16

Oct. ’22

Long Live Mother Earth

I’ve been thing about all the hullabaloo over climate change which made me wonder whether it is true or false and (I try to listen to my mind and body) what do I really feel about it. My mind, body, and soul say it is true. Not only from what the scientists say but from my own personal knowledge. I have been a person that look at things thoroughly, while in the military and out. I am also a person that depend heavily on things I learned through life.

               What really got me to write about climate change was an article in The Atlantic by Chris Baraniuk about ancient flooding tales. The article was really good, and I could add more (I guess he could also), especially a few stories from the Bible (remember Noah’s Ark, to name only one). Through the years I have written a blog or two about catastrophes during biblical times (blog: www.faithingodministries.net).

               Earth have been in constant change since its existence. Through my lifetime I have witnessed some of the changes. For one, the weather here is not like it was when I was growing up in the area. Some things are very minor while other things are dramatic. There are areas where the landscape is different and the coming and going of the seasons have a different feel to it.

               When I was in the military in Germany, I had many German friends and I stayed in many German homes. I remember a man that was digging fencepost holes in his back yard when one pole went further down than the others. He had hit an old Roman grave, hit the corpse, flipped it before it stopped. The experts were called and verified the site, excavated and searched the grave before leaving. I knew the Roman soldiers buried their dead on the banks of a stream or river. The nearest water was about a hundred yards away which told me the stream had changed over the years. Things change, nothing is ever the same.

               When I was a child my sister and I always wondered if it would snow for Christmas because most times it would even if it was only flurries. Now I don’t worry about it because it has become a rarity. I also remember, when I was stationed in North Dakota, my mother was telling me about a tornado that hit the area. I did not believe her. She had to send me the newspaper article before I began to believe. All my childhood I had never heard of, knew anything about, nor knew what a tornado was.

               In the article by Chris Baraniuk, he tells how stories from elders around the world told of different land features and even lands that have disappeared. Upon extensive investigation, he and the people with him have found the tales from around the world were true. I have always said that people should listen to the elder person. Maybe that is what happen to Atlantis.

               I personally do not think us humans will stop, nor can we slow what is happening to the changing world. Earth have been changing for far too long. Long live Mother Earth!

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09

Oct. ’22

John the Baptist

6:22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, ask of me whatsoever you will, and I will give it you. 6:23 And he swore unto her, whatsoever you shall ask of me, I will give it you, unto the half of my kingdom. 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, what shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 6:25 And she came in immediately with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that you give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 6:27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in the prison, (Mark 6:22-27 KJV)

          For those of you that do not know the entire saga of John the Baptist I will just say something of the characters that is in this part of his life. Herod is the king and he married Herodias who was his brother’s wife. John the Baptist, being the greatest prophet, was jailed. He told Herod that it was wrong to marry his brother’s wife. The wife had a daughter that was, evidently, very lovely.

          For some reason the wife did not like John the Baptist (I am assuming it was because he told Herod he was wrong to marry her which make her wrong to accept the marriage). When her daughter danced for Herod, he offered her anything she wanted, up to half his kingdom, Herodias saw a way to rid herself of John the Baptist.

          Women can entice men to do almost anything they desire. Just by looking at today’s headlines anyone can see it happening. And, to talk about negative results, these women are running amuck with our government, and this includes Clarence Thomas’ wife.

          After Herod said what he said he had to behead John the Baptist for his stepdaughter, not knowing his wife requested it. Some women can be deceptive and (as the old saying goes nothing is worse than a woman’s scorn) vile.

          God hates evil and Herod got the wrong end of the stick. His army took a beating in his next battle. I am sure God did not forget Herod’s wife nor the daughter. I am also sure the women of today will get the wrong end of the stick and so will the husbands and anyone attached to them.

          Years ago, I learned not to trust anyone at face value, especially if it is a woman. Years ago, I found myself is difficult situations because of a woman. I look at the women that have clout and I wonder who or what they did to make it where they are now. Some of the women in Congress is destroying it (not counting the numerous men). Be careful out there.

5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 5:2 And all of you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, (o. pneuma) have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that has so done this deed, 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when all of you are gathered together, and my spirit, (o. pneuma) with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit (o. pneuma) may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.               (1 Corinthians 5:1-5 KJV)

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02

Oct. ’22

Book Sense and Common Sense

When I was in the military, we had a saying about many officers and it was, ‘lots of book sense and no common sense’. This also applies to some NCOs as well. Not all of them were like that but there were plenty to go around. These people stayed in some sort of school, always into their books but when it came to thinking outside of the box, what is not found in a book, they were lost or would do or say something crazy.

