The Wisest Generation

The Wisest Generation

Much is written about the Greatest Generation, Generation X, Baby Boomers, and the like. Seldom do we drop back to the time of what I call the Wisest Generation. It was more than two centuries ago, at a time when our forefathers decided that “enough was enough”. It was 1776 when they drafted what became known as the Declaration of Independence.

The men of the Wisest Generation produced a document declaring their independence from Great Britain, a land they left to exercise their desire for freedom from what they deemed an oppressive government and society.

 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Thus was born the Declaration of Independence and a United States of America.

It was a battle, of course. England wanted the colonists to pay taxes to the King. What was it providing in exchange for those taxes? Yep, nothing. The King saw the colonists as nothing more than a source of revenue. Sound familiar?

Over the next dozen years, the Wisest Generation knew that order and rules needed to be established within the newly formed organization of individual states. Over a lengthy period of time, after a lot of soul searching, the Constitution of the United States was drafted. Those working on that document had to look not only at the current state of affairs, but at both history and the future. After all, they didn’t want their sons and grandsons to have to go through the same turmoil a few years down the road.

These were some pretty smart people. Knowing full well that, even in their lifetime, man had come a long way, that situations would change, that additional rules would need to be addressed to deal with those changes, they left some wiggle-room. There was no way, in 1789, that they could have seen the coming of the automobile, and a need to issue licenses for motorists. That is why drivers do not have a constitutional right to drive a car. Every state issues driving privileges, privileges that you must earn. Privileges that can be taken away.  But, our Declaration covers that, too. All men are created equal. Laws are not adopted giving any person or group any more privileges than another. At least, that’s the way it’s intended.

It is amazing, then, that the Wisest Generation saw fit to include RIGHTS within the Constitution that could not be taken away. The First Amendment, for instance, guarantees us the RIGHT, not a privilege, to worship…or not…any way we choose. It guarantees us a RIGHT to say what we want. It provides us with a press that is free to report on the deeds or misdeeds of government, free from government control.

The Second Amendment, the one we hear so much about these days, was apparently important to the Wisest Generation, in that it guarantees us the RIGHT to have guns. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. The language is simple. The message is clear. Even William Jefferson Clinton would have trouble honestly (I realize that’s a tough word for Clinton to swallow) interpreting that sentence to mean anything other than what it states.

While times do change, and we must adopt rules to adapt and deal with new challenges, you would think, at least, that our elected representatives could understand our core values, and would take to heart what the men of the Wisest Generation did to ensure a future society free from oppression from within and beyond our borders. If they have any doubts, I strongly suggest that each of our elected representatives refer to that sentence in the Declaration of Independence that states Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.  How often do we need to remind them that they get their powers from us?

You would also think that a president, who claims to be a constitutional scholar would abide by the oath he took to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States”. And, repeating what Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to prompt as a question, “…so help you God?”.  Barrack Hussein Obama said “…so help me God”.

So help me God is not part of the official oath. Neither is there a requirement to use a Bible in the ceremony. But, it has become a tradition for most presidents taking the oath. It’s ceremonial, to be sure, and what many feel is a presidential guarantee that he takes to heart what he is saying, that he will honor his commitment to the citizens of this Great Nation.

Let’s hope so.

New York and New Jersey want MY money???? For Sandy Relief????

Yeah, that's right. Hurricane Sandy caused a LOT of damage along the New England seacoast, leaving death and destruction in her wake. And, now the governors of New York and New Jersey think that the Federal Government should pay for that damage. By Federal Government, they mean you and me.

A question that some of the folks out there in North Dakota are asking is "what's in it for me"? Like, when did the taxpayers from either of these states send money to help them dig out from blizzards?

Ok, get off your defensive high horses. We are a United States of America. And, we take care of our own. That's one of the things that makes us special. We even send billions of tax dollars to all sorts of people in all corners of this world when they need help recovering from a natural disaster. It's the right thing to do. Right?

Not no, but HELL no! We don't have anything extra to share with those countries. We don't even have enough to take care of our own. Let me know if you find those outpourings of money or donations coming into this country when we suffer an attack from the likes of a hurricane, an earthquake, a flood, or forest fires that burn for months. But, let a third world country get clobbered, and you'll see tax dollars by the billions (dollars that we actually borrow from China, then repay with interest) going to their aid. Not to mention all of the good hearted people, many representing churches, who pack their bags and tools and head out to help rebuild.

Being politically incorrect and insensitve, but realistic, I'll tell you that, thanks to us, those places "devastated" by storms are oftentimes better off when we leave than they were BEFORE the storms.

So, where are the other countries when we get nailed? Why is the weight of the world on the shoulders of the United States? We certainly seem to contribute much more than our (I hate these words) fair share. It's like our president and his liberal socialist fiends (yes, that's the word...no "r") who want to let the minority of Americans pay their fair share so those who don't want to work don't have to.

Don't get me wrong. Or, if you want to, that's ok. If a person, a state, a society is in trouble, I'm all for lending a hand. And, I don't expect anything in return, except maybe a thanks. The key word here is helping. There is a big difference between a helping hand and a handout.

When you check out the list of countries on our handout list (aka, foreign aid), you might be surprised at just how much we give to whom. Countries that are not in dire straits. We give them money, we're told, because we want to keep them friendly to the United States. Why? Why do we need to be friendly with countries that could care less about us? Do you think, even for a moment, that any one of these friends would not stab us in the back, given a chance?

Well, now here's a real kick in the pants. Several countries HAVE offered us assistance. Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill disasters are two recent cases. But, we DECLINED their offers!!!! Can you imagine? We don't mind giving, giving, and giving. We don't mind taxing our citizens to death. We don't mind having the 2% of the richest people in this country pay their fair share to keep the masses from having to lift a finger. But, we won't accept help when offered? We don't mind borrowing money to give to other countries; we don't have a problem printing all the money we need.

