"How does the Republican Party go about attracting younger voters?"

It's been awhile since I have actually felt like writing about politics, but a recent discussion topic on the current events news show "The Five" caught me eye and got me to wondering ... which always gets me into trouble, but I digress ....

The question was:  "How does the Republican Party go about attracting younger voters?"


I love Greg Gutfeld, co-host of "The Five".  Yesterday, on the show --I happened to have time to watch for a change-- as the discussion topic above began Eric Bolling stated, rather matter-of-factly, that Republican candidates "need to return to their conservative roots" ... to which Greg replied "We had {a whole field} of conservative candidates this past election and they sucked!" Too funny, but true. You can always count on Mr. Gutfeld to tell it like it is.  The Republican candidates in the 2012 Primary cycle started out strong and then blew themselves up on the land-mines of conservative moral convictions.

Personally, I think that the key to attracting younger voters into the Republican party is for the conservative base to tone down their exclusionary rhetoric and to get a grip on the difference between holding a moral conviction and the infliction of those personal beliefs onto others.  A citizen has every right to believe and act upon their personal moral convictions, in their own lives, but they do not have the right to force their beliefs as such onto others unless these beliefs are the "Will of the people" and thereby accordingly become the "law of the land" as enacted by Congress ... After all, our government is supposed to be a government of "We the people":  ALL people, not just people who happen to believe the way you do.  In my humble opinion, a failure to recognize and speak to the latter on behalf of the Republican field of candidates alone --and the party at-large-- is what cost the Republican Party the White House in the 2012 election.

I also happen to agree with Greg Gutfeld when he speaks about the need for a "Libertarian revolution to sweep across the college campuses" of our nation, ushering in a return to revolutionary times of the times of late 60's - 70's --maybe just minus the drugs and other violent/counter-productive behaviors.  We need a revolutionary-like surge to re-invigorate younger voters, to help motivate them to find a driving belief in something (anything!) as opposed to just settling for being beat-down by the stagnant state of the accepted status quo our nation seems to have settled into these past few years. These days, upon graduation, college-degree holding graduates must often return to waiting tables and living in their parents basement once again, with the added bonus bonus of having accumulated thousands of dollars in student loan debt while having no viable career prospects in their immediate futures.  But shouldn't these same students at least be putting up a fight and demanding more from the rapidly vanishing "American Dream"? Perhaps the Republican Party can help to re-establish a driving belief in the notion that "we the people" can truly create a better, leaner, more efficient government that will finally succeed in bringing back much needed jobs to the United States, while earnestly working to increase our nation's competitive edge in order to create new-age/tech jobs, jobs that would extend way beyond the repeatedly pushed narrative of "employment opportunities provided by infrastructure revitilization" we've heard --with very little resultant actual opportunity, in terms of jobs-- time and again, over the course of the past decade.  With a new market for high demand tech and related jobs, we should see a subsequent substantial increase in GDP, which we can then begin to use toward the end of diligently addressing the growing (by thousands of dollars with each passing minute) need eliminate the current legacy of generations upon generations of inherited national debt.  The latter being said, any awakening belief that sparks hope for a rebuilding of our nation, on multiple levels, would be preferable to the general apathy and malaise of political-correctness and "safe-space" coddling that we are  currently seeing sweep across college campuses throughout the nation today.

In today's tech savvy global world, younger voters are especially more willing to dig deeper and to search multiple sources for information before forming an opinion on any given issue.  This could also be a function of the fact that they are just better and more widely connected in today's "social media"/information-access world. Younger voters are therefore exposed to a wider field of diverse viewpoints and this, perhaps, makes them more open to considering alternate viewpoints, thereby straying from 'traditional' party lines ... Unlike older generations of voters who often readily adopted --most often without questioning the merits of the adopted beliefs, particularly w.r.t. changing times-- the views of their family members and/or religious affiliations w.r.t voting and national issues  [A notable exception being opposition to the Vietnam War].  That is to say, while older voters often inherited their voting preferences, the younger voters of today want to get at a version of the "truth" before forming their opinions on a wide range of issues facing citizens and voters in our nation today.  This means these younger voters are going to be harder to sell when it comes to accepting the traditional Republican Party platform.

