Howie gets out a soapbox.
Thus begins my rant:
Another 4th has come and gone. Tributes to our nation's history, the courage of our armed forces (both past and present), and hopes to our continued success have been uttered. I sometimes wonder, "What's the point?" Kids today, even people from my generation, don't have a concept of what it is to be patriotic. I look around and see people wanting reparations for slavery, people wanting reparations for the Native American, people wanting handouts for past transgressions, on and on ad nauseum. People talk about how they "love their country," yet are unwilling to do anything to help. My father, grandparents, their parents....they all fought for this country. When did that become such a "bad thing?" There is a stigmata palced upon wanting to serve one's country in the Armed Forces that was not there 40 years ago.
Did the 1960s alter the perception of society to such a degree? Whatever happened to our society doing what is best for the good of the whole, rather than the few, or the one?
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America"
Why are people not concerned with the knowledge of what has transpired before? That little thing we call history? Why do kids in my classes roll their eyes when I mention it? Why am I asking so many questions?
Thus endeth the rant!
Parties on the 4th can be interesting, to say the least!
I had some of my friend over for a party after the LARP game Saturday night. Had about 15 people here at once. Nice, even, smooth, nobody got any ruffled feathers or anything. I crash about 4:00.
Got up Sunday to a row of Cammies in my living room. They were stacked up like cord-wood! I get em up, we start hanging out and chillin', like villains. I put together my new grill (it is pretty smooth) and we set too. The first batch of burgers, well, hockey pucks, were not so good. On the second round, I was in the zone and they were much better.
As some folks started leaving, my friends and my god-daughters showed up. We hung out, played cards and just had a good time. As they were about to leave, I got a call from my brother (see previous rants) saying they were 5 minutes out and were "borrowing your driveway."
It's Bill; his fiance, Melissa; her brother, Jay; and his guitarist, Eddie. they arrive and proceed to fire off their assorted ordinance. I go out to the road and watch. When the fallout from their fireworks hits me, I begin to think it was not such a good idea. After the "money shot", I come back in.
Bill comes in and we actually visit for a bit. we dont' actually talk about the problems between him and mother or my terse comments to him, but that wasn't the important thing. I saw a glimmer of my brother in those few moments. It gave me hope. He mentioned that Melissa and her mom were going Saturday to try on dresses (I figure he meant Melissa would be trying on the dress and her mother would be watching, which is kinda creepy in a back-woods Arky fashion.).
On the one hand, I want to spend time with him. On the other, it seems that I only get to spend time with him, when it is okay with Melissa. I dunno.
All in all, it was a good BBQ. I think we need one sometime soon. I'll offer up my place for the Arkansas SGs. everyone bring stuff!
laters
h
Thus begins my rant:
Another 4th has come and gone. Tributes to our nation's history, the courage of our armed forces (both past and present), and hopes to our continued success have been uttered. I sometimes wonder, "What's the point?" Kids today, even people from my generation, don't have a concept of what it is to be patriotic. I look around and see people wanting reparations for slavery, people wanting reparations for the Native American, people wanting handouts for past transgressions, on and on ad nauseum. People talk about how they "love their country," yet are unwilling to do anything to help. My father, grandparents, their parents....they all fought for this country. When did that become such a "bad thing?" There is a stigmata palced upon wanting to serve one's country in the Armed Forces that was not there 40 years ago.
Did the 1960s alter the perception of society to such a degree? Whatever happened to our society doing what is best for the good of the whole, rather than the few, or the one?
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America"
Why are people not concerned with the knowledge of what has transpired before? That little thing we call history? Why do kids in my classes roll their eyes when I mention it? Why am I asking so many questions?
Thus endeth the rant!
Parties on the 4th can be interesting, to say the least!
I had some of my friend over for a party after the LARP game Saturday night. Had about 15 people here at once. Nice, even, smooth, nobody got any ruffled feathers or anything. I crash about 4:00.
Got up Sunday to a row of Cammies in my living room. They were stacked up like cord-wood! I get em up, we start hanging out and chillin', like villains. I put together my new grill (it is pretty smooth) and we set too. The first batch of burgers, well, hockey pucks, were not so good. On the second round, I was in the zone and they were much better.
As some folks started leaving, my friends and my god-daughters showed up. We hung out, played cards and just had a good time. As they were about to leave, I got a call from my brother (see previous rants) saying they were 5 minutes out and were "borrowing your driveway."
It's Bill; his fiance, Melissa; her brother, Jay; and his guitarist, Eddie. they arrive and proceed to fire off their assorted ordinance. I go out to the road and watch. When the fallout from their fireworks hits me, I begin to think it was not such a good idea. After the "money shot", I come back in.
Bill comes in and we actually visit for a bit. we dont' actually talk about the problems between him and mother or my terse comments to him, but that wasn't the important thing. I saw a glimmer of my brother in those few moments. It gave me hope. He mentioned that Melissa and her mom were going Saturday to try on dresses (I figure he meant Melissa would be trying on the dress and her mother would be watching, which is kinda creepy in a back-woods Arky fashion.).
On the one hand, I want to spend time with him. On the other, it seems that I only get to spend time with him, when it is okay with Melissa. I dunno.
All in all, it was a good BBQ. I think we need one sometime soon. I'll offer up my place for the Arkansas SGs. everyone bring stuff!
laters
h
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you are the sweetest!!!