Americans. We have a problem. And, its not one that has just happened. It's a problem that is decades in the development. And, unless we get our hands on the throat of this problem and choke the life out of it, this once great nation is going to continue its downhill slide to a point that it will, as many a great nation has done in the past, collapse from within and die.

 

So. What's there to be thankful for, anyway?

Where do I begin? Maybe you should tell me. Or, better yet, tell yourself. What do YOU have to be thankful for?

Outrageous prices for most everything? Taxes? Unemployment? Gas prices? War? Death? Traffic? Crime?

Doesn't sound like we have a lot to celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, right? Well, not so dang fast, buster. I don't know about you, but I've got a lot to be thankful for. And, so do you. True, we've all got those pesky little things like taxes and traffic to deal with. And, yes, it seems like we're always on the brink of war or conflict somewhere in the world. Unfortunately, we have thousands of troops either in harm's way or getting ready to go there. And, thankfully, we have those brave men and women to make sure those conflicts remain somewhere else.

Gas prices? A pesky nuisance, a price we pay for the luxuries we have in this great nation. If we, the average joe, ever wanted to bring gas prices down, we could do it. We would have to learn how to conserve, to become more conscious of our wastefulness. If we, as a UNITED nation of motorists would decide that enough is enough, and as a group would stop wasting gas, then our dependence on those nations that provide us with oil at inflated prices, those distillers and distributors and dealers would soon get the message. Once they find out that they can not, please pardon the pun, hold us over a barrel, then and only then will the pump prices go down. So, enough of your whining about gasoline prices. If you don't like it, then get organized and do something about it.

Taxes are what they are. It's the cost of Big Government doing business. Who created Big Government? Well, check out the mirror, my friend. It was you. And, me. We, as a nation, continue to send representatives to Washington to represent us. And, they do it so lavishly (is that a word?). Government has grown over the decades. The shear numbers of Americans employed by the government has reached a level that is scary. But, again, quit complaining. It's your fault. And, mine. If we, as a UNITED nation of people would send the same message to Washington that we could send to oil and gas leaders, then our Big Government would get back to a reasonable size. And, it doesn't have to start in Washington. It can start in our communities, at the city council and county commission levels. Hold those we elect acccountable. If this wave would sweep the state, the country, then you can bet that business would not be the same in the future.

Unemployment is a bit more difficult. It's out of control. We have one out of every four veterans in the unemployment lines. And, that's likely to increase dramatically as we reduce the number of troops we have. Countless others remain unemployed, many because they're un-employable. Their skills are no longer needed. That said, there are still opportunities and programs that will help. Let me point out the Community College System in North Carolina. Regardless of age or background, if you're willing to apply yourself, they will help you help yourself. Read that line again, and take it to heart.

Now, what do I have to be thankful for. First, a full life. Approaching that magic year of 65, I have remained in relatively good health. As with many today, there have been ups and downs in the health arena. Nothing that could not be fixed, usually by my own hand. With a little guidance from the medical professionals, life is good.

My wife. Of a mere six years, but six wonderful years. Understanding and loving. And, just as important, a word so often unused or misused, caring.

A daughter, a granddaughter, and a host of other relatives, far and near, and friends, and neighbors. And, oh yeah. An 89-year young mother. Taught me a lot in my almost 65 years. Two dogs and a cat (that still thinks he's a dog). Great companions. Great for stress control.

I've had a great life to be thankful for. I've learned to cook. Mainly because I like to eat, and the stuff I like is seldom cooked the way I like it at a restaurant. I'm still trying to get some control on the amount that I cook. I know, I know. There's no reason, or way to justify, cooking 16 quarts of spaghetti sauce for "just the three of us".

Maybe that's why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Friends and relatives from far and wide. All getting together to eat. No expectations, no putting on the airs. Just normal people, having a good time.

Please, for this special day of the year, remember those who have given so much to ensure the sanctity and sanity of this great nation. Thank them every chance you get. And, when you start searching deep inside, you'll no doubt come up with a lot that you should be thankful for.

 

Sex, Lies, the Army, the Marines...who ya gonna trust? How about the president for a change!