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The Republican Party may have the best engine when it comes to fixing economic woes facing our nation, but if the Republican Party can't bend a little and adapt to changing times by exercising a willingness to rethink and repackage their message in an inclusive (vs. exclusive ... e.g., contraception) 'car body' for their economic engine:  then their "car ain't gonna drive" and the Republican Party will sadly be doomed to fail in round 3 as well.



P.S.  Before you judge me or write me off all-together w.r.t. my opinions posted above, let me just say this ...  Contrary to what you might think --per my more recent posts-- I am still a Christian ... I am just not an intolerant or a judgmental one, not that I have ever been intolerant or judgmental:  I am just now finding my own voice --this past year or so-- to speak out against the latter negative --yet somehow, still widely accepted--  aspects of "Christianity" as I do not find these traits to be truly of Christ or Christian in nature.  To my way of thinking Jesus was all about Peace, Love and Understanding, traits which run counter to the very nature of intolerance and judgment.  As Christians we should lead by example ... love, nurture and care for others in need unconditionally.  From what I have witnessed in my own personal life, it is this "unconditional" part that most Christians have trouble with, especially when it comes to resisting the temptation to force one's own moral convictions and personal beliefs upon others that we encounter in life.  In matters of a spiritual nature our choices must be made, felt and truly processed in the heart and mind of each individual for only then can true spiritual enlightenment and advancement of the soul along the path of our journey home to our Creator occur. The latter meaning simply that fear and coercion --forced or otherwise-- are not instrumental toward the end of spiritual enlightenment and advancement of the immortal soul along our journey home.  I have written several pieces (here in this blog) on contraception and other related topics if you are interested in truly opening your heart and mind in order to consider another valid point of view.

Don't forget ...

Don't forget to pause for a few moments each day and look UP ...

"Dance Across the Sky"

@Copyrighted 2013.  All Rights Reserved:  Isabelle Black Smith.

The rest speaks for itself.   ~M

P.S.  Looking at this sunset --and the one before it-- I am reminded that God colors 'outside the lines' too. 

Thoughts & Prayers in the aftermath of Tornados

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the recent bout of tornados sweeping through Texas and Oklahoma.  May God especially Bless and watch over the families who have lost loved ones to these storms.  May those who have lost homes find their way to healing and the resources they need in order to begin the process of re-building.

I saw on a friend's Facebook page this evening how a community is coming together to donate clothes, food and other essential items to storm victims in nearby towns via a school gym at a local elementary school.  Also saw postings for important items found in an effort to identify and reunite them with their rightful owners:  a high school sports letter jacket ... a camera with photographs of a new baby delivered in the hospital not long ago.  Kind of renews your faith in your fellow man to see such an outpouring of love and support.  God Bless one and ALL!

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(A close match for my recollection of my father's painting and the image,

in my own mind, of the actual twister from my porch-side view)

Thankfully, thus far, my family and friends in Texas and friends in Oklahoma have survived these storms without any major damage.  I actually remember witnessing a tornado, firsthand and up-close, when I was 5 years old, living in Oklahoma.  To the best of my recollection the tornado I witnessed back then was huge, muddy-grey in color and spiraling madly in the not far-off distance from our home in Stillwater.  For some reason, at the time, I had been sitting on the front porch of our old house eating dried cheerios, while my father attempted to paint --onto canvas-- the spiraling beast dancing about before us.  This particular tornado was probably about a mile or two away from us at the time, so we probably weren't in any immediate danger.  I remember watching this twister move across the landscape, uprooting everything in its path and spewing debris back out with a vengeance.  I was too young at the time to fully comprehend that I should have been afraid of this tornado.  I can still see this twister spiraling about before me in my mind, as if the cyclone were right in front of me in this very moment.  I recall feeling the immense energy ... the power and intensity wielded by this storm.  That tornado was definitely a force of nature to be reckoned with, showing no mercy whatsoever to those unfortunate enough to be caught within its grasp.  The randomness of the funnel's motion, its indiscriminate behavior in selecting targets still strikes me with a confounding significance even to this very day.  I remember watching the tornado funnel work its way right towards us ... and I even have a vague recollection of my mother --clutching my baby sister in her arms-- calling for my dad and me to get off the porch and under the house into the safety of the storm shelter as the twister closed the distance on us ... but just when it seemed as if this twister was going to come right down the street, to swallow up my house --and even then fear had not found its way into me-- the writhing fury suddenly decided it would instead take a ninety degree turn and head off in another direction all-together.  So I never did have to go down into that storm shelter, and my father's painting turned out pretty cool from what I am able to recall of it.  I guess we were some of the lucky ones that summer evening so long ago?

