Seabiscuit--- Symbol Of Hope

Recently I had the pleasure of watching the movie Seabiscuit (2003) and at one moment in the film I came  to a realization. There is a distinct similarity to the lack of hope that existed in 1938 during the Great Depression and the lack of hope that exists in the United States today. The difference I discovered is that during the Great Depression there arose a horse and horse race that from the moment the two steeds dug their hoofs into the track that day of the match race, til the final strides that brought them to the finish line,  hope was restored to the multitudes after witnessing an undersized thoroughbred who was claimed to be an underdog, beat the mighty horse War Admiral who possessed Triple Crown winning power, by 4 gaping lengths. A great example that life sometimes seems like a horse race where we always seem to be racing to our own finish line.

Seabiscuit didn't look like much-small in stature, inauspicious, the butt of stable jokes, but possessed a heart that held the hope of the sea of humanity that watched the race that day at Pimlico from both sides of the track. There on that historical day at the track were forty thousand hopeful Americans, and millions all over the globe listening on the radio. This one event was the most electrifying and popular event in sports history in 1938, making it the most popular news story of that day ahead of FDR, Hitler and Mussilini.

What happened at that racetrack that day was something that was not supposed to happen. With the ring of the bell War Admiral, one of the quickest break away horses of his day, was supposed to take the early lead and finish the race with Seabiscuit only getting a perfect picture of Admiral's hind quarters and rear end. Instead and suddenly, the unanticipated event happened. It would be Seabiscuit would take the early lead on that fateful day, and when War Admiral did get neck and neck at the back stretch, the mighty Seabiscuit got a glimps of the Admiral's eyes and assumed the offensive. It was  jockey George Woolf the famed rider atop the mighty mount Biscuit who at that moment in history coined the phrase "so long Charlie". Seabiscit would not yield his destiny. When it came to the home stretch it was the heart of Seabiscuit that took him into overdrive and it was War Admiral who got to see what a great undersized Thoroughbred  looks like from the back end. When the race was over we may assume many thought they should change War Admiral's name to "Rear Admiral".

That anticipated race and the winner Seabiscuit secured the hope for the future that Americans were looking to find at that remarkably important time in American history. The hope that even a small person can overcome the odds and skepticism of the few, and find the heart and endurance to win the big race. Maybe today we will need another great horse race to bring us the hope we need because it seems a Presidential race will not foster that hope that will lead us to the finish line like the immortal Seabiscuit did.

May we all make it to the finish line in time together.

 

Grand Hotel---People Come, People Go

Sometimes in our lives we are up and sometimes we are down. People come, people go. Nothing ever seems to be happening. Nothing ever seems to change. Maybe its because we don't take the time to really see what is happening right in front of our very eyes. Maybe its because we should make an attempt to include others into our lives. People come, people go because we let that happen. When nothing ever seems to change, it is time to start changing things. What a great script for a movie.

A great example of this can be found in the great American Classic movie "Grand Hotel" (1932). Berlin's most extravagant and expensive hotel sets the stage for the words spoken by Dr. Ottenschlag (Louis Stone) when he says, "People coming, going.Nothing ever happens." One mans dismal outlook on life.. Rent the movie and watch what really happens. A gem of a movie that must be seen.

As the movie opens and starts to unfold you meet Doctor Ottenschlag (Louis Stone) who is usually so drunk that he misses seeing that the Baron von Geigern (John Barrymore), a Baron, mind you, who is totally broke   steals eccentric fledgling dancer Grusinskaya's (Greta Garbo) pearls, and later on confesses to the crime. He gets caught in her room where she is ready to end her life and utters the famous line "I want to be alone". He interrupts her suicide, she forgives him and he ends up stealing her heart as well, and of course they fall in love.

Watch how a powerful German businessman, Preysing (Wallace Berry), brow beats Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore) a terminally ill bookkeeper working for his company, but in the end Kringelein gets the upper hand. Meanwhile, the baron also steals the heart of  Preysings mistress Flaemmchen  (Joan Crawford) who plays a stenographer working for Preysing, in the end of the movie he doesn't end up with either one of them.

This classic movie delivers a classic message that still resonates in America today. People come, people go. Nothing seems to happen. Let's not let that happen.

Together we can make it happen. Include someone into your life today. It is time to start changing things.