Well, well. A week after the election, and the dust hasn't settled. All sorts of noise about voter fraud, voter intimidation and the like. That pesky little Benghazi mess that left four Americans, including an ambassador, dead remains a nuisance for the Obama administration. Congress made noise that it wants answers, but waited until after the election to begin making some real noise. Is that pesky mess getting a lot of attention? Of course not. Suddenly, right after the election, it was divulged that David Patraeus, Obama's choice to head the C.I.A. (folks aren't talking much about this being a Bamma-Man, are they?) was resigning after the F.B.I., acting on a tip, uncovered an affair between the nation's top spook and a chick who's been working closely with him on a book. Whatever. Now, that's big news. A sex scandal. Good stuff. Is it newsworthy? Absolutely! Does it overshadow the Benghazi-Betrayal? Absolutely not. But, it is doing just that. The murders of four Americans quickly became old news, at least for a couple days, while a smoke screen, better than any military team could have ever wished for, was laid out. And, as soon as that smoke began to disperse, along comes another one. Boy, these Washington guys are good. No wonder that they managed to snooker so many voters on 6 November. The second phase involves a top military leader, a Marine Corps general. Some 20-thousand pages of e-mails to a military "socialite" (I have a more common name for her) took off. And, lo and behold! It was related to the first scandal. More oily rags and green leaves were piled on top of the fire with a result of even more smoke. So, here we have it. A dumb CIA director who got involved with a woman who was not his wife, a woman who is not the brightest star in the sky (did you see the video where she shared obvious pillow-talk with an audience?), followed up by a marine general who should have known better before sending thousands of e-mails to a "socialite", some sort of "honorary" consulate (someone needs to redefine the root word "honor"), and you have a smoke screen that has the media and our legislators going around in circles. There are a number of legislators who are not being sidetracked. Senator John McCain is running full speed ahead, obviously ticked off by the attempts of POTUS to draw attention away from Benghazi and the attack on our consulate. And, Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina's 3rd District, told me on Live and Local with Raeford and Friends that he wants the truth, at whatever cost. So, here we have it. The administration hanging with a lie they started within hours of the obviously premeditated attack on our embassy, diverting the attention of the ever-so-gullable mainstream media who don't want to ruin their chances at getting invited to the next big White House shindig,and those of us who have seen through the whole mess. But, have we? What other agenda does the administration have? How about a reduction of defense spending, a reduction of our warriors? Do you not think that the liberal memebers of the Congress and Senate will use the military affairs mess to justify cutting out what they see as excessive spending? And, what defense can the Defense Department use to justify all that money going to them when abuses, and excessive spending, and hanky panky are played out every night on the television news? Oh, and don't forget that hot little treaty before the UN. Waiting until after Obama secured another term so as not to give ammo to those defenders of our Second Amendment...you know, one of those constitutional amendments that liberals are ever trying to neutralize. It has been scheduled, again, for next spring. Obama's gang, prior to the election, maintained that he would do nothing to challenge that amendment. And, thank goodness that so many believed him. After all, when has he ever lied? Forget about Benghazi. That doesn't count as a lie. He said he never lied, that he said on 12 September that the attack was an act of terror, while maintaining that some pitiful excuse for a film was to blame for the spontaneous attack. Trust me. The check's in the mail. I'll never let you down. I am not a muslim. By the way, an American, a former marine who has become a muslim, told me on the air that Obama had to be a muslim to have gone to muslim schools. And, if he was no longer a muslim, then he was subject to be punished. Yeah, well, don't wait for that to happen.

Election: OVER! Gone but not forgotten. Who won? Not us. Whoever "us" is.

Well, the election has come and gone, and I...for one...am so relieved. I don't have to listen to the lies, the insults, the ridiculous claims that have bombarded my fortified stronghold any longer. Oh, I'm not talking about the claims from the candidates. I'm referring to the insults from our journalists. You know, the group that is suppose to be fair and impartial. Reporters who don't distort facts through admission or outright editing for content. I remember a time, a long time ago. Or, as any Fair Tale beings: "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a fair, impartial, and dedicated breed of man known as reporters. Men, and a few women, who didn't dress like movie stars, who didn't socialize with policians. True journalists who devoted their time and energy into getting the scoop. Yes, they wanted dirt. But, only if dirt actually existed. They dug for facts, and did not let their personal feelings interfere with their mission of getting to the truth. Neither republican, nor democrat, this apparently extinct breed were the true independents of their day, a day that has long ceased to exist". If truth be known, the journalists of yesteryear, regardless of their formal education, were perhaps the best educated voters in this country. They let the truth influence their personal, and therefore their readers', opinions. Presenting "just the facts, ma'm" allowed the masses, the voters, to actually think for themselves. It allowed them to challenge lies or half-truths made by policians stumping for votes. Today, because of social-politicking, invites to the White House for a beer or a dinner or some other social event, reporters wearing red-carpet dresses and suits fit for, well, a king or queen, can't help but to be swayed. It has become so obvious to everyone but themselves. Even the late night comics make fun of these new age journalists. For one, I am sick and tired of it. And, I am so embarrassed by the antics of them that I am almost ready to support a modification of the First Amendment. And, shame on me. "In order to guarantee unbiased reporting, no journalist shall be allowed to attend any political functions on a social level; and, no journalist shall have a right to register as anything other than an independent". Now, that is saying more than you can imagine. Coming from me, a staunch supporter of the Constitution. Me, who has maintained that, left alone and adhered to, this 200-plus year old foundation can return this country into the great nation it was. Shame, shame on me for allowing a thought that the Constitution should be modified to even cross my path. Nawwww....it wouldn't work, anway. We, as a nation of people and not sheeple, need to insist that the bosses who control who is hired in the media wake up and smell the roses. Otherwise, there will come a time when someone is going to slither in (or, maybe he has) and seize control, and then we will have issues with more than the First and Second Amendments (gotta get rid of that pesky little second one before attempting to work on the others). These are my opinions for you to share if you desire, or send to the www.dumpsite.com if you prefer.

Time For New Leadership. With an emphasis on LEADERship.

