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A twenty-seven year old man is driving his truck along a California highway with his two year old son beside him.

He stops the truck, removes the boy from his car seat, and begins punching, kicking, and stomping the boy.

A police officer arrives and shoots the man, but it’s too late for the little boy. He has been stomped into an unrecognizable mass on the side of the road.

This happened in Turlock, California on Saturday night.

The police officer acted as he should, but he was the only one in this situation to do so.

Here’s my problem: Several motorists called 911 and tried to stop the beating, but the beating continued. Just exactly what did they do to try to stop him? Offer him a sucker? Threaten to put him in time-out? How were so many ( I don’t know the exact number ) people unable to stop this man from stomping a two year old boy to death? Were people afraid to get involved? Were they afraid for their own safety?

Every person has the responsibility to protect and care for people who cannot protect themselves. When I hear about someone attacking an elderly person or abusing a child I feel a fire in my gut toward the attacker and a sorrow in my heart for the victim that does not soon ease.

You may call me harsh, judgmental, or vigilante; but you will never call me someone who stood by and watched a child stomped to death.

Tags: America, Crime, Kids, Politics // 2 Comments »

I found a neat little quiz that will match you to a presidential candidate by asking your opinion on several issues. My best match was Bob Barr. John McCain was my 3rd best match. Check it out and let me know how you come out.

Tags: America, Politics // Add Comment »

I have spent the last hour or so researching Bob Barr, and I like most of what I have read. I don’t completely agree with all of his views, but I don’t completely agree with all of anyone’s views except my own. Barr was once a strong conservative who basically got fed up with the usual political games and joined the libertarian party.

Say What You Mean

In a time of politicians side stepping real questions and blowing smoke about issues, Bob Barr leaves very little gray area in his comments. With every question there is a very definitive answer. With most politicians taking a “stand for nothing fall for anything” approach to draw in the “undecided crowd”, Bob Barr speaks his mind and heart.

I can’t say that I am endorsing Barr, yet, but I can say that from what I have read he is the most impressive candidate still on the ballot.

Check Out Bob Barr’s Record

Bob Barr on Glenn Beck

Tags: America, Business, Diet, Inspiration, Politics // Add Comment »

We came to Watertown, NY this week to attend the wedding of my wife’s cousin. I will have to write about the differences between northern and southern wedding receptions soon; just not now. While here we visited some of her family in LaFargeville for Memorial Day. This was an awesome event. This small town has a Memorial Day program that had more heart than any city ten times it’s size. We started out with a parade through the middle of town. It was a very short parade; I’ve seen longer lines at a McDonald’s drive thru. This town showed that size doesn’t matter. There were people lining the sidewalks along the parade route. As the last parade vehicle passed, people from the sidewalks fell in behind the parade and followed it several blocks to a military cemetary. Once everyone had gathered in the cemetary there were several speakers. Some spoke of our military and Memorial Day while others just prayed with the town.  The local high school band played our national anthem while the flag was raised, during which my son and I quitely observed with our hands over our hearts the way an American should. Next, there was a 21 gun salute to the fallen soldiers who died either while protecting me and my family, or after having served our country. It ended with a solemn rendition of “Taps” by a lone bugler.

I am grateful to have shared this Memorial Day with a small town that hasn’t forgotten.

Tags: America, Holiday, Inspiration, Religion // Add Comment »

This is the first time that I’ve reposted an old article. I just thought that this one needed to be brought back to the top for Memorial Day. We, as a nation, have turned Memorial Day into beginning of summer national cookout day. I will be attending a chicken BBQ and parade tomorrow, but before I do I will take time to thank God for the people who have given their lives to protect mine. We should all take time to remember those people before we start cramming our faces with the food that is so readily available in our country. Remember, I am an American; I know what it feels like to over-eat.

Originally posted October 23, 2007

I want to take a moment to just say thank you to all military personnel past and present. I think it’s awesome that we have the greatest fighting forces in the world right here in America. I can go to bed at night knowing that my family is safe from foreign threats. For the past few centuries brave men and women have given their lives to protect the freedoms I enjoy, and I don’t take those freedoms for granted. I can only imagine the pain and loss these men and women felt during their service to our country. I can only imagine the pain and loss that the families of the fallen men and women felt when they got the news that their loved ones would not be returning home. I truly thank you all for your service and sacrifice.

