If President Barack Obama wins reelection, I would like everyone to print this out and put it away for safe-keeping.

Why? You may ask.

Simply this:

1. If he is reelected you will be soon unable to read this due to the onrush of censorship that will engulf the nation.
2. Our 2nd Amendment rights will be curtailed.
3. We will quickly move into a second recession that will see OFFICIAL unemployment stay around 8%, though actual unemployment will move to levels unseen America since the Great Depression.
4. The military will be gutted.
5. America’s energy dependence will increase dramatically, and gas prices will explode.
6. General Motors will collapse.
7. America will renounce its alliance with Israel and war will engulf the Middle East again.
8. Iran will produce and PUBLICLY detonate a nuclear bomb, perhaps over Israel.

These are my predictions. Print them out, file them away, and in four years look at them again. If I’m wrong, I will admit it and produce a mea culpa for you. But I won’t have to.

“If America reelects Barack Obama to a second term, we deserve all the misery that will ensue. “
Representative Allen West,
Republican-Florida

Truth and Prejudice

Thirty years ago I made the mistake of telling a trusted colleague of mine, that "I'm not prejudiced."

"Bullshit," he proclaimed. "Everyone is prejudiced about SOMEthing. It might be lawyers, or truck drivers, or another race.” And it was true. He then made the profound argument that where we will make a difference is how hard we work to fight that prejudice.

During that same period, there was another colleagues of mine who stunned me with a comment I always try to keep in perspective to this day. And I remember the shock I felt, and STILL do, when this colleague looked me in the eye and told me that he didn’t trust “really dark-skinned (black) folk.” You see, he was also black, just like my first colleague.

So, yeah, I am prejudiced.

I am so grateful for that period in my life. I worked for nearly three years in a sawmill in the deep south of the United States. Many of the men who worked there were the fathers, uncles and brothers of people I had gone to high school with, played football and ran track with, and one in particular sticks out. He was the father of a classmate and fellow football teammate. He worked hard and saw all of his half-dozen-or-so children attend college. And he was a completely illiterate black man. To this day I have the utmost respect for that man. He married and had children, and worked to provide for them. He didn't want help or handouts from anyone or anything. He helped to show me what life and the world and the people who live in it are all about.

What brought all this on? It was an NBC news poll (http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/27/14740413-ap-poll-majority-harbor-prejudice-against-blacks?threadId=3598754&commentId=71479014#c71479014) that gauged racial attitudes between 2008 and 2012. It found that “a slight majority of Americans now express prejudice toward blacks…”

Well, we ARE all prejudiced in some way. Think about it. Is it lawyers you have a bad attitude about? Or barristas at Starbucks? How about cops? Maybe anorexic-looking supermodels? Or overweight people? Or maybe the homeless? Seriously, you know what your prejudices are. We all do. But, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT WANT TO BE PREJUDICED? I would wager that it is darned few.

If you're a friend of mine, you that I'm one of that group. But, my former colleague was right. We do all have prejudices.

I have spent all my adult life working hard to see past and through race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sexual preference, class, etc., and try equally as hard to understand people. I want to see through other’s eyes. And I refuse to allow others to classify ME by what they THINK they see. Clearly, it is how we contol, and how affective we are at controlling and defeating our prejudices that make us “color blind,” to use a more pointed term.

In the past six years I have been accused because of my political views of being a racist, a mysoginist, a sexist, a homophobe, and so-on-and-so-forth. And it hurts. Not so much because I am one or all of these things (remember, I am prejudiced), but rather because of the effort I have expended over the years to try to ensure I was NOT any of those things. It hasn’t been easy.

But, because of my efforts, I have cherished and dear friends, colleagues and acquaintances who are black, white, oriental and Hispanic. They are men and women, homosexual and heterosexual. They are corporate CEOs and presidents, and dirt-poor and in-between. They are lawyers and cops, fat and thin, short and tall, warriors (of at least a dozen nations) and draft dodgers, and they are smart and, well, dumb. They include Christians, Jews, Druids, pagans and Muslims, and complex combinations of all. They are all my friends, my colleagues, my acquaintances and I cherish them all, though admittedly some more than others. Interestingly, most of the people I see as enemies are the same race as I! But, as I have been taught by Jesus and my Christian upbringing, I love them all. Though, admittedly, I do love some more than others.

So it was with more than a little interest I read the NBC News article and the comments that followed. In the end, what I wonder most is just how much of this negative attitude, this prejudice, covered in the poll has to do with the gross mismanagement, corruption, and policies of division that have been practiced by the First Black President? A president I love as a human and a man.

But whose policies I deplore.

I guess that's ANOTHER prejudice I'll have to work on.

Muslim Rage Against America is Because of Israel?

