This struck me

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

— Mother Teresa
http://victory-of-faith.tumblr.com/page/3
  In this age of ME, in this time of NOW, in this era of anger, retribution, revenge, road rage, confusion and hopelessness, in this time of judgement, lies, defeatists, even in all of this, rides a wave of compassion still.  Even still.  So, as you look upon your neighbor in modes of unruly passion, and this is true for me having been angered today by accusations of one who thought he could say I've not done my job because I wasn't doing his job, so as WE look upon our neighbors, maybe we can remember this message given by one of those who demonstrated compassion so very well.

A new Republican pledge...

Hello everyone;

   I learned of this piece of filth just recently and wanted to share it with you.  I know this is going to come to you as a shock, but Michelle Bachman signed it.  She's basically the only one.  It comes from an Iowa group hoping to change the politicians spots and create an eden all their own.  No apples allowed.  It's not the craziest pile of pulpit poo I've ever heard, but that's because I run in weird circles...


The Candidate Vow:

  Because candidates are well known for keeping thier vows once in office...

Therefore, in any elected or appointed capacity by which I may have the honor of serving our fellow citizens in these United States, I the undersigned do hereby solemnly vow to honor and to cherish, to defend and to uphold, the Institution of Marriage as only between one man and one woman. I vow to do so through my:
  "...of serving our fellow citizens..."  Oh, this is only referring to the "right kind" of citizens.  All others don't really count, you know.
--Personal fidelity to my spouse.
   because that's worked out so well for, hmm let's see:  well, there was Newt, Cheney, Clinton, Kennedy,
--Respect for the marital bonds of others.
   -unless of course you don't agree with that particular marriage bond.  Then, of course, it's open season
--Official fidelity to the U.S. Constitution, supporting the elevation of none but faithful constitutionalists as judges or justices.
  please translate to:  will judge as we tell them to judge or else we tell everyone they aren't 'faithful'.
--Vigorous opposition to any redefinition of the Institution of Marriage - faithful monogamy between one man and one woman - through statutory-, bureaucratic-, or court-imposed recognition of intimate unions which are bigamous, polygamous, polyandrous, same-sex, etc.
while being a law abiding person, I'll determine which laws are abidable, thank you.  Besides, if our unions aren't very intimate, neither can yours be intimate.
--Recognition of the overwhelming statistical evidence that married people enjoy better health, better sex, longer lives, greater financial stability, and that children raised by a mother and a father together experience better learning, less addiction, less legal trouble, and less extramarital pregnancy.
at lease that's they way it works in my fantasy.  reality is just not a concern at this moment
--Support for prompt reform of uneconomic, anti-marriage aspects of welfare policy, tax policy, and marital/divorce law, and extended "second chance" or "cooling-off" periods for those seeking a "quickie divorce."
oops, just lost the lawyers
--Earnest, bona fide legal advocacy for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) at the federal and state levels.
because there's nothing more proper than advocating the most base and illegally prejudicial bit of law since slavery was an "of course".
--Steadfast embrace of a federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which protects the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman in all of the United States.
Oh, and I want it put right next to the phrases about all men being equal, the right to liberty, pursuit of happiness, and see if you can get it next to the one about freedom of speech and the right to be treated equally under the laws.
--Humane protection of women and the innocent fruit of conjugal intimacy - our next generation of American children - from human trafficking, sexual slavery, seduction into promiscuity, and all forms of pornography and prostitution, infanticide, abortion and other types of coercion or stolen innocence.
you know like brain washing, miseducation, that type of stuff.
--Support for the enactment of safeguards for all married and unmarried U.S. Military and National Guard personnel, especially our combat troops, from inappropriate same-gender or opposite-gender sexual harassment, adultery or intrusively intimate commingling among attracteds (restrooms, showers, barracks, tents, etc.); plus prompt termination of military policymakers who would expose American wives and daughters to rape or sexual harassment, torture, enslavement or sexual leveraging by the enemy in forward combat roles.
ok, now we are going to regulate the thoughts of our soldiers?  I need some of this dope you're smokin', man.
--Rejection of Sharia Islam and all other anti-woman, anti-human rights forms of totalitarian control.
oh, dang.  Can we put this in the place next to "freedom of religion", but pencil in "of those religions we like".  Hmm.  Human rights?  Oh, that's right....gays aren't human so therefore have no rights....
--Recognition that robust childbearing and reproduction is beneficial to U.S. demographic, economic, strategic and actuarial health and security.
as long as the kids are white republicans.  Oh, and no making gay kids.  Otherwise, well, you know....
--Commitment to downsizing government and the enormous burden upon American families of the USA's $14.3 trillion public debt, its $77 trillion in unfunded liabilities, its $1.5 trillion federal deficit, and its $3.5 trillion federal budget.
Shhh!  you damned fool!  That's why I want to be a candidate; to get me mine!
--Fierce defense of the First Amendment's rights of Religious Liberty and Freedom of Speech, especially against the intolerance of any who would undermine law-abiding American citizens and institutions of faith and conscience for their adherence to, and defense of, faithful heterosexual monogamy.
you know, they really didn't read this.  ok, what this means is:  the right of those who are in the right religion and saying the right things to not have to hear other ideas.  That's just not kosher, you know.