               There are a lot of people in Congress, state and local government that run in the same pact. They can say what you need to hear or want to hear but never enacted what they have said. They are good at telling you what need to be done or tell you what to do but have never done it themselves nor realize what the outcome will be. Every situation is different with all sorts of variables which mean there must be some sort of fine tuning to complete the task.

               There are many people that cannot think beyond the box and have been put into a position due to who they know or who they owe, etc. but they do not have the knowledge, expertise, or anything that qualify them for the position. I have seen a lot of them when I was in the military. There is one in Congress (there may be others that made it in because of this situation) that was elected because her opponent had to drop out for personal reasons, and she ran unopposed. If the opponent had not dropped out, she would have never won the election. Now the state and the country are stuck with this unqualified person.

               Then you have those that get into politics to gain wealth. All they want to do is make money anyway they can. They will say and do anything. They will take money to say and do certain things as long as they can climb up the ladder a little further. In the meanwhile, we the people suffer for the wrongs that are being perpetrated by these people. They do not care if the law that they want enacted helps the constituents or not as long as they get theirs. If they can garner a fan base, all the better because that will ensure they can stay in place and make more money.

               There is a Congresswoman that constantly break the rules and is fined for them. Now she is complaining she don’t have money because her pay is going toward paying off the fines imposed on her. Common sense tells anyone not to break the rules that carry a fine in which you will not get paid on payday.

               Thinking about book sense and common sense; there is a leader of a violent group from the right that is a Yale Law graduate but is now considered a jailbird because of his and his group’s actions. He has plenty of book sense, but I don’t think he ever had enough common sense to stay out of jail and to keep those radical views out of his head.

               I’ve always said that knowing the book is good but common sense is better. First, the book may not tell you everything. And second, is the book telling the truth? A mix of book and common sense go hand in hand to make a better person and a lot of Congresspeople need to make that change. There is a lot of stupid out there, even in those that elect these stupid people and keep them in office.

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18

Sep. ’22

The Borinqueneers

I just returned from a week in Puerto Rico, just ahead of the hurricane/tropical storm. My wife and I go there often and have been to most of the other major islands. However, after watching a segment of history about Puerto Rico on a morning talk show, I thought about I have never heard about Puerto Rican military people when I was in the military nor read about them in history books. It was as if, like Black military people and Native Americans, they never existed. I did some research, and it did not take long to find a lot of information.

               Like Black people, Hispanic people volunteered for military service and was delegated to segregated units. During WWI they formed the 65th Infantry Regiment and served as the U.S. military’s last segregated unit composed primarily of Hispanic Soldiers. This have echoes of Black soldiers in the military. These soldiers are known as Borinqueneers.

               There is a short piece in the history pages that I found, and it say ‘shortly after Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1898, a regiment of Puerto Rican Soldiers was formed, and they served our nation bravely ever since. In World War I, they defended the homeland and patrolled the Panama Canal Zone. In World War II, they fought in Europe. In Korea, they fought in mud and snow. They are the 65th Infantry Regime, U.S. Army. They are also known as Borinqueneers’. The nickname ‘Borinqueneers’ originated from the Borinquen – one of the native Taino Indian names for the island of Puerto Rico.

               One interesting fact is that two hundred Hispanic women joined the military and was given the job as code talkers, just like the Native Americans. Now that I have a taste of Hispanic history, I will delve more into it because I know there is much more to discover. Like all the other ethnic groups of people, the Hispanics have done well in many things for the United States including doing better than average in the military. Also, like other ethnic groups in the military, the Hispanics were short changed when it came to receiving medals. When ex-President Obama was in office, he gave out a record twenty-four Medal of Honor at one award ceremony.

               Although Puerto Rico is a possession of the USA, they have trouble getting USA support when there is a disaster, need of an influx of money for infrastructure upgrades, and so forth. I really love that island and would love to live there if the hurricanes would skip the place. The island is usually in the path of most hurricanes that leave the coast of Africa. And, while I was there, the news said there were earthquakes on the east coast of the island. I didn’t feel them.

               I invite all of you to join me and dig deeper into Hispanic history (music also), especially the Borinqueneers. These people are as interesting as the Tuskegee Airmen and others. Mexico is not the only place for Hispanics, but most people only think of Mexico and southward as the only Hispanics. Duh, not so. Look at Puerto Rico and other places. Huum, I have to do more traveling. By the way, HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!!