Sky's on FIRE!

"We are all connected"

@2010 Copyrighted Image: Isabelle Black Smith.  All Rights Reserved.

Figured my page here could use a bit of color.  Revisiting one of my favorite summer sunsets.  Clouds up here are definitely alive!  I love looking up; finally warm enough to lay in the cool grass and day dream.  God writes his messages in the sky, I think.  Well, wherever you happen be in your life: just remember you're not alone ... somehow we are all connected.  Scenes like this one remind me of this 'connectivity' we all share.  God Bless and Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful moms out there!   ~M


P.S.  Praying for the workers who lost their lives --and families left behind-- in recent building collapse of a factory in Bangladesh.  I am a bit slow getting news when I shut myself off to focus on writing.  May God Bless them, one and all.  I sincerely hope all companies choosing to do business with clothing factories in this country do sign-on to support the new safety standards and inspections.  Last I have heard, Walmart --here in the U.S.-- is holding out because of cost concerns to their bottom line.   Don't think Walmart will be getting anymore of my business should they choose not to support this life-saving initiative.

Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes ...

Yes, inspiration truly comes in all forms, shapes and sizes ... often chancing upon the gentle winds of serendipity. I love it when I am able to take an insult and spin it into a positive light, perhaps in that respect despite all of the hardships I've suffered in my personal life, I have somehow retained my childlike innocence?  Maybe there's hope for me yet?

Music is a major source of inspiration for me.  I'm listening to Dylan again tonight.  I'm not sure why, but Bob Dylan's music feels like a piece of home to me ... A really big piece.  Think if I had to give up all music and I could only pick one artist's music to keep in my life it would probably have to be Dylan for me.  Then again, maybe that's just the place I am at in my life right now?  At other times, I'd probably say Jimi Hendrix felt like 'home'.  How about you?  Who's the artist you simply could not live without?

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P.S.  Dylan seems to help fend off headaches as well ... No joke, I had a bad headache coming on one evening and 45 minutes of soothing Dylan songs later --with no pills-- and my headache was completely gone.  Gotta love it!   

Thoughts on 'Nothingness'

 

“It occurs to me that my present endeavor to complete another novel is, in truth, ‘nothingness’ until it reaches its completion.  For only upon the actual completion of and sharing of my story will it bear any worldly merit.  From the latter perspective, the undertaking of the endeavor to write a novel is perhaps painted in rather a daunting, if not outright unfavorable light then, is it not?  Surely such a task is not to be undertaken by the faint of heart, or those who be in constant need of worldly recognition.  Furthermore, given the limited likelihood of widespread acceptance and recognition in the event of actual completion, the payoff for the completion of a novel, in and of itself, is not much of an incentive for embarking upon such a potentially fruitless undertaking in the first place, is it?  So perhaps, the writer … much like all other forms of artisan … is in a very real sense ‘mad’ from the world’s  perspective just for having entertained the notion of beginning to create his art, in the form of written words residing within a novel, in the first place.  The writer is labeled ‘mad’ even before he begins his task and so he remains long after, until he breeches the waters of his works completion.  For it be only upon delivery of the finished work that the poor writer has any chance of surrendering his cap of ‘madness’ for that of true ‘artist’, or if he be truly lucky:  celebrated ‘genius’.  The latter being said, it also occurs to me, that in the process of endeavoring to create the ‘tangible’ –that which the world is capable of grasping on some generally base level of understanding—I am weaving a wealth of tapestry in an understanding of exploration into thoughts, emotions, ideas … making unique connections and insights along the way which will become the very threads of this woven tapestry of exploration … my tapestry of exploration.  And while the latter process is by worldly standards ‘intangible’, I find it immensely ironic that when my body ceases to house this spirit knowing that is the true me –whether my written efforts meet with worldly approval in the end or not-- my ‘intangible’ tapestry will clothe me on my journey into the next life --my reincarnation, if that be the will of our Creator.  Suddenly, in a spiritual sense, the ‘immaterial’ becomes ‘material’.“ ~Isabelle Black Smith

 @Copyrighted, April 2013, Isabelle Black Smith and Michelle C. of whatplanetareyoulivingon . blogspot . com.  All Rights Reserved.

