Rant

The Sexual Abuse of Our Children

/ doubledacres / 10 Comments

“Child abuse and neglect offend the basic values of our state.  We have a responsibility to provide safe settings for at-risk children and facilitate permanent placement for children who cannot return home.” – Matt Blunt

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This is a subject that is hard for me to write about but when our congressional leaders use such a sensitive subject for their political agenda it pisses me off.  Larry Nassar is a POS and I hope he rots in hell for his atrocities.  My heart goes out to those individuals who have had their lives devastated by this monster.  I do not mean any disrespect to those victims with my following rant and I hope they understand that.  Let the rant begin.

According to news reports, Senator Dianne Feinstein met with seven victims of Larry Nassar’s abuse.  According to InStyle (February 5, 2018) the senator said it was one of the most emotional and disturbing meetings she ever had.  They spoke for over an hour about what had happened to them and how USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and the adults charged with protecting them failed at every turn.

Well the senator promised a bill that would protect them. (Note: sexual abuse of a minor is all ready illegal in this country)  The senator kept her word and a bill was passed.

  1.  It addresses the patchwork of state reporting laws, making it mandatory for anyone affiliated with any national governing body or amateur sports organization that crosses state lines to report sexual abuse to local and federal law enforcement or social service agencies (all over worked, understaffed and underpaid) within 24 hours.  This requirement would apply to USA Gymnastics and each of the other 46 national governing bodies that oversee a variety of Olympic sports.  It would also apply to college athletics. (InStyle)                                                                                                          (Wow just wow!  You all are geniuses I tells ya.  You have saved our athletes.  God Bless you!  Got a question for you all though.  How about these children?  What did you do for them?In 2013 one in nine girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experienced sexual abuse or assault. Eighty percent of the perpetrators were a parent, and 47,000 were men and 5,000 were women.Let me enlighten you with these numbers, according to the National Statistics on Child Abuse, in 2015 an estimated 683,000 children (unique) incidents were victims of abuse and neglect. Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the US annually. Children’s Advocacy Centers served more than 311,000 children around the country in 2015. Two-thirds of children served disclosed sexual abuse (205,438). 
  2. Clarifies that victims of child sex crimes can recover from their perpetrators statutory damages of up to $150,000 as well as punitive damaged due to the heinous nature of the rime against them.  It further extends the statute of limitations so it doesn’t begin to run until victims realize they’ve been abused. (InStyle)
  3. Reforms the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which established “national governing bodies”, like USA gymnastics.  Congress chartered all of these entities, but the original law did not specify their obligations to ensure that athletes have protections against child abuse, including sexual abuse.  This bill fixes that.  It requires the newly created U.S. Center for Safe Sport to establish strict policies for preventing abuse and procedures to make sure every governing body would be required to implement policies to make sure minor athletes are not alone with adults.  (InStyle)

“Most children who survive into adulthood always have a lingering question that commonly arises as to why there is very little support for the child abuse survivor.” – Patricia Dsouza, When Roses are Crushed

Well golly gee.  All of you in congress should be proud.  Stand up and take a bow!  NOT!!!!!!!  All you managed to do was add more laws that will do absolutely nothing, nada, zilch, to stop anyone hell bent on doing it anyway.  Murder.  I do believe it is against the law but let me tell you geniuses now (you all really do live in your own little world) that law ain’t slowed nobody down.  You all are good at adding laws that existing laws all ready cover but you refuse to give money and manpower to help fight the fight.

So to all the congressional leaders and President Trump, this my plea to you.  Wake up!  These children need protecting too.  No more laws are needed.  We just need to start enforcing the existing laws and agencies to stop it.  There needs to be more funding and manpower added to all the social worker agencies across the U.S..  They also need to be hooked up with mental health providers so that the mental scars can be addressed.  Sooooo, please put your party differences aside and begin acting like adults and address the non-athletes.  They need you.  Please help them. / Signed Statistic

Don’t forget to spread the love.

I would Like To Teach………..

/ doubledacres / 6 Comments

“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

When you look at the picture above what do you see?  Do you see someone that appears to be a loner or do you see someone that appears to be a person who enjoys nature and sunrises?  It is impossible to form a true opinion without knowing a little more about the person and the situation.

