After I left high school behind in 85, I went looking for and found an insistiute of higher education. I attempted to get a degree in BBB (Booze, Beer, and Babes). Predictably I ran short of cash, and my parents after looking at my grades declined my fabulous offer to fund my further research into what makes females do the things that they do and why they look so damned good doing it. Further research into something called maturity was also recommended, but that a scary field of study. Ronnie was still president, but I thought that Robin Williams was right. It was Jim Henson running an animatronic puppet with yet another actor providing voice over.
Stumped about how to fund my academic interests I final broke down and actually listened to my dad. He said I should consult with my uncle Sam. Sam would pay for the bills if I gave him some of my time. He cautioned me that I would be covering checks that Sam wrote with my ass. Being young, dumb, and immortal, I was fine with that.
He also said that under no circumstances was I to enlist in the marines. I pointed out that he was once a marine. He just restated no marines. I came back after enlisting to become a paratrooper and he just muttered profanities I had not heard before.
I learned all of them and more in ten years of service at Ft. Bragg and other exotic world locations. I learned a great deal in that time frame. I also did more damage to my body than I should have. The consequence of believeing in your immortality. A shattered leg on a training exercise put me out of the military and in to the department of Veterans Affairs. That was yet another eye opening experience.
Ten more years in governmental service and I was done. I left after twenty years and now spend my time fishing and keeping track of those who would "serve" us as elected officials.
After having to spend a good portion of my life cashing the checks that those people write, you will excuse me for casting a jaundiced eye on anyone who claims that they want to and are capable of leading anything. The other thing that I have noticed is that those who's voices are the loudest often have the most to hide. Those who shreik and wail about something have either done it, want to do it, or are doing it and have no intention of ever stopping.
To those who firmly believe that the constitution is written in stone, I would point out the ammendments. Nature has simple rules. Survival is paramount. Adapt, evolve, procreate, or perish. The very nature of the document that guides us is to do the same. This is the true nature of the greatness of America. Greatness looks forward with hope and a determination to achieve something worthwhile for all to benefit in.
I am tired of the negative messages of hate that are causually tossed about by those who hide behind a very thin tissue of leagal excuses. I am tired of those who desire a theocratic state. I am tired of business conglomerates buying politicians and politicians who allow themselves to be bought. I'm tired of supreme court justices at state and national level who cannot get the political filters off and objectively apply the rule of law to all equally. I am tired of deals made on golf courses, backrooms, and strip clubs where tax payer money is going to be used. I am for rights that were earned with blood and misery. I am against anyone who would strip rights away that were earned with blood and misery.
What has this done to me as citizen? Dad had a saying about marriage and I think it applies here. There is the illusion of what each partner believes a marriage should be. There is the disillusion that comes with reality of real life which is a hard kick that shatters the illusion. Then there is resolution in which reality and hope are mixed.
Politically I think it works differently. Illusion, disillusion, resolution, and if things can't be fixed, revolution. I believe that there is a changing of the guard underway. Its cultural, economic, socially oriented, technically advanced and for the first time aware of some of the power and influence it wields. Fronts and facades won't work on these people and the numbers just keep growing.
I may be a little older than most of these people. I don't care. I may be a little behind the power curve technically. I don't care. I care that that they seem to have a solid grasp of what exaclty happened here. I care that they did something about it. They are continuing to do things about it. It's relentless, remorseless and unwaveringly positive in its message of change and forward thinking. Yes they've taken hits from insults to actual physical abuse. They keep coming. The guard is changing.
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