I’ve been battling with folks on the left for almost a decade and can look back 25 years when I battled alongside them and reach some sober conclusions.  First, I usually wasn’t sober when I was involved with radical leftist groups.  As no one made me take the drink I can’t dismiss once playing for the other side.  All I can do is now work to make right the wrongs I committed against my God and my country.  The second thing I’ve noticed is the left can’t seem to make logical connections.  Which is why I guess the government schools are constructed in the current tense.  You create more liberals when Johnny can’t read and has only the dole as his only resort.  Last week a writer at The Christian Science Monitor bemoaned the lack of modern critical thinkers.  This infers critical thinking is something you can teach.  It may just be some folks are wired differently and can think on several levels at any given time while others don’t have the talent.  I believe I can make this statement because the left argues wiring is the root of all differences between people we used to consider just making lifestyle choices.  Notice I wrote I believe and not I feel.  The only thing I feel is the sometimes knot in my stomach when I’m asked to cheerlead for a cause that makes me uncomfortable.

A Roman Catholic Bishop I once heard saying a homily claimed the knot was part of God’s wiring and a reminder ethics aren’t situational. 

Over the weekend I had quite a bit of time for reading and came across the words of a columnist at The Washington Post.  Jim Hoagland writes the American people are getting angry.  Very, very angry and the anger he believes may get very, very ugly.  Hoagland, from what I know, has never been a paragon of the political right.  He’s just an observer witnessing what a great many others are seeing.  This morning I received an email from one of my friends serving in Iraq.  He was telling me 50 percent of working Americans are just two paychecks away from disaster.

Yesterday I attended a committee meeting of the Sussex County Community Organized Regiment.  A local man with a house just a few miles from where I live hosted it and he has a family, pets and a very good job.  These aren’t people frothing at the mouth and searching for a revolution.  There were ten people in attendance ranging from 19 years old to retired.  There had been an earlier committee meeting where something called “Victory Garden” was a discussion topic.  It appears these bitter clingers have ten acres of land available for tilling and planting.  Members of the group will grow vegetables and then, say it isn’t so, can them for what could be tougher months later this year and early next.  Any member who works on these plots is entitled to share in the bounty.  The barter economy is back. 

Before the session wrapped up there was light banter about the public reaction to creation of the organization.  Liberal bloggers in Wilmington are railing against the toothless right wing goons inhabiting the forests below the ditch.  You know the story.  The salons of the state’s biggest city can’t conceive of how folks can survive without big government.  Worse yet they can’t understand why you wouldn’t want the nanny state in your lives.  The beautiful crime and drug free streets upstate should be convincing, I guess.  Someone mentioned the follow up posts at the blogs contained liberal fears about the good people of Sussex County.  Some worry they’re at a disadvantage because we can handle guns and they can’t but if the figures are correct most of the “Wards of the State” locked up in prisons originally called New Castle County home.  The wards are often locked away because they committed gun crimes and often against liberals even more fearful of weapons they could use in self-defense against criminals. 

I don’t speak for the members of the Regiment but if things get interesting this summer some hungry lefties may be looking for a bite to eat.  God help them.  He just might if they could come to their senses.

A fellow emailed me after the show today and asked why the local GOP has such animosity toward local people organizing for their own political interests. Perhaps because the GOP isn’t looking out for your interests? A County GOP bigwig telephoned the show Monday and implied the folks joining the local “Regiment” were a bunch of knuckle dragging apes looking to shoot up the town. For the record, many of the “Regiment” members are retired police and military. If it makes the GOP feel any better I should mention some of them were “officers” and probably played some very good golf courses. Some of these folks are teachers and bankers and business owners. One is the stepchild, I believe, of a former Deputy Secretary of Defense. The local Republicans are crowing about last year’s successes. The Clerk of the Peace faced token opposition. Sussex County’s only statewide candidate has already voiced his issues. Greg Hastings, one of the finest people I’ve ever known in public life or outside of public life, got little serious support. Oh, some of his colleagues asked if I could help. Otherwise they couldn’t be bothered. Joan Deaver, a left-wing radical, is serving on County Council. Watch the demographics because more are coming. The Republican controlled Council has managed to curtail public dissent. Gosh, fellows, you’re men after President Obama’s heart! Then last week I learned Council members get taxpayer money to throw at causes “near and dear” or in other words to spread around like Philadelphia street cash. Ms. Deaver was the only one calling for an outright ban. The majority settled for being a little bit pregnant and cut the amount somewhat. I do not forget a member of the majority attempted silencing me last summer. For what I thought could be common cause I’ve stayed silent for months. Did you know two of my friends operate a Christian charity? When they approached Sam Wilson for assistance he said he would offer help only if the recipients would agree to be “Saved”. Forced conversion, if you will. Muslims just do it by the sword. It’s now noted he supports silencing dissent at Council sessions and on the radio. He’s a GOP gain. Proud, I know you are! Come, put your cares aside. Let the GOP be your life coach. If they’ll just flash a picture of President Reagan before our eyes we’ll all fall into line and praise Mike Castle. It’s a big tent. Only remember in 1980 the party regulars couldn’t stand Reagan and they don’t really like you.