We seem to be living in a society that is quick to criticize and very judgemental.  We don’t seem to need all the facts and, the “truth”, …… well that is purely optional.  We seem to care less whether we destroy someone’s reputation or creditability.  We don’t hesitate to destroy one’s self esteem with a wag of our tongue.  What changed and why have we turned into a heartless society?  It seems that the media doesn’t care if their story is true or factual, they just want to be the first to print or air it.

 

 

“The only measure of judging a human being is through that person’s character, because is not determined by race, religion, gender or social status.  And one who recognizes this simple fact of human life behaves the same with the scientist, the janitor and the sex worker.” – Abhijit Naskar Human Making is Our Mission: A Treatise on Parenting (Humanism Series)

My Grandma Bobbie told me a lot of things through the years but I think the smartest thing she ever told me was , “if you can’t say something nice about someone then just don’s say nothing at all.”  Those I believe are such true words to live by.  Native Americans said, “don’t judge me until you have walked a mile in my moccasins.”

You ever wonder how different things would be if we looked at people through our hearts instead of our eyes?  How many possible friendships have you lost because the person was obese, nerdy, ugly, backwards, etc.?  The reason I labeled them possible is because 99% of the time you probably walked away with out giving them a chance.  It happens and you know it.

So you are at a party and you see this person sitting there all by themselves.  Your first thought is why are they by themselves.  Then the chatter of the grape vine starts around the room and it isn’t giving the person any good reviews.  Do you ignore them or do you try and get to know them.  News Flash!!!!!!  Hearsay isn’t all that reliable and other people’s opinions are nothing more than a manifestation derived from jealousy or egotistical action.   Take the time to strike up a quality conversation and listen to them.  You never know, you might just find your new “bestest” friend in the world.  Take a chance.

So your mission today (should you decide to accept it) is to start learning to put aside the appearance and look into that person’s heart.  That is where you are going to find what truly makes this person who they are.  It may be the last time you ever see them. Then again one of you may inspire the other to do something great!  You had the idea in your head but you needed a nudge and that person might just be the inspiration you needed.  There are so many possibilities that something might come out of it but if you don’t interact with that person you will never know.

 

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Photo provided by Pexel

The sun will rise in the east in the morning and a new day will begin.  Treat people like you like to be treated and for once let us try and get along for a change.  Learn to look at a person through their heart.  Listen to your heart and not other people’s opinions.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

 

 

 

They Are Family

/ doubledacres / 22 Comments

 

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My ride dog and companion, Kate.

 

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner

One thing that I can not wrap my feeble little mind around is how can people abuse animals?  How can folks just give an old dog to a shelter and then they have the nerve to replace them with a new puppy.  It breaks my heart when I see this happen.  Folks whether you believe it or not animals do have feelings.

Kate suffered from crystals in her urine and she had to have hip surgery when she was a year old.  After surgery she slept on the couch and I slept on the floor beside her.  From that time on she was my dog.  She did her best not to let me out of her sight.  She went everywhere with me and since I am a farrier she was my ride dog.  She loves riding “shotgun” and loves to watch the road.

 

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Kate takes riding “shotgun” seriously.

 

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Kate after surgery and her “jammies”.

 

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Kate chilling after surgery.

 

 

 

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings

My dad never liked dogs and still doesn’t to this day.  He just turned 84 so I guess it is pretty safe to say he probably never will.  I know they aren’t for everyone but there is no reason on earth to abuse them.

Just imagine, you are 6 years old and your dad puts you in the car and off you go.  After awhile you don’t recognize the area you are traveling in and it appears to be in the country and it is raining.  Finally in a very secluded place your dad stops the car and gets outside.  He opens your door and he grabs you by the hand and leads you over to a log and tells you to sit down.  Then he walks back to the car, gets in it and drives off.  Leaving you there all alone, in a strange place and you are scared.