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04

Sep. ’22

The Cult And Cult Members

The other day I was talking with a friend and ‘cult’ was mentioned. That made me think about today’s situation. Remember Charles Manson? For those that do not, I will tell you a little about him. He was a jailbird, con man, drug user, musician, among other things. Somehow, he decided to form a cult to his liking. He had a few followers that he kept in-line with LSD and alcohol. These followers followed him everywhere and did anything and everything he wanted.

               Time went on and he killed someone. A few of the cult killed Sheron Tate and her family and tried to make it look like someone else did it to cover Charles’ murder. They did everything they could to get the onus off him. However, they were caught and after one thing led to another, Charles Manson and his cult was charged with multiple murders and other acts. This led to a very long trial.

               The, I think, nine-month trial boil down to this. The entire time the cult members, that were on trial, repeatedly said Charles did not do it, did not have anything to do with it, and did not know anything about it. Meanwhile, other members of the cult staged demonstrations outside the courthouse (they were barred from the building because they caused disruptions). During the trial Charles put a cross in the center of his brow. The cult members did the same. Next, Charles shaved his head, the cult members did the same. Charles finally was found guilty and was given the death penalty but, with the changing law, received life without parole. His cult members received the same but, a few years later, got a chance at parole but refused to renounce Charles Manson and remained in prison.

               That was only one cult out of many through my time here on earth and Trump’s cult, as far as I know, is the largest. Since he loves patting himself on the back for achievements, whether deserved or not, I will let him take this. What make this so weird is he has given them nothing to keep them close to him. Just shadow promises and many defeats. The master conman has millions of people kissing the ground he walks on, even when it is shown time after time that he is above wrong.

               Trump is like Charles Manson only Trump have not murdered anyone, nor have he given his cult LSD. He controls has cult and loves his cult members while never giving them anything. They must give their everything to him and his causes. His cult members have attempted murder, assaults, break-ins, do anything to cover for him, etc. while getting nothing in return but scorn.

               There are more cults I could talk about, but I only picked one. Trump’s cult members are filled with veneration for him and only him. I hope they do not drink kool-aid (remember Jim Jones?) that he may serve them. Some are already drinking the wrong kool-aid and it is making them certifiably loony. I personally feel sorry for anyone that is willing to stay on this runaway train that is almost out of track. Some cult members are jumping but not many.

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21

Aug. ’22

Classified Material

I have handled classified material all through my military and civil service career, but I have never imagined anything like what is in the news today. I had both respect and fear of the material I was handling. Respect because I knew what it was, what it could do if the wrong eyes saw it and honored to be able to handle such sensitive material. I feared it because I knew if I mishandled it, lost it, or allowed the wrong eyes to see it I was in very big trouble and the trouble would come very quickly. I used to say, ‘they would dump me in a very deep hole, fill it in, and build a prison over me’. Evidently not so today.

               When the boxes of material were taken from the White House, when the ex-President was reluctantly leaving, I asked then how he was allowed to take the material or is it the law had changed. Eighteen months ago, the removal of classified material was known. Yet, people are acting like it is new news. A year after the material was taken Trump was asked for the return of the material. See-sawing back and forth through delay after delay got the government nowhere with just asking for the return of the material. In June a subpoena was issued for its return. Again, delay after delay resulted in just some of the material being returned, although his lawyers said that was all of it. Now the raid produced boxes of highly classified material. Surprise-surprise-surprise!

               In my civil servant job, when I handled classified correspondence, I had to be very careful. I signed for the material, took it where it had to go, stood there while the individual read it, they signed for it, I took it to a secure storage place, signed in and stored it. When it was time to destroy it, there was a strict procedure that had to be followed to the letter. I could not just flush it down the toilet. If I did not follow the rules to the letter, there would not be a warning nor a chance to delay nor a subpoena nor more than a year going past before I was in handcuffs. Oh, I get it. I am not an ex-President.

               I have said from day one, if I did anything remotely close to what Trump have done, I would have been in prison years ago serving a very long sentence. My leading question is, what was he going to do with that trove of classified material? I know Putin blackmailed people with material like that (he is ex-KGB). Was he trying to do something like that? Was he going to sell it for the money he needs? I guess we will never know. We can only speculate.

               The handling of classified material takes obvious precautions with harsh penalties if you miss the mark, regardless of who you are. There are people for Trump calling for the disbandment of the law enforcement agencies involved or just leaving him alone. I guess they are saying you and me must follow the law and/or rules but Trump does not. He is above the law. He was given time to return the material where-by anyone else would immediately be in jail for the slightest misstep.  Who said this world is fair?

