Sushi or Fish Bait?

There is an addage, I know you’ve heard in one of its various forms: Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day; Teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime. This concept has been used explain the need to help people help themselves. People, when approached this way, will usually thrive personally, become more positive and hopeful, and develop as vibrant members of society. `What about the opposite side of the coin?
What happens to people who are not taught to fish, but given a fish, not once, but day after day? What happens to their drive, creativity, and self esteem? Evidence is strong; these people become un-creative, un-motivated, and cynical. Worse yet, they begin to believe that they have been cheated, mistreated, and abused by society. How can this be? How can the givers of the fish become the object of the fish recipient’s dissatisfaction and anger? I can’t claim to understand the mechanism of the human spirit, but I do see the result. People need to be challenged to take responsibility for those things they are capable of managing in their sphere of interaction. When not challenged in this way, people turn selfish, self-centered, and angry.
It gets even more twisted. After a while, the fish-getters begin to believe the fish-givers have a duty to continue to give the fish. No, no, no, teach me not to fish, you must give me the fish. Since eating fish can get mundane and bland, givers must also provide bread and a little something to drink as well. It’s only humane. When the givers begin to recognize the lazy, demanding nature of the getters, they decide it is time to change the game. It’s time for the getters to become givers, buy learning to fish.
Some of the givers begin to feel sorry for the getters; their life is hard, they didn’t have the same chances as the rest of us, we can’t expect too much from the getters. We should just continue to give. Besides, the fishermen have plenty of extra fish, a few fish to the getters is not so bad. Of course the fishermen object, explaining the work, sweat, labor, risk and danger involved in catching fish, and want to be treated fairly in this exchange. Sadly, there are too many givers that believe the fishermen should ‘do their part and make a sacrifice’ for the good of society, so they vote that the fishermen must give even more of their fish to the getters. Enter the Takers.
Takers envision themselves as wise, caring, and charitable. They believe it their calling to make things “fair”. That taking from the givers, can be rationalized in the context of the “greater good.” They convince the getters that getters are helpless and need the takers to stand up for their cause. They convince many of the givers, through guilt, lies, and even intimidation, that taking is justified, as long as the takers do it with the right intentions. (It’s kind of like those daredevil shows on TV. They put out a disclaimer that these stunts were performed by professionals, so don’t try this at home! We’re professional takers, don’t try this at home.) They tell the givers that the takers don’t want to be takers, but someone has to balance out this unfair world. Isn’t a little sacrifice worth that?
Imagine another situation. A professional football star breaks a leg in an accident. The giver and the taker both want to help. The approach to the solution is what makes them so different. The taker tells the player to stay in bed as long as he wants. The giver encourages the player to get physical therapy, and start the long, strenuous, painful rehab process. The player, frightened of his future, and tired of pain and stress, likes the taker’s approach; it involves resting, and a whole lot less pain and inconvenience! The taker tells the player that the givers are mean, stingy, people who only care about how much money is being spent at the hospital. They don’t care about the player’s pain and misery. The player falls for the rhetoric, and postpones the therapy. But what happens to the leg, and the player’s mind?
As the player follows the takers approach, his leg heals poorly, with pain and disfigurement. The player is unable to play football, so the taker sues an insurance company, and blames the doctors and the hospital, and even the givers for being mean, uncaring, and of committing malpractice. The player is so grateful for the taker. The takers understand him, they care, and they were nice to him when the givers were mean and harsh.
The givers are astonished. If only the player had listened to them, he could be playing ball, doing what he loves, making a great living. But instead, he blames the givers, and thanks and praises the takers.
As observers of this scenario, we would support the givers. Why then are we fooled by the takers, when it comes to our Constitution? The founders of the Constitution were givers. They warned us about the danger of listening to the takers and getters. The Bill of Rights was written from the perspective of the givers. That is why it is attacked by the takers; they can’t understand it, so they want to change it to something they can understand. The founders understood human nature. They knew that society can turn into getters and takers very quickly and such a nation will be crushed under its own misunderstanding of human nature.
The founders relied on the majority to always understand the giver mentality. They tried to create a government that would always keep the getters and takers in the minority. Right now, we are seeing a phenomenon where the takers have won the hearts of a majority of the people. Their rhetoric is like the words of the taker to the football star, or the getters. It sounds so good. Wouldn’t it be great to live where there was no poverty, hate, anger, and hostility? Who wouldn’t like to live in that world? Those givers are mean, they hate poor people, they want to let people think bad thoughts and not be punished. They think its okay for some people in society to be terribly rich, while others are poor. We can’t trust people to be good on their own. We must allow the takers to determine how things are done, how wealth and prosperity are shared. After all, they are professionals, and they care!
Have you ever smelled pure vanilla? Have you ever tasted that same pure vanilla? Pure vanilla offers an amazing aroma, a tantalizing experience for the nose. Upon tasting, pure vanilla alone is revolting, nasty, and unpalatable. Such are the words and the results of the takers.

