them.

               I was born during segregation and schooled under segregation going to an all-Black school. I used secondhand books with barely a whisper of Blacks mentioned in them. I learned Black history the way most Black people did, orally, the way it has been passed down for generations. As I read the hand-me-down books, I soon learned that much was left out, much was bull, and much was manipulated to the benefit of the White people.

               CRT theorist still does not want the learning of Black history and probably does not want a Black History month in which we tell our children about the accomplishments of Black people nor who they were and are. We were always told that we were incapable of doing anything, but that is untrue. We, as it was said back in the day, were to ‘get back’, meaning ‘get to the back of the bus’. Rosa Parks and others stood against that because they had enough of the BS.

               When I went into the military, I went primarily to beat the draft (I did not want the army, I wanted my own choice). I still could not get into what I wanted but it was still better than what I would have been in the army. I had been on the radio all of my high school years, but the military did not accept Blacks into any part of the communication services, including radio or tv (AFRTN).

               As an air policeman (later as a security policeman and I am not sure what they call it now), I was used as an augment for K-9 but could not formally be a K-9 handler because I was Black (this was whispered to me). I made a promise to myself to do it anyway and four years later I made it (this went well with me being a loner. Just me and my dog doing our thing). I went through much shunning, racial harassment, and I had to fight my way to the top of the K-9 field (I had to do more and know more than the average airman). I even made it to being a First Sergeant in the security field. Low rank equal low pay but I had my pride knowing I and others can do it as Blacks especially when told you can’t do it or that field is closed to you (remember the Tuskegee Airmen?).

               So, we have had the Black History month. With CRT theorist getting a stronger following, how many more Black History months will we have? When or how will people learn the true Black History? When will Black people stop being denied something because of their color? I will always say ‘yes I can’ and I did.

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19

Feb. ’23

Time and Infrastructure

My mother used to say to me, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. I never thought much about that then but as I grew older it made sense. Be patient because everything takes time nothing is done instantaneously. Rome, built on seven hills, took a very long time to come together. No matter what you do will take time to do it, especially when you do it correctly.

               The other day, as I was watching the news, a comment was made that the President always talk about rebuilding the infrastructure but there is nothing to show for it. It was said the President does not uphold his promises and we should not trust anything he says. It was also said that the person-in-charge of the Department of Transportation was also at fault.

               I will give you a little lesson about our highway system (this is only one out of many projects concerning infrastructure). Many years ago, I read a road marker, I forget which state I was in, that talked about President D.D. Eisenhower and how he developed the highway system. When he was a newly minted Lieutenant in the army he had to drive from New York to California. What road there was was rutted and narrow. It took many days to get where he was going, and he swore that someday he will make better roads. When he became President in the 1950s, he did just that.

               To fix the aging infrastructure will take a long time to do. Let me mention a few things that will slow that rebuilding of any part of the infrastructure. First and foremost are the permits before anything can start. Plans have to be drawn, inspections have to be made, contracts have to be written and signed. Just that part mentioned can take months to do. If all that have been mentioned goes smoothly, the work can begin and, depending on the size of the project, will take time to do it safely and right.

               If the project is a new build, then there are other problems. Environmental agencies must give their approval, hearings have to be held, groups for and against have to be appeased, hearings are held again because of the changes to the original concept. After all of that then you start with drawing detailed plans, written contracts, etc.

               The Romans built many great roads and bridges and most of them still stand today, and a few are still being used. The Romans did not wave a magic wand and their projects instantly appeared. It took a long time to accomplish those things that were built thousands of years ago. The Romans had many projects, very little red tape, yet it took a long time for each project.

               I said all of that to say this. Give the infrastructure plans some time. The ball is rolling but it will take time to see it. Many people, that are against the President or the Democrat Party, will always say bad things about the infrastructure bill without proof of anything. Remember, Rome was not built in a day, nether was our deteriorating infrastructure, and completing the plans in the infrastructure bill will take time.

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05

Feb. ’23

As Seen On

As I look at television and other media, I seriously thought about what can be done, and the cause, about gun violence and police brutality in our nation today. It seems that these things are much too far out of hand. There seem to be no end to the daily headlines of all sorts of incidents. And when I look closer, I find most of the incidents come from younger people. Then I had a thought that I had some years ago and, to me, it makes sense.