Many say that the election of 2012 is the most important election in history. I agree. But, not for the reasons others cite. As it is with every day of our lives, the very next one is the most important one. All the others are nothing but history. Hopefully, we will have learned from the mistakes we made on those days. There will be changes with this election, as there are changes with all elections. We will either have a new president, or we will have a president who has learned, hopefully, from his mistakes, a president who has discovered that it takes more than a pretty face and some fancy words to actually get the job done. Whoever is elected will be working with new faces in the legislature. The faces belong to people who may or may not like him. In North Carolina, there will be a new governor. One term governor Beverly Purdue, earlier this year, was reading the tea leaves and decided that it was best for all concerned that she not come out for a second round. She was right in that decision, perhaps the smartest decision she has made in her almost four years as governor. The leaders of the United States and North Carolina do need to wake up. The people are beginning to. It will not be about the voters who put them into office. There will liekly be almost as many people who DON'T want them in office as there are people who do. What they need to understand is that a growing population is fed up with big government, with runaway and uncontrolled spending. We are fed up with the business-as-usual attitude. We voted, in 2008, for change. And hope. Polls indicate today that we are not happy with what's been going on. We are deeper in debt than ever, our kids are not getting the education we were promised, our nation is not as strong as it once was, our standing in the world is not even second best. I can go on and on, and I'm sure you can add to this. Our next leaders need to step up to the plate and examine, first, the people they have chosen to surround themselves with. Are these "advisors" on the payroll simply because they support the big guy? If so, they should be fired. No one man can lead the state or the nation alone. Yes, they need advisors, but they need advisors and not "yes-men". They need adsors who can look around and say, "listen up Mr. President...". In North Carolina, it's no secret that Pat McCroy, former mayor of the state's largest city, is without a doubt the next governor. He has a lot of work to do, and I feel reasonably comfortable that he can get the job done. IF he's as smart as I think he is. He has run a remarkably clean campaign. None of the snarky, back stabbing, negative stuff that has become so much of what we get crammed down our throats every day, coming at us on our televisions and radios, in our newspapers, even on our phones. I am tired of it. All of it. If I was governor, I would gather all of the elected leaders of the state's various agencies together. The insurance commisioner, the lieutenant governor, the school superintendent, the attorney general. Those kinds of people. We would meet to see what areas we need to address as a united North Carolina. No one doubts that education is a top priority in a state that has thrown a lot of dollars in that direction, with very little to show for it. We all know that we have many issues in our state law enforcment agencies, starting with the SBI crime lab, employee morale, and the like, that need to be fixed. Who isn't aware of our insurance woes. There's a problem when we have commercials on TV from insurance companies touting "safe driver rates", only to learn that safe driver rates do not apply to North Carolina drivers. This would be my first meeting. My next meeting would deal with waste. I would gather the department heads of all agencies in one big room. Perhaps a large auditorium-type of classroom on the campus of North Carolina State University. The leaders at the Department of Transportation, Crime Control and Public Safety, the top staff at the govenor's office, those from the Department of Social Services. You get the idea. It would be a semi-formal session, one where I would let one and all know that it will no longer be business-as-it-has-been, and that I never, ever want to hear anyone say "that's not the way we've been doing it". I want all to understand, as a group, that all sacred cows are being sent to slaughter, and that the state was going to be run as a profit=making business. The next session would be with EXPERIENCED legislators, not from either political party. Those folks who have been around for a while, and have recived "the peoples' choice" award for one reason or another. My address to them would be much like it was to the department heads. Waste would be discussed. I would encourage them to lead the less experienced legislators by example, and to work on reducing the you-scratch-my-back-and-I'll-cratch-yours method of operation. Legislators should be encouraged to examine the needs of their own districts, of course, and convince their fellow legislators why a bill is is needed that will help the citizens of their districts. The way it all to often works now is that one of our duly elected reps exchanges his support for a fellow rep's bill in exchange for his support of another bill. And, just as "all too often", neither have a clue what the other legislation is all about, and could care less. That's the way they play politics. And, you thought this type of crap stopped when the election was over. Along with the department heads, the staff, key legislators...I would look for citizen advisors. And, I would NEVER choose one that had contributed any significant sum of money to my campaign. In fact, if he showed up as a contributor, or his family did, that person would not even be in the running. I would want to make it clear that money would buy you nothing from the governor. I would be a rather busy governor. Some things, you just sort of have to do. Like accepting a azalea each spring from the fine folks representing the North Carolina Azalea Festival. It's part of being approachable. But, I would also make sure that I was in touch with the leaders of every community and county in North Carolina. I would check every day, even if it was for 5 minutes, with a mayor, a councilman, a county commissioner somewhere in the state. It would not always be the same ones, and it would matter not the size of the community. That is the only way to keep your fingers on the pulse of this great state. Now, this is personal. But, something that might interest me, if I was governor. Most every talk radio show is available with live streaming on the internet. Why not devote a half hour a couple days each week and evesdrop on some of those shows? Talk about getting an earful. Wouldn't have to be the same ones. In fact, it should not be. Kind of like flipping channels until you find something interesting. Ok, that's how I would start if I was governor. No "let's all hold hands and make nice" crap. Not a dictatorial stand. But, one where I would definitely set the tone. One in which "this is not the way we have done it" would be the last words out of your mouth. As president...well, that's a different story. Much the same. But, on a huge scale. I'll have to give that a lot of thought. -30-

The Graying Warriors are getting more scarce

WWI, the first world war, it was called. The Great War. The war to end all wars. Men fought. Men died. A lot of men, a lot of Americans, had their lives taken from them (I hate that phrase "they gave their lives...")while defending their country.

The war to end all wars was followed a couple dozen years later by another world war, WWII. Admittedly, the United States leaders, in my humble opinion, buried their heads in the sand, refusing to recognize the threat of the rapidly advancing nazi army as it marched across Europe. We failed to act even knowing what oppressive acts of depravity were occuring to literally millions of civilians.

When we finally entered this second world war, it was only because of that infamous sneak attack on our most western outpost, Pearl Harbor, on the territory of Hawaii. Once we were in the fight, though, the young men of that day fought tooth and nail to bring an end to the nazi forces. Using modern weapons of that era, along with some leftover weapons from the first war, our men took on the enemy and killed them. By air, by sea, and by land, U.S. warriors stood tall.

For several hundred years, armed forces have utilized marksmen, those men who are "real good" with rifles, to not only kill, but to instill fear in the enemy. They are collectively known as snipers. We have all heard about them, they're a specialized group of highly trained, well disciplined fighters who can seek out and destroy individual enemies from hundreds of yards away. There have been a number of confirmed kills from more than a mile.

In WWII, snipers were typically equipped with the old 1903 Springfield. Some had the semi-automatic M-1 rifles. Both fired a heavy bullet. Its civilian equivalent is caliber 30-06. Many say, and I agree, that the Springfield is one of the most accurate military rifles ever. The "03A3" that I once owned, was a fine rifle, solid and accurate.

