The Meaning of Freedom

It might sound strange, but perhaps my first and best encounter with the true meaning of freedom comes from a film perhaps as old as me about the Berlin Airlift. A woman in Berlin asked an American airman about an article in a newspaper criticizing the US. The airman replied with a question: Would you find such an article in a Soviet paper? The answer is obviously no. The Soviets, the Chinese, and similar regimes would shoot people for putting their government in a bad light.

I was again reminded of the scene in the movie during this sudden onslaught of political correctness lately, especially under the former president. To me, it matters not who silences someone such as a reporter from any organization, or even a private citizen. A threat to silence the press is a serious threat to freedom. If I cannot write as I am now, I have no freedom, nor does anyone else.

And I might note that some of the most horrible communist leaders know the the meaning of freedom. Joseph Stalin said that those who count the ballots determine the outcome of an election while so many value their freedom so little that they cannot be bothered to vote, let alone do the research to see through simple deceit by those who want to take our freedom us.

Daily writing prompt
What does freedom mean to you?

Communism & Power

I have said it before, and I will repeat it as long as I live: Those who are pushing the idea of communism don’t really want communism but rather power, which is the total opposite. Communism is complete equality between everyone. Nowhere on this planet has that ever truly happened, including Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea. They call or did call themselves communist, but what they have are dictatorships. Dictators do not seek equality but power. They seek to be able to tell everyone else what to do. While the idea of communism is relatively new in history, the seeking of power is older than civilization.

Communism is but the carrot held out as bait while actually applying the whip.

Never did I think anyone proposing communism would actually admit that it is power they seek, but just today, the mayor of Chicago did, speaking to the students. He said the demonstration would lead to power, not freedom. Of course, he seeks power. He admitted it.

And it is through demonstrations and even riots and deceit that they are willing and desirous for that goal. Is it no wonder that the communist’s seek the destruction of our country. It is their means to their desire.

So, the question might come to mind, who are the communist’s? The answer to that question is very simple. Those who seek the destruction of the US, regardless of what label they claim, regardless if they be foreign or domestic. One more thing, beware of those who seek power by talking down the history and the positive past accomplishments of our country. Finally, beware of those who instigate riots and call them demonstrations.

What’s Important

A renowned construction engineer once penned an insightful observation about foundations in a book, though the precise quote and author’s name momentarily elude me. While I’m confident the full details could be discovered through online research, I appreciate your understanding of my imprecise recollection.

What he wrote was: The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.

Life often leads us astray, diverting our attention from what truly matters and entangling us in trivial pursuits that ultimately derail our most significant goals and aspirations.

The strength of any structure, whether physical or metaphorical, lies in its foundation. Just as architects meticulously design the base of towering skyscrapers, we must carefully lay the groundwork for our personal and professional lives. My own journey has been a stark reminder that neglecting core principles and priorities can lead to unforeseen challenges. The wisdom of maintaining focus on what truly matters becomes clearer with time, revealing that the most critical elements should never be compromised or overlooked.

Through my personal experiences, I’ve gained wisdom by learning from my own missteps rather than capitalizing on the shortcomings of others.

Daily writing prompt
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

A Gruesome Question

The unsettling conversation I overheard today about potential head transplant procedures left me deeply unsettled. The mere thought of such a medical intervention seems both scientifically improbable and ethically questionable, and I sincerely hope humanity never pursues such a controversial and morally complex surgical technique.

Nonetheless, if it ever does come to pass, would it be a head transplant or a body transplant? Let’s hope we never need an answer to that question.

Got an idea

A maritime tragedy unfolded as a crewman disappeared into the vast ocean, despite extensive search efforts. The incident occurred merely a week after a similar, equally heartbreaking event, casting a somber shadow over the vessel’s journey.

A compact, wearable tracking device designed for emergency situations, capable of transmitting location signals over a one to two-mile radius. The device activates through intentional mechanisms like a manual pull-tab or automatic water exposure, ensuring reliable tracking while minimizing accidental broadcasts. This innovative safety tool could provide critical assistance for maritime, wilderness, or high-risk professional environments where immediate location identification might save lives.

Implementing a long-range tracking device could significantly enhance maritime safety, providing crew members with a reliable emergency locator system. A two-mile range would not only improve the chances of rapid detection during emergencies but also offer immediate alerting capabilities, potentially saving lives in critical situations.

Yep

I was in the Marines. Also, my son was in the Boy Scouts. Actually, I enjoyed it, which makes me wonder why I never did other than just for the day. We really wanted to a lot. It just seemed something was always getting in the way. No excuse as was spent a few years in Southern California, a very nice place for camping. Does a day at the beach count?

By the way, Camp Pendleton has some of the most beautiful places for camping anywhere.

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever been camping?

A Few Simple Observations

If the President had not attended the little get together, I seriously doubt that there would have been any disruption. Yet the disruption was not caused by the president. The disruption was caused by Allen, yet Allen would not have caused the disruption if he had not been fed a continuous diet of lies by the Democrats and the media, saying that Trump was a Nazi and some kind of reincarnation of Hitler.

Finally, as I watched the video, I asked myself, “Where are the bearers? Couldn’t they afford a few ropes or some other simple impediments to slow the bad guys’ progress?”

I am confused. I thought the Secret Service was highly trained. Yet, the agents fired five times at short range and missed. It makes me wonder by how much.

Oh, one more thing. Where was the bullet proof panel that should have gone into place at the first sign of threat? Did someone check into it and realize it was too expensive?

Why am I the only one asking these questions?

Games

Daily writing prompt
What’s the most fun way to exercise?

Specifically, basketball. Specifically, pick-up basketball. No refs. No timeouts. No fouls. Just running up and down the court and putting the ball in the hoop. Let me tell you, if the NBA played that way, most of the pros would never be able to keep up. That was the way we played when I was in high school and it was the fittest I ever was.

Bad News, Good News

The bad news is that Shelby County jails are overcrowded.

The good news is that the murder rate is greatly reduced.

It seems every other day the news has stories about the jail being overcrowded. I suspect the local media has a definite desire to ensure we know that.

On the other hand, there are not nearly as many murders reported city and countywide. It used to be that every night the news reported at least one murder, sometimes two or three. Now, it goes weeks without a report of a murder. Indeed, I have noted that they report murders in distant cities, which I believe would not have been mentioned in earlier days. It would seem to me that they are having to go far for their news. They definitely don’t want to report any Trump successes.

Nonetheless, which is better: crowded jails or more murders? To me, the answer is clear. I’d far rather have a little crowding in jail than more murders. If you agree with me, vote Republican. If you would prefer to put up with a few murders…