               Most young people have long ago disconnected from the real world and is, instead, connected to artificial entertainment. They watch too much of what is on their phones and video games are supreme. Sci-fi and scary movies rule and regular television and the news are out.

               The other day, while talking to two of my granddaughters, I asked them about the police brutality/murder in Memphis. They looked at me like I was crazy and said they have not heard anything about it. I was amazed because it had happened almost two weeks prior and that was on all the news networks, talk shows, and printed matter. I then wanted to slap myself because it dawned on me that it was not on their outlets like tic-toc, etc.

               This is what my mind see that have caused the police brutality and other shootings everywhere. Most young people and some adults are into video games and many play them daily. I am not against these games as entertainment, but some cannot separate real from fantasy. Some minds are either weak or still developing and that leads to a problem. Believe it or not, some think they can do what they see in a video or avatar.

               These people that think they can do whatever without consequence also do not fully understand death. When it comes to children, ask yourself if they really understand that in death they cannot come back tomorrow and play that scene again. Do they understand that the man acting macho is only an actor and it is not real. Do they understand that pointing a gun at someone, pulling the trigger will ruin their life forever.

               When it comes to some police officers (done that, been there), there are some that is full tilt macho, and you cannot tell them otherwise. They act as the supreme lord of all people and can do whatever. When I first heard about the beating the police gave, I thought about the television series “Chicago PD’. There are other television series, as well as movies, that some officers attempt to imitate.

               I do not know how to squelch this problem, but I believe that the major cause of the problem are the movies and videos that immature humanoids watch. Once they get started down the wrong road it is hard for them to get on the right road. And let us not forget the gangs and gang members that can be included in the causes that make up the police brutality cause.

               We cannot turn off all televisions, videos, and other forms of media but I am hoping we can find a way to limit it and closely monitor the individuals that does nothing but involve themselves into this form of communication.    

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22

Jan. ’23

I Am Not Naive

The other day I saw a local article that took me by surprise. Not the contents of the article but the fact that the reporter seem very surprised about what was found and what it meant. The article stated old bodies were discovered in graves on the property of The Medical College of Virginia (MCV). These graves were of slaves that were used (for labor?) at the school.

               What got me was people are surprised that slaves were used there. I stated in a blog I wrote a long time ago which said people need to think like it is some time ago, not like it is today when reading about yesteryears. Evidently the people that are surprised about this situation is viewing it like it is today. Yes, slaves were used everywhere back in the day. Not too long ago, some wealthy people were keeping people that worked for them as slave labor. They kept their passports, did not pay them, would not let them leave the house, and had them work very long hours because they were migrants.

               Let me explain why I am surprised about people around here being so naïve. The Medical College of Virginia is in Richmond, Virginia (Capital of the Confederacy), around the corner from the President of the Confederacy’s home (Jefferson Davis). The entire southern states had slaves as well as some places in the other states. Slaves were used to do anything and everything the White person could not do or did not want to do. They cooked, cleaned, did all the field work, and made things (horseshoes, clothes, buildings, etc.).

               As the doctors, nurses, etc. worked and taught at the college it stands to reason that either the school bought slaves to labor or the people there used their own slaves. That is not too hard to imagine, especially if you think as if it was the time of slavery. It would be expected. In fact, when I was growing up, those were the only jobs a Black person could get, labor at very low pay.

               A while ago graves were found (also bones in an abandoned well) of cadavers used in experimentation and teaching. It was never said if these were of White or Black people. I would assume most, if not all, were White. The reasoning for that is 1) there was a stigma that Black people were not like White people. 2) there was a lot of grave robbing during that time. 3) Black cemeteries were not close to White people. 4) In case you do not know this, free Black people could not live within the city limits. Therefore, graverobbers would have to travel a long way to get a fresh cadaver of a Black person.

               So, people can stop trying to make me think I am naïve enough to believe they are surprised to discover people used slaves at a prestigious school. If I remember correctly, not too long ago The University of Virginia (UVA) (which have a great medical school) found graves. I am assuming it was everywhere because Blacks were used for labor, free or enslaved, and experimentation (remember The Tuskegee Experiment). Why are people so naïve or is it a ruse to make us think they are?

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