Not too long ago, a distinguished sniper from WWII days was awarded a special honor. He was given a ball cap. And, a gun. At 86, a modern day sniper team wanted to see what the old guy was made of. The attached video 'bout says it all. Take a few minutes and check it out. Can he still get the job done?
http://www.wimp.com/veteransniper/

Dancing Star...back to the drawing board

Got another lesson last week. Getting another Wednesday night. If you're just tuning in, I have graciously accepted an invitation to subject myself to all of the ridicule imagineable. I am dancing to raise money for the Onslow (NC) Women's Center. A worthy cause, for sure. The Center operates a shelter, a safe haven, if you will, for female victims of domestic abuse.

I, along with some very distinguished folks in Jacksonville, will be dancing our little toes off, seeking contributions for the shelter. Each participant will have two dances, and we'll strut our stuff at a gala at the Jacksonville Country Club on 13 October. Tickets for that event are $50 each.

And, you can go on line to make a donation, if you choose. Each of us is trying to raise at least a grand. www.onslowwc.org/raefordandkaitlyn will take you to "my" page, and you can contribute there. Thanks to those who have already done so.

Now, to the nitty gritty. My "partner" is an instructor. That is part of my saving grace. She's a pro, and I'm counting on that to make me look good. Actually, if I want to be totally honest, I'm counting on her looking so good that you won't even notice me!!!! Ok, I fessed up. "She" is Kaitlyn, and not only is she a professional instructor, she's a professional belly dancer. And, she's darn good.

I'll be talking with Kaitlyn, soon, on my morning talk show, Live and Local on Thunder Country 96.3.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration.
www.onslowwc.org/raefordandkaitlyn

I'm Learning to Dance, and my instructor is a professional Belly Dancer!

Another lesson, and my teacher, Kaitlyn, is a great liar. She said I am "doing great". And, she did it with a straight face. Or, maybe she's right, and I am getting better.

For my third lesson, it was a day to learn how to move my feet, backside and arms at the same time, making them go in the prescribed directions, just as Kaitlyn wanted.

I felt pretty good, after 90 minutes, until I discovered that I was less than half way through the song! But, it's a start. And, with a lot of luck, and a lot of between-lessons coaching by my wife and granddaughter, I might even look pretty decent when I next see Kaitlyn. With lots of practice, and a lot of persistence, and a few OTC pain pills for sore muscles that haven't been utilized in a few decades, Kaitlyn will be pleasantly pleased. I'm counting on that.

Check out this style!!!!

This is for a good cause. The Dancing Stars of Jacksonville (NC) is coming to the Jacksonville Country Club on 13 October. Tickets are $50 each. It's for a great cause, the Onslow Women's Center. They support a shelter for battered women in the area, a safe haven for vicitms of domestic abuse. You can also support the center by logging onto www.onslowwc.org/raefordandkaitlyn and make an online donation. I'm shooting for at least a grand, and your support will be greatly appreciated.

Dancing Fool

Well, I'm the "fool" part of that title, for sure. But, with any luck, I'll be the dancer by mid October.

The Onslow (NC) Women's Shelter is raising money to support their safe haven for battered women. Yes, I know, men get battered, too, but they generally have better "escape" resources than do women.

What I'm doing now is outright solicting for a good cause. And, I'm subjecting this old fool's body to some interesting maneuvering in order to convince folks to cough up some bucks. Go to www.onslowwc.org/raefordandkaitlyn to get more info and to make a donation.

Now, for the dancing thingie. I have been partnered with a nice lady. And she knows her stuff, let me tell you. Forget about me on the dance floor. Kaitlyn, my partner, will be the shining star on this team. She's a pro, an instructor, a belly dancer.

(Pause for gut busting laughter)

Get it out of your system. I am gonna look good on the floor. With help from my wife (she's been a dancer since we first met more than a half century ago) and Kaitlyn, how could I be anything but good?

I'll be posting pictures here and on www.thundercountryonline.com in the coming days and weeks. All of this leads up to the Big Event, Dancing Stars of Jacksonville (NC) on 13 October. It will be held at the Jacksonville Country Club, and you might want to get your tickets sooner than later.

For now, go to the web site, and reach deep into your pockets. The Onslow Women's Shelter will thank you.

An e-mail buddy sent me one of those nostalgia-oriented emails. The kind that makes us (old fools) reflect back to what we perceived as a much nicer time. Those yester-years, where everything was ahhh, so cool. The days of almost innocense, where having a weapon on the school grounds meant you had brought your slingshot from home. A time when our milk was DELIVERED by a milkman to our door, and it came in a glass bottle.
The good old days.
But, were they actually so good?
Taking the bad and comparing it to the good...well, you decide.

 

Unfortunately, back then, we had only 2 or 3 TV channels to watch.

Fortunately, we didn't need more because we were playing outside, or hunting, or fishing, or just walking in the woods, or down the street to see a friend, or...in my case...talking on my ham radio to people all over the world.

Unfortunately, we didn't have cell phones in case of an emergency.

Fortunately, because we didn't have cell phones, there were fewer emergencies. Maybe because there was no texting while driving.

Unfortunately, we didn't have burglar alarms and codes to remember.

Fortunately, we could leave our doors unlocked and the only non-family visitors were friends or neighbors who didn't need to knock.

Unfortunately, we didn't have computers and the internet.
Fortunately, we had paper and pencils, encyclopedias, and newspapers. And, we could actually read and write.

Fortunately, it's a long way to the sewer.

Unfortunately, we have come a long way.

Gun Control or People Control

Gun nuts, watch out! They're preparing, one more time, to come after our guns. Sure seems that some crazy, liberal, unrealistic white people sit around and wait for any tragedy or disaster to start up their gun-grabbing agenda before a weakened society.