It’s raining.  It has been raining almost steadily since I woke Election Day morning.  It’s a few minutes of 3:00 P.M. Wednesday as I start writing this.  I won’t finish in one setting.  It’s scheduled to rain throughout Thursday, when I’ve a live 4-hour broadcast scheduled from a hotel balcony.  Looking out at the steady downpour it doesn’t escape me it represents how I’ve felt about recent events in this country.  The rain follows a drought, one that crossed over two summers on this peninsula.  Just weeks ago a farmer told a Salisbury, Maryland newspaper he feared his fields would catch fire.  Last week we finally had some rain.  Then Indian summer followed over the weekend.  It was 75 degrees Saturday when I went to an event called Punkin’ Chunkin.  I was there when the sun set in the west and I watched it sink across the broad and flat terrain.  Then I drove home with the sunroof open and the lovely breeze. 

It has come to an end, my people’s monopoly on the sometimes aptly named White House.  Now the fellow with the platitudes tossed to adoring crowds like so many rose petals must govern.  As one writer said, Mr. Obama can best manage American decline.  Nobody talks about the future of a vast empire.  They talk of decline and living with less.  It’s our gift for our children and grandchildren.  A United Nations report suggests we ration meat.  Two servings per week in the industrialized world and the report warns alcohol production must cease in order to divert resources to feeding billions.  Where it was once believed people best managed their own decentralized affairs we now have a President-Elect claiming he’s a citizen of the world.  It has come to pass.

What can he accomplish by fiat?  I was reading today there isn’t a constitutional basis for the Wall Street bailout.  Government makes decisions and we get whipsawed and then we wonder how it all crumbled around us.  By crumbling I’m talking about individual liberty.  Another fellow wrote if you expect government to provide you healthcare you must be aware a neighbor is picking up the tab.  I’m willing to help folks I see in need but have always considered I’m the best judge of what I can provide.  When I’ve been flush I’ve written checks to feed the homeless and to put coats on the backs of the cold.  When I’ve been cold and hungry I’ve had friends throw me a lifeline.  Decisions they made of their own free will. 

Now we’re entering a new phase of human history and I fear.  I’ve been accused of bigotry for suggesting some of you voted for Obama without considering what he really represents.  I’ll toss you one positive about this election.  Many young people living in our teaming cities have believed they’ve only a handful of options in life.  In some cases just two, pushing a broom or dealing drugs.  Obama’s election offers an alternative but beyond I can’t see how “change” and “hope” will fill any tummies or turn the ship of state around.  Now he must govern.  It isn’t an easy task and it’s made more difficult because he’s accepted the argument his work is to best manage decline.  You see the paradox, don’t you?  Hope and decline don’t really share any victory platforms. 

For all of you who get the warm feeling liberals get from bathing in rose petals I remind you it’s cold and damp and the long range forecast isn’t comforting. 

