Loyalty

It must be dictionary month.  Merriam Webster says this of loyalty.:  'a feeling of strong support for someone or something'.  Like any word, loyalty can have nuances of meaning, is able to be used for weal or woe.  I'd say it has a decidedly negative connotation, accumulated over time.

Loyalty adheres to the time of kings and queens, when vassals were loyal followers and the rabble sought protection and even sustenance fro their lords.  Those times are over and the Constitutional Republic of these united States was the harbinger of the end. 

It reminds me of allegiance a related word.  Pledging allegiance is taken with a grain of salt by me.  Remember the Pledge was written by a socialist and the original salute was the right arm extended up and out instead of hand on the heart.  The latter became preferred after that German socialist movement in mid-twentieth century appropriated it.  If memory serves, it came from ancient Rome as a salute of fealty to the Emperor.

We may not need to be reminded (but it doesn't hurt -s-) that those who take the Oath in our Republic take that Oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  There are slight variations but that is the gist.

It is to be noted there is NO loyalty oath to a leader, just bearing faith and allegiance (the positive sense) to the principles enumerated in our chief document. 

These principles are being challenged, to put it mildly these days.  It's been a gradual process.  Tyranny is greedy but is also patient.  People, if you want to call them that, in 'high office' have usurped and turned round limited gov to unlimited power.  They think they are our bosses, that they know best.  And correspondingly there are attempts to dumb us down to accept their line of c##p.

We are slowly working to turn this around.  Bit by bit, shedding light, truth and the things which make these States great.

I know, this is the same theme I talk so often about.  Many others contribute so much more.  But each of us have something to give.  E Pluribus Unum-From Many One.  One accord coming from each.  It is the antithesis of collectivism.  And loyalty?

In its negative context, I remember two movies.  One is Dracula with the great Bela Lugosi and a fine cast.  The other is Licence to Kill, Timothy Dalton's second and regrettably last Bond, also with a fine cast headed by Robert Davi.

In Dracula, Renfield (Dwight Frye) is the Count's slave, turned to evil servitude.  He entreats the vampire that he is loyal and gets killed anyway.  Renfield's conscience had continued to occasionally prick his slavishness.  Dracula is destroyed by determined people who thus free the world of his darkness.

In Licence to Kill, Bond goes after druglord Franz Sanchez (Davi) after Sanchez has Felix Leiter maimed and his bride raped and murdered.  Posing as a rogue agent (partly true), Bond appeals to Sanchez' prizing 'loyalty' above all things.  Of course, it's the drug lord's downfall.  His loyalty is nothing but bribery and fear predicated by plomo o plata-lead or silver.  With such an unstable foundation, Sanchez' psychopathy quickly turns to paranoia, when he perceives those around him in betrayal.

There just might be some lessons learned, even in fiction/fantasy, concerning the world around us.  There is a 'message in the ravioli', as it were.  As an aside I give credit to Robert Davi for that expression, garnered from an interview at the time of the movie's release.

Loyalty versus fidelity.  Fear or love.

Which do you think ultimately wins?

Politics

Let me start with good ol' Merriam Webster:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics

Basically it's communications -the art of- within government.  Negotiating power and influence in said gov as well.  One of the definitions is 'the total complex of relations between people living in society'.  Frankly, I'll leave it to you for wending your way through the maze.  That's what it is to me.  It makes simple things complex.  Below is an example.

On Facebook, a particular gal longtime in showbiz has a grand daughter who is diabetic.  She praised ACA (I refuse to call it anything else though there are plenty of slang terms I could apply), saying it allowed this girl treatment and some kind of light at the end of her tunnel.  Someone responded, saying that there were plenty who didn't like/opposed it.  The grandma first complimented the guy thanking him for his service as he was a vet.  But she said her page and thread were no place for politics.  That's the crux of it to me.

Now first, perhaps it was fruitless to mention ACA is opposed or detrimental to the Republic, which it certainly is.  But Grandma used a favorite cop out for liberals, and actually all the socalled 'right wingers' aka neocons.  Something distasteful is brought up.  Often it's truthful or explains dangers. Then it's crumpled up and thrown away with the broad brush 'politics'.

Naturally, when relating to politicians, a much rightfully despicable term, getting them to see reality is a challenge, to put it mildly.  Working through 'legalese' and mounds of words, these myopic folks hide behind such things.  All I ask is the ability and opportunity to cut through the red tape, the jargon and talk like real people.  It's a tall order, but the more we take back the Republic, the easier it will become

And I'm not opposing vocabulary.  We need words and their meaning.  We must teach kids to be literate, even erudite.