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07

Aug. ’22

Higher Education

I have been told I would not amount to anything nor have a good job without a degree. I have been told that a degree is the only way to success. A degree will ensure a comfortable senior life. A degree will, after a good job, guarantee a good pension. I was also told that it is the people with degrees that have made the finer things that have been invented. I say, not necessarily so.

               The Great Pyramids were created by people that were versed in the construction of such things. The labor, as in many things before that and since then, was done by slaves and common people. Some may have been versed on the subject, but the overall majority were not, maybe none. Those structures still stand after thousands of years yet today we have structures that fail after a few years of wear.

               I am going to tell a story of facts that happened to me while I was in the military. I only have a high school education because, at the time, I did not have the money to attend college and the draft was looming. When I became the kennelmaster at a base in Germany, I had my own budget to care for the kennels. My budget was separate from the squadron’s budget. The squadron’s budget was maintained by a sergeant that was college educated in finance and an officer. My budget was a few hundreds of thousands of dollars and the squadrons was, of course, much more than that. The yearly money was broken into four quarters, yet each quarter they came to me to borrow from my budget. I maintained a well-balanced budget for a few years and the squadron decided to replace me by putting me in another section of the squadron and putting a college educated sergeant in my place. From what I heard; the kennels was never the same. There were always problems, and both the squadron and kennels were always in trouble with the money.

               It does not take a degree to do everything. Look at the British military. In the United States Military, a person must have a college degree to even be considered to become an aircraft pilot. In England a Warrant Officer, who is not a full officer, can fly. I have met a few. If that is not enough, look at the pilots that are in high school and can fly.

               One last example about education. Back in the day, the days of slavery in the United States, just about everything was done by the slave. Without the slave, America would not have been built. The slave worked hard and to make his labors easier, the slave invented ways to ease the situation. Since the slave was denied applying for or having a patient the slave owner acquired the patient for himself. Everyone knows the slave was not educated and, in most cases, neither was the slave owner.

               These were just a few cases that say a higher education is not needed for success nor to get anything of value done. All that is needed is a good brain, volition, and wherewithal for any endeavor. Never say never nor that something is impossible to do. Just say, no one beats a failure but someone that never tries. Higher education is great, but it is not everything.

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24

Jul. ’22

My Business Card

Many things go through my mind but, as usual after watching my favorite news channels, I decided to blowout my mind to clear all the mess it has absorbed. The one thing that stands out is most people engage their tongues before their mind have thought it through. A rampant, out of control person is more dangerous than a person that is mindless. A thoughtless, mindless person is very dangerous and can, not only harm them, but can harm others.

               Maybe some of you have seen my Facebook page and have noticed what I have on the back of my business card. I have had that saying for over fifty years and do not know where it come from. All I remember is I saw it one day, remembered it, and have attempted to apply it as much as I can. Being human, I have failed a few times but, overall, I have applied it. The rear of my business card says “Be kind to your neighbors because you’ll never know when you’ll need them. Also, ensure your words are soft and sweet because you’ll never know when you’ll have to eat them”.

               Why am I saying this? First let me start with President Biden. He has made a few minor hiccups in his time and so has others. The one that standout the most is his Saudi Arabia hiccup. When the Arabian man was murdered, he blamed the Crown Prince for it and called him a terrorist. Now he is rubbing shoulders with the so-called murderer. My guess, for that reason, is not only unity of the Mideast but, as I wrote in a blog a long, long time ago, the oil. Get the price down and pump more of it.

               While on the campaign trail, he also promised many things. He not only did not consider the stiff resistance of the GOP but he, as well as everyone else, never thought that one or two of his own party would resist him and the party. I, as a civilian, can promise something and nothing much would come of it. But in politics everyone, especially the other party, clamps down on every promise and will make him pay dearly if he fails. That is a big deal in today’s politics.

               Let us look at Trump (Yes, I know. Don’t roll your eyes). He always misspeaks and lie. The biggest problem with him is he does not care and will speak badly to a person or about a person because that person did not do as he said or is not a part of his huge click. I think he is finally seeing the people he treated badly is badly needed now. He was not kind to anyone but his family. They are the only ones that know exactly what went on, that are sticking by him. Or are they? I don’t know what is coming.

               I have mentioned two individuals, but everyone should try to abide by the saying on the rear of my business card. One day, what you said some time ago will come back to bite you in your rear end. Once your tongue puts out what you did not mean to say, it is too late. The only thing to do is in the future ensure your words are soft and sweet. You do not want that chunk out of your rear end to be huge.  

