#children #lessons #chaos #BadBehavior #right #wrong #leaders When children see the political division in this country, what could be going through their minds? Are they seeing people who are supposed to work for the benefit of others only working to benefit themselves? Are they seeing others stand by and watch as people gobble up more for themselves, which means less for others? Are they seeing victims of a child sex trafficking ring get no justice, as the government works to cover up those who perpetrated the crime? Are they seeing people nabbed in the streets, sometimes beaten or even killed, just because of how they look, or for exercising their constitutional rights? Are they being taught never to lie, but see leaders on television tell them not to believe their own eyes and ears? If your child sees all this, do you approve? Were you raised in an environment in which the Golden Rule is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?” If so, you can’t, or shouldn’t, be happy with what is going on. And, you can’t be happy that your child is watching all this in plain sight. What will you tell that child when he or she is old enough to start asking questions about what he or she witnessed, or is witnessing? Children see things they probably had been taught at home, in school or at church to be wrong. They see leaders act with less maturity than the children themselves have. They see cowardice masquerading as strength. They see vengeance masquerading as fighting crime. They see kidnapping, physical assault and destruction of property masquerading as law enforcement. They see “leaders” complaining about being victims. They see governmental bodies empowered by the Constitution sit idle as a companion body runs improperly rampant. When seeing all this, your child may not understand when you tell them, “Don’t worry. Everything will turn out OK.” How will your child react when he or she observes your own actions? Are you standing up for what’s right, or are you lying down for political expediency? Are you making your objections heard, or are you sitting back and hoping “everything will turn out OK?” Are you allowing cowardice to overtake you, or are you fearlessly uniting with your neighbors to try to stop the chaos? Are you voting in every election in which you are eligible? In 1968, at the Democratic National Convention, Vietnam War protesters gathered in Chicago chanting, “The Whole World Is Watching!” The police overstepped at that event, too. Your children, perhaps not audibly, are chanting, “We Are Watching!” Are YOU doing the right thing by them? Peter
#reach #stretch #stars #goals #WhateverItTakes #foundation “Keep your feet on the ground and reach for the stars.” That was the closing line from Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40” regular, syndicated radio show. When first hearing it, it seems contradictory. How can one reach for the stars while keeping his or her feet on the ground? To reach, as many motivational speakers will tell you, you must stretch. One can certainly stretch while his or her feet are planted, but to go the extra mile, one may have to stand on his or her tiptoes. For example, when reaching for something on the top shelf of a cabinet, as a short person, you may have to stand on your tiptoes to get the item. But, what Kasem may be getting at is a bit more subtle. With one’s feet on the ground, he or she can create a firm foundation. Usually, one needs a firm foundation to reach any goal. That foundation can manifest in character, honesty, humility, generosity, selflessness or may other desired human attributes. From that foundation, one can set goals and reach for them, no matter how far, how unlikely or how difficult they may seem. That good foundation can now become flexible. It can help the person realize what he or she needs to do, and must do, to achieve the goal(s). That flexibility may require the person to do things he or she may never have done before. That may require manufacturing the courage to pursue the unknown or untried. It can manifest in reaching for the proverbial stars, as in something that may seem out of reach. Not everyone will do it, hence the adage: “do today what others won’t so you can do tomorrow what others can’t.” So Kasem tells his listeners (his show is still broadcast today in reruns, despite his death in 2014) that they can reach for the stars if they want to do what it takes. He’s also telling them to start with a good foundation. It can be a difficult message for some. It can go over the heads of others. Still, others will shrug it off. But his words will ring true to those who want to change their lives for the better. Keeping one’s feet on the ground amid life’s difficult circumstances is not easy for many. But, for some, it’s not circumstances that matter. It’s how one responds to them that’s the key to a better life. Amid the chaos of today, the stars may be reachable for those who want to stretch. Being optimistic may be the first step in that stretch. It may be the main attribute in establishing a good foundation. Peter