As for the word politics, it almost invariably polarizes.  The picket lines of Republican and Democrat form fast.  It's all just bs, the art of legerdemain. 

I didn't comment on that thread re the girl and ACA.  It would have been pointless.  Pick and choose your battles or discussions.  Be ready.

While some will seemingly benefit, it is at the cost of millions who are bereft.  The middle class will continue to be weakened and socialized medicine will further 'transform' America indeed.  Enough said without delving where so many have gone before.  Start with Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams and find others for proof.

As for the game of politics, well we must change the rules.  And meanwhile find a message in the ravioli.

Bottom Line

I'm fortunate that I have a business background.  It enhances my efforts as a writer and actor.  It has provided practicality in most other pursuits as well. 

Mind you, when it comes to certain endeavors, there are and will be trusted folks who manage and assist my work.  good lawyers and business managers, for instance, are worth their weight in gold -s-.

Oh yes.  Though my college work has never included classes in business, I don't begrudge anyone obtaining a business degree.  My cousin, a friend and supporter (gone sadly now), had one from IU.  He was a successful, ethical businessman.  Like any college work it is tempered by character and practical experience.  I hope.

Bottom lines are relative absolutes.  They work for the transactions they conclude.  It should be conclusive.  There is one bottom line with no wiggle room.

The attempts of any, ANY kind of gun control are about control.  I thank Captain Obvious for this lol.

The recent shooting by yet another evil goblin in California confirms this.  Oh and you probably know he stabbed three and hit two victims with his car.  The psycho had a nice car and guns as well as edged weaponry.  California has strict gun control, yet he managed to buy the guns without trouble.

Oh how the antigunners are railing for more control. Some even admitted the restrictions do not work.  Maybe some are embarrassed the loon's parents are antigun themselves.

Make no mistake, what Senator Feinstein said is a reality.  The bottom line for these destroyers of Freedom is 'turn em all in'.

The useful idiots are used.  The collectivists swarm.  And those who would control our very being plot to completely disarm us. 

Our bottom line is different.  So dans l'oeil d'un cochon-in a pig's eye sums it up.

Business is business.  I say no compromise while we must bit by bit regain our Constitutional Republic.  It's not as paradoxical as it would seem.

Don't be played.  It's all inclusive tyranny.

You'd be surprised, or not, how many people think they can bargain with collectivists.  No no no.

What our bottom line guarantees is these mokes can't rape us.

It's a binding contract with Freedom against tyranny.

The bottom line guarantees the price will be paid.

PS: As for the mentally ill and what should be done, I will have a near future post

Soup

I could start this with my love of soup.  You name it, if I haven't tried it, I most likely will.

Let us cut to the chase.  And though alphabet agencies come to mind this is about more.  The ABC's play a part in a larger picture.

There is no need to delve into conspiracy theories.  They are another element/ingredient in the soup.  Yes some are true, some lies and some mixed-mostly mixed.

There are people, besides those who are paid to work up scenarios, who are paid to muddy the water.  It's no accident Jedburgh is the name of a character in the Martin Campbell movie Edge of Darkness.  His job was to assess, derail and yes muddy the waters as well as eliminate anyone seeking and onto truth.  They exist, whether you believe it or not.  That doubt of course is part of the soup.

There are so many theories floating around such as JFK and 911.  Careful checking this stuff out.  You might just end up chasing your own tail like a distracted pup.  You might find a message in the ravioli.

I will suggest again that you look at the results of the actions.  What has happened since each of these pivotal events? 

Also, study history.  I mean dig.  Don't accept a high school or college text concerning anything.  Research, cross reference and keep looking.  Study behavior too.  It is the crux of why we are.

Are there 'forces' aka powerful people wanting to dominate us all?  Sure  Always have been.  Don't know if they always will be.  Til it ends, rest assured there are always some who wish to control, who believe the people are incapable of self government.  Or worse, some who know we can fulfill our own destiny but are callous and control for the 'love' of it.  That's evil in a nutshell.

Those who control hate the most those of us who not just see, but are systematically building where they destroy.

So check the recipes and see what soup's on!  Feel free -s- to change the menu!

Almost

You reach for something.  It's not there.  Gone or you can see it, like Tantalus with his fruit and water.  Almost is a bigger, multi-textured word.

It can be an excuse for failure, as in, 'I tried and almost made it.  Oh well.'.  It can be a word of encouragement such as, 'Almost there!  Come on!'. 

