Baby Alfie

Baby Alfie's plight highlights the worst to be found in the practice of socialized medicine.  At some point, bureaucracy arbitrarily gets to decide “who lives and who dies.”  In this scenario Life becomes little more than a number, an expenditure that must be justified against the monetary benefit to greater whole.  This is most assuredly humanity at its worst.  When the killing of the innocent can be justified as a necessity to ensure the preservation of the greater whole we have truly lost our not only our way, but our HOPE.  I cannot even begin to fathom how Great Britain can deny the parents of Baby Alfie the right to remove their son from the hospital by way of pre-arranged (and already paid for by others) transport in order to move him to another country, Italy, where medical care has been arranged.  What a sad day for the country of Great Britain?  Such a system with a profound lack of respect for LIFE --and the right of devoted parents to make decisions concerning their beloved child's health-- will surely fail.  Maybe it won't fail today, but it will soon and it will fail in a BIG way.

Image Source: Daily Express, UK

People in the United States need to take heed.  This is road the progressive Left would lead you down, if you do not remain vigilant in your pursuit to hold government accountable to “We the People.”  The end-goal of "Obamacare" was in point of fact "single payer" healthcare which IS socialized medicine.

A dear friend of mine lost both his parents -- Carol and George, both of whom had a special place in my heart-- in the United Kingdom, both to cancer while they waited on long lists for treatment that never came in time to have any meaningful impact.  Looking at healthcare systems around the globe, I think Japan comes about the closest to getting it right.  The United States could take a lesson or two from Japan, in my humble opinion.

4/25/2018 That I have been earnestly praying for Baby Alfie, sending positive healing energy and thoughts his way goes without saying.  May God's healing mercy touch you and those who love you, Alfie.  Lastest news:  Alfie Evans is a living miracle and he clearly wants to live.  Speaking to Sky News, Roger Kiska, solicitor for Christian Legal Centre, said  "Now he’s survived and he’s proved to be resilient, I would say he’s a living miracle.... And given that he can survive the trip to Italy, which is really two and a half hours away, there will be surgeons on board, ventilation, everything he needs.  He should be allowed to pursue that.” There are indeed forces at work within the universe beyond man's limited ability to comprehend, despite all of our medical and technological advances.
4/29/2018 Alfie Evans was not permitted by the British courts to removed from the hospital.  The toddler died at 2:30 a.m. on April 29, 2018.  Supporters of the family released balloons outside the hospital in loving memory of Alfie.  Read more on this story and potential legal aftermath (hope for change) here.

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Embracing a willingness to consider "both sides of truth"

In keeping with my challenge to embrace a willingness to consider "both sides of truth" --knowing full well there are at times more than just two sides to truth-- I am attempting to complete my reading of the Qu'ran from cover to cover, with additional insights from noteworthy religious scholars.  I want to be able understand arguments that are put forth, so I have some reference for the source and context of their "truth."  I have to say that there are passages in this holy book that are truly moving.  Some passages speak to me on a profoundly deeper level while others have moved me to tears, tears of hope and joy.  There is definitely a beauty of truth to be found within these words to be certain, just as there is truth to be found within the passages of the Bible.  I am amazed at many of the areas of overlap between the Bible and the Qu'ran, with respect to stories, traditions and historical events.  Hopefully, by the end of my study/reading I will become a bridge to understanding for people of different faiths?  This world of ours could surely use more bridges ......

Looking Back at THE END

After the 8th Death you realize it's really not about you --although, you never thought that had been your mindset.  Then you realize that at THE END the only thing that truly matters, the only thing you get to take with you is LOVE.  And more importantly, all you want to be able to say when you look back upon it all is: THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN LOVE.  It matters not that you receive, only that you had the capacity to give ......

Living Proof that We can Rise Above Our Differences ....

A brightly shining light leaves our realm of existence this day.  You will be greatly missed Mrs. Barbara Bush, but your legacy will live on in your words and your actions.  You were living proof that we can rise above our differences --especially political ones-- and work together in order to get meaningful things done for our nation.  You are truly an inspiration and a legacy of hope for unity in our nation, Barbara Bush!  Safe travels as you embark upon  your next great adventure.  May God Bless and keep those you love and leave behind.

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Wherein lies the HOPE for Mankind???