Inaguration or Coronation

Like so many others, I listened to the inauguration of Barack Obama, as the 44th President of the United States. Many people are full of hope and anticipation of the changes this new President promises to make. Let us remember, he is a president, not a king. It is important to remember this very important point.

With a president, we see the interplay of the Legislative and Executive branches. Each has responsibilities to the people that elected them, each has limitations placed on it by the Constitution. With a king, the people are subject to the whims and desires of the monarch, with the only limitations based on the ruler's imagination. The good thing about a president, is that they can be replaced every four years; with a king, the deal is for life. The good thing about the king, is we don’t get to make choices about many aspects of our life. The bad thing about a king, is we don’t get to make choices about many aspects of our life.

I wish for this Country’s success. I can’t say, yet, I wish for President Obama’s success. Why? Because, I’m not sure what success means in his eyes vs the eyes of the Constitution. I wish for the success of this Nation and its people. As for an individual president, this could be a time when it’s patriotic to wish for failure of his policies and programs.

Time will tell.

Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned....

Recently, the Mormon Times reported "James Dobson's Focus on the Family ministry has pulled from its CitizenLink Web site an article about talk show host Glenn Beck's book "The Christmas Sweater" after some complained that Beck's LDS faith is a "cult" and "false religion" and shouldn't be promoted by a Christian ministry."

I posted the following on the Focus on the Family website. My purpose is not to confront James Dobson or other Evangelicals on their doctrines. I hoped to challenge them to realize the danger of in-fighting and alienation of those who share family and other conservative values. Just after the election, I posted regarding the failure of conservatives to win any significant victories. I believe this event with Glenn Beck's book interview, is evidence that conservatives may as well give up and turn our lives over to secularist and social engineers, unless we are willing find and exploit good, wholesome, common purposes, and leave the disagreements on doctrines to another day and another forum. Even if it were true that Mormonism is a cult, everyone that knows the LDS Church, realizes it champions the family, marriage, and moral decency. All of these are central to Mr. Dobson's organization as well. Has evangelical Christianity amassed a sufficient body of supporters and string of moral successes, that it does not welcome more strength on these key issues? Do not all God-fearing people need the support and strength of other like-minded believers?

I had hoped that the recent presidential elections would have taught all conservatives and Christians, that we need to spend more time working together on common-ground issues. It is clear to me that without this cooperation, conservatism will be destroyed by factions and single-issue agenda groups. If your goal is to only work with people that agree with you on 100% of the issues, you will NEVER find enough support to defeat those who wish to destroy our constitution and religious freedoms. Your decision to remove Glenn Beck's interview from your website because of his being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is a very disappointing and ultimately self-destructive act. Your bigotry and bias is a classic example of the reason Christians and conservatives failed to make in-roads during the presidential elections. Squabbling, arguing points of doctrine and methods of worship, will destroy from within.

Even the best of elected officials cannot, and will never, agree on 100% of their colleague's personal or political beliefs. However, for the good of the nation, they work together on common-ground issues, to which they can agree. Our democracy was created with the understanding that compromise and cooperation are required to run the affairs of the Nation. Democrats and liberals have shown they are willing to "hold their nose" on some issues, in order to further their general agenda. If Christians and conservatives don't learn to do the same, we will be just a 'sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal' back in some obscure, forgotten corner of the political landscape. We will be powerless to fend off even more daring and despicable legal maneuvers by evil and wicked men and institutions.

Your organization has repeatedly made it clear that you strongly disagree with doctrines of the LDS church. However, you were perfectly agreeable to the support of thousands of LDS members and the Church on the Proposition 8 battle in California. Is this an example of your integrity? When times are tough you'll take the help, but once the battle is won, you'll turn on your allies? Glenn Beck has been a champion of family, country, and liberty. His being a member of the LDS church, shouldn't be a justifiable reason to remove his interview from your website.

One thing I learned in the recent elections is that many people showed their true colors. The sheep's clothing was removed and the wolves were revealed. Did the Glenn Beck interview do the same for Focus on the Family and its blatant bigotry and hatred for others who don't exactly believe as you do? I hope not, but it appears to be so.