#vote #VoterSuppression #VoterIntimidation #EarlyVoting #VoteByMail They’re giving fair warning. They are saying that ICE agents will be at the polling places during the 2026 midterm elections. They’re hoping to discourage voter turnout, fearing a landslide defeat for the current party in power if too many people vote. But, if you’re among those who are not happy with what’s going on, the most powerful weapon you have is your vote. Don’t be afraid to vote. They can’t stop you from voting. It may take courage to vote in some places, but you must summon that courage. If you don’t want to vote on Election Day, vote early, if you can. Or, if it’s available to you, vote by mail. Visit your local election office well ahead of time to discern your options. If your area has a special election prior to November, vote then, too. By any means that you have, VOTE! Take your example of courage from the protesters in Minnesota, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and elsewhere. In Minnesota, they are braving harsh winter weather to stand in the streets, risk their lives and tell the overwhelming contingent of federal agents that they don’t want them there. They are helping their neighbors who legitimately fear capture and deportation – often illegitimate deportation – stay safe and stay fed. If we all turn out to vote, we will show that there are more of us than there are of federal agents. They will not be able to stop ALL of us – and they legally cannot stop ANY of us. You may have to brave long lines at the polls if you have to vote on Election Day. There may even be some lines at early-voting locations on some days. These are inconvenient, to be sure. But, casting your vote is paramount. Life as you know it could depend on it. Local and state officials who, by law, run elections, have to stand firm. They have to make sure EVERY legal vote is counted. They also have to protect polling places from the illegitimate presence of federal officials. They have to protect voters from intimidation from federal officials or others seeking a certain outcome. You have months to prepare to vote in November. You have months to choose your preferred candidates carefully. If you want things to change, vote for candidates that will help enable that change. If you’re among those who like what you see from your federal government, you certainly have the right to elect those who’ll preserve the status quo. Many people see unnecessary cruelty. Many people see unnecessary injury and even death. Those people want that to change. Therefore, it’s incumbent on those people to vote by whatever means suits them. Not voting is NOT an option. The legitimate power of the vote can negate the illegitimate power of those who want to suppress the vote. Don’t let them. Brave whatever you have to brave to vote. There is plenty of time to plan. Use that time, and your vote, wisely. Peter
#SecondAmendment #USConstitution #FederalAgents #AgentsInTheStreets #Resist #ResisWithDiscipline Proponents of a strong Second Amendment to the Constitution have defended legal gun owners’ rights to protect their homes from invasion. When masked federal agents patrolling the streets of cities are given carte blanche to knock down doors without judicial warrants, potential tragedy could be looming. If federal agents kick down the door of a legal gun owner, by mistake or otherwise, and that gun owner chooses to defend himself or herself from masked intruders, the outcome could be something no one wants. Given that scenario, on whose side would the staunch defenders of the Second Amendment be? Intrusions without judicial warrants are illegal. Homeowners protecting their turf is legal in most places. In fact, one of the arguments for a strong Second Amendment is allowing people the right to protect themselves from an oppressive government.. That scenario could be upon us. When Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis by federal agents, he was a legal gun owner permitted to carry. Federal officials say that the weapon on his person was a threat, and that no one should bring weapons to a protest. (He didn’t use his weapon and was disarmed before he was shot, videos show.) Kyle Rittenhouse brought a long gun to a Black Lives Matter protest. Two people were killed. He was acquitted and celebrated by the pro-Second Amendment folks. Rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, protests in Washington, D.C., also had guns, reports say. They were pardoned. The Second Amendment is enshrined in the Constitution. So are protections against illegal searches and seizures. What is occurring on U.S. city streets is NOT law enforcement. It is the opposite of law enforcement. These agents are actually arresting people at courthouses who are complying with the law. Law enforcement follows the Constitution. Those doing law enforcement always properly identify themselves. They follow the procedures enshrined in the Constitution that govern how they should conduct themselves. Those federal agents patrolling city streets today cannot be given immunity by executive order. If THEY break the law, someone, someday will prosecute them. Those protesting the actions of federal agents on their streets have the constitutional right to assemble and state their opposition in non-violent ways. Federal agents do not have the right to harm these people for peacefully protesting the agents’ behavior. Government officials themselves, many far away from the action, should not be describing altercations in the streets without proper investigation. In fact, publicly available evidence very often conflicts with their descriptions. As government officials create these narratives, they are building a credibility problem for themselves. No one – hopefully including the highest level federal officials – wants to see violent confrontations of any kind. But, their inaction to stop the confrontations is telling. But, as they occur almost daily, they raise the specter of what could happen next. It’s incumbent upon the protesters to remain disciplined. Resist non-violently, despite human temptation to fight back. Only with this discipline will they get their streets back. Citizens, businesses and anyone affected by these confrontations should resist with any legal means at their disposal. The strength and discipline of the people and their institutions is the only way to get the streets, and their lives, back to normal. Peter
