It is with mixed emotions, I sit here, and wonder.

I wonder how much of the campaign rhetoric will become reality. I wonder how much people will use this opportunity to assess what a blessing it is to be an American. Will the Republican Party have the fortitude to look itself in the mirror, and change the things which caused it to loose the way? Will the Democrat Party realize it still must serve all Americans? Will all national officials remember their oath of office is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, not their party, not lobbies, not even the individual citizens of a particular generation.

I also wonder, and marvel, at the magnificence of this process where we can change an entire administration, in the blink of an eye. There’s no national strike, or military taking over the government. It’s a peaceful, respectful, and honorable transition. Not too many societies throughout history can make that claim!

I worry about citizens that believe it is fundamentally acceptable for the state to confiscate another’s property in the name of ‘fairness.’ I’m concerned that many Americans worry more about what other countries think about the US, than what their fellow citizens think and feel. I’m worried the election results will embolden some to demand reparations, ‘payback’ or some other form of penance of the many to the few, for past wrongs and perceived injustices. I worry that the special interest organizations will continue to see the United States through the lens of their limited perspective on a few issues or causes.

We have always been a nation of cultures, ideas, traditions, and religions, which don’t always agree, but could sit down at the table of ideas and eat, drink, and discuss. Have we lost that ability? Has the trend to call names, threaten, investigate past foibles, shout-down, and humiliate those who differ from our opinions, become the only way we can communicate?

There are many Americans who feel wronged, cheated, demeaned, forgotten, or abandoned. Their feelings are legitimate. Their perception may be accurate, at least in a few instances. But, very few things fit the broad accusations of “always” or “never” or “everyone.”

One of the sentiments that came out in the post-election interviews was the ‘relief’ and ‘amazement’ that we are seeing an African-American person elected President. It is an historical moment! But many of those expressed this sentiment because they come from a paradigm that painted it impossible for a black man to be elected at this time in the American experience.

This surprised me! Perhaps its because I come from a life of relative plenty and blessings where I was taught to judge people by the content of their character. Perhaps its because I spent many years in the military where my most respected leaders were of various ethnicities, age, and gender. As a matter of fact, of my most admired commanders is a woman, who become a General. No big deal? It is a big deal, but only in proving our country has been ready for a woman, African-American, Hispanic, etc president for longer than we give credit. If not, we would not have elected one yesterday.

Let’s take some time and count the blessings of being in the “greatest nation on God’s green earth” which is held as the “last best hope” of the world by many other citizens of the planet. Just ask those who continue to risk their life to come here any way they can.

What it would be like if we remembered our greatness came from working hard, taking responsibility for our own actions, expecting nothing from others, but being grateful for their helping hand, lending that same hand to others, protecting the innocent and vulnerable, disagreeing without hating, and thanking God for the privilege.

I wonder.

History Repeats

This was an historical weekend. Not that we made history, but we touched it, a little. My wife and I, along with another couple, attended a Civil War re-enactment; specifically, the replaying of the Battle of Perryville. Fought in October 1862, Perryville is said to be a tactical victory for the Confederacy, but a strategic loss for the South. Of the combined 38,000 soldiers, Union casualties totaled 4,276 (894 killed, 2,911 wounded, 471 captured or missing). Confederate casualties were 3,401 (532 killed, 2,641 wounded, 228 captured or missing). Of course, the re-enactment featured only a small representation of the numbers in the original battle, but the effect was profound. Observing techniques and tactics, and watching how such battles were conducted, gave me a much stronger appreciation for the sheer brutality of life and war in earlier times.

The other brush with history was about a time a few hundred years earlier, in England this time. No, we didn’t travel there, rather we watched a movie about Oliver Cromwell. Through his leadership and single-handed focus, the English people rose up in revolt, culminating in the be-heading of its king, Charles Stuart, in 1649. Oliver’s goal was for Parliament, elected by and representing the people, would rule under a democratic framework. To achieve this, he eventually replaced the aristocratic generals leading his side, and became general of the rebel military. As such, he quickly defeated the king’s armies.

Post-king parliament, was so befuddled by how to govern without the monarch, that they asked Cromwell to be king. Oliver refused, and challenged Parliament to step up to the challenge, and rule. It took only a short time, and Parliament had turned to nepotism, arrogance, and self-serving policies. Cromwell literally shut down Parliament, sending them all home. As he brought troops into the failed and despotic post-king Parliament, and sent them home, he accused “weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven under your shadow, dissettlement and division, discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real dangers to the whole.” He then became the Lord Protector of England for a few years. In his attempts to build a democracy, he realized that it takes a moral leadership for democracy to survive and thrive.