It's Just a Flesh Wound...

Like so many others, I’ve been thinking about the current state of our economic and political situation. It’s difficult to avoid, as we are bombarded with news and commentary from every side. Lately, an interesting thought hit me—regarding the motivations driving our national elected officials to make some of the choices they are making.

Ever since I was little, I always wanted to know “why.” This often got me into trouble as a youth. It was never good that my parents told me to accomplish some task. Instead of doing the task immediately, I made the mistake of demanding to know WHY it had to be done. I’ve not been cured of this aliment. Why do supposedly smart, intelligent adult US Representatives and Senators, make some of the decisions they are making? Why do they insist on doing things that have proven to be, or appear, by experience or common wisdom, to be stupid? Why do politicians end up getting arrested for graft and corruption? Why do we sometimes elect and re-elect these same people? As I pondered these things, something struck me....

In many ways, I have views that would be classified as Libertarian. Though I do not align myself with them, I do agree with the tenant of minimal government. When I see the power-grabbing and control that Congress is gleeful about assuming these days, I begin to ask “why?” I want to believe that those in the hallowed halls of the Legislative Branch, are motivated by altruism and servant-leadership. Unfortunately, what I see and sense, is they are acting out of something more self-serving and small. I think Congress needs us to need them. Or at least, they need to have attention. Wait, isn't there a psychological condition that is strangely similar?

“Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy…a mental illness in which a person [Congress] acts as if an individual [Country] he or she is caring for has a physical or mental illness [economic woes] when the person is not really sick [or bad as it seems].
MSP most often occurs with mothers [politicians] …who intentionally harm or describe non-existent symptoms in their children to get the attention given to the family of someone who is sick. A person with MSP uses the many hospitalizations [dire financial melt downs] as a way to earn praise from others for her devotion to the child’s care, often using the sick child as a means for developing a relationship with the doctor or other health care provider.”
People with MSP might create or exaggerate the child’s [our Nation’s] symptoms in several ways. They might simply lie about symptoms, alter diagnostic tests (such as contaminating a urine sample), falsify medical records, or induce symptoms through various means, such as poisoning, suffocating, starving, and causing infection .
Certain characteristics are common in a person with MSP:
Often is a parent, usually a mother [politician]
Might be a health care professional [Experts]
Is very friendly and cooperative with the health care providers
Appears quite concerned (some might seem overly concerned) about the child”
{From my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/factitious_disorders/hic_munchausen_syndrome_by_proxy.aspx}
[bracketed items added by me]

Is this fair or a good analogy? Probably not, but it does make me wonder...just a little!

Upside-Down and Inside-Out

I know we are in tough times. Go anywhere, listen to any radio, TV, or friends in the office, and you hear the doom and gloom of our times. So much so, that I often don't even want to listen to the news. I used to play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, and even pirates. Just a few months ago, I would not have believed that many adults in the world are actually still playing these games, they are called politicians, and they are getting paid to act like idiots! Of course something is a bit different than when I played the game-- roles have been turned upside-down; cops are the robbers, indians are putting the cowboys on reservations, and the pirates are winning!

I have to grab myself by the scruff of the neck and remember that the micro-currents of present events, is just that. Micro. We have so much access to information today that everything is magnified, examined, and deconstructed in excruciating details. Are things really as bad as the gleeful press describes? Or do they have a vested interest in exaggerating this bad news? Are they just reporting, or are they, perhaps, stirring the proverbial pot?

I don't know who said it, but there are moments when I agree with the little ditty "stop the world, I want to get off!" Of course, that will come to all of us, eventually, and permanently. I certainly don't want to hasten my time, but there are times when the crazy antics of the world's "adults" just astounds me!

No matter how dire the circumstances seem, they are NOT as bad as the news wants us to believe. We must not be taken in by the doom and wo that is being preached out there. Life is very, very good, especially for us, Americans. We need to step back, turn the binoculars around, and look through the wrong end for a little while, so we can reset our perspective, and be less negative, more grateful, and positive.

Onward Christian Soldiers

Warning, this post is full of biblical and religious references.

You know, too often, we Christians forget that ours is a world in which evil thrives. We don’t want to admit it because the nature of Christianity is to focus on the bright, beautiful, good, and joy that is in this world and the world to come. We are taught to be positive, hopeful, and loving to all that surrounds us. We are encouraged to see the good and divine in all of God’s children. However, along with the promise of blessings, are the warnings against evil, sin, darkness, and the author of all wickedness.