The Gift Of Freedom----Priceless

Within the challenges that face Americans everyday lie the distractions that keep us from seeking where our freedoms came from, and why we need to be grateful for these freedoms. Seeking the truth to finding the answer to these questions will eliminate the need of weapons of mass distraction that lead us down the road to discover our true destiny. The destiny of America was not shaped by a few men who became the signers of the Declaration of Independence, it was shaped by all the people who partook in the separation from the British and arrived here infused with a higher purpose of hope  of what they could possibly become.

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Today that hope and purpose is still the cry of many and needs to be heard. The freedom not to do what is best for us, but what is done for the hope of the many shall be the new song to be sung.The freedoms of today are as priceless as they were in the days of our ancestors who came here to build the bridges to these freedoms. Freedom is not just another word, it is what sustains us a nation and global community; it is not something you can take to the bank, it is something we can bank on, only if we choose to preserve it. Our only hope for an America at peace is to teach our children -not by just our words, but by our actions,  that when all freedom is lost, we will cease to survive.  After all, we need not look any farther than our history books to unlock the doors of many human events that have dared to try and rob us of one of our most precious reasons to exist.

Let us awaken to the need to protect and preserve the freedoms upon which America has been built and to propagate and protect the fundamental principals on which we stand.

Mighty rings the bell of freedom in America.

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

 
Websters dictionary is one of the easiest places to find the definition of the word love. The word love has probably been one the words most often used by humans since the beginning of recorded time. Yet to just say the word is not enough to sustain us through even the worst of times. We need to show the love.

Showing the love is such an easy thing to do but most of the time we find it such a difficult task to make it a daily event. It's the little love shows that really mean the most anyway. The hug done the right way is undoubtedly the best way to show someone how much you love them because it encapsulates the body and the soul, while immediately lowering your blood pressure.

Loves little shows consist of the simple jesters such as doing the laundry, grocery shopping and countless other errands, bringing someone a bouquet of flowers especially when they least expect it, go with them to see a movie they have been dying to see, a cup of coffee or tea somewhere and give them your ears for as long as they need them. You can add to all this love and do the rest because the list is endless.

Love is a many splendored thing , the reason to be living.
 

Thoughts Become Things--Choose The Good Ones

Every day we have to make choices that always begin with the thoughts we have in our heads. More often than not our heads contain too many negative thoughts particularly if we allow them to seep into our process of thinking. Since we do have a choice as to how we process these thoughts, within us lies the ability to choose the good ones. Choosing the good ones allows us to light the flame of happiness that exists in all of us.

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Let us begin to light that flame. We are America, the land of plenty. I am strong, I am proud, I am the flame of endless possibility. I am freedom, I am golden opportunity, I am prayer and I am gratitude.

I am blueberry muffins, I am playgrounds with cherished children, I am Fourth of July parades, lawn chairs and iced tea on the front porch. I am friends coming over for coffee , fresh baked pie and a little talk. I am rolling hills, tall grass with milkweed and the smell of new mowed hay drifting past from a nearby farm.

I am America! I am me.

Real And Permanent Good--We Need A Song

A song from the heart written about real and permanent good is a song I personally would love to be able to write. If I could and were a song writer I would probably begin by sitting down and begin to take a look at my life and accumulate all the real and good memories that I could remember and jot them down on a piece of paper. I imagine at that point I would begin to visit my own walk down memory lane, and could begin a personal life journey that would help me find the words I would be looking for to write a song to share with the whole world.

In order to find, realize and live a life of real and permanent good, I believe all of us must sit down and at least try to write that song, and soon we will begin to discover who we really are, that we really matter, and that without me the puzzle is incomplete. Then and only then can we begin to live a life of that is filled with love and understanding of who we are.

If we are to be real we need to live a life that is genuine and free of pretense and full of affection. If we choose to live a live centered around permanent good it must be lasting for an indefinite period of time without essential change.

I have begun to write my song and it is about you.

Looking Up At Freedom

Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought. Let us have faith that right has "might" and in that faith let us; to that end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) Politician, President Of The United States.