As I heard that accusation, I thought of our own Congress, and how these same accusations could be leveled. We need elected officials who see themselves as servants of the people, not the other way around. We need leaders who truly put “country first”. So far, I’ve seen little of that, lately. Interesting how over 350 years have passed since Cromwell’s efforts shifted the tide of English governance, yet some of the same complaints about leaders are found. Morality and accountability are essential for the survival of our Constitution. That morality and accountability must originate in the individual citizens.

We, the people, must accept the burden of freedom and democracy. That is to say, we must choose, act, and accept the consequences of our actions. When we demand that someone else take responsibility for the consequences of our actions, we loose the right to be a democratic society. Our government was established to create synergy and efficiency in the things that a society needs, but would be redundant for every citizen or state to duplicate—armies, money, trade rules and measures, etc. In the rest, we should be fiercely independent. If we have complaints about our Congress or President, perhaps we should look at ourselves, first. In the context of the quality of our government and elected officials, this is one of the few times I agree with the Hollywood crowd, when accused of producing garbage for entertainment. Their claim is they are only giving the people what they want. Perhaps our government and elect officials are only giving us what we are asking for.

Another view on the Flag

Sometimes you and your friends don't see eye-to-eye when you are talking over things. We have run into that here on the Front Porch from time-to-time.

I didn't really see a problem with US Olympic athletes carrying our flag after they won a medal. Likewise, I didn't have an issue with them using the flag as a cloak.

I agree 100% that the flag is a sacred symbol of our nation and it must be treated with respect.

The athletes at the Olympics represented our country. When they won, they won for themselves and for us. Therefore, I didn't mind if they wrapped themselves with the flag, sweat and all. In fact, I kind of liked it. Though I am not an athlete, I feel a chill when our national anthem is played after winning a gold medal.

I am glad that the Olympic athletes felt enough pride and patriotism to show the flag. I think it shows that there is something special about representing your country on the global stage and at the pinnacle of athletics. In other words, maybe when the athletes say that it is special to represent their country it isn’t just a platitude.

One more thing. If you look around, may times our flag is flown in ways that do not meet all the standard rules. It bothered me at one time. However, when you travel overseas, you don't see national flags flown nearly as often as you see Old Glory in the US. I think it good to see our flag outside car dealers and restaurants, even if the flag is a little faded and tattered, or left flying in the rain. In a small way, it shows a special pride. Maybe it is because America is more of an idea than just territory or where you are born.

What’s So Special About the Flag, Anyway?

I watched some of the Olympics. Not as much as some, but enough to notice something very disturbing. Since when did it become fashionable or acceptable for winning American athletes to wrap themselves in the US Flag?

It is disgusting, arrogant, disrespectful, and boorish.

This flag represents the grand ideals, principles, and spirit of freedom gained by many who lost their lives for the Nation. This flag is reverently placed on the caskets of our fallen dead who gave all, literally. This flag is the symbol of hope and encouragement to emigrants from the world over, who sacrificed family, friends, and fortune to become one of the ‘huddled masses.’

With all of the accolades, honor, and adulation these athletes receive, is it really necessary for them to dishonor the flag by wearing it for a victory cloak? Shame on the US Olympic Committee for not discouraging this practice! Shame on NBC for broadcasting the images!

We live in a society that has difficulty showing reverence for noble and sacred things. Repeated scenes of victorious athletes wrapping their sweaty bodies in the flag, will now give young athletes around the country permission to do the same—turning the flag into just another athletic uniform.

Are You an Olympian?

I remember a line from a movie or cartoon “may I be excused, my brain is full.” Something is bothering me but I can't explain what, exactly. It’s feels similar to looking at distant, faint stars at night. You know the ones--those that you can only see when you don’t look directly at them. So you look at another nearby area of the sky to actually see your target. Then the frustration, as you attempt to show someone else the constellation—you tell them not to look at the place they need to look, to see the place you want them to see.

I suppose it’s the atmosphere of extremes that surrounds us in the world today. The Olympics is a case in point. Who isn’t amazed by the impossible drive, training, and accomplishments of these athletes? These people have achieved extraordinary accomplishments. Yet, the Olympics tend to make me very uncomfortable. I’m sure it’s partially out of personal jealousy. I’ve never felt the desire to narrow my focus on one activity for so long that I could come close to the dedication, determination, and resulting phenomenal performance of these gladiators of athletics. But, for me there is also a very real sense that we are setting ourselves up for constant disappointment, if we pattern our daily life after the Olympians’.

First of all, not everyone will excel at something, just because they want to, have a positive attitude, and work really hard at it! I know I just contradicted the entire self-help community in one broad stroke of the pen. However, no matter how hard a 5 footer practices, he’s not going to play basketball in the NBA. There are just some things that can’t be overcome with a positive attitude.