Watching the movie "Atomic Blonde" makes me think that life was so much simpler back then, around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ending of the Cold War.  In the 80's and 90's it was so much easier to identify "right from wrong" and "good from evil." So it seems, but perhaps that's just because we're viewing past events through the lens of History? Although these days, even our history seems malleable.  Truth now depends upon your perspective? And nowadays everything comes riddled with the added bonus of layer upon layer of obfuscation, compounded largely by our technology.  We now have social media, where everyone has a supposed platform to express opinion and share truth, but the tech actually regulates what gets promoted and shared as "truth."  Then we have multiple media outlets competing with one another in a  24-hour news cycle --in both on-line/print content, as well as television/cable broadcasts-- where far too many of these outlets masquerade as purveyors of honest journalism while spewing veiled propaganda 24/7... I kind of miss the days when omission was 'sin'.  Bottom line, these days you really have to work to get at a version of truth where national and global events are concerned. Quite frankly most people are too busy just trying to make ends meet while chasing after a veritable banquet of bright-shiny distractions to even ponder the notion of searching for truth.  Leaves me wondering: wherein lies the hope for mankind?  For I find it hard to fathom that in the world of the 1980's and 90's that a cruel and brutal dictator like Bashar Al-assad of Syria would be able to repeatedly launch chemical weapons attacks against his people --among these defenseless women and children-- over the course of near-on an entire decade, while the world just stands silently by.

4/10/18  The narrative of absolutes rears its ugly head yet again, this time on the Right.  With the prominent  question for restraint being  "What exactly are U.S. interests in Syria?"  The answer: probably none, at least w.r.t. to our borders or our country's national security.  The problem is that what is going on Syria, what has been going on for over 8++ eight years, is a crime against Humanity and those in a position to act in defense of the innocent have a moral obligation to do SOMETHING.  I agree this shouldn't be a U.S. only issue.  The world's leaders need to act together, in unison --not piecemeal or unilaterally-- in order to bring the reign of Bashar Al-assad to an end.  That being said, it will probably be up to the United States to provide leadership in this united effort.

I also have to wonder, why does Russia still have its seat on the U.N. Security Council? If the United Nations is to have any legitimacy moving forward they must punish Russia for its repeated failure to live up to its promise (obligation) to have successfully overseen the removal of chemical weapons from the Al-assad regime --dating back to their initial obligation back in 2013.  The punishment for Russia's failure in this respect should be that Russia loses its seat on the Security Council, whether this removal be for the short term or long term.  Perhaps Russia can do something to eventually earn its seat back in the long term?  I mean if the U.N. is merely to be a venue for the airing of grievances on the world stage, with no teeth for enacting meaningful and timely responses to real world crises then why are we pouring billions of dollars into its upkeep and operation?  Seems kind of pointless to me? Surely a "grievance only" board should at the very least cost a whole heck of a lot less than what we are currently paying.  In the aftermath of yet another chemical attack upon the people of Syria, I think the U.N. is at a crossroads.  They either stand for something and have the power to enact meaningful change or they don't. It's pretty black and white from where I'm standing. What say you???  I can think of at least a dozen other ways the money we pour into the U.N. could be better spent. 

Side thought:  The country of Jordan has repeatedly stood against terrorism and mad dictators in the region for decades now.  And their country is pretty small compared to Syria.  If Assad is ousted, perhaps the time has come to carve up Syria and hand its control over to more stable actors, someone who will act in the better interests of the beleaguered Syrian people?  Surely the Syrian people could not do any worse than Assad, the lone exception being a vacuum filled by Islamist extremists? In an effort to avoid the later, I vote for giving Jordan control of a huge chunk of Syria. Maybe Turkey gets another piece?

4/15/2018  Reassuring that the United Kingdom, France, United States, Jordan, Turkey and UAE worked in coordination to strike strategic chemical weapons targets in Syria over the weekend.  May God Bless and keep the Syrian people during these troubled times.

"We the People" are Children???