Joe Biden, champion of common folks, shops at Home Depot.  Guess the little guy who owns the local hardware store doesn’t get “Uncle Joe’s” business.  Mrs. Palin could’ve pounced on this one Thursday had she not been under strict instructions to follow her script.  How about Joe Danko?  I’m not sure I’m spelling the guy’s name the right way but in my notes it’s how it appears.  He’s the man “Uncle Joe” talks with at the gas station.  When Biden goes to fill up his 350 he talks with Joe Danko and asks how much it costs to fill up the Danko truck.  Danko doesn’t know because he has never been able to afford a fill-up.  Guess “Uncle Joe” could always recommend the train but it probably doesn’t pass near the Danko home or business.  Palin should have pounced at that point.  It was early in the debate and she could’ve replied Danko could afford gasoline if Biden would get on board with offshore drilling.

The candidates played for a tie.  Apparently the instructions were to be as cautious as possible in a still relatively close race.  McCain needed a knockout punch.  Palin had the opportunities.  It makes me wonder if Bobby Jindal would’ve followed instructions or vamped when the opportunity arrived.  If nothing changes from now until November Obama will be in The White House and Americans will be buffeted by the storm.  Then, again, McCain is proving he isn’t the tonic.  Most of this year’s GOP candidates didn’t have much more to offer. 

So where do we go from here?  Start storing the canned goods and dried beans but most importantly keep your powder dry.  I believe the positive is the military will side with Middle America.  It mirrors our values.  This isn’t the end.  Jefferson offered a blueprint.  “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants” he not only warned but also suggested.  Jefferson’s modern counterpart was an earlier Arizonan.  ” I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!” spoke Barry Goldwater.  McCain may be missing his mentor’s words but I haven’t. 

My parents weren’t the easiest people to live with when I was growing up.  It always appeared they were making things more difficult for us than need be.  At a young age I was handling firearms and fishing poles and no one ever offered a “time out” when I wasn’t a good boy.  The approach helped me survive some very lean years as a young broadcaster making 200 dollars a week while paying rent and a student loan. 

There are a great many people sending me tips about survival.  Yes, I agree debt loads should be reduced and I agree we need an ample supply of non-perishable foods but mostly survival requires wit and grit. 

I’m fully confident the nation will come out of the tumult with a restoration of traditional virtues as well as an original sense of liberty.  The folks who never heard the word no, experienced a paddling or who don’t have the brains to head for higher ground during a flood won’t have a clue.  God help them. 

Thursday is the 7th anniversary of the terror attacks on America - also called Patriot Day

Already too many people ask why we would want to remember such an event every year - it’s too depressing, it’s not happened again, etc. Well - if we don’t remember it - and we become complacent, it will happen again.

With more and more countries coming out of third world status, and countries that we never took much notice of in the past suddenly showing up front and center in the news – and suddenly a lot more modern and advanced than we remember them being. We aren’t so much the world power that we were 40 years ago. But as we do defend our own and fight our battles and others when asked – we make more and more enemies, who are now able to stand up and fight.

9/11 is now history – but it’s history that is still fresh in our collective memory and something we don’t want to see repeated on our soil.

Like they say – those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it.

Some of the numbers involved in 9/11 -

• 65,000 - personal items recovered from ground zero 
• 437 watches
• 144 rings
• 119 earring
• 80 bracelets
• 77 necklaces
• 2,998 - Total number killed in the attacks - (excluding the 19 hijackers)
• 2,603 – in the WTC and on the ground in NYC
• 343 firefighters and paramedics
• 246 – were on the planes (excluding the hijackers
• 200+ people jumped to their deaths from the burning towers
• 125 – at the Pentagon – 55 were military
• 90 – countries represented among the dead

                             Don’t your forget.

A member of The Milton Historical Society approached me shortly before Christmas and asked me to video-tape long-time local residents for showing at the upcoming “Opening of the 1957 Time Capsule.” Being a lover of all things nostalgia and amateur film making, I agreed without bothering to check my schedule and wife.

Knowing my involvement with the event, Maria Evans (Editor, TalkOfDelmarva.com, the Blog) asked me to “cover” the event for you, the BLOG readers. Again, I agreed without checking my available time.

In this time, much has happened in Milton… so here it is:

The Time Capsule Opening

When I arrived at the Milton Theatre it was already standing room only! Every seat in the place was taken and folks were milling about in the common area. There was a certain energy and excitement about the crowd. There were folks who had lived their entire lives in the area and people who had recently moved in.

