California looked really good, so US President Polk decided to take it and the land in between. Texas gave him a good excuse to invade Mexico and take everything between the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific ocean. So he sends in an army, where many of the general officers of the Civil War served, to take what he wants.
Flash forward 162 years and Arizona is trying to harass the people that got had half of their country taken away from them.
What would have happened if we either didn't take the land or had lost the war (not much chance, but go with me)? Would the Mexicans be passing laws to keep Americans from crossing the Mississippi to get jobs picking oranges in California. And all the Mexican gold we would be trying to buy. Would silicon valley have ended up in Washington - which was still part of Canada?
Just some thoughts.
Train in Emmaus
Life is moving like a . . .
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
What's the hurry?
Over the weekend, an unlicensed driver from New York missed his exit. He then decided to stop on the shoulder and back-up his van carrying seven people to get to the ramp. He then backed into oncoming traffic where a semi-tractor trailer hit him killing one passenger of the van. The truck then cut across two lanes of traffic, struck the barrier and jackknifed. This closed I-78 for around 6 hours.
When questioned, the driver told police that he had been driving in New York for 10 years and "never needed a license" there but that he had one at one time from the Bahamas. In Pennsylvania, operating a motor vehicle without a license during an incident that causes a fatality is automatic murder by vehicle. I believe that is 2nd degree murder and could carry a life sentence. Meanwhile, two other passengers are in critical condition.
And the kicker is, that he hadn't missed his exit; he really needed to get off at the next exit anyway. And why was he in such a hurry? To get to Dorney Park - a local amusement park - where some kids from NY were going to have a chance to have a nice day. So much for those plans.
Until six weeks ago, I spent the last 13 years driving 150 miles a day to and from work. I have seen things that would cause my wife to hide under the bed just telling her about them. And most of the time it is simply because someone is in a hurry. Even if it is to get in front of the next car.
Why? Why are we in such a hurry? And the consequences of this drivers actions are unpardonable. I spent 10 months as a hospital chaplain and worked the trauma bay enough to see what automobile accidents can do to those driving and the aftermath of the pain, loss and suffering of those that come to the hospital to see their loved ones broken.
Is it so hard to just take a few extra minutes getting where your going? And if you miss your exit, go to the next one and turn around. Don't back up, use the emergency access in the median or anything else that will get you or me killed.
When questioned, the driver told police that he had been driving in New York for 10 years and "never needed a license" there but that he had one at one time from the Bahamas. In Pennsylvania, operating a motor vehicle without a license during an incident that causes a fatality is automatic murder by vehicle. I believe that is 2nd degree murder and could carry a life sentence. Meanwhile, two other passengers are in critical condition.
And the kicker is, that he hadn't missed his exit; he really needed to get off at the next exit anyway. And why was he in such a hurry? To get to Dorney Park - a local amusement park - where some kids from NY were going to have a chance to have a nice day. So much for those plans.
Until six weeks ago, I spent the last 13 years driving 150 miles a day to and from work. I have seen things that would cause my wife to hide under the bed just telling her about them. And most of the time it is simply because someone is in a hurry. Even if it is to get in front of the next car.
Why? Why are we in such a hurry? And the consequences of this drivers actions are unpardonable. I spent 10 months as a hospital chaplain and worked the trauma bay enough to see what automobile accidents can do to those driving and the aftermath of the pain, loss and suffering of those that come to the hospital to see their loved ones broken.
Is it so hard to just take a few extra minutes getting where your going? And if you miss your exit, go to the next one and turn around. Don't back up, use the emergency access in the median or anything else that will get you or me killed.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
What is the answer?
But don't get me wrong either, I don't think that the Democrats have it completely wrong. It is seldom that on side or the other have all "THE ANSWERS" to life's problems. It seems to me that we are a people that have such passion on the edges of each issue from a minority with the majority stuck in the middle. The problem with most in the middle is that they don't bother to pay attention to what is going on to give some clarity to the middle.
I view myself as a radical centrist. One who thinks that there is some merit in all arguments and that we should find some middle ground to work in. Out of control spending and government subsidies out the wazoo is just as bad as giving all the rich fat cats a break in paying their fair share.
We also don't do much to encourage those that do have a little extra something from offering it to those that need a hand. Perhaps the limit on tax deductions for charitable contributions should be raised instead of raising taxes. Maybe there is a way to write the tax code to give people extra credit for doing something like that. If someone makes $300,000 a year and truly wants to tithe the traditional 10%, they don't get to claim all of it. Wouldn't direct contributions of $30,000 a year to charity be better than taxing people and running it through the Federal government machine that seems to strip away too many dollars?
I think people helping people is better than governments helping people. They are there to make sure the roads are paved and our best interests with foreign governments are managed.
I view myself as a radical centrist. One who thinks that there is some merit in all arguments and that we should find some middle ground to work in. Out of control spending and government subsidies out the wazoo is just as bad as giving all the rich fat cats a break in paying their fair share.
We also don't do much to encourage those that do have a little extra something from offering it to those that need a hand. Perhaps the limit on tax deductions for charitable contributions should be raised instead of raising taxes. Maybe there is a way to write the tax code to give people extra credit for doing something like that. If someone makes $300,000 a year and truly wants to tithe the traditional 10%, they don't get to claim all of it. Wouldn't direct contributions of $30,000 a year to charity be better than taxing people and running it through the Federal government machine that seems to strip away too many dollars?
I think people helping people is better than governments helping people. They are there to make sure the roads are paved and our best interests with foreign governments are managed.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Frozen
I'm sitting watching America The Story of Us and wondering if people really learn. It seems that we only learn from television any more. I made comments to my wife about events that the show hadn't covered yet or added to it.
I think that the show really oversimplifies the motivations of many of the people in our history. The Pilgrims were not trying to reinvent themselves, but rather get away from other Christians that they viewed as being heretical. Isolation, not some sort of soul searching.
Then the show is blatant is saying that the government spending done during the Great Depression essentially didn't do anything. It took World War II to get us out of the financial crisis. Makes you wonder about the current administration's goal of spending more for government subsidized projects. Then they go on to talk about how reducing taxes for the rich and corporations improved the economy and brought in record receipts of taxes for the US government. Hmmmm - are we going to learn anything about this. If people are comfortable spending money, they will and large amounts of it.
Ultimately, fear drives us. We react like any other animal - fight, flight, freeze. A lot of us are frozen right now not knowing which way to go. It is time we start thawing ourselves out.
I think that the show really oversimplifies the motivations of many of the people in our history. The Pilgrims were not trying to reinvent themselves, but rather get away from other Christians that they viewed as being heretical. Isolation, not some sort of soul searching.
Then the show is blatant is saying that the government spending done during the Great Depression essentially didn't do anything. It took World War II to get us out of the financial crisis. Makes you wonder about the current administration's goal of spending more for government subsidized projects. Then they go on to talk about how reducing taxes for the rich and corporations improved the economy and brought in record receipts of taxes for the US government. Hmmmm - are we going to learn anything about this. If people are comfortable spending money, they will and large amounts of it.
Ultimately, fear drives us. We react like any other animal - fight, flight, freeze. A lot of us are frozen right now not knowing which way to go. It is time we start thawing ourselves out.
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