Sometimes we fail.  Sometimes we succeed.  When something hangs in the balance, almost is a very big word.

Reminds me of the mention of almost in the Great Escape and how it can be fatal.  I suggest something else.

Keep in mind as I have said that we fight an enemy that never sleeps.  Sleeping less is merely being relentless and determined to bit by bit win ie restore our Republic.  In that sense, almost will never be enough.

But bit by bit is an almost each day closer to final victory.  And then, almost will take a back seat to claiming success and maintaining it.

No excuses.  Encourage others to be 'there'.  Come on!

Pep Talk

My daughter's high school graduation was the other night.  It went well, kept moving and didn't bog down -s-.

We were proud of the kids and especially my girl, who intends to follow a career in showbiz.  It was a day of hope and happiness, worthy of celebration.

As for her education, it was started at home for several years.  She and her brother were taught to think for themselves and to ask, challenge and dig.  Take what is offered with a grain of salt and go on.

The kids did a great job that night and the teachers/officials gave their pep talks.  It was theme light as it were with a bit of a liberal bent of course.  Andre Carson gave the primary official pep talk.  He was an example for the kids of someone who has made it.  That is the role of the keynote speaker at graduations, as I'm sure you all know -s-.

Now my purpose here is to point something out and it may not be what you think.  Make no mistake, I'm politically and 'socially' opposed to Carson and what he and the other liberals spout in government.  And as for making it, struggling etc, well I think there are better examples for kids.

His address was short, and upbeat.  He gave examples of some who have made it such as Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey etal, the usual cadre liberals cite.  That I'm laying aside as well. And as for an upbeat, positive attitude, I have suggestions for better examples.

Why not talk to the kids about their futures?  Most of them will not be presidents, media moguls etc.  With the exception of Rosa who demanded her right to sit in the front of the bus (politicized and seized by the collectivists of course), how about talking to them about being leaders for themselves.  As individuals, they will reach a potential that combined could make America great again aka restore the Republic.

See what you are good at kids and go with it.  We need doctors, (good -s-) lawyers, artists, construction, service, just about anything you can think of to make our country work.  Sure strive for the best but compete with yourself, do your best. 

What I'm driving at is producing good content of character.  That is essential, no matter your background nor professional goals.

If you are sure of yourself, care about others and wish to help people help themselves, you are on the road to success.

If you want to be in the White House go for it.  We could use people there and in DC of good character who realize they are the servants of the people.  Or be an individual who thinks for him/herself, who banded with others, can bring the right people to those jobs.

I doubt I'll ever be a keynote speaker, though I have speechified in different venues before.  But I and the kids' Mom have supplied our son and daughter with a good beginning.

I believe that is the most important job for the future.

Westerns

Clarity.  I'm the first to say things aren't always black and white (like the old TV shows -s-), but then again, there are certainties.  I love the old TV Westerns.  There is nothing like them now.  In fact there are some shows I watch now.  And I always watch them as I have always watched entertainment, with a grain of salt, measuring them against content and reality.  I'm able to suspend disbelief and enjoy.

As for Westerns, there was a time when they covered both movies and television.  Now there are none.  There was Deadwood, a morbid dark show and yes there is Hell on Wheels, a dark tinged show about the railroad expansion in the last half of the 19th century.  To me it is all in the telling.

Realism is dandy, but the emphasis is on how duplicitous people can be and the evil white man/capitalist.  Were there faults?  Sure.  But we are a country which acknowledges our complete history, warts and all.  And we still have the stuff Freedom is made of.

Wagon Train, among others, had a great deal of realism.  It lasted eight years and managed to tell a morality tale each week.  It, and many others, gave people something to think about.  Many of the Westerns didn't always have tidy endings either.  They were left undone, with conclusions to be drawn by the watcher.  Tough decisions, not always cut and dried, ensued on shows like Gunsmoke. 

I am also quick to add that there was probably more gunplay on TV/movies than in the real Old West.  One should keep in mind that studying history mustn't be based on Hollywood theatrics.  But the stories are what I'm driving at.  And it wasn't a matter of wondering what was right.  But these Westerns pointed out that in life decisions/outcomes aren't always neatly done up.  And that we must live with consequences.

Responsibility is a steady message in these shows.  The Rifleman comes to mind.  That, by the way, was a terrific example of a single dad raising his son.

So many show, so little time.  I suggest you all find as many rerunning and on disc.  Get a taste for yourself.

I will leave the conclusion up to you.