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10

Jul. ’22

The IRS

We are all afraid of the IRS and what they are perceived to be able to do to any of us at will. Whether they can harm us monetarily, jail time, or both is always in mind every April fifteenth. These things stay in our minds even if the tax filling is honest, without one iota of falsehood. Most of the time, I know I think this, we wonder if we made a minor mistake that would trigger an audit which will make the IRS tell us we owe more money plus interest and a fine.

               I watch the news or read articles that say how much rich and super rich people pay in taxes. There are some that can pay the tax bill of everyone you know and never feel the strain. These people make money from our labors and many other things I can not begin to explain. These people have so much money that they will never be able to spend all of it nor their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and more family members inherit. Yet not a penny or a very few dollars is paid in taxes.

               Our ex-President often said as soon as the audit on his taxes were completed, he would release his tax forms for all to see. I knew then as I know now that what he said was baloney. He is out of office now so what is the excuse for not showing the papers? Tax audits do not go on for years.

               Then there is the revelation that is happening now. The IRS is deep auditing the taxes of McCabe and Comey, both ex-White House employees and they spoke out against our ex-President. This is something that is so rare that only a few people know it can happen. But remember the head of the IRS is an appointee of our ex-President. He says it is a coincidence that it happens to both at the same time. I say that is BALONEY!  

               Just like the Congressman that said for him to testify before the January 6th Committee is purely political, I say the tax audit of the two men is political and revengeful in favor of the ex-President. Some of the ex-President’s people still hold the positions they were appointed and they, in turn, still love and will do anything for the ex-President. Why they are still in power I do not know. I do know they can and are doing damage and they should not be there. The IRS is a department that need a new head. We will then see the ex-President’s tax forms.

               I can not feel sorry for Comey and McCabe because they knew the man they worked for and what he was doing to the country but, on the other hand, I am not sorry. Maybe this will help shove the head of the IRS out and a fair person is seated. Then the backlog of unprocessed tax forms will be processed, and the people will get some relief from waiting. Maybe then we can breathe again and be not afraid of the IRS. We should not be afraid of any of our agencies.  

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26

Jun. ’22

Dirt Begets Dirt

I have often enough written that things never change. It simply repeats itself over, and over again. Where I write most of this is in (www.faithingodministries.net). I want to show it in this piece because it was on my mind and will not go away. I will concentrate on just one era in history and show how our era is almost the same for one particular individual.

               Look at Julius Caesar and his era. Julius Caesar was an emperor that was loved (depending on which history book you read) and, according to some, hated. He ruled an enormous empire that spanned many countries and continents. He ruled with an iron fist and was bathed in much glory. He had buildings and stadiums, around the Roman Empire, named after him. He had money with his likeness on it, which is mentioned in the Bible. He had everything imaginable, including many close friends. Most of these friends would stick by him through thick or thin and would do, as all under his control, his bidding with no questions asked. Some people under his control lost their life for him but, to Caesar, they were just fodder in his venture for greater status.

               As I look at this era I will focus on only one-person, ex-President Trump. According to whom you listen to, which periodical you read, which broadcast you tune to, etc. Trump wanted to be great, not like Caesar because I do not think he have read about him nor know much about him, like Putin or the Chinese leader or North Korean leader or anyone that is a dictator and wield enormous power (there are many).

               Trump amassed a large amount of people that wanted the same things he wanted but with him as their leader. Like Caesar, the people were loyal to him, and he would not accept anyone that was not loyal. These people, as of today would do anything for him, up to and including to kill. These people wanted him in his position forever. Some believe he is so great that some propose to have his picture on a piece of money. They even tried to have him on Mt. Rushmore. Is he Caesar?

               Putin escaped assignation attempts. He never let anyone get close to him and even have food tasters. He remembers what he and his associates did in the Russian Intelligence Service. But, getting back to Caesar, his best buddy got to him. Remember the phrase ‘et tu brute’? When Caesar was stabbed to death he hollered ‘you too Brutus’.

               We have seen in the January 6th Committee hearings the many Trump loyalists speak against him. A couple of the backstabbers are trying to soften their blows so that they can gain some future endeavor they have planned. Like Caesar, his close associates are doing him in. My belief, if you did not throw mud in the first place, you would never have to worry about mud being thrown at you.

               The world never changes except for the date, individual and situation. Of course, you cannot live in a shroud, shielding yourself from everything, but you can do good and not worry as much about being stabbed in the back. Dirt begets dirt.

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