Now don’t give me that BS that I am comparing apples to oranges.  I am not.  Both are alive, confused, scared and broken hearted.  Neither have done anything to be treated this way.  Thousands of animals are dumped each year just because their owner doesn’t want them anymore.  Maybe I went a little overboard trying to get my point across but animals do have feelings.

Soooooo, if you are thinking about getting a pet remember that they have feelings and would like a forever home and they are a member of the family.  Please, if you can’t accept this then get a “Pet Rock”.

 

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For the cat lovers out there.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love!

 

 

 

 

Who Is To Blame?

/ doubledacres / 10 Comments

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The pic above pretty much says it all about me.  Keep it simple.  Can’t say I know many people the age of 63 who would camp this way especially the weekend before Christmas in the state of Missouri.

Today’s blog is going to be kind of a rant about some of the things happening in our society today here in the good ole USA.  I watched in horror as an older gentleman chewed out the cashier over the price of gasoline and this little Tasmanian Devil went off in my head.  We are a nation of complainers but when it comes right down to it we, as a whole, will do absolutely nothing about it.   By the way, I did tell the man where the bear poopoos in the woods.

Folks, who sets the prices in this country?  If you said corporations, wrong!  The market sets the prices.  Who is the market?  John Q Public, in other words you and I.  Corporations put prices on the product and if we don’t buy the product they will have to lower the price or pull it.  For example, remember those spinner things that were all the rave?  Kids all wanted one and they were paying $10.00 for them.  The companies made money hand over fist because we bought them at those ridiculous prices.  Now the market is completely saturated so you can now buy that same spinner for$2.50. Once again Americans were fleeced.  Why?  Because we didn’t dig our heels in and say “NO”.

Gasoline costs.  Folks are always complaining about the prices.  Newsflash Twinkletoes, have you did anything to reduce your travel?  If folks would reduce their driving and gas consumption the gas companies would be forced to drop the prices so they could sell it.

Look at the price of new vehicles.  2018 Dodge 350 with a diesel.  $38,000 to $50,000!  New homes $350,000 to $750,000.  We just keep on buying them.  Going deeper and deeper in debt.  Then we have to have that $75,000 camper.  But why?  To keep up with the Jones’es or to act like we are someone of importance?

Growing up I remember camping and there were dozens of tent campers.  I went to a state park back in the fall of 2017 and camped in my tent and there were maybe 6 tent campers and 20 camping trailers.  I am here to tell ya those trailers were first class with all the pleasures of home.  The price of tents are pretty reasonable but those campers, well you better bring the big checkbook.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln

I seem to be all over the place here but what I am trying to get across to folks is you have to accept the responsibility of the prices you are paying.  Oh, price gouging is real but if you don’t buy the item they can’t gouge you now can they?  Do you have to have that camper with three built in televisions, satellite, built in butt wiper, etc.?

Supply and demand rules.  As long as you demand that $10 beer at the stadium, they are going to charge you $10.  Gasoline supplies get low and you keep buying it, it is going to go up because the demand is greater than the supply.  Maybe it is time for consumers to stick together and help determine a little better pricing on some of the products we use in this country.  Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I hope it made sense to you.  Spread the love.

Lesson Learned

/ doubledacres / 4 Comments

Well It finally happened.  I have ranted about how we as a society have become hooked on modern technology.  If I had only listened to myself, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I am not hooked don’t you know.  Yeah right and I have some ocean front property for sale in Little Rock, Arkansas don’t ya know.

Anyway I bought a new Apple IPhone X at the end of the year.  Things were gong great and I loved it.  Then, it happened.  I waited too long to charge it and it was dead.  So I plugged it in and it showed it was charging.  Then the little Apple showed up on the screen and it booted up and some how it had cleaned the phone of my passcode and facial recognition so low and behold it was “LOCKED UP”.  Nothing, nada, nil, I could not get in.

Well I took it back to the AT&T store only to discover they couldn’t help me and told me I would have to take it to an Apple Store.  One problem, I live in the sticks.  The local movie house just started showing “ET” last week.  The nearest store was an hour and fifteen minutes away.  After I get there I have to wait 2 hours and 10 minutes before someone could help and still no answer as to why the phone did what it did.  It had to do a “factory reset” of itself so I lost apps, pics and phone numbers.  Gotta love modern technology.