Michelle Obama, former First Lady, summed up the current philosophy of the Left (Progressive Liberals) vs. the Right (Conservatives) rather nicely in her comments to a crowd at XXXXX when she referred to the relationship between the U.S. President and the country as being one of "parent vs. child" in nature.  This analogy sums up the basic distinction between "Left" and "Right" these days rather brilliantly, in my humble opinion.  The Left has come to believe --for I don't believe they always felt this way-- that "we the people" are basically stupid and incapable of making important decisions in our own everyday lives.  Contrasting this viewpoint, the Right believes you have the right to make your own choices, sometimes including mistakes, in pursuing your own personal version of "Life, Liberty & Happiness", as long as you don't break the laws we've established in the process of this pursuit.  As such, the Right believes the laws we create should be kept to the minimum needed to "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."  Where we have provided for the latter with the framework given by our U.S. Constitution.  

Image Source: Library of Congress by way of boweryboyshistory.com

 I don't know about you, but I prefer to live my life as a grown-up, and contrary to popular belief these days being a "rebel" has never meant getting in line and shouting out contrived mantras, in unison, in the absence of any meaningful facts or logical reason.  If you're truly a rebel, then I challenge you to USE YOUR BRAIN, not just your voice.  Dare to do your own legwork in gathering facts to illuminate both sides of truth.  For there are always at least two sides to every truth. Then once you have your facts don't just focus on "what's wrong", focus on detailed solutions for fixing what's wrong.  A true rebel has at least considered the other side of an issue before daring to go in the opposite direction of the traditional or popular opinion.  Rebels seldom follow the herd, Left or Right.  Guess that's why I've settled into being an Independent these days?  Anyway, my point is that only when we are willing to consider another perspective will we be in any position to engage in a dialogue with the potential to advance beyond mere words into timely and meaningful action.  If you "don't like America" --what we stand for or what we've become-- then why not use your brain, not just your voice, in order to be conduits for beginning conversations across American that will engage others in meaningful discussions and debate --actual conversations, not just one-sided shouting matches.  For I have come to believe that only honest conversations can begin to bridge the ever-widening chasms of our nation's divide.  

Honestly, shouting "impeach 45" at the top of your lungs isn't really going to accomplish anything.  Donald J. Trump is our President for the foreseeable future and whether he succeeds or fails has a direct impact on our nation as a whole.  With this in mind, why would you be rooting for our President to fail when his failure most likely will translate into a net loss in the average citizen's bottom line?  If you have a specific issue that's bothering you --aside from "impeach 45"-- research it, talk about it, and then reach out to your elected officials with concrete grievances and potential resolutions.  Only meaningful conversations will finally begin to move our country forward into a position of not only strength, but into a position of long-term sustainability and prosperity for all, not just the privileged elites.  A part of me has come to wonder, of late, if perhaps these very elites want us to be divided and in conflict with one another because this keeps us distracted so that we won't focus on what's really going on behind the scenes by those wielding power.  Some of us seem to have forgotten this, but those politicians working in Washington, D.C.:  they work for us, "We the People."  And it's up to us to hold them accountable and not just at the ballot box.  Why not try writing to your Congressmen and other elected officials or try calling them as well.  Maybe attend a local town halls, or start a petition to address a pressing issue facing your community.  While you're at it, might I suggest a letter/email to your Congressman asking him/her why they are only scheduled to work for another 75 days for remainder of the calendar year?   

So that's my challenge to you, be you Left or Right or in the middle-leaning ideologically speaking: let's get some honest non-bubble (outside of like-minded bubbles of isolation) conversations going across our nation.  I don't want to live in a world where debate/dialogue and well-intentioned dissent --on either side-- have become relics of the non-technologically driven past.  That would be true tyranny.  We gain nothing by shutting down free speech, even speech we do not personally happen to agree with.  The time has come for Americans --most especially those of the millennial generation-- to toughen up!  If you want to make it in the REAL world you have to learn that just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean that they are wrong or intent on harming you.  Learning to "use your words" for the purpose of discussion is one the most useful skills you will ever learn in life.  Dare to step outside your protective bubbles of isolation, you might actually gain some useful new insights.  Let's use our brains, our voices and our technology to prove the progressive Left wrong.  Let's show the progressive Left that we are not children, and more importantly that we will no longer be so easily led.  Let's work together to find solutions and a way forward from new and enlightened perspectives.  Together, I think we can actually work to help make our nation whole once again.  For in the absence of unity, America will never be great again and I suspect those with an eye toward retaining power know this.