Take a Walk With Me

Right, Left, Right, Left...it is simple as that.  Yet today, political discourse in today's society has become so ideologically opposed, that walking has become difficult.  Instead of a walk, it has become more of a stumble, an argument, full of vitriol towards the opposing foot.  Yet, it seems no one is listening.  If neither is willing to listen to the opposing foot, how are we ever going to move the country forward on this walk?

It is my opinion that we all need to show our officials that we can work together to begin walking again.  Left or Right, without showing our shared values, it only sounds like hatred for one another.  Today, I see so much hatred that political discourse has become lost on its walk towards improvements in our society. I am not innocent in partaking in this type of discussion, nor will I claim to be.  However, I have found it enlightening to have reasoned conversations with those who oppose my ideals.

Dear Liberal…Here’s Why I’m So Hostile

I only wish I could take credit for this well crafted piece of writing.  Do not be deceived by the title, this is a thorough explanation of Conservative opposition towards Liberals and the basis from which it stems.  I hope that it brings some understanding to my Liberal friends and foes, a deeper understanding, if you will.  Please take the time to read, you will not be disappointed in the explanations or clarification you will gain in reading.

by Jeremy N. Choate

This essay is a bit of departure from my usually reasonable and logical approach to important issues.  That’s not to say that the essay isn’t well-reasoned and is bereft of logical argumentation, but I freely admit that it’s polemical, in nature.  Sometimes you’re just pissed, and you need to vent.  Here’s my vent…

Lately, I must admit that my hostility towards your political ilk has ramped up, pretty dramatically.  No, it’s not because we, at this point in my life, have a half-black president in the White House, and I’m some closet racist who is becoming increasingly frustrated at the prospects of the White Man’s power slipping through my fingers.  I know that you’ve accused our side of such nonsense, and the thought keeps you warm at night, but I can assure you that it is a comfortable fiction of which you should probably divest yourself.

Christian Conservatives Have a Basis for Their Beliefs

Christian Conservatives have a valid footing for their beliefs, both religious and political. Through the teachings of the Bible, we are lead down the path to living a good life. When represented, the belief system we choose supports and helps those around us. It is this connection which brings peace to our culture.

Earlier, I posted a scathing piece called A Liberal Argument Against Liberals.  This is my counterpoint to my piece.  Why? I am a human, and the thoughts just came into my head regarding Liberalism.  I am a Christian as well, but I do sin and will admit that I am not perfect.

I am a strong believer in Conservative principles because I am Christian.  My feigned hatred of Liberals is actually just  a tongue in cheek piece that I thought would be a challenge for me to write; which it was, because I don't really think that way.  Yes, I know there are people on both sides of the aisle who will spew hatred such as I wrote on a regular basis.

Honor your father and your mother

The Ten Commandments apply in various ways to true principled Conservatism. Honoring your parents by upholding a strong family core is one ideal the Conservatives preach.  Having been married to my childhood sweetheart for 15 years and raising two children, I believe that the family is what shapes good people. Children need role models to learn from, and parents are the key to this.  I do not view divorce as an option, and work hard every day with my wife to keep our marriage and family core intact.  Like my parents, I am devoted to maintaining a Christian and Conservative lifestyle in my home.

You shall not commit adultery

Conservative principles point to loyalty in marriage.  This is the core to the family being stable and remaining intact.  While I cannot prove this beyond a doubt, I have always been faithful to my wife.

You shall not steal

Christian Conservatives will strongly adhere to this Commandment.  We believe, very strongly, in giving to others of ourselves and not taking.  The principles of Conservatism include smaller government and lower taxes.  According to the CBO, the top 40% of income earners paid 106.2% of the income taxes collected.  At the same time, the bottom 40% paid -9.1% in Federal Income Taxes.  Call it redistribution, legalized theft, or whatever; in my mind that is stealing from one person to give it to another.  God should judge us for our personal generosity, not the government or those who elect their government.  Christian Conservatives should give of themselves in the form of time, talent and treasure to assist others.  Voting to give someone else's money is stealing for moral purposes, but not the Christian approach to generosity and compassion.

You shall not covet your neighbor's goods

Christian Conservatives do not envy the success of others.  We do not feel entitled to the same richness of life that our neighbors attain.  Rather, we strive for our own personal success through hard work and dedication.  We do not seek to take from others what is not ours, but to give of ourselves to others.

We often hear the word compassion used in political circles.  As discussed in The Broken Moral Compass, compassion is not giving of others wealth through force.  Compassion is giving of one's self.  To be compassionate, one must make the moral commitment to help another in need. To take pity on another, then demand someone else take care of it, is not compassion. Conservative Christians are very compassionate people.  If a neighbor, friend, or complete stranger is in need, you will find them helping in whatever way they can.

