I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. In the previous blog I shared many of the reasons I celebrate Thanksgiving. Using many of those thoughts I wrote a poem about celebrating thanksgiving every day. I shared it on Facebook, so some of you have seen it. It was well enough received I want to share it with everyone.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Over 30,000 days I’ve wandered earth,
only felt hunger by choice,
thirsted for knowledge and understanding,
never ducked a bullet in war or heard gunshots in the neighborhood,
lights lit the many comfortable homes,
clothes filled my closets,
pains received care,
my first car bought at fourteen,
I kneel in freedom.
My needs met, abundance calls–
heed the needs of others.
Humbled before the less fortunate,
thanksgiving becomes a daily walk
beyond the yearly celebration.
Personality Responsibility. In the Thanksgiving blog two weeks ago, I tried to raise some issues for your reflection about guns, cars and drugs.
The official motto of the NRA is “Gun safety, personal responsibility, and the Second Amendment.” In the blog I wrote about the NRA slogan regarding personal responsibility — “Guns do not kill people, people do.”
In response, a person I deeply respect read the blog and wrote a thoughtful reflection. He pointed out — “To be sure, it’s the person who pulls the trigger and not the gun itself who is responsible. … I also believe that gun-related deaths can be reduced through stricter reinforcement of rules restricting gun purchase among groups such as those below 18 years of age and those with criminal records.” We have laws regulating guns, he would like enforcement and possibly new regulations.
He has a good point. Personal responsibility is the cause of most deaths with cars and we have laws and regulations to reduce the number of accidents. Personal responsibility is the cause of most deaths with drugs and so we have laws and regulations that make them illegal. It follows that having laws and regulations about guns is an acceptable practice.
Unfortunately, too many people think regulating guns is a violation of the Second Amendment.
I do not know anyone who wants to repeal the Second Amendment. Even those people who are not hunters believe people have the right to own guns and hunt. Most people believe in the right to own a gun for personal protection.
I believe it would be worthwhile to look at the situations where people use guns to kill and see if better education required by laws and regulations could reduce the deaths. I do not think an investigation is a violation of the Second Amendment. We should work together to reduce gun deaths just as we try to do with cars and drugs.
Coldwater, Kansas in the News. I was born in the small town of Coldwater, Kansas. Actually, I was born in Ashland because Coldwater was too small to have a hospital. The population at the last census was 687 people. A town with no stoplights.
In my wildest thoughts, I never dreamed Coldwater would be in the news headlines. However, the mayor was found to be someone who voted illegally. His heritage is Mexican but he is a legal permanent resident of the US. He is not a citizen. He assumed his legal status meant he could vote and has voted for years. I have no idea why he did not pursue citizenship. The Republican Attorney General of Kansas is bringing charges
The interesting context is that Coldwater citizens are very conservative. Many refused COVID vaccinations for fear of the government inserting microchips in them. What makes the situation interesting is the mayor votes Republican.
This and That
I wonder what J D Vance’s wife thinks of this idea? “What is an American?” This was the question Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri posed at the fifth annual National Conservatism Conference in Washington. His answer is that the nation is fundamentally not based on the idea of equality or freedom or any other ideal. Nor is it accessible to people of all races and religions. It is fundamentally, he told an assembled crowd, a white homeland.
Sen. Eric Schmitt gives a shockingly white nationalist speech.
Puzzles. It is not Trump Derangement Syndrome to be puzzled by some of his claims.
For example: “Each boat that is destroyed by a missile saves 25,000 lives.” Twenty-two boats have been destroyed. Twenty-two times 25,000 is 550,000, Only 80,00 died last year from drug overdoses.
“Drug prices have been reduced by 500, 600, 700 percent.” In my education I learned a 100 % reduction would make drugs free. I have no idea what a reduction beyond 100% means.
Good News
Heartwarming
This 9-Year-Old Is Making The Holidays Brighter For Hundreds Of Sick Children
Ohio Couple Adopts All Four Siblings So They Can Stay Together
Courage
‘I’ve Never Swam In My Life’: School Bus Driver Rescues Missing 4-Year-Old From Lake
Peace
Jerry
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