Mayor Don Post did a surprisingly great job as Master of Ceremonies for the event. I saw him to be entertaining and well-spoken on the stage working without a script and dealing with some technical issues.

The announcement was made that they were about to remove the concrete top to the capsule and the standing crowd proceeded out the door to watch. Those with seats tended to stay where they were, eying the size of the crowd who had already gone out to surround the small box.

Not long after, the wooden crate which was inside the outer capsule was carried into the Milton Theater. As it passed people craned their necks to get a glimpse of the contents.

I raised my camera as high as I could getting two shots off as it passed, this one shows what would come to disappoint many in the audience..

Water Damage! Sadly, water had found its way into the capsule during its 50 year slumber, damaging much of the contents.

The good and bad news was that most of the documentation placed in the capsule was redundant! Items such as the High School Yearbook and Sesquicentennial Brochures, posters and even the banner had already been preserved by members of the community and were in better shape than the contents of the capsule!

Local business woman and member of the Milton Historical Society Ellen Passman took the stage and began a lengthy dissertation in “50’s speak” which garnered many laughs.

During the event they showed my 15 minute film of interviews about life in Milton in the 50’s by many local residents which was also a crowd pleaser.

After the show we celebrated with a reception. In all it was a great time to reflect on Milton’s past with an eye to the future as young and old shook hands and got to know each other better to the sounds of 50’s music.

This is a Scotish aire partially written by the poet Robert Burns, but not published until after his death. “Auld Lang Syne” means ‘old long ago’ or ‘the good old days’ and is sung at midnight in nearly every English-speaking country to ring in the New Year.  Because the song is generally sung about once a year, the melody is more recognizable than the words - which usually are sung incorrectly past the first line or two. 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

CHORUS
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

While to us the song is one that represents beginnings - in some Far Eastern countries and Hungary - it represents endings or farewells and is sung at graduations or funerals!  It also represents endings and farewells in Brazil, Portugal, France and several other European countries.  

The melody we are familiar with may or may not be what was originally intended by Burns, but it’s what was made popular by band leader Guy Lombardo who actually had the song released as a single in 1947. 

Happy New Year!  May 2008 be everything you want it to be. 

I lit a candle outside…
trying to remember so many names……
remembering how many died……
and so many families left unsaid….
some still wishing for that one day to come…
they will get a call saying they found their loved one…
     (author unknown)

You can light a candle in memory to someone lost or loved - the candles will remain lit for 48 hours - just click on the candle   And remember all who have died in the war on terror, but especially your neighbors from Delaware and Maryland

Patriot Day was created through a proclamation (Public Law 107-89) by President George Bush after the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. The day is in memory of the nearly 3000 who lost their lives at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. President Bush has made the resolution and proclamation to designate September 11 as Patriot Day each year since 2002. The legislation requests that President designate September 11 as Patriot Day each year. The day is a discretionary day of remembrance – which means it is not an official public holiday.

How or when Patriot Day is observed depends on your location. US flags are to be flown at half-staff and flown from residences as well (that includes US buildings abroad as well). Now, here’s where location will make a difference. Americans are asked to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46am (EDT) to mark the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, crashing into the World Trade Center in New York City. A moment of silence could also be held at 9:03am (EDT) when the second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, struck the second tower of the World Trade Center, at 9:43am (EDT) when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon or at 10:10am (EDT) when United Airlines Flight 93 went down in a field near Shanksville, PA.

Initially the day was called the “National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks.” Then changed to Patriot Day by a by Joint Resolution 71 which was approved in the US House by a 407 – 0 vote (25 members didn’t vote) on October 25, 2001 and approved unanimously by the US Senate on November 30, 2001. President Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18, 2001.

People have had some trouble wrapping their thoughts around Patriot Day – with most referring to the day as 9-11 or September 11th instead. Another problem with the day is that it is often confused with Patriots’ Day (one has an ‘s’ and one doesn’t). Patriots’ Day is observed on the third Monday in April and is a civic holiday in Massachusetts and Maine. It is also a public school observance day in Wisconsin. Patriots’ Day has nothing to do with Patriot Day.

Canada shares the observance of Patriot Day as well with flags on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and all Canadian diplomatic missions in the US flying at half-staff.