On one of my groups the question was asked, "Why do muslims hate the US?"

I answered, "Six letters: I-S-R-A-E-L. Israel is 4/10 of 1% of the total area of the Middle East, but the problem is that Israel demonstrates and magnifies everything that is wrong with the Arab culture and the other 99.6% of the Middle East."

Then the site administrator asked for a clarification, "What do you mean by this? Why is it Israel's fault?" He asked this because he had received five-or-six anti-semitic replies and wanted to make sure of the direction of my comments. I replied,

"It's not Israel's fault, unless you want to blame the existence of Israel itself. Israel occupies all of 4/10 of 1% of the Middle East. They have no oil and almost no natural resources. The Arabs have 99.6% of the territory, huge amounts of oil and more natural resources than Israel. We also know that BOTH Israel and an Arab state were mandated by the UN. And, of course, the Arabs did everything to destroy the mandate in 1948 and lost spectacularly to a nation that had no real armed forces, and what they did have was mostly obsolescent or pieced together. And Arabs have been angry ever since. NOW, we (the US) are the only TRUE supporter of Israel and because of that support, NO MATTER what we do for or against muslims, they will hate us simply because of our support for Israel, the one and only, true, liberal, democratic government in the region.

"Romney was right. Israel's culture, democracy and immigrant polpulation is the reason for Israel's success. The success of the society - tolerance, wealth, military prowess, equality, etc. - are anathema to muslim mores and ideals.

"The US has fought seven wars/military actions/policing operations since 1980 in efforts to assist muslims. Somalia was an effort to save muslims from starvation. Bosnia and Kosovo were efforts to save muslims from CHRISTIAN genocide. Kuwait and Iraq were to save muslims from MUSLIM genocide. Afghanistan was an effort to assist muslims fighting communism in the 1980's, and later to assist them in throwing off the yoke of a genocidal and injust muslim "theocracy."

"We've spent trillions in support of muslim nations. So, it comes down to Israel. It doesn't make sense, but that's it.

"Our support of Israel is the only reason that muslims dislike us."

The Liberal View

I read a letter to the editor the other day in North Carolina’s Fayetteville Observer newspaper that made me roll my eyes. The point of the letter, by a liberal writer, was ‘why do conservatives vote against their own self-interest?’ His point, of course, was that voting Democrat was better for you personally.

And I now believe he is right. He is right in that he was unknowingly pointing out the very stark differences between liberals and conservatives. Liberals vote in their own self interest. Conservatives vote for what they believe is in the best interest of the nation as a whole.

I believe that is why you see more conservatives in the military. Soldiers, sailors, marines, coast guardsman and airmen clearly serve for a higher cause – that of the nation and of the people. Conservatives consistently vote, promote and use their money to help others. Statistics show that if liberals gave to charity in the same amounts as conservatives, that charitable giving would increase 40%.

Clearly, giving away one’s money is not in one’s own interest, yet conservatives do it. A lot more than liberals.

Clearly, putting one’s self in harm’s way, with bullets flying, bombs and rockets dropping, and mortars falling, and roadside bombs exploding, is not in one’s own interest. Yet conservatives do it. A lot more than liberals.

I heard a commentary some years back, shockingly on National Public Radio, that concerned the commentator’s son, who had joined the US Marines in a time of war. This young man had knowingly joined what is and was arguably America’s most elite regular military force with the knowledge that he would serve in one of two places, and likely both – Iraq and Afghanistan. The commentator was stunned as friends, colleagues and acquaintances acted shocked that this man’s son would “waste his life” by serving them and the nation!

“Couldn’t he get into college?”

“Why would he do such a thing?”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.”

These were typical comments he received. When in Liberal America did serving your country become a mistake?

So clearly, the letter writer was right, especially in the viewpoint of the American liberal. Conservatives do act, vote and give against their own self interest. That’s because they know that their own self interest is not as important as the interest of the nation.

And conservatives act accordingly.

