On Missing

I miss a lot of people.

Living near Sacramento for 20 years or so, in San Jose for 2 years, and now Chicago area for 3-1/2 years now, there are many people I’ve left behind, both in space and time.

My Facebook friends list is testament to this. Only people I’ve actually met or had substantial interaction or connection with are my friends on facebook. I don’t accept people as friends just because we have mutual friends or because they ask. And still the list just passed 600 people.

Old churches, social groups, organizations, choirs, jobs, etc. Each contribute a few more memories to me and a few more friends to my life. And a few more people to feel melancholy when I remember I haven’t seen them for some time.

I’m glad that for my thus far short history the years have been full of joy and pain, angst and enthusiasm, love and loss. It means that I’ve made much of the opportunities I’ve been given and for the many people I’ve rubber shoulders with many relationships have begun.

And for the vast majority of them, I know they will continue on forever as they are with brothers and sisters of Christ.

Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

And so, on this Thanksgiving Day, 2008, I wish that for each of you there will be people you can remember, joys you can share, love you can bask in, and plenty of blessings to relish today, and for each and every day of your life, both long past and yet to come.

Creativity

As usual I was browsing the news today (yes, it is thanksgiving, but I am over 2,000 miles away from my family and my adopted family hasn’t woken up yet) and I ran into this interesting article.

Just some basic concepts I pulled from the article.

• Although creativity is rarely a prerequisite from the presidency but it should have been in Mr. Obama’s case. By promising change, Mr. Obama was promising somoething new or atleast newer (because it is assumed that the old establishment cannot change). This would require creativity to look outside of Washington and find competent staff members who can fill national level positions. However, this creativity and change doesn’t seem to be happening.

Barack Obama defended his decision to pack his new Cabinet with veteran Washington insiders and former Clinton officials yesterday after a campaign in which he promised change.

• Mr. Obama doesn’t have a “New” plan. Throughout his campaign, Mr. Obama always said he had a plan, but never mentioned to show it. At the end he started listing steps of action that sounded a whole ton like core conservative values, however, no real plans, just promises to every person on welfare. Now, we are receiving evidence that he has no plan. As my point above mentioned, a plan for change would include reaching outside of Washington for influence and ideas. However, Mr. Obama is simply falling back on the core of his party, the Clintons. Hmm . . . is Mr. Obama a leader, or a mouthpiece?
• Despite the appointments of Rahm Emanuel (the single most dangerous person in the Democrat party) and Hillary Clinton, Mr. Obama’s party is still claiming he is center-right. What is scary is that they are saying this about their most liberal member. I believe that the Liberals believe that this last election, and the huge turnout, gave them a mandate (a word the Conservative movement started using first) to drag this country down to European standards. However, a closer look at the election will tell a different story. In fact, the turn out at this election was much less than expected. The turn out this election was only about 10% higher than 2004 while the 2004 turnout was about 17% higher than 2000. Also, once again, youth did not vote. In fact, the majority of the increase in voting was because people who had already voted before, but hadn’t recently, voted. On top of that, these “liberal” voters, voted for traditional marriage in every state where it was being contested (though now the California Supreme Court is deciding whether a Constitutional Amendment is Constitutional [um . . . duh . . . it is the Constitution]).
• One last point I really want to make. There are over 40 million people on welfare who can vote. Those people most likely voted their pocket books (which candidate will give me more), but, as my last point makes, I find it hard to say this about everyone else. I do though think I know why they voted. Here is my argument. Mr. Obama was constantly labeled as a great communicator (I am not sure how true this is because communicators actually communicate information). He was someone who spoke to the voters and kept them informed. The voters loved to listen to Mr. Obama, and I believe this is the Republican parties fault. The basics of leadership dictate that a leader must communicate with his followers. The leader must let the followers know what is happening, where they are going, and what they are to do. If a leader does this, they are halfway to success. This what Mr. Obama has done. He has said that the Democratic party needs to get to the White House, has to battle the Republicans, and needs support. Compare this to the Republican party. In the election we were told, we dont’ need the conservatives (till they realised that the conservative vote was their only vote), we dont’ have an enemy (after all, we want this to be a civil election), just get the White House, who cares what we do after that (maybe we can do what we have been doing, it has worked so far). However, even before the election, we the voters have not been led. After all, what is really happening in Iraq? And who is telling us what has happened? Oh, the media, why can’t the President tell us? Communicate with us and let us know that he needs our support? There was no communication about the financial crash. The Washington Insiders just got together and came up with a plan without communicating the situation to the voters. Sure, the Republicans have challenged the Democrats on their policies, but have they told the voters about the Democrat policies and how they could be countered? Although I do loath Mr. Obama’s rash of news conferences (he is not the President yet), he is fulfilling people’s basic needs, communication.