Freedom is worth fighting for and sometimes if we are lucky enough, we get an opportunity to see it captured on film as we take a look at a 20 year old father and Army Corporal Tony Fallico's photograph circa 1955. Just as Tony and thousands of America's "Mighty Men" returned home safely from the Korean war, he snapped this symbolic picture shot from the deck of the Marine Serpent just inside the safety of the Golden Gate bridge. With the click of his camera shutter he never realized at the time that years later what he had taken captive on film would endear the hearts of his loving family and friends to share forever; that exact moment when he and his fellow soldiers arrived in safe waters from an aggressive war that was fought for the freedom of another country, and to help prevent communist aggression from spreading to his homeland.    

This picture is just one of thousands taken on that overcast day by one soldier and will forever remind him that freedom is what matters most to all of us, especially upon returning "From the shores of battle to the shores of freedom." We can only hope all the other great young men returning from battle will find their own memories captured in a Kodak moment snapshot. These snapshots would be taken by young men who dared to do their duty as they understood it. To these young soldiers we shall be eternally grateful. 

Let freedom ring and let us answer the call.

Seeking Him

The destiny of mankind hinges on seeking the truth about who we are and why we do the things we do. We need to seek the truth, and in order to do that we must be seeking him. What is my purpose for being here on this planet called earth is the biggest question we can ever ask ourselves and it can only be answered by the process of discovering God. Most of the time we spend here we just live a life of doubt and speculation and listen to all the negativity that is shown and thrown at us.

Today and every day we have the opportunity to seek the truth and that comes down to making the right choices. To discover who we are is the only way to teach our children how to discover who they are. We can only do this by seeking him and on this search is where we will find truth and unconditional love.

Christmas is a perfect time to begin this life's journey within yourself to be a part of something so much bigger than who we are. It is time to celebrate the real reason for the season.

God is Christmas and Christmas is God. The time has come for us to accept his love.

Love Worth Finding

Love is not just another four letter word, nor is it just observed and given in the words in a Valentine Card on Valentines day. Love is what sustains us through the most difficult of times, and love is the essence of God, thus God being the essence of love. The only hope we have to begin to heal the wounds from the tragic events taking  place all over America to our children every day and to sustain order and peace in our great nation, lies in the hearts of  it's people. That hope is called love, and that love must be deposited deep into their tender hearts from us from the moment they are born. This love is a love worth finding, but first we must find this love within ourselves.

To deny our children of this love is not an option anymore, it is an urgent necessity, and it has to begin right now, today. We must move closer to God and the child in us so we can begin to understand the true meaning and the power of this love. Only then can we lovingly infuse this love into the life blood of our children. Do we owe them any less?

Perhaps if we look at in a very simple way. Picture each one of us as a love seed. If we were to be swept up by the wind of love maybe we would be lucky enough to land in the arms of a loving God. From the arms of God it will find its way into the hearts of our children.

We cannot allow the media and other evil perpetrators to suck them into a world that they consider the new way of life in the United States of America. The idea that anything goes here is unacceptable and we must insist our children will grow up in a safe America, and through our commitment to love them unconditionally as God loves us, they will grow up  living in a loving family called "America".

We have no choice and we have very little time for lip service, the time has come to show the love.

The Past---A Great Christmas Present

At Christmas time we all seem to be looking for the ultimate and most meaningful gifts for our loved ones not realizing one of the best gifts we can give is a gift from the past. A gift that is a part of our local and American history is one that keeps on giving to generations to come. Learning about ones past history can open doors that will lead us on a journey to discover how we can begin to build lasting relationships, as well as secure a strong foundation for America's future. We as her building blocks with the wisdom we will discover from the past can achieve the hope to create the path that our great nation must go down. Discovering our past will lead us to a stronger present and a better future.

I grew up in a wonderful time in American history in a small historical village I remember lovingly as Dolgeville New York. The celebrated and recognized history of Dolgeville can show us how an immigrant from Germany made enormous contributions to this peaceful village and to the America we love today.

Alfred Dolge was originally an importer and manufacturer of piano materials and later became a manufacturer of felt products. This great man instituted a program of Earning-Sharing whereby an employee received a portion of the earnings according to his contributions in brains or the value of his work.This was not to be turned over until retirement, but was to be reinvested. The pension plan was non-contributory by the employee. The employer paid all.