The Final Straw

I am not, nor have I ever been a racist, a sexist, or any other "ist." I am an American. I refuse to see color, or race, or religion, or national origin. I have had, and continue to have, dear, close, wonderful friends who are white, black, yellow, red, brown, mixed, men, women, straight and homosexual, Asian, European, South and Latin American, African, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, Christian of numerous denominations, wealthy, poor, blue collar, white collar, retired, veterans, and others too numerous to mention. I consider them all friends and colleagues. Okay folks, I'm sayin' it here. I am venting. Why? I am a TEA Party Patriot. And I am just beginning to tire of the unwarranted and unverified accuations and attacks on me, my family, my friends and fellow Americans who oppose what we see as government-out-of-control. But because we feel that our Federal Government and our current president have overstepped the bounds of the Founder's intent, and on many occasions our Constitution, we are "haters." I do not hate. I may not LIKE you, but I love you as commanded by Jesus. Nevertheless, opposition to our current government brings out the accusers, calling me and others racists, homophobes, haters, et al. And if you haven't already noticed, EVERY time some psycho in America attempts, or performs, a violent attack, every pundit out there jumps to link them to the TEA Party. But, it never holds. To date, not a SINGLE violent act has been linked to the TEA Party. Not one. None. Zero. That can't be said about the Occupy movement or thir liberal cohorts. And I am just tired and fed up with it all. I'm sorry, folks, but if you have only the hate card to defend your view versus mine, I would have to say your view is indefensible. I do NOT need to prove my credentials. I've already proven them by who I choose to associate with, who I chose to be my friends, and how I treat all those around me - with kindness, deference and respect. I do not need to justify a position based on my life experience and historical fact. And I certainly shouldn't have to justify my assocation with a group that has no history of violence, racism, sexism, or any other "ism." I tired of it. I'm fed up with it. I've had it. And the gloves are off. Starting now, I will call names, be ugly, make accusations, just like all those on the left (except my accusations will be based on fact). Just a warning liberal America. I'm pretty sure I won't be the only one.

Back in the USA

Well, I’m home from Germany. It was snowing the day I left, the first time in over a month. Ironically, I was in Southern Germany six days earlier and saw quite a bit of snow in Stuttgart.

A week earlier I had gone with a friend, Corwin Gal, north to Gothenburg, Sweden. He was picking up his new Volvo at the factory and asked if I would like to go along as his co-driver. Gothenburg was bare of snow! Sweden was really interesting. What I found surprising was that everyone I met there spoke excellent English. When we arrived at the hotel, I asked whether they spoke English, fully prepared to ask if they spoke German if the answer was “no.” The young woman behind the desk looked and said, “Of course I speak English!” In my mind I was thinking, ‘Of course? Hey, I’m in Sweden. What else would you speak?’ Much of the television programming, like most of Europe, is American and British English language shows. For instance, I watched NCIS in English on Swedish TV, with Swedish subtitles. There are less than ten million Swedes, so it’s not cost effective to dub over the shows in Swedish.

Denmark, like Sweden, was incredibly expensive. Our meal in Copenhagen cost us $70 each! I would leave Europe with Euros, Swedish Kroner and Danish Kronor, and US dollars in my wallet. Most interestingly, to me, were the differences between the close Scandinavian neighbors. Sweden was easily the most “American” European nation I saw. Large autos predominate, and the streets, despite the age of the cities, were wide. Additionally, outside the cities were wide open spaces and large homes. The terrain reminded me a great deal of the Delmarva Peninsula.

Copenhagen, on the other hand, was a more typical European city. Their difference was the MASSIVE use of bicycles, even in the dead of winter. Every street in Copenhagen had bike lanes and everyone, it seemed, was riding a bike in the January cold. Bicycle racks were more common than auto parking spaces, and to be honest, it was a good thing. If all the people in Copenhagen had cars instead of bicycles, Corwin and I would STILL be stuck in Danish traffic!

So, I made it through the clearing process, mailed home my tools, and packed my bags. Clearing German Customs and the normal hassle through security were surprisingly easy. The flight wasn’t uneventful, as the Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 was improperly loaded and out of CG, so as we began taxiing away from the gate at Frankfurt Main Airport were quickly diverted to another spot on the ramp and a pallet was unloaded from the aircraft. As we pulled up to have the pallet unloaded the pilot announced that he anticipated a ten-minute delay. 57 minutes later we finally taxied out to the runway. As a result, we took off an hour late. Happily, the airplane was nowhere near full so I and everyone else were able to stretch out in their own row. Nice.

The flight was smooth, but there was cloud cover all over Europe. It began to break up at the Western Irish coast, but was spotty over the Atlantic. I tried hard to spot icebergs, Iceland and Greenland from 30,000 feet, but all I saw was occasional whitecaps. Thankfully, the clouds cleared completely just before Labrador, Canada. Watching the ice pack and bare coast of the Canadian Shield, covered in snow was amazing. I observed a small town (maybe 30-to-40 buildings) below on the Northeast Canadian coast with an airstrip above on the hilltop, and a single road leading out of town to literally nowhere. And I think I spied a famous ice road.

Since arriving in South Carolina, I’ve been to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (now THERE’S an awkward title), and I’ve called and gone online to the Texas Workforce Commission. I bought a new sink and plumbing items, began to tear out our second bathroom, and have had to begin training my daughter’s dog to stay off the furniture and the bed, and the cats to stay off the kitchen table and counters (yuck!), as the wife will not discipline the animals.