Tags: America, Holiday // Add Comment »

I am a man without a candidate. Mike Huckabee was my go to guy, but he was just too real for America. I mean, he actually had and expressed his views and beliefs. How dare a man be so bold in today’s anything-goes-give-tolerance-a-chance America. So I’m left with John McCain. That’s like going out for a steak and ending up with a pb&j. After the initial shock and disappointment wear off you realize that it’s better than going hungry. The only common ground I’ve found with McCain is that neither of us wants a democrat as our next president.  Please remember that I’m not voting for McCain; I’m only voting against Clinton/Obama.

Tags: America, Politics // Add Comment »

Last Thursday night my wife and I took our 6 year old son to his first Cub Scout meeting. A recruiter had been to his school trying to garner interest in a local pack. I was once a Cub Scout, so I knew there was great potential for my son in this program. This was an introductory meeting to inform the parents about the program as well as let the kids have some fun. He had a great time, so we joined. I filled out an application to become an adult leader as well.

Where were they?

A disappointing reality emerged as the room filled with adults eager to learn about the program and kids eager to be kids; there was only one other father in the room. The room was filled with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade boys and their mothers. Call me old school, but I fully expected to see a room full of fathers with their sons.

We Need Both Parents

I believe that there are gender specific roles that are extremely important for overall child development. I’m not saying that the mothers should have been at home doing laundry while the fathers were teaching their sons to kill an animal bare handed. I am saying that there should have been a room full of fathers at this meeting. I’m sure that some of them had reasons why they couldn’t attend while others just had excuses.

This meeting was just a small example of a problem that is showing up all across this country. There are numerous problems in today’s society that are merely symptoms of the decay of the normal, involved family. ( Yes, I realize that I just labeled anything other than a family with a mother AND father as abnormal. If the dress fits…) When I say father I’m not necessarily talking about biological father. I have seen firsthand that  just because you can make a baby does not mean that you are fit to raise one. Fathers in America had better step up to the plate and start acting like fathers. If you don’t fill that leadership role for your kids someone or something else will.

Tags: America, Kids, Life Lessons, Parenting, Personal Notes // Add Comment »

I realize that my readers have come to expect posts on politics, crime and punishment, patriotism, and such. While I am very passionate about these topics, I never intended this blog to be solely dedicated to them. I started this so that I could publish my thoughts on any and all topics. To my fellow Americans who enjoy the patriotic articles, do not fear. I still bleed red, white, and blue. I am going to diversify my topics, however. If you look at some of my earliest articles you will find education, kids, and nostalgia among other topics.

For a while I also included some affiliate programs on Brainwavers. I have removed those as well. I also got caught up in rankings, popularity, SEO, blah, blah, blah. While I know these are important for business, I was putting more effort into PR than into writing. While I may be venturing into some internet business someday, Brainwavers is not it. This is not a job, and I am going to stop treating it like one.

Tags: Business, Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal Notes // Add Comment »

I found some cool military photos that you will probably never see on any news channel. Most of these pics, which are located at MilitaryTimes,  show our military in a positive light. The good guys don’t usually make the cut when it comes to the good ol’ American media and the doom and gloom spin that they put on every story. You can check out more at FacesOfValor and Honor The Fallen.

Tags: America, Inspiration, Politics // 1 Comment »

Do you remember the feeling you had just weeks before your high school graduation?

What about getting ready to head out on you own? Away from your parents. Do you remember?

Maybe you have recently changed jobs and there was that strange “I won’t be walking down this hall”, or “I won’t use this coffee pot again” kind of feeling.

Buying your first home, or moving out of your first home into your second.

I’m not talking about any bad feelings. The feelings I’m talking about are ones of excitement; feelings that something that you have known is about to be replaced with something better. A new world is about to open up. A sense that there is something waiting that has barely been tapped.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about by now I don’t know any other way to describe it.

I had those feelings twice today. They weren’t accompanied by any visions or thoughts; just feelings. I know that all of you who have experienced this are sitting there nodding in agreement. All of you who think I’m losing it; I just ask that if you are ever fortunate enough to experience it you will recall reading an article by that crazy guy at Brainwavers and admit that he wasn’t so crazy after all.

Tags: Business, Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Motivational, Personal Notes, Religion // 1 Comment »