IHOP: International House Of (im)Patience

Returning from Midland Michigan to Chicago and home today, American Texan and I stopped for lunch at IHOP in Benton Harbor, just north of the Indiana/Michigan border.

We were seated without delay in a restaurant just over its lunch rush. People were leaving and about half the booths were unoccupied.

We had been sitting about 5 minutes before a friendly member of the staff, Sharon, asked if we’d been helped yet. She herself was not assigned our section, but she promptly found our waitress and our drink orders were taken.

Our waitress did not have a name tag and did not introduce herself, so her identity remains a mystery. But her service was shoddy and lacking of warmth or enthusiasm. So far as we could tell by watching the rest of the restaurant, we were her only table, and yet the time between her visits was long. She did not bring us refills of our over-priced “Unlimited Refill” iced tea. In fact, by the time we’d finished our drinks, she’d not visited us in around 5 minutes or even come out of the kitchen area where there was an engaging conversation taking place between all the staff. We did not see her again that service.

We’d both finished what we could of our dishes and our drinks had been empty for some time. Our car was stocked with plenty of beverages for the remainder of the trip and so we were not overly concerned about getting refills. I’m not generally a confrontational kind of person, and so it was only after sitting for several more minutes, obviously finished, that I went up to another member of the staff and asked to speak with a manager.

Bashir (sp?), the friendly and accommodating manager, was at our table shortly and after we explained the details of our service, he asked if we required anything else and gave us our check with a significant discount applied at the register.

The waitress was too busy talking with the other staff to bother herself about us.

I still tipped, but only 10%. Which leads me to a rant:

What is it with people being expected to tip 20% or more on ever-increasing meal costs? If you show up with a large family or a “party” as groups of people above some arbitrary size are called, you are shackled with an automatic “gratuity”. And if you don’t tip, or tip less than 20%, you’re the boor.

I’m already paying $9 for a wad of eggs and bacon I would be ashamed to serve to my friends. Maybe I’m the fool for eating there. There are precious few places I feel I actually receive my monies’ worth eating at nowadays. Zocalo is one of them. Both American Texan and I agree this is one of our favorite places to eat, with creative dishes, good flavor, and an acceptable price. Applebees and TGI Friday and all the other yuppy-level establishments out there seem to have been able to pull the wool over our eyes as far as quality goes, with obviously prepackaged, frozen, and nuked fresh to your table being the name of the game for their entrees. And you’re taking your life into your own hands eating at the greasy spoons, with kitchen conditions often reaching appalling levels.

The question then is obvious: why do I go?

Not sure. I’m just not sure.

My Path, My Fear

One of my greatest fears is leadership.

I’ve felt the call to lead in various roles many times in my short life, but I tend to shrink from that responsibility.

My fear is of my struggles. I fear that the things I struggle with in my life combined with a position of leadership will bring God shame or damage His name.

So here again I stand at a cross-roads. I am being encouraged to take a position I’ve seen proven over and again is something God has brought me to. But once again I fear.

Why I’m An Independent

I will grant - to the point - I voted for McCain/ Palin, but honestly what choices did I have this election as a conservative? Truly I was rooting for Palin who is a real conservative; in contrast to McCain who has a moderate/ Rhino history - working with Kennedy doesn’t get him marks in my book. But the socialist Obasmic Democratic “elect” is out of the question. I’ll grant it is great to have an African American as our President; but that is as far as I will go. Now the Republican party is cannibalizing itself.

