CommenTerry

Why All the Concern?

I don't see the point of all the concern some people have about making sure their bodies are properly treated and disposed of after their death. Of course, any thoughtful person would want to make sure his/her final expenses don't end up costing someone else money out of their own pocket. However, if it wasn't for family objections, I'd almost be willing to allow my body to be ground up to make dog food. After all, I'm going to be dead - I won't know anything about it. I'm not all that concerned!

Little Sympathy for Procrastinators

I have very little sympathy for procrastinators. They know the deadline for a given action but still wait until last minute to get it done. What they don't take into account is that something beyond their control could occur just before the deadline that could prevent them from taking the required action.

For example, right after hurricane Isabel blew through Virginia in 2003, a police officer cited a young lady for not having a current inspection decal on her car. Her father wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper complaining that she could not get to an inspection station because they were all closed in the aftermath of the hurricane. However, she still had to pay the ticket (and rightfully so) because she had all month to get her car inspected but decided to wait until the last day. But little did she know, a hurricane was going to make the last day unavailable. Too bad.

Fake an Illness to Avoid an Attack

I don't know why more people don't fake an illness to avoid some kind of physical attack or robbery. For example, a woman, when about to be raped or kidnapped could start foaming at the mouth and urinating on herself as part of a phony convulsion or epileptic seizure, thereby spooking her potential assailant into letting her go. Another example would be a person faking a heart attack after being confronted by a would-be armed robber. Most robbers wouldn't want that added charge of murder. Or a man, when on the verge of being beaten badly could feign a stroke, heart attack, or even sudden death after the first punch. 

Does Limbaugh Deserve His Success?

Nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts recently published an op-ed piece in which he mocked Rush Limbaugh’s failed attempt to become a part owner of the St. Louis Rams. His opposition to Limbaugh’s entry into the NFL appears to be due to more than just the racist remarks Limbaugh has made over the years. It also seems that he begrudges Limbaugh the success he has achieved in radio broadcasting because it has come in an unconventional way. To me, that smacks of elitism.

Pitts’ sarcasm makes it clear that he’s not too thrilled with the fact that Limbaugh bucked convention and “somehow managed to climb to the top of the media pile” despite the fact that he dropped out of college. Why, people are supposed to put in their time and take a more scholarly route to becoming “one of the most popular and influential voices in the national dialogue” – or so Pitts seems to believe.

From Pitts’ viewpoint, Limbaugh’s success is undeserved and illegitimate because he is an interloper who entered the party via the back door. Pitts considers him to be the proverbial skunk at the picnic. In addition, Pitts accuses Limbaugh of “avarice” because of the millions of dollars he has been able to earn from his popularity. Since when does money automatically invoke avarice? Or perhaps it’s one’s method of earning money that automatically produces avarice.  Somehow I doubt that Pitts would have made the same assumption, had Limbaugh earned his fortune as a great scientist, doctor, or community leader.

Now let me make it abundantly clear that, although I’m a conservative-leaning libertarian, I’m no fan of Limbaugh or any of the other wing nuts of the conservative movement. I’m just not into wild-eyed conspiracy theories and absurd accusations, no matter which side of the political spectrum they originate from. Mr. Limbaugh’s broadcasts are nothing more than cacophony in my world. However, I do respect what Mr. Limbaugh has achieved, and it bothers me that people like Mr. Pitts resent him for it.

In America, success is not reserved just for the erudite, the attractive, the proper, and the conformist. I’m glad it’s that way. Otherwise, I would have been left behind from the day I was conceived. And it doesn’t matter to me how one achieves success, as long as it’s done legally and ethically. In the immortal words of Al Davis, the owner of that other pro football team that used to reside in Los Angeles, “Just win, baby.”

 

Things That Infringe on Free Speech

According to the U.S. Constitution, free speech is one of the rights that we enjoy as Americans. However, I see this right arbitrarily abridged every day, and most people seem to go along with it. In some cases, this violation of the First Amendment is even coded into law. Here are some things that should never be allowed to infringe on free speech rights, although they commonly do:

1) A person’s inability or unwillingness to fight back

2) Law enforcement

3) Judges

4) Corporations

5) Bullies

6) Unions

7) Bosses

8) Peer pressure

9) Government agencies, including the FCC, FBI, CIA, TSA, and Homeland Security

10) Military superiors

11) Zealots

12) Laws that regulate campaign finance

13) Laws that restrict “hate speech” or apply additional punishment to “hate crimes”

14) Laws that govern tax-exempt status (especially as they apply to religious organizations)

15) Etiquette

16) Political correctness

17) Lack of social status

18) Power brokers

19) Political parties

20) Social activists

Why It's Good that the USA Is Different

I get so tired of hearing members of the media remind us of things like the USA's status as the only industrialized country to do this or not to do that – as if it’s necessarily bad. For example, they will complain that the USA is unique among its peers in forbidding gays to openly serve in the military and in not offering its citizens universal, government-run healthcare. However, I don’t think it’s any accident that the USA is the world’s only remaining superpower.