From all of this I learned that I am a member of the dumb arse club.  I had not backed up phone numbers, I had backed up pics and my favorite apps all had to be reloaded.  No one could get in touch with me and since my phone is my hotspot I couldn’t access the internet.  I am going to have to rethink the way I do things through the internet and look into getting a landline.  Hell I had even slacked off writing in my journal because I had been recording my thoughts on WordPress.  Changes are a coming for sure.

As far as the Apple IPhone I was not impressed at all by their tech support.  Really disappointed.  Thanks for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed it.  Share the love!

 

Growing Up!!!!

/ doubledacres / 3 Comments

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Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

The year was 1964. We were one out away from winning first place.  The count was 2 and 2 with a runner on third, score tied 1 to 1, and the bottom of the ninth, when “bam” the batter hits the ball over second base and our dream of winning the championship is crushed.  There were eight teams in our division and only first and second place got trophies.  Unlike today not everyone got trophies.

We failed.  We tasted failure.  Looking back on that time in my life, I remember how we all became closer and how we vowed to work harder.  We were hell bent on improving our skills and becoming champions.  In 1965 our dream came to fruition.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but rising every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have spent a lot of hours through the year thinking about this and I believe in my heart that failure is the reason we became champions.  It built character and made us work harder.  It didn’t scar us for life or fill us with low self esteem.

We didn’t get participation trophies.  We earned them.  I think the big difference between now and back then is that the “family unit” was a lot stronger and more endeared.  Don’t get me wrong, we were a long way from perfect.  I remember fathers that just gave their child hell if they lost.  Losing wasn’t an option.  These are the actions that were detrimental to childhood development.  It wasn’t the losing that caused the problems, it was bad parenting.  Parents that wouldn’t take the time to teach their children that it wasn’t wrong to lose.  That it happened.  It was an integral part of life whether we wanted it or not.

At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure.   And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful.  As long as you blame others for the reason you aren’t where you want to be, you will always be a failure.” –  Erin Cummings

Maybe I am just an antiquated, set in his ways, old man but I truly believe it is time to go back to the “olden days” and teach children what failure is and how to use it in their favor.  No, everybody doesn’t get a trophy for participating, you have to earn it.

Then we need to teach them the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.  That they are in charge of writing their “Book of Life” and they decide what is going in it.  Teach them that “failure” can actually be a good thing.  We also have to teach them how to cope with failure and how to use it to their advantage.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  I appreciate you taking the time.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love.

2018 Is Knocking On the Door!

/ doubledacres / 5 Comments

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“Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller

I don’t know about the rest of you but I don’t know if it is because I am getting older or just busier, but this year reminded me of Secretariat coming down the home stretch at Belmont in 1973.  I didn’t get accomplished what  I wanted to.  That tells me I need to improve my planning for 2018.

To me it is a little ironic that the end of the year and the celebration of the birth of Christ both happen in the month of December.  The Beginning and the End so to speak.  With the celebration of Christmas comes bouts of depression for some.  It is a tough time for those who have lost loved ones, especially those who are celebrating Christmas for the first time after their loved one has passed.  Unfortunately it is the time of year when companies trim their work force getting ready for the year to come, adding stress to the lives of those that lost their jobs.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is the time of year one needs to go to their safe place and reflect on the year and evaluate what happened in 2017.  Are you disappointed?  Happy?  Ecstatic?  Was last year a good year but if not, what can you do to make 2018 better?  Now the operative word here is “you”, I didn’t say “we”.  What’s that?  You are married.  Congratulations!  Sorry the operative is still “you”.  When you get “you” worked out, then you can sit down with the spouse and finish your planning.

I am going to go out on a limb here and I am going to bet that one of the things you need to change going in to 2018 is (drum roll please) spend more quality time with family.  I went into a restaurant a couple of weeks ago and there were what appeared to be 4 members of a family.  My guess was father, mother, daughter and son.  Youngest (son) was probably 15.  Every one of them were doing something with their phone and maybe, just maybe said 15 words.  Do yourself a favor and make 2018, the year of the Family.