Think I’ve just written the forward/introduction to my novel?  Thank you to whoever prompted my thoughts on the topic of ‘nothingness’ in the first place.  You know who you are.

Humbly resigned to prayer ...

I have been praying for those directly affected by the Boston Marathon terror attack. I am still trying to wrap my mind around this senseless tragedy and I just haven’t gotten there yet, thus I find myself at a loss for words. I have said before “Do not speak unless you can improve upon the silence” and as, at present, I am unable to offer any ‘improvement’ upon silence:  I have not spoken.  This time, I think I’ll leave the words of wisdom to others and just humbly resign myself to prayer. God Bless one and all and may He help us to find our way to peace and healing.

A reminder to remain humble ....

A reminder for me to remain humble these past few days in revisiting many of my teary-eyed, late night, sleep-deprived writes of years gone by.  Someone has been reading here extensively --particularly my older posts-- these past few days, off and on, and that's okay, really.  It's just humbling to read over my words of old and see how much I have grown and changed since then.  It's all good though.  I'm moving forward, even if I happen taken to take two steps backward from time to time. That's all part of the journey towards enlightenment, right? Anyhow, May  God Bless you, whoever you are, reader(s).

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Abuse Awareness Month

A fellow blogger, Linda Garner, has written a wonderful post for this month of awareness.  I couldn't do a better write-up myself, so I will just provide a link to her page.  Linda makes one very important point in her write-up that I will take a moment to reiterate:  this type of abuse can only be prevented and eradicated if people educate themselves, open their eyes to truly see and speak out for those who are unable to speak for themselves.

Preventing Abuse Is Everyone's Job, By Linda Garner

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May God bless all the "invisible" girls and boys and give them their wings so they can

fly away to safer ... better ... brighter days.

  

 

Perhaps after you have this discussion (in Linda's post) with your own children you can make a white pinwheel to place in your yard as a symbol of Light and Hope for a boy or girl in need of your light, prayers and wherever possible your voice.  The "Image Source" link above will take you to a page with detailed instructions for how to make your own pinwheel.

Jesus Believes in us ... Happy Easter!

Reflecting upon Easter this year, I find myself thinking that perhaps Easter means that Jesus believes in us … Believes in us so much that He was willing to lay His life on the line for our salvation. With that kind of backing:  how we can we not keep hope?  So count your blessings, find happiness in the moment unfolding at hand and May God's Blessing be upon you and yours this Easter, or as my kids would say "Happy Easter!"

The next progression ....

What's in a song?  ... And what happens when the music stops?  Ends?

Perhaps in Fiction ...

"Dazed and Confused:  A Rhapsody Beyond Pink"

@Copyrighted Photograph, February 2013.  All Rights Reserved: Isabelle Black Smith.

"Perhaps in fiction, we writers can unleash the demons
that lurk within the dark shadows of our subconscious minds. 
Giving them voice to freely untwist and unfold,
with sincerest hopes of achieving
a long-held wanting of release
and a final peace, as we ourselves are at last
with pen to written words set free."  
~Isabelle Black Smith

For I seem to be discovering, these days, that the words I am most in need of hearing seem to be coming --most unexpectedly-- not from without, but rather from deep within in a booming voice of subconscious release.  … And as I write, I see now that there are some wounds that cut too deeply to ever heal completely.