Arguably, Christian Conservatives attempt to protect the weakest of the weak; the unborn. Strongly based in Christian values is human life.  Being pro-life is easy when you are Christian. True Conservatives in politics will be pro-life and we support them fully.  After all, being pro-life is not about controlling the woman, it is about the innocent child being carried.

Conservative Love...How the Media Has it All Wrong!

There is something special about my political affiliation overlooked by many. In fact, it is doubtful that many even think about it, even thought they are part of it. Conservatives offer a brotherly love that cannot be found in any other political association.  

Tonight, the distinction was made clear to me on Twitter of all places!  I had decided that I could not think of anything to write about, yet I wanted to post something original, or at least, derived from an interaction or thought.  Rather than stare at my blank screen, I decided to use the time to expand my fellowship on Twitter.  I did what many newbies to social networks will do; follow their friends followers.  Simply put, I went through my Twitter feed and followed each re-Tweet from those I followed which was Conservative in nature.  I soon realized that my phone was annoying me, beeping like mad, as people responded.  So, I did what any normal person would do; I muted the damn thing!

When Winning Just Isn't Enough...

Often, I wonder if Conservatives lack something that Liberals have; the "killer instinct" in politics. Now, I know what you are thinking; when I am arguing with a Liberal, you are damn right I have a killer instinct!  But, I am not talking about those of us out here, arguing with Liberals every day.  I am talking about our supposedly Conservative representation at the Federal level.

As I discussed in Silver Linings of an Obamacare Bomb, the opportunity was forthcoming and I could see it.  So, why can't our representation see this?

In recent weeks, we are witnessing the Obama death spiral in politics.  Obama's numbers are plunging into frigid waters where he has never ventured before.  His RCP approval/disapproval ratings have dropped to 40.5% and 55.4%, respectively, as of this week.  That has to be painful, considering Bush had higher approval ratings at this point in his Presidency. And, Liberals claim that Bush was the worst President ever.  No, I am not much of a Bush man myself.

Why Democrats Don't Make Good Leaders

Today, recounting the recent events in our political pin ball machine, I have come to realize that Democrats don't lead.  We, the people, have become the shiny ball, bouncing off bumpers and at the command of leaders who are just trying to rack up points.  President Obama has made this abundantly clear in his lack of ability or knowledge regarding true leadership.  His Democrat allies in the Senate and, to a lesser extent, House, have repeatedly faltered in leading this country.  How bad has it gotten?  It is up to debate, as to the extent of sub par proposals and actions that are being taken by Democrats today, and in recent memory.

President Obama proposed a "fix" that really does nothing for the Affordable Care Act nor the people 

Already off the rails

who are most affected by this atrocious legislation.  Is it his sheer ignorance or the lack of ability to lead? Obama's supposed fix is to allow insurers to continue offering plans that had to be cancelled under Obamacare laws.  This fix does nothing but confuse the health insurance market further.  

Politics and Racism

I am often disturbed by the common used argument by Liberals these days; they don't like Obama because they are racist.  This all too common statement undermines the very fabric of political debate.  It demeans the person making the argument to a point where no validity is reached in discourse.  Those on the opposing side automatically tune out anything that the accused has to say, because, who would listen to a racist, after all?  This argument is not only used here on the internet in personal and group debates, but also in the public sphere where talking heads constantly point to racism as the motivation for opposition to Obama.

Let's step back for a moment, and recap some history regarding racism in general terms. First of all, racism exists, and few deny this.  Racism exists on both sides of the political spectrum as well as across all nationalities, sex, creed, religion, etc.  In other words, picking out racism is not a one-sided conversation; to suggest otherwise would be ignorant in and of itself.  Second, the election of Obama was a great moment in American history from the standpoint that we had our first black President.  It took more than 50% of the voting public to elect him (this is important to keep in mind later in this post).  Third, we have an ugly history when it comes to racism; from slavery to voting rights and even after that point.  Few Americans are proud of this deplorable history we share, and many work to overcome this and to heal the nation.

The Problem With Being Thin

My daughter and I, especially, run into several issues with our build.  Jeans don't fit as intended, as neither of us was blessed with a butt.  For that matter, neither was my son blessed with a substantial gluteus maximus.  Buying pants is an exercise in patience as we have to try on pair after pair, skinny, husky, different sizes, etc. until we find the right one.  And, these days, my kids are growing exponentially so this becomes a regular occurrence in our lives.

We don't starve ourselves by any means, we eat huge amounts of food.  My grocery bill regularly runs $900+ per month.  However, we are all very active; I just run after the kids and work in my yard regularly.  My daughter swims 4-7 days per week for nearly 2 hours a day.  And, then, there is Will...Will plays hockey 24/7, 365 days a year, inside and out.  The kid has endless energy and embarrasses his teammates with his unending supply.  We all build up a big appetite doing these activities and we are regular consumers of pasta, bread, cheese, milk, and, of course, bacon.  We, of course, have our healthy foods as well.  My kids will demolish fresh fruit like a normal kid will eat candy.  They choose vegetables over desert on a regular basis.