This is going to probably put some of your undies in a wad.  I am sorry but it needs to be said.  If you are one of the many complaining about the current political climate and you DID NOT exercise your explicit right to vote, then shut up!  I don’t care if you don’t agree with me or even if I am not politically correct, you don’t have the right to complain, in my opinion anyway.  Yes it is my opinion and isn’t supported by any law, local, state or federal.  Sad thing though is that these people are the ones that complain the most. (Note:  This pertains only to the U.S. because I do realize exercising that right in some countries could get one killed.)

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.  We can help write that story by setting goals.” – Melody Beattie

The new year can bring us new challenges so in that chapter of life we will be writing about things that we have never experienced before.  Make sure your book of life is an autobiography.  Do your own writing and decision making.  It doesn’t hurt to seek advice but for life decisions, you make them.  After all you are the one that is going to have to live with that decision.

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Work on knowing all your neighbors.  Learn their names and even talk to them.  I know that is asking a lot for some, but think about it.  Spread the love.  I don’t care what your passion is share that love with everyone around you.  Respect those around you.  When other people talk, shut up and listen.  Respect their opinion whether you agree with or not.  I myself have said more than once, “We are just going to have to agree to disagree.”  Learn to walk away when a discussion goes south.  Treat people the way you want to be treated.  Keep your life free of negativity.   Last but not least, love yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love!  NOTE:  I do not have a degree in psychology and am not a psychologist.  Just an old geezer that has watched and learned as I traveled down the freeway of life.

Is Today’s Youth In Trouble?

/ doubledacres / 7 Comments

 

“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally  die.” – Maya Angelou

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I have fought with myself about tonight’s subject.  I have debated whether or not it is worth writing about because of the fallout it could cause.  I realize I could lose followers and ruffle a few feathers but I guess I like living on the edge because I am going to do it because I feel it really needs to be said.

First I would like to make it perfectly clear that the purpose of this blog is not to “bash” anyone.  It is merely observations I have made and just my opinion.  I do not have a degree in psychology and am only speaking of what I have learned in 63 years.  I do not wish to offend anyone, it is merely meant to be thought provoking.

“Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame.  Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.” – Ralph Marsten

If I hear one more time, “what is wrong with kids these days?”, I am going to scream.  I ask you who is responsible for seeing that children are reared properly?  Gee, could it be the parents?  However it is easier to blame the children and shirk the responsibility of child rearing.

I don’t know how many times I have heard parents from my generation say, “I just wanted them to have it better than me.”  Really?  I really don’t think we turned out that bad.  After all, we got told no, endured spankings at home and at school, only got a trophy if we won, and lived with second hand smoke.  Didn’t have car seats and rode in the back of a pickup.  We were taught and expected to respect our elders.  The real setback was all those violent cartoons we watched and worked to earn money.  Damn I guess we really did have it rough.   The difference between then and now was that we couldn’t wait to get out of the house and now they don’t want to leave.

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.” – Laurence Sterne

Boys wear there pants below the crack of their arse and girls dress like hookers.  Why is that?  Could it be that they have no manners because no one ever took the time to teach them respect?  If one doesn’t respect themselves then how in the world can they respect others.  If they don’t respect your property, why would you ever think they would respect other people’s property?

One of the problems in the world today is that the parents and grandparents want to be their child’s friend.  They cater to them and shun confrontations.  No one wants to be the “bad guy”.  You know, that person who is trying to prepare the child for the real world.  Not the one where everything revolves around the child.  When are you going to realize that you aren’t doing them any favors by catering to them.  Making them think that they can do anything they want and that the rest of the world will be right there waiting on them hand and foot so that they don’t have to endure any bad experiences.   You do so that must be the real world, so they think.  You are sheltering them in a world that only exists because you have created it.  They didn’t create it, you did.  Do the math.  You are the reason.

“That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.” – William J.H. Boetcker

Folks it is time to quit blaming all the behavioral problems of our children on them and share a lot of that blame.  Maybe sit back and rethink the way you are rearing your child.  I certainly hope I didn’t offend anyone but I seem to see more and more bad behavior every day.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It is deeply appreciated.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

 

Why…..?