And I don’t think it would have achieved this status by being just like everyone else. I believe our nation’s distinctiveness is one of its strengths, not a weakness. And there is a reason why God has blessed the USA in such a special way. Why do you think that is? Is it because Americans are so smart? It is because we are better than everyone else? Is it because of our natural resources? Is it because of our proficiency at creating weapons of war?

I think the answer to all of the above is no. The USA was founded mainly by people with Judeo-Christian values. Hard work, individual freedom, market-based economics, humility, faith in God, and respect for one’s fellow man have traditionally been our guiding principles. That’s why the USA has flourished. But when it starts acting like everyone else, it will begin to lose its special position. Sadly, I believe that process has already begun.

Today's Most Unpopular Facts

So many people nowadays are looking for easy answers. They search out those who will tell them what they want to hear. They’re not interested in sacrifice or self-discipline. They don’t want to be bothered with religion or reminded about the reality of sin.

They’re constantly making excuses for themselves and others. They want to have their cake and eat it too, i.e., they want to live any way they would like and still have everything come out hunky dory. And don’t even try to broach the subject of personal responsibility while in their presence.

That’s why some facts are so unpopular today. However, just because they are unpopular doesn’t make them any less true. Here are some of today’s most out-of-favor truths:

The only real way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more.

The surest way to avoid debt is to live within or below your means.

The only guaranteed method of birth control is sexual abstinence.

AIDS and other venereal diseases would eventually be wiped out if everyone practiced heterosexual monogamy and postponed sex until marriage, or simply lived a celibate life.

Success requires hard work and perseverance.

The crime rate is lowest among those who attend a house of worship on a regular basis.

Government handouts create a sense of entitlement and promote laziness, which leads to an increase in both poverty and crime.

Minorities make up the majority of prison inmates in the U.S. – because they commit the majority of violent crimes in the U.S.

When people stopped being so “judgmental,” immoral behavior began to flourish.

No one could ever become an alcoholic without taking that first drink.

It is impossible to become addicted to illegal drugs without first experimenting with them (and therefore breaking the law).

The credit card companies do not force anyone to buy anything.

The devil doesn’t make anyone do it.

The most efficient way for a woman to remain free of the ‘hassles’ of childbirth is to avoid pregnancy.

Where there is a casual attitude toward violence, blood is frequently shed.

Upon entering a country illegally, one becomes a criminal (if he or she wasn‘t one already).

Those who believe they were created in the image of God generally place more value on human life than those who believe they share ancestors with apes.

Parents can decrease the likelihood that their children will smoke or drink by not smoking or drinking.

I Wonder What It Would Be Like

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have been born into affluence like some people were. I often daydream about having been so lucky. My course would have been charted from the day I was born. I would have received all kinds of expensive gifts each Christmas and on my birthday.

I would have gotten a brand new car when I turned 16. A pre-paid college education would have been waiting for me upon my graduation from high school. After college, I could have gone to grad school if had wanted, compliments of my parents and at no cost to me.

After that, there would have been no need for a job search, as the family connections would have gotten me placed into a prestigious position right off the bat. My success would be virtually guaranteed from there. All I would have to do is avoid some kind of catastrophic mistake and I would be “in like Flynn.”

On second thought, though, I kind of like the idea of having achieved success based on my own merits. Growing up in a poor family wasn’t so bad. After all, this is the USA and I had everything I really needed. And it’s a great feeling to know that I earned my way to where I am now. I guess that’s something those fortunate children will always be left wondering about.

The Foolishness of Handel and Geraldo

Both radio talk show host Bill Handel and Fox News journalist Geraldo Rivera hold to a foolish belief. In the wake of all the recent cases of female teachers being caught having sex with male students, these guys have voiced opinions that a woman who has sex with an underage teen boy shouldn't be treated as harshly as a man who has sex with an underage teen girl. In fact, Handle once stated that a woman committing such acts should face no punishment at all. So much for equal protection under law, huh?

The rationale for such a belief is the concept that a teenage boy would enjoy the sexual attention of a grown woman, and would likely even brag it, but such a relationship between a grown man and a teen girl would have devastating effects on the girl's life. In addition, Rivera concludes that women generally do this after having fallen in love with the teen boy, whereas men generally do it take advantage of the teen girl and satisfy their own selfish desires. Even if all this were true in every case, having differing laws for men and women committing the same acts is unfair and unconstitutional, not to mention silly. If we're going to criminalize consensual sexual relationships between adults and underage teens, the gender of either party should be a non-issue.

Confront Problems Confidently

When given a problem to resolve, no matter how difficult it might seem, never let it be known that you don't think you can do it, even if that's the case. Give it your best shot anyway. Very often, you will surprise yourself as to what you can actually do.

At other times, the problem will resolve itself, and you will get the credit. Even if you ultimately fail, you will likely get credit for trying. Conversely, no one ever gets any credit for throwing up their hands and giving up. Those who don't try, never fail -- but they never get any glory either.