Secondly, how many of us have the will, means, or time to drop nearly every other thing in life and dedicate years to running, jumping, swimming, or throwing something? Most of us living a ‘normal’ life are routinely choosing to compromise with the extreme opportunities of life. We take that job because it doesn’t require us to travel away from family so much, even though the other job pays more. We pick a home because the schools are better, but the taxes are higher than in the other county, or it is farther away from parents.

Please don’t assume I’m suggesting we accept mediocrity. Quite the contrary! I know we were intended to be great, successful, and joyful. I worry that we are using the wrong rulebook and scorecard to measure greatness, success, and joy. Certainly, money has shown itself to be a deceitful, merciless master. If wealth and fame bring happiness, then why are there so many miserable, addicted, and insecure superstars? Why do we reward a sports personality with the accolade of ‘hero’ and lavish attention and wealth on him, while the schoolteacher is an afterthought in our society; poorly paid, and barely respected. Which one contributes more to societal success?

Let’s not even talk about ‘beauty’. Our society is paranoid schizophrenic. We tell ourselves not to be vain and superficial, yet we spend $ billions on creams, pill, injections, diets, exercises, clothes, and surgery, in a feeble attempt to turn back time, or change our physical condition to match some mysterious definition of beauty. Wrinkles and sagging are a natural part of life. Sure that old guy on the infomercial looks 20-something. And yes, that woman has the smoothest skin ever. No, a wrinkle will not ruin your life, or cause your husband to leave you. Your balding and/or graying head will not cause your wife to be ashamed—if you married some one who has not been fooled by the false scorecard. Yes, you have a responsibility to stay healthy—proper exercise, diet, and sleeping. Chasing the extremes will only bring exhaustion, disappointment, and poverty.

Let’s learn to find happiness in sitting on the porch watching a sunset, in addition to the occasional expedition to bungee jump from a perfectly good bridge. It can be just as memorable to ride a canoe down a local river, as it is to take a cruise in the Caribbean. It’s not wrong to do the big spectacular things. It’s also not right to believe the big things will bring us joy. Perhaps this is the reason so many marriages crumble—the expectations of a steady, unending environment of blissful, trouble-free, existence. If not, well something must be wrong with my spouse, our vacation choice, our job, neighborhood, friends, children, lack of children, parents, grandparents, in-laws, church…. Could it be we’ve lost sight of the accomplishment in overcoming a challenge together, learning to compromise, looking for reasons to be happy, instead of searching for flaws?

We won’t all be Olympians. In fact, very few ever will. We can be champions in life, family, profession, and relationships. Throw away the extreme games of life and search for a friendly pickup game, and have fun! By the way, next time you’re out at night, show someone the constellation Pleiades.

Do They Think We Are That Dumb?

If you listen to many political analysts (a.k.a. pundits) and some of the political class, they think the American public is very short sited and very self-centered. Some pundits seem to believe that Americans will only support things that provide an immediate, self-serving benefit. I think these people are selling the American people short and doing us a disservice. Their drive to be important and to get their voices heard results in sophistic, short sited solutions to problems, and a generally divisive social climate.

What started this tirade?

The discussion by pundits and politicians about expanding drilling in the US and off our coasts is what fired me up most recently. Just before Nancy Pelosi and the rest of Congress has returned home for the summer recess (the “Summer District Work Period” according to the calendar on the House website (http://www.house.gov/house/House_Calendar.shtml)), they were attacking drilling because it wouldn’t show a benefit for 10 years or more.

It seems like some pundits can’t realize that we can understand the key points of an issue and make a choice that isn’t immediate self-gratification. I think the vast majority American people realize that you can’t instantly drill for oil. We realize that it will take time to find the oil, build the platforms, build the infrastructure to transport the oil, etc. We may not appreciate all the details, but we know this oil won’t be available tomorrow, next year or maybe not for 20 yrs.

Yet the pundits and some politicians seemed to be amazed and puzzled that we generally still favor more drilling within the boundaries of the United States. To me, this reaction and amazement says good things about people and typical things (unfortunately) about the political class, punditry and the news media.

We have major issues facing this country and expanding oil production is really just a small part of it all. In an ideal world, the pundits that were selling us short would sit back, look at this as a case study, realize that Americans can forestall gratification today for a better tomorrow, and then adjust their behavior accordingly. Sadly, that won’t happen.

PV Podcast

Better late than never! Podcast #3 is now available. Please click on the link for PhotoVoltaics Podcast, when you get to the site, click on download. Carl does a great job of telling us about the bright future of PV technologies!