Because of Dolge, Dolgeville had these:
First Social Security, 1876
First felt slipper and shoes made in America, 1881
Second electric dynamo run by water power, 1879 (Edison's was the first dynamo)
First public kindergarten in New York State, 1889
First park system in the Dolgeville area, 1876
First upstate village lighted by electricity, Dolgeville 1891

Need I say more?

Now get into that history book or better yet get into that search engine supported by 4 tires and get going. History waits for no one. There's a little Alfred Dolge in all of us,we just need to find it. Let's make our present a great past for others who will follow.

Democracy---America--Let Us Stand As One

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Today, the principals and core values that were present at America's birth still beat deeply and strongly within her lifeblood and heart. For some people in this great nation there seems to be the opinion that these ideals that sustain us to this day, have been left behind, by the "beat" generation. If this is true, we must now begin to re-energize that heartbeat.These principals and values are also being watched by the rest of the world to see if we can sustain this deep rooted democracy, that today, seems to be coming up-rooted. For the standard is still being held high by some around the principals and ideals that America continues to hold true and dear. The some needs to become the majority. 

There seems to be a slow moving fear among the many,that these principals and values seem to be eroding with the dawn of each new day. What is crucial at this time is to remain true to the principals which form the heart and blood of what has become the essence of America. We must not give into this fear, we must not let it divide us, we must replace this fear with love, trust, and faith, that will strengthen our core values and will not allow this great nation to become less than the "Statue Of Liberty"

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Let every heart know that what once was foundation upon which this nation was built remains strong and true. This foundation shall stand in pursuit of its own destiny and will continue to be the "light of the world."

Christmas For The Child

What do you remember most about Christmas when you were a child? Was it Christmas Eve with all the anticipation of how many gifts just for you from Santa would be in a neat pile, thinking he really DID read my list. As you were trying to force yourself to get to sleep you realized that letters to Santa really DO matter. Does the aroma of all the home made food made by a loving mother linger in your head remembering you always ate too much. Was it the once a year heavenly smell of the freshly cut Christmas tree you got to pick out with just you and your dad, that you got to decorate some times all by yourself?

When we were young boys our parents would load up the car with hidden Christmas gifts in the trunk of the car and Dave and I would be off to our aunt Nettie's house in Utica to await the arrival of Santa on Christmas eve, always wondering how would he know we weren't going to be at our house. Ask him when we get to the North Pole was the answer from the front seat.  One night we were afraid to peek out at the tree because we thought we heard Santa delivering all the gifts on our list. We even pretended that we got a glimpse of him drinking the milk and eating the cookies we left out just for him. I can remember one Christmas asking; how did Santa get down the chimney when there was not a chimney in Aunt Nettie's house? The answer was because he can and you can ask him how he does it when you visit him at the North Pole.  Christmas day was another joyous day filled with lots of presents and more home made Italian food than you can even imagine.

But what I remember the most was the love.

I believe it is such a wonder when we can see Christmas through the eyes of a child. Christmas is that magical  time of the year that always seems to bring out the child in all of us. The Christmas music and movies we could experience and only dream about was when St. Nick came to OUR house. We as parents must most definitely cherish the opportunity to build life long happy memories for our children so that some day they will pass on their love for their children at Christmas time.

Only love can be the carrier of our children's walk down Christmas's memory lane, because isn't love what Christmas is all about anyway ?

Let the magic and love of Christmas linger in your heart all year long and find someone to share that love.

My brother Dave is no longer with me but the memories of the Christmases we shared together still live deep within my heart. This holiday season please share your memories of Christmas past with your friends and especially with your children. It will be the best present they will ever receive from you.

Merry Christmas Dave, sleep in heavenly peace.

One Picture---One "Mighty Man"

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Mighty Man ----Abraham

In a recent blog I wrote about what I believe it takes to be considered a "Mighty Man". After watching with astonishment Spielberg's latest blockbuster "Lincoln", it goes without question that our 17th President personifies my definition of a man who is not just an ordinary man, but a "Mighty" one.

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Mighty is the man who changed the course of this great nation; he recognized and understood that bringing slavery to an end would open the door to end the Civil war and bring peace to America. I can't even begin to imagine what the history books might have written about the course America would have taken had it not been for divine intervention that gave this just man the will, determination, and guidance to put slavery in its final resting place.

