Wow!

I just finished watching the Presidential Debate and I have a few thoughts I have to share. First of all, I want to say that no matter who wins I hope that "party politics" don't interfere in the way it has the last 8yrs. For the first time in my lifetime...at least for the first time since I became aware of "politics", I think we as Americans have to choose between two very fine candidates. They are both good men. As long as whichever candidate wins holds to what he said tonight, and doesn't betray the trust we gave our last 3 Presidents... (Bush Sr, Clinton, and Bush Jr all lied to us)...I really think we are in good hands. But that is the major caveat...which one is more willing to succumb to party politics?

Who won? As a lifelong "republican", I have to say that I came away feeling Mr Obama won this debate. I don't agree with all he said, nor do I agree with some of his ideas on how to fix the mess the last three presidents have gotten our country into. Yet I was surprised at how much I did agree with what he said, as opposed to Mr McCain.

Now... it's obvious that Barrack Obama is a great speaker. I have to say that he's one of the best I've heard. And that says a lot, considering who I think of as the best users of the English language...Alfred Tennyson, Neil Peart, and Theodore Roosevelt. I have a great respect for John McCain. I don't agree with him 100%, but I feel he would be a fine leader of our country, a man who could lead us out of the mess Bill Clinton and both Bush's have gotten us into. Make no mistake...they are all to blame. For different reasons, in different areas...but one was just as bad as the other. The only reason Clinton won't go down as being a terrible President is the economical upswing during his years as President, which was mostly due to factors he had nothing to do with. Remember, it was Al Gore who invented the internet...right? (aside...a reason is never because...just had to throw that in..)

After tonight's debate, my opinion about Barrack Obama has been changed, somewhat. He's a good man. I do think, as long as he could do like TR did, and defy those who run the political party he's subscribed to, when needed, and be willing to do what's best for America...he could become one of the greatest Presidents we've had.

My biggest feeling, though, after watching this debate, is this....for the first time in years I feel that instead of having to choose the "lesser of two evils", we have to choose between two truly good candidates. As I said, who's more willing to succumb to "party politics"?

Conform or be cast out... just randomness from a random mind!

I have to start this entry with the great words of Mr NP...

Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown

Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone


(Subdivisions)
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
(Subdivisions)
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth the unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe the restless dreams of youth

Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night

Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory of lighted streets on quiet nights...


(Subdivisions)
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
(Subdivisions)
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth the unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe the restless dreams of youth

How well said, Neil! As I sit here tonight, contemplating both my past and my future, this song seems so fitting. Those who grew up in my generation understand. Whether or not you like Rush, you know that these words describe what we all lived. Our kids don't know, and I can only think that in some ways that's a good thing. But in more ways it's not so good.

Our kids have grown up in a time where communication is so easy. They've always had the internet, email, and cell phones. First it was Xanga, then Myspace and now Facebook. Now they have PS2, or Nintendo Wii, or X-box, or whatever the video system of the day is. They have no idea what "pong" was...or Atari. Anybody remember Galaga, or Missile Command? LMAO!!

Our kids have so much more at their command than we did, yet they've also missed on so much of the things we enjoyed as kids. It's sad for me to say, but I'm not even sure if my daughter, who is now 21 yrs old, ever played a game of kickball. Or "hide and seek". I know there were some things she did...the games of "four square", the times of digging in the sand at the neighbors house...but she never had the chance to camp out in the back yard every night during the summer, and ride her bike around the subdivision at 2 or 3 in the morning because the parents were asleep, and it was safe back then, like I did. She never had the opportunity to discover the world around her like I did, without there being an adult present.

I grew up in the last of the best time to be a kid in America. Yes there was peer pressure. Yes, you had to conform or be cast out. But we were so free back then, so much more than our kids. Back then, even the outcast...the one who wouldn't conform, had a chance. I know, I was one of those. Yet I have such great memories of my youth...the games of kickball or hide and seek we had on our street. And later, the baseball and basketball games in Jr high and high school. I had the fortune that my daughter was a very good tennis player...she played tennis from 7th grade until 10th grade. She only stopped playing competetivly because in 10th grade she left public school, and went to Ft Worth Academy of Fine Arts. They had no sports. But by that time, along with being one of the best singers FWAFA, and the Singing Girls of Texas has ever had, she could still school any boy her age, as well her dad, on the tennis court. And dear old dad was a pretty good tennis player!

Like it's stated in the title...just random thoughts from a random mind! I just wish the next generation could have the best of the previous two...I want my grandkids to have the safety, security, and sense of community I grew up with as well as the technology their parents have enjoyed. I want them to be able to communicate with any friend anytime, but also to know how to get along with the kids next door...or down the street...and build the great memories that I have.

Heroes or Role models?

If you really want to get an idea of what a "hero" and a "role model" is, and why a role model is so superior... This man, a self proclaimed sports nerd, does this trip through his church every year. He does this to help bring some semblance of happiness, if only for one week a year, to a group of children who have lived through such terrible pain.

To those kids, I'm sure he's a hero. But to the rest of us...he's a role model. I dare anyone to read this blog and not feel proud that there are people like him...to not get that feeling of both sadness for those kids, and hope for the future of mankind knowing that there are still those who are willing to sacrifice themselves, even in the smallest way, for those who need.

Bob Sturm, and those like him, are both heroes and great role models!
"The most endangered species
the Honest Man
will still survive annihilation
forming a world
state of integrity
sensitive, open and strong"