If you were listening to Rush Limbaugh today you’d heard how the Republican party threw Palin under the bus - for why they lost the election by a landslide. Of course it had nothing(!) to do with McCain’s lack of allegiance to the conservative movement, nor his inability to tag Obama as a CLEAR socialist (merely hinting via Joe the Plumber), and him not having a clear distinction from Bush. “My fellow Americans,” and “My friends” will only give you so much encouragement in this economy. If you ask me McCain should have followed after Palin - she should’ve been the lead of the ticket. Granted even then she would’ve not won because the Bush party set the Republican party up for failure, but she would’ve done better than 155 electoral votes - last I remember. Point being the Republican party is tossing this beautiful woman under the bus. This is why I’m an Independent and have little hope in BOTH parties which are, for a lack of better words, screwing us.

RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, it is worse than I thought. It is worse than I thought inside the Republican Party. What the Republican Party, led by disgruntled and failed McCain staffers are trying to do to Sarah Palin, is unconscionable and is unacceptable.

Rush LINK

If you ask me the Republican party is treating her like a cheap date - humped and dumped!

Read the rest of the story and ask yourself if you want to reform the party, which has become more and more like the Democratic party, or be more like another party - a separatist. Michael Savage has been saying this for the longest time - both sides are against the American values - and FINALLY maybe you’ll see this truth; while both Rush and Hannity have been carrying the Republican water bucket and drinking the red cool-aid. I’m not insulting Rush or Hannity (I listen to them regularly) but we - the next generation of voters - need to consider our future. Changes are needed, NEEDED!

So I’m an independent. Once you come to this realization, in honor of American history (ie Pilgrims and Puritans), we may then be able to talk about what to do.

Status

In honor of today, and people’s thoughts, I am staring a running blog for the next couple days that will highlight people’s election oriented Facebook and Myspace statuses. All the other authors are invited to contribute to this blog.

Emily E. - is thank God it’s the last day.

Andrew B. - let the entertainment begin. I won’t look at the news till tomorrow.

Teresa P. - is proud to be an AMERICAN!!!

Tim S. - says “Go mccain”!

Sonja L. - is torn between candidates…. I lilke both in different ways.

Angela G. - is working at the polls all day tomorrow. Please go vote!

Marie H. - is not looking forward to standing in line for hours to vote tomorrow!

Maggie B. - is praying that God’s will be done tomorrow, whatever that may be.

Hillary B. - is really ready for this election to be over.

Courtney W. - is the 1st person to donate her status to not caring about getting out the vote on whichever candidate. Just vote for who you want, and pray. God knows best.

Chad P. - voted McCain/Palin. You can too! ;).

Melissa D. - is turning off the stinkin’ tv! If I see ONE MORE political ad, I may scream……

Chris O. - “This is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”

Lauren P. - is giving everything to God! :).

Hayley B. - is “going to love socialized america” not.

Joseph B. - is gonna treat the election the same way David treated King Saul. With respect and honour, and the knowledge that God works all things out for good.

Bernice A. -  praying for this nation and will hold steadfast to God’s word.

Audrey S. - is hoping that Obama fulfills his promises since he’s now our president. (Lets hope this doesn’t happen!)

Justin W. - is my president is black, my lambo’s blue, and i’ll be danged if i ain’t too.

Christina H. - doesn’t know what to think….

Bryson H. - is consoled in the fact osama won’t be able to mess us up too badly in four years. And by then ppl l be smart enough t keep him out.

Sam H. - here’s the real story–Pelosi defeats Sheehan!

Margaret H. - ohhh boy…

Tim S. - really needs to move to a redstate.

Melissa D. - watched a movie instead of the election. Politics OVERLOAD.

Chase K. - is thouroughly disappointed in the way many “Christ followers” have behaved during this election. But feels the better candidate won tonight. Bravo Obama, Bravo. (Not sure I agree with you Chase)

Tyler R. - is putting things aside for… ever.