The things that struck me the most were his humor, passion, and his compassion for equality for all mankind. He appeared to be such a gentle and loving man; despite the fact he was fighting depression he seemed to be seeking to find God in his later years. I believe he was sent here at that time in American history to change the tide of current events and lived to at least fulfill his destiny.

I would think that anyone upon seeing this movie would have a life changing experience. I did.

Patriotism---A Tale of Diversity

There is a word that needs to circulate more within America to establish the credibility and morality of those who should claim it. The word is "Patriot". Those of us who claim to be patriots are proud of this attribute. It is considered to be aligned to what is morally right. Such things as moral value, goodness, kindness and courage to seek the truth, lie deep within the conscience of a patriot.

Much of the meaning of the this word patriot belongs solely to those who honor it's true meaning and does not belong to those who disagree. Today this exclusion of others not considered to be patriotic seems to play a role in polarizing the American way of life today. If we are to move forward we all need to move toward the true meaning of patriotism.

We must build on what it means to be a patriot which has become to be a variety of things to different people. Some attributes are stronger in some individuals than in others. Some of the things that the word patriot has come to include:
love for one's country
willingness to defend her
understanding and commitment to the ideals upon which she was founded
desire to rectify the mistakes that were made in the past
commitment to obey with respect the founding documents
faithfulness to the constitution

Although we may disagree with these principals and the practices of past and present governments, we must respect everyone's point of view. America is not one thing, but many things. Patriotism is not one thing , but many things.

Trust and believing in the good that lies within all Americans will re-establish her might. Love for America has many colors and we must join together to work toward a common good.

Mighty Men --The New Spark

The call is going out now in the United States to find the solutions to all the problems that are plaguing us and threatening our role in the world as the leaders of world peace. The call is coming but it is not coming from Washington DC, it should be coming from every man who calls himself a man. We don't need just ordinary men, we need "Mighty Men".

Ordinary men just sit there and watch as the core values this great nation was founded upon erode faster and faster with the dawn of each new day. We must turn ordinary men into"Mighty Men" and begin again to rebuild those precious and strong values that will spread like wild fire across this great nation to begin a new path of truth and rightfulness.

"Mighty Men" will be men that will give their all and will begin by pledging allegiance to this great land and show everyone the true meaning of volunteerism. They will be the example to our younger generations of men what it means to be the lead dog. When ever dog sleds are needed they always put the dog with the strongest heart, physical strength, and the ability to lead in the front, knowing that the other dogs will follow their lead and will always have their back, knowing pulling together as a team will lead them to their destination.

In being good men, husbands and fathers, they will always be the example of what unconditional love is and will always seek and speak the truth to others and always be strong and protective.

Becoming a "Mighty Man" will not come without struggles and determination, but with these struggles and true grit will emerge a stronger, caring, and loving America. It will be these men who will keep on giving even when there seems to be nothing else left to give.

To this end we will need the spark we will get from our "Mighty Men". You can't start a fire without a spark, the time to spark is now.

Light America's Spirit

We need to ask the question, is it time to create a new vision for America? I believe we need to, in order to understand how America is different now than the America we remember growing up in. This New America already exists in the heart of her people for it a vision of seeking to find the truth and a path to becoming the beacon of hope to the rest of the world. We need to create the dialog that will spark and uplift us to understand that we must take the first step now.

This New America will not come without struggle, but will bring with it a new knowledge that will rise on the shoulders of honor and will create a heart that longs to help the needy and the downtrodden. Along with this will also come with the tolerance that will become the new foundation we can build our New America upon.

With the new awakening of America's consciousness, we will create the desire to be the source for world peace. Let our hearts beat faster as we await the opportunity to show the world the New America with it's new American Spirit. You cant't light a fire without a spark.

The time has come to spark-on  America!

God Bless The USA --- The Real Deal

For those of you who care:

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I'd worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I'd thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I'm proud to be and American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Wednesday November 7 2012 ---- A new Beginning

America seems to rely on pills too much. Sometimes they are necessary and some are hard to swallow. One pill that is hard for me to swallow is the one a lot of people in this country are taking with regularity these days. It's the "let the government or someone else take care of us pill". I think the reason  they are so popular is  because you don't need a prescription to get them. Wake up America! I am prescribing a morning after pill that should be taken starting the day after this infamous election on November 6 and continue taking for the rest of your life.