The Master said to Peter “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” Paul told the Ephesians, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Don’t get me wrong; I’m not placing this at the feet of any particular person or organization out there today. I am suggesting that for too long, conservatives, including Christians, have been slow to recognize the impact of the open warfare that is being waged by evil. Yes, we can hate the sin, and still be able to love the sinner. When it is our neighbor, colleague, co-worker, children’s teacher, or family member who is engaging in destructive behavior, or supporting those who do, it becomes even harder to fight against sin, and still love the sinner. Many of us, will acquiesce and ‘accept’ or ‘tolerate’ the persons behavior, thinking we are loving the sinner.

Terrible things have happened through history, because some individuals with no morality, went unchecked by the moral and religious majority, until it was very late. Why does this happen? I’m not a professional sociologist, but my theory is that most good, decent people are unable to accept that others are capable of doing these unimaginable things. We see what happens, in all of its horrific splendor, but, instead of taking it for face-value, we say, “that just can’t be, no one would do that, we must have misunderstood what they said, or did; that would never happen here; we’re too good/strong to every let that happen.” When we hesitate, evil surges forward, setting up a new battle position. Then one day we realize that evil has been running around having its way. We find things like marriage being threatened to the core. These things didn’t happen overnight. They started with a little event, small happening, often many years ago, when good, moral people said “that just can’t be, and no one would do that…”

We’ve become victims of inaction, like the anecdote about how to boil a frog. Throw the frog in boiling water, and the frog will jump out. But, put the frog in a pot of cool water, and slowly heat it, and the frog will cook. Why? Because the change in temperature was so slight that it never was drastic, and the frog became adjusted to each change with little discomfort. The conservatives have stood by and watched the core values of the Republican Party be sacrificed on the altar of cooperation, political correctness, bi-partisanship, and intellectualism. While liberalism saw it as weakness, lack of resolve, and mixed messages, and showed Americans how unstable Republicans were. To liberals, compromise means agreeing with them. To liberals, cooperation means doing their way. Liberals agree with free speech, as long as that speech supports their position.

John McCain is an honorable man. John McCain is a victim of the current Republican Party leadership that believes the other side really wants the same things our side does. I find it amazing that in this last election, the party that believes in a strong military, clear, tough tactics, uncompromising international policy and practice, was unable to exercise that same process in an election campaign. While on the other hand, the party that is opposed to war, and wants to talk with the enemy, was able to run a campaign like a military machine—clear objectives, lightening strikes, propaganda, unapologetic aggressiveness toward the goal, and winning the hearts of the people.

It is time to put on “the armor of God” and join the ideological war, with a vengeance. We are behind, yet it is not too late. Californian’s passing of Proposition 8 proved that conservatives could win a tough battle. Make no mistake, it was a battle, at times it was open warfare on anybody that supported Prop.8. We have to be prepared for that kind of hate, anger, and vitriol when we stand up for truth and conservatism. The fiery darts are physically and spiritually real.

We can't have weak stomachs. We must not shrink away when the battle gets bloody. The other side will not give up. They have patience. They can wait 5, 10, or 30 years, winning little victories, here and there: Remove prayer from schools; Take the 10 Commandments from public squares; No more nativity on public grounds; Call a baby a fetus; A fetus is just a lump of the mother’s body; Its not killing, it’s a mother’s choice; Not assisted suicide, its quality of life; Socialism?. No, its fairness; Homosexuals were born that way, they can't help it; I know homosexuals that are better parents than normal couples. These are the arguments that distract and confuse us. The enemy can beat us before we begin the war, if we can be distracted, confused, or discouraged! We can't win the war by continuously giving territory to the enemy as an act of good will. They will gladly accept every time, and never reciprocate. Why should they? They're getting exactly what they want, without firing a shot!

Conservatives, including Christians have to put up or shut up. If this is a war, we need to start acting like it is a war. We need to select our generals, train the troops, plan, prepare, execute, and tough it out. We don’t give the enemy our battle plan. We do maintain our standards, honor, and integrity. We can be tough and take the offensive. In their face? If necessary. Apologize for the truth? Never. Refuse to be intimidated by accusations of bigotry, bias, and intolerance? Yes. One good thing about loosing this election: closet liberals and intellectuals in the Republican Party who value their positions more than the party, showed their cards. Time to clean the inner vessel! Raise your banner high. Sound a clear trumpet.

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.