So, why do I need a politician regulating my children's meals at school?  Yes, I get it; there are many kids and families overweight out there.  But, for kids like mine, they can't get enough food at lunch to fill them up.  They also tend to need a massive snack when they get home every day and before their practice or game begins.  And, why are they skinny?  Chalk some of it up to genetics, but a good portion has to do with our active lifestyle and the insistence that our children don't sit in front the TV or on their electronics (as I sit here writing on my computer, ironically).

Every Day is Veteran's Day

It only comes around one day a year; Veteran's Day.  But, it is a reminder that we need to thank our brave men and women, not just on this day, but every day.  Many of us seek out the opportunities to thank Veteran's, but struggle to find the ways to say thank you to many of these strangers who surround us.  After all, how can you thank someone who offers so much, yet gets so little in return?  So, the question becomes, how can we thank our Veteran's every day, not just this one day of the year?

For starters, we can do something very simple; when you see someone who can be identified as a Veteran, stop for two seconds and go shake their hand; tell them thank you.  We all live busy lives, but this only takes a moment and lets these people know you care.  I do this every opportunity I see, and it is amazing the reaction you will get.  There is not a better feeling than shaking hands with a hero; and yes, that is my opinion of each and every one of them.

Teach your children about Veterans.  My children see me doing this all the time; it has made a profound impact on their view of these men and women.  But, it goes further than that....my children will also go up to these, mostly, strangers and thank them as well.  I can see it in the eyes of these Veterans; they enjoy every child that appreciates them.  I have taken the time to educate my children, show them pictures, read stories and visit with men and women at the local American Legion and VFW.  We take them to ceremonies honoring the fallen and we teach them about respect at these events.  My children catch me off guard with their own thoughts how to thank Veterans as well.  They are incredibly excited about this summer's family vacation; we are going to Washington D.C. to visit Arlington.  They are already researching all of the heroes tombs that they want to visit. Educating our children ensures that respects will be paid, thank you's will be given, and we c

an continue to give back.

Another simple gesture, stand in reverence when at a parade or other event where Veteran's are presenting the colors or marching.

During the National Anthem, stand in silence (unless you are singing), remove your caps and stand facing the flag.  It amazes me how many people I see not doing this at events.  And, quite honestly, it disturbs me as to what kind of people they are!

If you happen to be a hiring manager in a business, actively seek out qualified Veterans to fill open positions.  There is nothing better than hiring a Veteran to work on your team.

Anonymously pay for a Veteran's meal or drink or whatever chance you see.  Why do it anonymously?  This is simple, we don't need a thank you from our Veterans.  What do they need to thank us for?  There is no amount of thank you's that we can ever give to these men and women.  The pure satisfaction is knowing that I just did something nice for a great man or woman.  And, it is hard to argue that the unexpected is one of the best things in life.  I know that they are not expecting it and it will make their day a little brighter.

When waiting in line for something, whatever it may be, let a Veteran take your place in line and move to the back.  Is it really all that important to wait a little longer for something?  It is just a way to give of your time to a Veteran.  It doesn't cost anything and it is a simple gesture.  Recently, I was traveling alone with my children and waiting in the security line at the airport.  My son made me and the man in line behind me laugh pretty hard.  He turned to the man, a soldier in full gear, and asked, "Why do you have to go through security?"  The young man couldn't help but laugh.  After all, my son was implying something I have always found odd myself.  Do we really need protection from our soldiers when boarding a plane?  After a good laugh, we were quick to let the soldier ahead of us in line. Miraculously, others saw this and began doing the same; before we knew it, he was some 100+ people ahead of us.  As he was loading his pack on to the checkpoint, he turned back to my son and saluted him.  This, of course, made my son feel 10 feet tall!  He saluted the soldier right back.

Volunteerism drives this country.  Taking your time to volunteer for Veteran's organizations is a great way to give back.  There are numerous different organizations out there that cater to many different aspects of Veteran life.  Use your talents and give what you can. Take the time to visit with hospitalized Veterans at the VA, deliver meals to our elderly Veterans, help with organizing, running, setting up, picking up an event for our heroes....the list is endless.

Give what you can.  There are so many great organizations out there doing great things for our Veterans.  Maybe you don't have the time to volunteer, but can afford to give financial assistance.  This is just another simple way to say thank you.  And no, we don't have to be multi millionaires to help.  If each of us gave $5 per month, it would amount to $1.5 Billion dollars a month to charity.  Think about it, every little bit helps!

Lastly, buy a flag and present it properly on your home.  Whether it is Veteran's Day or just a normal day, the flag can always be present on our homes.  Make sure that you follow proper display rules to show your utmost respect.