The only place to find this pill is in your own heart. It is called "LOVE" and you are going to have to dig deep to find it. Remember, you do not need a prescription from your doctor to get this pill.  Some doctors are already prescribing them to their patients. This is a doctor you must seek to find.
Wednesday November 7th can be just like any other day for us where we rely on .Gov to take care of us, or we can begin to see the future; a future in which we will take care of each other. This is the future I know we all want. This is a future we can have. This is a future of peace.

Many people who lived before us in this great nation gave us all the words of wisdom and tools we need to build a peaceful world. If you choose to seek these great people you will find their message is all the same, love one another. Until we do this and put the needs of others before our own we cannot achieve peace. Let's give peace a chance, we together as one can do this; it is possible. Just don't ever give up because the time has come and the time is now.

Wouldn't it be so wonderful if things were just normal? Do we even know what "normal" is anymore? To me normal is taking care of the needs of others. Waking up every day being grateful for all we have and having an opportunity to make someone else's day wonderful. It's taking a Sunday drive with our family using the real deal search engine. Normal is thanking law enforcement for protecting us and school teachers for doing all that they do to educate and nurture our children. Thanking all the doctors and nurses and all those in the medical field for providing us with preventative alternatives to keep us healthier and living longer is being normal.Try the pursuit of happiness for normal. Normal is just being what normal has always been in America. How can we look at "Old Glory" and NOT know what normal is?

Wednesday November 7th is the day we need to take the pill of our choice.

Change Your Words, Change Your World

The words we choose to use can change the world around us.

One of the lessons I have learned in life is that if you change your words you can change the world around you. Picture this: You are walking down the street and pass a blind man sitting on the sidewalk. As you approach him you see on a cardboard sign the words” I am blind, please help.” You stand there for awhile and notice people are just walking by without giving him any money. The dollar you leave him just doesn’t seem to be enough to make up for all the people who gave nothing. On your way back from an errand you decide to walk by the blind man again to leave a more generous amount of money. As you round the corner you witness a large number of people leaving money in the coffee can  as if some one had told them to do so. A few steps closer and you see the reason why. Someone had changed the words on his sign to say “It is a beautiful day and I can’t see it.” When we change the words we use, we can often change a person's life.
Maybe if we took the time to change our negative words to more positive ones we could change the world around us. I know it can, you know it will.

America's Greatness

It seems that all we read and hear about are the insurmountable problems we have in America. What we need to do is to find and be a part of something much bigger than we are and the problems we face. I believe that ”bigger” is staring us right in the face and we cannot see her. She is America!

A few weeks ago my wife Debbie sent me her first picture ever of standing facing the Grand Canyon. The words attached to that message: “This brought me to tears”. It was at that moment that I realized what had happened to her. She had just experienced the thrill and vastness of something so much larger than all of us. We can only imagine. I wish I was there to share that moment with her. What she really experienced was the wonder and vastness of mother America. I am sure it also took her breath away.

We as a nation need to find that vastness and wonder in her; she is in trouble and needs us and we need her. She is and will always be the ”bigger” we will always need. This can only come from we the people. She belongs to us and we belong to her. Let the love affair begin. The time has come.

Get Back In The Race

In the media and  many social conversations today we seem to be comfortable with the understanding that we need to be discussing people as “generations”. Generation this, generation that,  and what each generation has and has not accomplished. This is a conversation that because all we seem to do is blame the OTHER generation for life as it is in the US today, will never be a conversation of action. I am a part of the “Men of a Certain Age” generation that seems to have given up and stopped carrying the torch that will help Americans to win the race. Who told you to give up and get out of the race? Who told you to give up your commitment to be a “Mighty Man”, for its ok  just the way things are? Things haven’t changed in American for at least the last 30 years. It is time for the” Men of a Certain Age”generation to  get back in the race and show the other generations what it means to be a man of Integrity and honor. Mighty men who used to stand for something and have decided it is better to sit. That it is ok for someone else to show us how to get the job done. Now is the time to wake up and be the generation of men who spark others to follow their lead. Through our life long commitment to help others, we will be that catalyst that will demonstrate through our actions that putting the needs of others before our own is what shapes a nation and builds a strong foundation. We men of a certain age MUST be the generation of truth and love. We are the last line of defence against all that seems to be going wrong in this greatest country in the world. Our time is now. If not now, when?