Reece A. - “It is the end of the world as we know it.”, Obama is going to destroy america, but he can’t take away my guns or my faith!

Steve S. - is tired… of everything, g’night.

Mark S. - 1 Samuel 12:13-15. (Good one Mark)

Heather W. - is thankful for a God who is still the same and is praying for our new president!

Matthew B. - is glad that there will be big issues and lots to do. Anyone up for a fight? You’d better be…

Sammi W. - is trusting God. He has a plan, He knows best! I think some people have forgotten…”One nation under God!”

Bethany B. - is not a happy Camper not that Obama has won…how can we be so stupid to elect someone who doesnt surpport our Soilders,and hates our Military…Dumb Ass.

Scott R. - is still in shock from the election results…I still feel that either way we, the people, lost. But the reality is still evading me.

Jessica P. - is not gonna let the news of the new prez rob me of my joy in Jesus! God please havve mercy on us.

B. J. J. - Obama made history by being the 1st African-American president in the United States and I am going to get a newspaper to remember that historic day.

Emily T. - does not want people to blame her when this country goes down the drain - i did not vote for him.

Sarah H. - is very disapointed in the election results!

Grace B. - still loves America.

Amanda T. - is ?

Ryan C. - Will respect and pray for Obama as the President of the United States as all christians should.

Hayley B. - is “going to love socialized america” not.

Tim V. - salutes his president, MR. Barack Obama.

What Would Obama Do?

It’s About Sticking It To The Man

Voting for Obama, for many black people, is about sticking it “To The Man,” - whether they know it or not. Other than the color of the skin, Obama is simply popular among his ethnicity because he is a socialist and black culture is heavily influenced by this belief system - take from those who are capable and have, and give to those who are not and have not. Much of this aligns with the black culture which believes they are still regularly discriminated against by the white man in high places from businesses. So if the government can be turned into a tool to take from the rich, they will vote for people to do so; and the socialist Democratic party is more than willing to use these votes to their advantage. This partially explains why, even though it was the Republican party which freed the slaves, that the Democratic party gets the largest percentage of votes from the black community.

Obama in a radio interview in the early 2000s stated he believes the Civil Rights movement of the 60s didn’t go far enough because he believes there wasn’t enough “distribution….change.” LINK. He’s also went onto say the founding fathers did not do enough with the constitution because it doesn’t say what the government is to do for us LINK So this IS the change of which Obama wants to bring to America. I can understand why people with entitlement mentalities would vote for him, however, what really concerns me is the average American who is okay with paying more in taxes directly, or indirectly via the products of companies which pay, now, higher taxes. With this passive, boiling-frog mentality, before they know it they or their grandchildren will be in the cross hairs of the government.

As an Independent I have some serious issues with the Republican party, but the vote is between an American socialist (John McCain) and a European socialist (Obama); and the reason my founding fathers came to America was to NOT be like Europe and be our own nation. I hope my generation, which by many polls is more conservative, can steer this great nation back on course.

This is going to be an interesting election and next four years.

Target Audience

It seems that Mr. From the People (cough) and For the People is a little out of touch with those he is supposed to represent.

with John McCain gaining among . . . people earning less than $50,000

In light of this, I would like to propose that, although he has claimed to support the middle class, Mr. Obama is primarily a representative of the lower class (some of whom sleep till 11:00 am and take our paycheck so they can get high), and the illegal aliens (some of whom want SSN and ID’s so they can vote).

Talk about a stretch for Voters

So, here is another flip-flop, say whatever needs to be said, hope people don’t see through it, comment from the great unifier who stayed away from Washington during the financial crisis because he did not think he would have much influence on the proceedings.

On Oct. 11, Obama told a crowd in the City of Brotherly Love — the biggest city on the key swing state of Pennsylvania: “My White Sox are gone, so I’ll go ahead and root for the Phillies now.”

 ”I have said from the beginning that I’m a unity candidate, bringing people together. So when you see a White Sox fan showing some love for the Rays and the Rays showing some love back, you know we’re onto something here,” Obama said

I personally think he should have taken this opportunity to vote “present.”