This year, let us pledge to do more than say we are patriotic.  Let's show these men and women what they truly mean to us and our families.  Don't just say it, live it.

God Bless each and every Veteran and their families.  America is great due to your sacrifices and service to this country.  When we talk of American exceptionalism, we are speaking especially about you.  Thank you Veterans!

+Daniel Charles +William Briggs +David Johnson 

Related articles

• Starbucks: FREE Tall Coffee for Veterans, Active Military, & Spouses on Veteran's Day! (shortandsassydivadeals.com)
• Freedom is Not Free! (morselsofbread.net)
• Ways to honor veterans on Veterans Day (krqe.com)
• Great Clips will give free haircuts to vets (vindy.com)

Seeking an orphanage....

Like many, today I feel abandoned by those who are supposed to be my representation and support structure.  My family, the GOP, has completely rejected my viewpoints.  By, once again, not supporting more traditional (Tea Party, if you would like) candidates like Ted Cuccinelli, they have abandoned us completely.  No, this is not the first time, and certainly won't be the last.  I, like so many others, now seek a home; somewhere I can be loved and respected and given nourishment to continue life's daily grind.

It hurts many Conservatives to have their family broken up.  After all, the Conservative movement involves more than just politics, it involves our every day lives.  Generally speaking, we live Conservative lives; we go to church, we save our money, we give to private charity, we spend time with friends and family, we respect others privacy, we work hard at our jobs, we help our children with their homework, we volunteer our free time to charity and children's activities, we are not rude or boisterous about our beliefs because we believe people have the right to believe what they want.  Our family values have always kept us strong; voting the party line to support for the good of the party, and embracing the shortcoming we saw in order to keep Conservative values alive in today's society.  People like George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney did not represent us very well.  Sure, parts of their platforms had some relevance to us, but it was only enough for us to plug our noses and vote.  Due to this, and other recent happenings, we now feel like we have no support system.

Who am I?

I am home from work, sick, today.  Sitting here, pondering life in the quietness of my house, I began to question why I believe in the values I write.  Maybe it is the illness and self pity that has driven me to this point.  Or, maybe it was a blog I read this morning.  I am so delirious I do not know.  Either way, here I am...

I strongly believe that my politics are a reflection of my own personality.  People who know me are sometimes shocked at my political beliefs because of my actions in the real world.  But, for anyone who truly is open minded to politics, it should not come as a surprise.

First and foremost, I am a fiscal Conservative.  Like every family in America, government should live within its means.  This does not mean expanding the tax base or raising taxes for every justifiable cause under the sun.  Americans work hard for their homes, families, food, and other necessary items.  Some are more blessed than others, but many times reflects the education they received or the hard work they have put forth.  Yes, I know, there are always exceptions to the rule.

I was raised in a lower middle class family; we did not have money for extravagant vacations, family outings or any extras in life.  I learned to live with what we had and tried not to complain too much growing up.  My parents worked very hard to provide food and shelter to us and rarely complained.  They gave excessively to our church and paid for me to attend a private school in grade school and high school.  I learned that hard work was required and frugality was a part of life.  We could not live outside of our means without punishment of some sort.  Today, my wife and I are considered highly successful; she too coming from a similar background.  To me, the government's overspending is only hurting those who it purports to keep safe; American families and especially our children.  After all, we are spending so much that our children will now have to pay back much of the debt we are accumulating now.  That would be like my parents charging me for my childhood...so wrong in my mind.

We told you so....

Conservatives on Obamacare: We told you so | Washington Times Communities

It amazes me that people will back "the greater good" until it hits them.  I have always argued with Liberals that this is how they should approach subjects.  For example, if they are promoting food stamps as a solution, I ask them to imagine if they were paying for it.  For many liberals, this is hard to do in practice.  I don't know why, but they are just not wired this way.

Obamacare has proven to be no different...the left has constantly bashed the right for our continual opposition to it.  They continually accuse us of not caring about the poor, the uninsured, etc.  Yet, now that they roll out has come and passed; we are suddenly in the same boat.  Premiums are skyrocketing, people are losing their plans, companies have stopped hiring full time work, and more; but, even so, Liberals continue to stand firm that this is the best for our nation.  Really?  This is the best we can do?

Though a pipe dream, I would actually like to see Liberals listen for once.  After all, I think we have proven ourselves right, time and time again.  Stop the rhetoric and just listen.  Yes, we have solutions that make sense for all Americans, even the poor.  We DO care about the well being of others, you just have never listened to us.  And yes, we have been right all along.

I, for one, don't really care that we were right; I always knew we would be.  But, I do care about getting this country back on the right path.  The only thing I care about is that Liberals start listening; stop putting down Conservatives and be respectful, for the first time in 5 years.