Take Hurricane Katrina, for instance. National Guardsmen were going door to door, seizing all guns, for a reason that still escapes me. Thank goodness for some intelligence in North Carolina's Legislature. That will not happen here. During disasters, even if you have to evacuate, you can take your guns AND pets with you.

And, of course, the horrific mayhem caused not by a gun or guns but by a yet-to-be-diagnosed-deranged, self-centered loner in Aurora, Colorado has set them off again. Twelve dead, 58 wounded by a lone gunman, armed "to the teeth", who chose a movie theater full of UN-armed citizens to show how big a man he wanted to be. That's a problem with some gun owners, I'll readily admit. They use a gun to impress others, to make up for some inferiority they have.

The current resident of the White House, in a closer-than-he-wanted race to stay there another four years (and send his wife and her friends on taxpayer-funded vacation after vacation after vacation) has not voiced his position on gun control or gun confiscation. He's a sneaky little guy, that's for sure. He rightfully sees gun control as political suicide. However, he has set the stage so that he can achieve what many of us believe will be part of his next term: stricter gun control. He is taking his guidance from another man. A man named Adolph.

"The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that the supply of arms to the underdogs is a sine qua non (An essential condition) for the overthrow of any sovereignty. So let's not have any native militia or native police. German troops alone will bear the sole responsibility for the maintenance of law and order throughout the occupied Russian territories, and a system of military strong-points must be evolved to cover the entire occupied country." --Adolf Hitler, dinner talk on April 11, 1942, quoted in Hitler's Table Talk 1941-44: His Private Conversations, Second Edition (1973), Pg. 425-426. Translated by Norman Cameron and R. H. Stevens. Introduced and with a new preface by H. R. Trevor-Roper. The original German papers were known as Bormann-Vermerke.

That should be loud and clear to all of us. If you've legally purchased a gun since the Gun Control Act of 1968 was adopted, you had to fill out an ATF form proclaiming that you weren't nuts, on drugs, or an at large crook. In recent times, a section was added to that form, section 10a. It wants you to declare whether you are Hispanic or Latino or whether your are Not Hispanic of Latino. And, this from a FEDERAL government that takes shots at local cops for profiling?

Oh, but this is not new, either.

Regulations Against Jews' Possession of Weapons

11 November 1938

With a basis in §31 of the Weapons Law of 18 March 1938 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p.265), Article III of the Law on the Reunification of Austria with Germany of 13 March 1938 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p. 237), and §9 of the Führer and Chancellor's decree on the administration of the Sudeten-German districts of 1 October 1938 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p 1331) are the following ordered:

§1
Jews (§5 of the First Regulations of the German Citizenship Law of 14 November 1935, Reichsgesetzblatt I, p. 1333) are prohibited from acquiring, possessing, and carrying firearms and ammunition, as well as truncheons or stabbing weapons. Those now possessing weapons and ammunition are at once to turn them over to the local police authority.

§2
Firearms and ammunition found in a Jew's possession will be forfeited to the government without compensation.

§3
The Minister of the Interior may make exceptions to the Prohibition in §1 for Jews who are foreign nationals. He can entrust other authorities with this power.

§4
Whoever willfully or negligently violates the provisions of §1 will be punished with imprisonment and a fine. In especially severe cases of deliberate violations, the punishment is imprisonment in a penitentiary for up to five years.

                                                          §5
For the implementation of this regulation, the Minister of the Interior waives the necessary legal and administrative provisions.


Pay close attention to section 5. Does this sound anything like a version of today's Executive Orders that our president has been signing? With a stroke of a pen, Obama can implement all sorts of restrictions on the people of this great nation. With a single stroke of a pen. No guns. No talk radio. No right to speek out. No right to gather together. No rights, no freedoms.

6 November 2012 cannot come soon enough.  

Raeford Brown                               

A Brave "Marine", this 12-year old named Cody Green

I come across stories from time to time that are worth repeating. Like this one of a 12 year old Indiana kid who lost his lifelong battle with Leukemia back in April. Cody Green is his name. He suffered over the years, but he was a hero, a brave youngster to the end. His courage was no less great than that of any man or woman, military or civilian.

Cody loved the marines. He would have made a great one.

From our friends across the pond comes this report in the UK's Mail Online. There has been a lot written about this story, both in the US and abroad. I particularly like Mail Online's report. You can read the whole thing by clicking here. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2138308/Heartbreaking-story-terminally-ill-boy-12-marine-honour-guard-hospital-night-died.html

The "Mail" writes (remember, they're writing in British):

Throughout his short life, young Cody Green had admired the bravery of the U.S. Marines.

But after years spent battling leukaemia, it was the youngster's courage fighting cancer which inspired his heroes to honour his bravery.

The 12-year-old from Indiana had suffered from the disease throughout his life. First diagnosed just before his second birthday, he had beaten leukaemia three times - but the chemotherapy had reduced his immune system and, (in April), he died from a fungus which attacked his brain.

And standing guard outside his hospital room that night was a local Marine named Mark Dolfini who was so moved by Cody's continued cancer battle that he decreed the 12-year-old to be a honorary member of the elite military unit.

Close family friend Keristen Ford told MailOnline that Cody was a 'witty' and determined child who never let his continued battles with cancer hurt his spirits.

'He was very aware of his illness he knew exactly what medications he was on and what time he should have them,' Ms Ford said.

'He knew that by him knowing when he had to take his medications and what they were, his mom had to worry less. He was very worried about anyone losing sleep over him.

His mother Tracy Green certainly had a lot on her mind over the past few months, as Cody had two younger brothers and two older stepbrothers.