/ doubledacres / 5 Comments

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“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.” – Abraham Lincoln

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a farrier by trade and sometimes there can be considerable distance from our jobs so we incur a lot of windshield time.  This was one of those days for me today.  The word of the day seemed to be “why” because it kept popping up in my mind.

Why do people find it necessary to hurt someone because they don’t agree with someone’s point of view?  Just recently a young lady, who’s blog I follow, had some hurtful replies to one particular blog she published.  I am sorry but I find that intolerable.  There are ways of saying you disagree without having to be hateful.  If you are one of those people that hurt people intentionally, please tell me what is gained by doing it.  Enlighten me.

Why do you always have to be right?  News flash folks, it is not the end of the world if you are wrong and the individual that has the fortitude to admit it my hat is off to them.  That tells me that you have class and must be an aspiring individual.

Why does there necessarily have to be a “right” or a “wrong”?  Why can’t we just agree to disagree?  Everyone has their reasons for believing the way they do.  Right now I see this going on in the world of politics at the moment in this country on national, state and local levels of government.  You think POTUS is an idiot and doing a terrible job.  You think the POTUS is doing a great job and pleased with his/her performance.  Neither one of you are right or wrong.  All you have is an opinion of the POTUS formed by different reasons.  opinion : a view or judgement about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.  So please, both of you just agree to disagree and move on.

“When you have the right, doesn’t mean you are right.”– Farrah Ezzatie

Why can’t we just compromise?  What is so wrong with compromising?  compromise : accept standards that are lower than is desirable  First off I want to make something perfectly clear, I am NOT a democrat or republican.  I loathe the party system that we have in this country.  I look at the individuals in the race and form an opinion as to who I feel is the best person for the job and that is how I vote.  I digress, sorry.  Ok the present POTUS, governor, senator, etc. does not meet your standards why can’t you just compromise and in 2 or 4 years vote their arses out of office instead of calling all those that supported them (and heaven forbid didn’t agree with your opinion) stupid, racist, deplorable etc..   What makes you so right or them so wrong?  The name calling and constant attacks on those you do not agree with does no good for anyone.  It just creates a bigger divide in this country.  It is not Russia, Isis, or North Korea we have to fear.  No.  Our biggest fear is ourselves.  We are our own worst enemy.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

Once again I thank you for taking the time to read my post.  This is one I really avoided writing about but I felt I just needed to say it.   Will it change things?  Very doubtful.  Spread the love.

“It has been profoundly said, and how true it is, that the only thing necessary for evil to exist is for good people to remain silent.” – Edmund Burke

We Say “Merry Christmas”

/ doubledacres / 4 Comments

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“Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting.  It is happiness because we see joy in people.  It is forgetting self and finding time for others.  It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.” – Thomas S. Monson

It seems that it is not politically correct to say Merry Christmas and Christmas tree.  To be politically correct it is suggested that one would say Happy Holiday and Holiday tree.  Really?  Excuse me but just how long have we been saying Merry Christmas and decorating a Christmas tree?

What has happened in this country?   Why are we breaking tradition all of a sudden?  Supposedly it is so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings that believes differently than we do.  Now the purpose of my blog isn’t to bash those folks that say they get offended.  It is a blog to explain why I say Merry Christmas.

First I would like to point out that Christians and Jews have been living in the U.S. together for many years.  I have had many Jewish friends and I don’t remember any of them being offended when I wished them a Merry Christmas.  Maybe they were and didn’t say anything but I hope not.

You see when I wish you a Merry Christmas it is a greeting of joy, peace and love.  It is in reference to the day that God sent His Son to be born on earth and start a life where He healed the sick, made the blind see and performed many other miracles.  It all ended when my Savior was hung on a cross made of wood and He died for my sins.  That is why I say Merry Christmas.  It is not to insult you or to hurt your feelings.  It is simply my wanting to share with you the joy and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

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“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge

With that said I would like to say Merry Christmas!  A big thank you to all my followers.  You have no idea how much you are appreciated.  I wish you all a prosperous new year filled with joy, love and success.