What America is About

Okay, we keep hearing about the trials and troubles of American life, how we're all in such dire straits that the president has to save us all and every petty special interest group is scrambling to make sure they get their piece of the bail-out and stimulus pie. It's both sad and sickening at the same time. This is not what America is supposed to be about. for a while I was somewhat depressed about the state we're in but a friend sent us an update on her life and reminded me
what this country is about and that there are still some who can prove it.

A dear friend of our family, Becky Oprean, e-mailed a detailed description of her adventures of the last few months. Though her family lives in San Antonio, many people here in the Valley know and adore this young woman. You see, shortly after her family moved to America from Romania in 1987, little Becky was born--with drastic problems. She was born with Spina Bifida and her parents were told that she wouldn't live too long. That was 21 years ago and she's still going strong; albeit, in a wheelchair and still with many health problems.
Her life is spent in giving and helping others, both in America and in Romania. During her teen years she was part of Joni and Friends, an organization that took wheelchairs and other medical aids to Eastern Europe. A few years ago Becky and her family began Beckyshope, which does the same thing, only on a smaller scale.

Last December President Bush, while on a trip to Texas, honored Becky for her volunteer work
and being the shy type of gal she is, she asked when she was going to get a tour of the white house. Well, three and a half weeks later, Becky-boo (as Mr. Bush calls her), her parents and her brother and sister-in-law were sitting in the oval office for a 20 minute private meeting with President and Laura bush, followed by a tour of the White House.

That's what America is about, people: an immigrant family, a young girl facing and overcoming incredible difficulties (and always cheerful and smiling), the TRUE spreading of hope and encouragement, and sitting in the most famous Office in the world. It isn't politics or ideology
or parties or presidents that gives me hope, it's someone like Becky who absolutely embodies
courage and determination who gives me hope.

leave the dirty laundry at home

We've all heard the saying about not "airing dirty laundry in public." It basically means that we don't want the general public to know all our petty little troubles and problems. Today, literally and figuratively, too many people don't care one bit about who experiences their dirty laundry.

This very day, as we roamed around Winco doing some grocery shopping, we were treated to a young man (who's face had at least a pound of metal studs in it) walking back and forth in an aisle as he talked on his cell phone. He was quite upset with some friends--former friends now--who wouldn't give back his boots: "his g*****n boots." Apparently he can't stand these people anymore. Then, as my wife and I were at a Wok and Grill for some supper, I was treated to a woman's cell phone conversation about problems with her children and their "rotten" behavior. Neither one of these people seemed to care one bit that they were sharing their lives with every total stranger around them. I can promise you that I really didn't desire in any way to be a part of their little soap operas.

At the same restaurant, we were also treated to the sight of a young man walking by our table and proudly wearing his pants down to his lower butt cheeks; his somewhat ratty boxers on display for all to see. Of course that is exactly what he wants to show, as that's the fashion. I just wonder why a person would want to show his nasty, skid marked drawers or, in the case of the fashionable female, her stretched out, stringy thong underwear. I'm sure most of these people have something more to share with the world than the fact that they know how to put underwear on. At least one would hope so.

Of course if you look at the soap opera or underwear sharing folks in any sort of disapproving way, they will lose their temper and yell at you for looking at them. Even though all they do is designed to make people look at them. "Hey, look at me, I'm talking on a cell phone." "Hey, look at me, I'm wearing underwear and tripping on my baggy, dragging pants." "HEY, LOOK AT US, WE'RE IDIOTS." But when you look at them as though they were idiots, you're accused of invading their privacy or attacking their freedom of expression.

As far as I'm concerned, if you're not shy about sharing your private lives around me, I won't be shy about commenting about it and if you just have to flash your boxers or thongs, then I just have to laugh at you. That's MY free expression.

So, if you don't appreciate my comments about your "dirty laundry," then don't air it in public anymore.

Thanks

there are still good people

we made the trip yesterday to Salt Lake to see the doctors at the Shriners Hospital. It was the six week check for our son after his back surgery last December. These people are wonderful. With no expectation of anything but the feeling of doing good things for children and their families, they treat and take care of children from all over the world. And it isn't just the Shriners who do this; it's also the many people who support the Shrine organization. Schools hold benefits to collect toys and blankets to give to the children in the hospital. The local National Guard does the same thing. There are so many people who want to help those who help the children it brings even someone as hard hearted as I to tears.

Here's how you can help them too. Of course money always helps but in these hard times anything will do. If your kids have outgrown their stuffed animals or toys, box them up and send them to the nearest hospital and it doesn't have to be a Shrine hospital, it can be any children's hospital. As long as they take care of kids, they need all they can get.

JUST A MAN

So, I have a few days of vacation from work and was actually able to sleep in 'til about 5:30 this morning. I thought I would watch some morning news shows to see what's happening in the world. I was amazed. Still days away from his inauguration and taking office, Obama is already being portrayed as our nation's greatest president. He's being held up as some sort of mythic hero sent here to save us from the evil that...well...Obama pronounces as evil and that we must be saved from. Admiration--adulation even--is understandable, but this absolute worship is over the top.

During the primaries we saw Obama touted as the new messiah, compared to J.F.K. (sorry, but Kennedy's "greatness" was a myth building triumph of propaganda) and lauded as the new Martin Luther King, Jr. (King truly was a great man and, other than skin color, there's no comparison between the two). Just look today at the cover of Ms. Magazine and see how Obama is viewed: as a political "superman," here on earth to protect us all.

What are we doing? Barrack Obama is just a man who campaigned and was elected to be our president for the next four years. He doesn't deserve hate but he isn't above criticism. We'll all just have to wait and see what kind of leader he will turn out to be. So far, I'm not impressed( but then, it takes a lot to impress me) but he really hasn't had the chance to prove himself. We'll see.

Hey,
Not much to say for my first post, Just a wish for a very merry Christmas and a good start to the new year. Right now I'm feeling pretty merry: with my wife, Shanna, our son, Alex (who just had spinal surgery) and our daughter, Christine, all here for the Holidays (actually, Christine is the only one who had to make a trip to get home). To top it off, Shanna and I attended a concert and heard our friend Jaime Thietten singing some beautiful Christmas songs. The woman even coaxed me on to the the stage to sing a duet of "let it snow" with her. I grumbled a bit but it was actually a lot of fun.

This last week has helped me realize that even in the tough times we're having right now, I can be grateful and at peace with all god has blessed me with.

Merry Christmas.