On top of that, Ms Green was seriously injured at the Indiana State Fair as the country band Sugarland's stage fell. Seven people were killed, and Ms Green was one of the 58 injured. She had to have 30 staples in her skull and had steel rods and pins placed in her leg.

As she recovered, Cody was characteristically caring, helping his mother wash her hair when she had trouble moving in the months following the August 2011 stage collapse.

'When I started walking again after the incident, he was so worried about me, saying "you need to keep your feet up Mom! You have to watch your step,"' Mrs Green told MailOnline.

'He never complained, he never said "why me?" or "I don't want to do this".

'If he got sick, he would finish and say "I'm sorry" because you were holding the bucket for him. I always told him that he had nothing to be sorry about.'

Cody's repeat cancer battle inspired the local Marines, who thought 'he’s fought as hard as any marine has and because of that we’re going to honour him'.

They planned to give him a complete colour guard spectacle, but because Cody's condition was less stable following a stem cell procedure on March 12, they had to suspend those plans for fear of infecting Cody's sensitive immune system.

'He had a passion for our country and our military and it was more the marines got sparked in Cody and they heard of his battle,' Ms Ford told MailOnline.

The youngster's father David Snowberger told local station WLFI: 'They decided Cody, with the strength and honour and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine.'

When Cody's condition took a turn for the worse, his family got in touch with a local Marine who said that he would rush to the hospital to be with the boy during his final hours.

Former Marine Mark Dolfini, 39, who was introduced to Cody through Mr Snowberger, presented the boy with a flag and Marine navigator wings.

'Unfortunately, Cody was not awake, he was on a ventilator, but we believe he knew,' Ms Ford said, having been at the hospital at the time of the ceremony.

In keeping with the Corps motto of Semper Fidelis, latin for always faithful, the Marine stood post outside of Cody's door all night, saluting Mrs Green as she went in and out of the room, right up until Cody passed on Saturday.

'The night before Cody passed, he stood guard at Cody's door at the hospital all night long for eight hours straight,' Mr Snowberger said.

Mr Dolfini, who was initially hesitant to go public for fear it would take away from Cody's story, spoke with MailOnline, telling how he knew he had to spend the night guarding Cody's door because it was what he deserved.

'There was no question that was my calling that night,' he said.

'I didn’t give myself a time constraint and I knew I was going to be there as long as I could be.'

The Marine Corp's website states that the title of 'Honorary Marine' reinforces the special bond between the American people and the Corps by 'recognising individuals in the civilian community who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps.

'The title Marine is a revered designation that affords a special distinction to those who earn it.

'Therefore, only the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) can officially designate an individual as an "Honorary Marine".'

Cody - described by his father as 'a comedian' - was a fifth grade student at Carroll Elementary School in Flora, and his friends spent the first day back at school after his death honouring his memory.

Balloons in his favourite colour of green were released, carrying messages into the sky; green ribbons were tied round the trees and friends hugged each other while wearing green T-shirts and chanting his name.

'He was very witty,' Ms Ford told MailOnline.

'He was very comical. He always made you laugh, and he would always one up you because you couldn’t come up with good comeback quick enough for him! It was as if he had a whole book of them or something!'

His obituary on Jconline reads: 'He never asked "Why Me," and fought the illness with grace and humility, never complaining about his treatment or care, saying "Thank you" to the many health care professionals that cared for him.

.
All contributions will be donated to the cancer unit at Riley Children's Hospital.

 

Island Hopping

At Mya Cove, on Tortola, the winds picked up. We were in a protected harbor, so no worries. Chow time came, and Linda and Robie worked on dinner. I know everything tastes better on a boat, but I will attest to the fact that the boat food we ate during the entire trip was fit for any table, on the water or at home on a white-clothed dining room table. The menu for the week included pork chops, grilled filet mignon steaks, chicken tacos (you gotta give that a try), even a special boat lasagna.

After a good night's sleep, we were up at dawn. The weather had not gotten any better, so we decided to go ashore and rent a car.

Linda needed to get her ears checked at the local doc's office, so it gave us a chance to see some of the island that we had not seen before.


Larry and I stopped off at a boating supply store, and...as I like to do everywhere...we went by a dive shop. There, Larry met a couple friends. Even got a chance to dance with this guy.

What's a Caribbean dive shop without a parrot?

We decided to check out a restaurant where our hosts had been before. And, it was worth it. Outdoor seating, lasagna with a ton of meat (my style, for sure), a couple chickens walking around...

How cool is that?

And, our waitress had an award-winning Caribbean smile.

Bellies stuffed, it was time to tour Tortola. We made a circle, got lost, stopped and asked directions (yeah, even real men...like Larry and me...will do that...did I mention that Larry is a retired airline pilot???), picked up a lady who got us back to Road Town, where we were originally headed. The views were gorgeous.

 

                                                       Road Town

 

         Looking down from up yonder 

It was a good tour of the island. We had a blast. Stopped at the grocery store for more supplies. Yeah, we had eating on our minds. And, of course, we needed more ice.

"I like that one"

 

Juice. We always need juice.        

Back to Reggae, and time to prepare chow. If it seems like eating is a big part of our lives, well...yes. All of us enjoy quality food, and eating aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean is awesome. 







Just eat your heart out.

We did make it out of Mya Cove. But, prevailing winds did not allow us to visit Salt Island, where the remains of RMS Rhone lie. We headed back to the US. Well, sort of. We sailed over to St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands. Nice area, too. And, I'll have more on that, complete with a lot of pictures, next time.

Tripping through the Virgins

A year ago, for the first time in my life, I spent a week aboard a sailboat. Living, sleeping, eating, cruising. As a lifelong powerboater, I must admit that it was an interesting change of life, and a definite change of pace.