“Tick, tick, tick …”

 
 

"The wise man speaks when and where his opinions are
likely to have greatest impact."
~Me, Isabelle Black Smith

 

“The wise man also pauses to listen.” …

 

I've noticed --especially lately, since joining Twitter-- that people have a tendency gravitate towards those who are of a similar mind. You see this sort of behavior most often in subject matter pertaining to religion and politics. And once people are in this ‘comfort zone’ of like-mindedness they seem to find they like speaking at those who readily approve of their opinions/message ... though not everyone has an actual --or meaningful-- message I have found.  I say speaking “at” because of those speaking, those who actually pause for a moment to listen appear to be in lop-sided minority. There are, however, occasionally a few brave –or crazy as the case may be-- souls who will step up to the plate and openly embrace the posing of a counter viewpoint, and when the discussions that follow this posing are conducted in a civil manner, with fact-based truth and non-partisan speak, the potential for meaningful dialogue and enlightenment (the consideration of a previously unconsidered approach to the viewing of a problem) exists.  More often than not, from what I have witnessed thus far, these sorts of opposing viewpoint discussions rapidly degrade into worthless shouting matches and name hurling … which makes me wonder if everyone having a social media pulpit right at their fingertips is truly such a wonderful thing? With everyone shouting the likelihood of making meaningful progress towards solving the real problems facing our nation seems to be lost in the Echo … Echo … Echo ….

 
Respect works both ways.  Perhaps if people would exercise just a modicum of restraint, resisting the initial temptation to shout back when someone hurls a verbal blow their direction, and then stick to the facts, with the ultimate goal being an open and honest expression of opinion married with a willingness to truly hear the other side: then we would finally begin to make some headway in moving forward with the fixing of the multitude of problems plaguing our nation.  The way I see it right now, we have been seriously derailed as a nation. We’ve completely lost the far-sighted vision that once made America so great and are at present sitting in the ditch alongside the main road, merely spinning our myopic wheels while a multitude of highly significant clocks are tick, tick, ticking … Tick, tick, tick: the obvious national debt clock. Tick, tick, tick: Obmacare funding & unleashing … And the clock that should be ticking loudest right now: losing the Keystone Pipeline --our chance for immediate full-scale Energy Independence*, coupled with thousands++ of long-term jobs to stimulate our national economy without long-term government funding-- for failure to act while conveniently being distracted with sifting through the sands of Sequestration.

 
The clocks are ticking where do you stand? But more importantly, perhaps: when and where and how will you speak to effect change? And when was the last time that you stopped to truly listen?

@Copyrighted Essay, March 11, 2013: Isabelle Black Smith.  All Rights Reserved.

 * Energy Independence, meaning freedom from whims of Middle Eastern oil cartels.  Immediate and full-scale meaning a readily translatable into useable energy product, with existing technology and infrastructure to support immediate use on a large scale.

"People, Hell and Angels", New Jimi Hendrix Album

A new Jimi Hendrix album, compiled from various archival tape footage, is being released by Experience Hendrix -- the corporate entity run by Janie Hendrix, Jimi's younger step-sister.  This new album is scheduled for release this upcoming, Tuesday, March 5th.  The "People, Hell and Angels" album reveals a bluesier side of this rock legend.  You can have a listen and preview of the album for yourself at NPR.   Two of my personal favorite songs on the new album are "Izabella" and  "Hear My Train  A Comin'."  Enjoy!



"People, Hell and Angels" New Jimi Hendrix Album Preview

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I love this photo of Jimi!  The thoughtful look in his eyes, holding his beloved source of escape and inspiration: inspiration for the muse himself.  Click on the image source link to visit the site of  a record collector who actually owns a group of 21 albums from Jimi's personal record collection, as sold by Kathy Etchingham at auction in, in the UK in 2001. Cool to see some of the music that Jimi listened to ... his source of personal inspiration from fellow musicians. I wasn't surprised to see Dylan in his collection, another of my favorites.  Does make me pause and wonder how many of today's musicians don't have a tangible (can be held sans electronics) collection of their musical inspiration, a collection that can be physically perused, contemplated  ... collections now-a-days reside in the sphere of digital ones and zeros for the most part.  I still collect my favorites on vinyl though --whenever possible. I'm partial to the analog range and subtle nuances?

Here's a link to a USA interview with Janie Hendrix that shares her personal insights and reflections on her brother's music, found in this new release, as well as the parting bit of wisdom that he left her with.


3/5/2013  FYI:  Just checked and the new album "People, Hell and Angels" is now available on Spotify as well. 

Inoculation ....

Yahhhh .... Crowd Following, pretty certain I received that inoculation.  Would that this inoculation were more widely available????