All We Need Is Love

All we need is love. Love will build a bridge between your heart and mine. The capability of loving is what defines us as humans. There is no greater love than he who is in me. Love is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, it has no end.

Just a bunch of words until we begin to live them every day of our lives.

Find someone who needs love and love them.

Got Your Back

Close your eyes, open your heart and try to picture this. You are watching your favorite evening national news show and they are telling you to stay tuned to view an awesome event. Please still keep your eyes closed and your heart open. They take you to Yankee Stadium on July 4 and begin a story that will make your eyes tear and your heart swell. Remember, eyes closed, open heart.

Dressed in only the clothes her mom could afford, a 12-year-old inner city girl starts to sing ”God Bless America.” Her voice immediately captures your full attention. As she sings the beloved words to this beloved song, your heart begins to swell with pride and tears come to your eyes as she delivers an awesome rendition of a song that represents our love for America.

Now take that pride and love for America that you feel at that point and keep it inside of you always, and let it shine from sea to shining sea. While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us swear an allegiance to a land that’s free.

By the way, to those of us who are old enough to remember, this young girl could be the next Kate Smith. We can only hope. Put your help where your hope is.

We The People

It is apparent that in the United States today we seem to feel that the decisions coming out of Washington, D.C., are the decisions our nation’s leaders want us to believe in, and are trying to persuade us follow their lead.. They seem to be playing the game 'follow the leader', or in this case, don't follow the leaders. It is in my opinion that if we lead, the leaders will follow us and if this were to be true, that would make us leaders!

In the year 1776, in the great city of Philadelphia, the imperfect statesmen of the day, ratified and gave us the Declaration of Independence. Today, in Washington, D.C., the also not perfect Congress is trying to re-write the Constitutions true meaning, seemingly trying deliver another document called the Declaration of Dependency.

We the people need not be dependent on anyone, for it  is we the people who made this a great nation, and we can continue to make it an even greater nation than ever before. Within each of us lies the leadership it will take to do the right thing and be the example of the message that we need to send to Washington in order for them to wake from their restless sleep and begin to do the right thing. The right to live freely and to remain in charge of one's own destiny is not something that has been part of the human consciousness forever, but rather something that has developed through a long period of time and strife.

This awareness of this intrinsic freedom to define one's own values and existence, has been a progressive development. Our ancestors, in this growing need for freedom, had to endure many hardships to help them consider themselves more than just a nation hampered by lack of freedom of expression, to become a nation of one.

It is our God given historical right to determine what did and still to this day does enunciate by us,  as to what we the citizens need for the protection of our civil liberties. The birth of democracy in America must be preserved and nurtured for it was the first step forward for humanity.

Our decisions do not rain supreme across the land as decisions of perfection, but if we remain true to our forefathers principles, we will let every heart that what was once true to the ideals of our great nation, be filled with pride knowing the everlasting foundation for liberty and democracy within America, will remain true.

A Day At The New York State Fair

While on my early morning walk in Eastwood recently, I had time to think about all the things I was going to do at the state fair — all the things that make the fair a great place to be. The food, the horse show, the Center of Progress Building, the entertainment, the Horticulture Building; I could go on forever. But as I continued walking and thinking about the oldest fair in the United States, I had no idea until I got there what the fair is really all about.

The people!

I personally got the opportunity to see my wife, Debbie, compete in one of the best horse shows in the country. As I strolled the fair, I now have the memory of watching my loving daughter and niece bestow their love upon my grandson.

Walking a little farther, I watched a blind girl and her loving mother strolling arm in arm. I could see this beautiful day and all it had to offer; the blind girl could not. I got to see the love in the eyes of parents who had brought their severely disabled son to enjoy a day at the fair. A senior man was fanning a baby he did not know, giving her a few minutes of cool air on a very hot day. The appreciation in the eyes of the parents was worth the price of admission. I got an opportunity to thank a state trooper for protecting me and my family every day of his life.

On the lighter side, I also came upon a young lady with every color of the rainbow – and then some – in her hair. A man with a braided beard. The main event at the fair: people watching!

The Great New York State Fair is not just about the multitude of wonderful things to do. It is really about the people. Next time you go to the fair, I hope you take the time and experience the best part.