And, in May 2012, I got to do it again! My wife, Robie, and I were invited for a second straight year to spend a week, or so, with our friends, Linda and Larry, aboard their shared 34 or 38 foot Beneteau, Reggae. I say 34 or 38 because documents list it two different ways. I guess it depends on whether you're paying by the foot at a marina, or you're bragging about the boat.

We flew from Jacksonville (NC) to Charlotte to St. Thomas via USAirways. And, I will say up front, the connections were absolutely superb, the crews were friendly...not just officially courteous, but actually friendly. And, I can tell a difference. On every leg, going and coming, we left on time, and we arrived either on time, or a few minutes early. A real pleasure instead of a challenge. Congrats USAirways for running a topnotch operation.

In St. Thomas, we ran into the typical Caribbean airport chaos. In reality, it was organized chaos at its best. Cabbie bosses wanted to know where we were going, and quickly directed us to vans going our way. About a dozen of us boarded the van and headed straight to the Charlotte Amalie waterfront where ferries heading for Tortolla, on the British side, were waiting. We were politely and efficiently ushered to the check-in window where we purchased tickets and checked our luggage.

Not quite as prompt as USAirways, the ferry set sail about 15 minutes later than posted. But, no problem, mon. We're in the islands, and we're now officially on island time.

Our "escort" on the crossing

Within the hour, we're pulling into West End at Soper's Hole on Tortola. Had to check in with Customs and Immigration, assuring them we were the good guys, and weren't bringing anything into the country that we shouldn't. Friendly folks, they were. Made the international transition as easy as pie.

Ferry at Soper's Hole

Our friends, Linda and Larry, were waiting outside, and eagerly greeted us with hugs and handshakes. We loaded our bags into their dingy (a rubber boat with a motor) for a short ride to their moored sailing vessel about a hundred yards from the dock.

Our home for 8 nights

Gear stowed in the aft berth, it was time to get dinner started. Take note that we always looked after our bellies during the entire voyage. Our trip would take us southeastward, towards the eastern chain of the BVI's. Norman Island, Cooper Island, Salt Island. At least, that's the way the plans started out.

Sailing aboard Reggae

First thing Sunday, we cut loose from the mooring ball, and wound our way out the harbor. We headed for The Indians, a small outcropping of rocks off Norman Island. It took maybe an hour to get there. Maybe two, maybe three. Remember, we're now on island time, and the best I can tell you is that it's daylight and we've had breakfast. The Indians are so-named, the tale goes, because some wayward sailors of yesteryear said the rocks resembled Indian tee-pees. You've got to remember that sailing ships carried as much rum as they did fresh water. I don't think I need to paint you a picture, do I?

The four of us took to the warm, clear Caribbean waters, donned in our best snorkeling gear. We checked out the shallows around the outcropping, making note of the various tropical fish we saw. After a couple hours kicking around, we headed  back to Reggae. It was time to hook up to a mooring ball in an area known as The Byte. Calm waters, making it comfortable for cooking and sleeping.

We made our plans for the next day, plans that called for Larry and me to dive on a site he had heard was a good spot. Located in about 60 feet of water, on the southeast side of Norman Island, Santa Monica Rock only had one dive ball. The seas were running 4-5 feet, and the easterly winds were kicking in at about 20 knots. It would be a little more challenging locating the spot as we did not have an on-board GPS. However, I had brought along my trusty handheld Garmin, something I keep as a backup aboard my boat back in the States. I punched in the "numbers", and we headed towards the rock.

Larry plots our course

Unfortunately, as I had not gotten wet since the summer before, and I had obviously put on a few extra winter-pounds, I quickly learned that I needed more lead weight to get my plump backside to the bottom. As the seas were not comfortable on the surface, I chose to work really hard to stay on the bottom. Doing so, I didn't have the opportunity to see as much as I would have liked. And, I burned up twice as much air as usual. Twice as much as Larry.

Lesson learned. If you haven't been in the water in a while, do a shallow water dive FIRST. You can quickly determine how much weight you'll need. It'll also give you a chance to get the lay of the land, time to get comfortable in calm, quiet waters.

A kayak tour at The Caves

Back to Norman Island. On the west end, protected from the winds, the seas were calm. And, there was a great snorkel site known as the Caves. So, after a little food, back to the water we went. Well worth the effort, I'll tell you. Fish of all colors were everywhere. A nice dive, for sure.

We moored, again, in The Byte, planning to dive at a site at the harbor's entrance the following day. Food and a good night's sleep, that's all we needed. And, as usual, Linda prepared a great meal.

After breakfast, we headed for the dive buoy. An interesting dive, with a little more sediment than at Santa Monica Rock, a lot of fish life. And...a full fledged 3 to 3-1/2 pound spiny lobster hiding in a hole. I've picked up a lot of lobsters diving in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. Most are small, in the pound and a quarter class. I've picked up a few larger ones, including a 7-pounder in Guantanamo Bay. And, this guy, under other conditions, would have made a great addition to our dinner table.  

Larry waiting to board Reggae

Ok, time to plan the next day. We decided to move to Cooper Island, a few miles away, to spend the night. The following morning, we intended to go to the site of the RMS Rhone, a British mail ship that sank in the 1860's. The ship is best known as the background in the 1970's film The Deep, starring Jacqueline Bissett. It is now a protected national site, and a popular destination for divers. A local diver calls it his underwater studio, and has been shooting underwater photos there for decades.

But, our plans didn't work out. Needing ice to keep our food cold, we learned, as the sun was heading down, that no ice was available at Norman Island. We quickly headed across the passage to Mya Cove, at Tortola. It's where Reggae is home moored, and our hosts know there's ice there.

But, the dive on HMS Rhone would have to wait. The weather turned a bit ugly, and we decided to hang out in the cove for a couple days. But, those days were not wasted. More on that with the next installment.