Additionally, I bought a new 18-inch Husqvarna chain saw, and I’ve cut and cleared some trees and stumps in the yard, pulled up some vines, and burned it all in the backyard. We threw a party the week after I arrived and had a wonderful time with friends and family. AND there’s the unpacking. Clothes, books, magazines, tools, etcetera. On the upside, everyone loved their gifts.

So far, what I miss about Europe is the incredible food and the history. I also miss responsible, educated drivers and the laws and law enforcement enforcing those laws. I DON’T miss the traffic cameras.

Thoughts on Leaving the Old World

As you likely know, I am an aviation contractor living in Germany working for a defense contractor on US Army, and other allies, helicopters. It has been an exciting time for me as I learned quite a bit from a variety of people whose experiences run the gamut from the armed services of the US, Great Britain, South Africa, the former-Rhodesia, Germany and others, to manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing, to people have have contracted nearly all their careers. It has been a really wonderful experience professionally.

And, of course, outside work I have met people who escaped communism by fleeing or by simply walking away as the weight of socialism came crashing down around them. There is the one who fought against Robert Mugabe with the Rhodesian Air Force, and the retired Deutsche Post (German Post Office) worker raised as Hitler Youth. There was Kurt, the former East German who built and serviced cranes worldwide, and who rode to Daytona's Bike Week on a Kawasaki. He was welcomed with open arms when he feigned a lack of English-language proficiency and laid on a thick German accent ("You can't come in here on THAT!" 'Bitte?' "Where're you from?" 'Deutschla.., uh, Germany.') So many stories, so much rich history, and I have found that it IS true that a big difference between Europeans and Americans is that Americans think 300 years is a long time, and that Europeans think 300 miles is a long trip (even if you can take it in your car at 200 mph!)
There are many things I will miss in Europe. The incredible history that is literally around EVERY corner is certainly one. The incredible public transportation system is another. The extensive bike trails and lanes all over the country are very useful, and I have made extensive use of them almost daily, commuting on my bicycle 11 kilometers (about 6.7 miles) to-and-from work each way.

And despite the German reputation for arrogance, I have found them to be very kind and welcoming as soon as they realized I was trying to learn their language and customs. It can be frustrating to try and learn a language and after saying something in the second language, having the person you're speaking to answer in English, "Can I help you?" or "Is there anything else?" Realizing I was trying to learn, their compassionate answer was to make it easier by speaking to me in English. I was so tempted on many occasions to say, "Yes! Please reply in German so I can learn!"

I will miss the English Church of Heidelberg, a wonderful, small, Anglican congregation with a parish deep in Old Heidelberg. Sharing the parish with a local Old Catholic congegration, Easter Service/Mass was incredible as a joint, dual language service in German and English. The English Church has German, Nigerian, British, American members, as well as one from Sierra Leone.

But, there are things I won't miss here. I will NOT miss US Army Garrison Baden-Wuerttemburg and their seemingly callous attitudes toward the people they support. Over a year before shutting down the local bases in Mannheim, the USO and library were closed! Additionally, the post theatre was shut down for renovations, reopened, and then closed less than a month later with signs posted stating the building had been deemed unsafe! (Your US tax dollars at work.)

I will NOT miss German radio. Folks if you think American radio programming is bad, try pulling up some German station on the internet. It's almost completely American Top 40, hip-hop and Euro-pop. The irony is that the concert scene here is unbelievable! Appearing here in Mannheim since I have arrived were Santana, Molly Hatchet, Skorpions, Peter Gabriel and so many others. Don't look for them on the radio, though.

Another thing I won't miss is the litter. Litter is all over the place here. Smoking is part or the cultural identity here and cigarette butts are everywhere, along with bottles, wrappers, boxes, paper, fast-food wrappers and cups. I have seen people standing outdoors beside a municipal waste basket toss their trash on the ground and walk away. Seemingly, there is no sense of personal responsibility concerning keeping their town and country clean.

Graffitti is everywhere, too. It is pervasive, and most of it is surprisingly artistic! I have even encountered a shop in Heidelberg's Old Town that catered to graffitti 'artists'!

While I like the autobahn and the freedom to drive as fast as I feel I can do safely, I'm not at all fond of Germany's other roads. It is amazing how many major roadways inside towns will be four lanes wide with a large median in the middle, lined with trees and flowers, and will end abruptly with no outlet whatsoever. Of course, on my bicycle, I can just take off down the nearest alley, sidewalk or path. And I have.

So, as I prepare to go home to South Carolina, I am excited about what adventure the Lord will send me on to next. I have yet to visit Auschwitz, Luxembourg or the other four mini-nations here in Europe. Sadly, too, I haven't been able to visit old friends in France, England and Ireland. But, I'm hopeful those opportunities will come. Time will tell.