It's Summertime!

Hi Everyone;

  It's finally begun to be consistently warm here in the great white north of the United States.  And, as much as I hate to admit this to you, Randy is a cheap s.o.b. who doesn't like to spend money on air conditioning to cool the house.  Instead, I've found a better way to be cool in my own home...
  I've become an in-house nudist lately.  'So what', you say?  Well, I guess that really isn't a big deal.  Except, well, it is for me.  You see, I was raised that such really just isn't acceptable.  And, it actually took me a bit to become more comfortable in my own skin.  You see, even though it's just the dog and me here now, there remain those memories and, well, baggage that told me over and over that there were times and places for all such activities, primarily in the bath or the bedroom and briefly at that.  Oh, growing up I had some moments of fun, but it always seemed like they were guilty moments and filled with the anxiety of horniness.
  Again, you say 'so what'.  Ok, I agree, so what.  But, to me it tells me that I am finally feeling more comfortable with myself, with my body, and that is important to me. 
  Will I become a nudist?  Likely not.  That's a really big hurdle.  But, I see a time where I can go out and be more comfortable, less looking over my shoulder and waiting for the rejection that must surely come from who knows where.  I am looking so very forward to being so comfortable that I can be me, where-ever I am.  And, maybe I can be me with someone who is ready to be who they are.
  Until then, call before you stop by.  Make loud noises.  And, for my friend who skypes me....now you know why I sometimes take a moment to answer :). 

The subtle art of changing your mind...

Hello Friends;

 

  Today the sky is orange.  That's right, I'm here to tell you that it's orange....in color, texture, and even smell.  Orange I tell you.

  You doubt me?  That's ok, I expect you to.  For years, your whole life even, you've looked up into the heavens and found a blue looking back at you.  I tell you, you were deceived and you need to wake up.

  You still doubt me.  That's not even a question, but a statement of fact, isn't it?  Well, that's ok, because I've bought a local news show and the news broadcasters are going to tell you that the sky is orange today.

  You will believe that something is still wrong, but you will begin to wonder how it is that these distinguished people find themselves seeing an orange sky when you only see blue. 

  Tomorrow folks at the water cooler are going to tell you about the news broadcast and say how the sky does seem a bit "oranger" than they recall.  "Yeah, I looked up and Wow!" says John, your nearby office cubby resident.  "There it was all along...an Orange Sky!".

  Soon, everyone is talking about the sky being reported as Orange.  They've learned how wrong they always were to see only the blue.  "Yep, that there is an Orange".

  This may take years, and you are going to get weary of telling people you see a blue sky where they only see orange.  In time, it will become the position of the government that the sky is orange - likely due to a considerable amount of pac money.  So, tell me......what color is the sky?  It's orange, isn't it.

 

   Such is the existence of the American culture.  News, it seems, is less about giving information than about presenting the "right sort" of information.  And, despite what we may want, despite what we may hope, after a bit of being chased and nipped at by the hounds of the establishment of what is real and what is false, we succumb if only for expedience.

  There's not one of us that would be offended to be referred to as a sheep being driven where we don't want to go.  But, the secret of the sheep is that they really just want to be left alone to eat and bang the woolies, maybe do the occasional baa'ing at the moon when the mood strikes, and sheep will only accept being driven for the hope of getting back to those preferred activities quite soon.  The fear and "safety in numbers" instinct drive them as much as the dog does, and all with the hope that someone else will be picked off so that they can be back to munching grass and that crazy thump of the wool.  If they ever thought far enough past those things they'd realize that they far outnumber the dog, are bigger individually than the dog, and if they were to stop and face the dog there would be little the dog could do to drive them further.  But, it's to the point where they've forgotten that they were ever not being driven, forgot that maybe they could be free.

 

  So, I guess the challenge today is:  What are you being bullied about?  Do you prefer the herd or do you want to be able to look up into the sky and say "I see blue".

 

 

The changing face of the blog

Hello Friends, visitors, those of you who took the wrong turn and now can't seem to get out of here....

I couldn't find a better cartoon to describe the changes I'm finding necessary in my blog. It is ironic in light of the cartoon, though, as I say that it's time for the blog - and for me as the blogger - to grow up. I mean that I need to look forward in my life, and the focus of the blog all too often was looking backward at the grace and wonder of a time that just no longer exists for me, and in some ways never did exist no matter how much I wanted it to. In forging ahead in my thoughts and even in my blog focus, I hope to find the grace and wonder of a time that WILL exist for me. Does that make any sense?

I know that some of you out there will have noticed that I've mentioned this before fairly recently - likely due to the fact that this is primary on my mind, but not sure of what to do about it. I also know that some of you will have noticed that I've made a recent change to remove some of the "blogs that I like" links. I sure hope that this is not something that causes offense. I will still visit my friends, and in truth I doubt you were getting much traffic from me.

As I look forward, I don't quite know where my blog will go. It's almost like I'm starting over, finding that certain things are now more interesting to me than they once were. I hope that you will continue with me on this ride, that I will still have things to share with you and that you will continue to help me grow as you did in the past. I've a long way to go and I dearly hope you, my friends, will ride along and help me through the bumps and pains.

I remain, your grateful co-paddler on this canoe of life;

randy.