A MAN MAY SMILE AND SMILE...

Click the header, please. The header is part of a rather well known quote from Will Shakespeare. (I can call him Will. It's how I knew him when we were buddies.) I am worrying nowadays. Not about myself. Not about my life. Not about my cats. Not about my gas mileage. Nope. I'm worrying about my Country. And your freedom. And mine. And all of ours. The "great experiment" is in danger from within. The enemy is, indeed, us. . I came across a quote, the other day, from the Desert Anachist, Edward Abbey: "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." Stopped me in my tracks. Times change, people change, technology changes. Many things change. Others things do not change without dire consequences and I recognize that,for some reason (perhaps to control the population better?), the government has decided that patriotism is no longer of importance, should not be taught to the youth. To an old geezer like me, it is lamentable to hear the young speak with no idea of who had a hand in creating this country, what they wanted to create and how many people gave their lives and fortunes to bring the United States into being. I, for one, want to hear the voice of civics classes taught again. I want to know that a teacher of English as a second language knows how to address a letter to a Senator, Congressman and the President and not use the phrase "To whom it may concern" as an address. (Yes, it happened less than a month ago.) I want to hear that the Holocaust is being shown to our kids in all its horror. I want to hear that basic math skills are being taught to all the children. I want to hear that they all know how to speak, read and write English. I want to hear they all must pass driver's education classes in order to get a driver's licence. I want to hear that they know the feeling of patriotism when they see our flag. I want to hear that they know what responsibility is and how to show it. I want to hear that they have learned respect for their classmates and their elders. There are many other "want tos" but these are for starters. . But now I want to hear that ole Smiley in the pic is going to be honest with us. I don't need to see him on the television visiting talk jocks, game shows nor editorial reporters. I don't need to see him cozying up to the unthinking public (remember, half of them are below average intelligence) and they are easy marks. I don't want him to try and take my guns. (I do want him to get rid of that clown of an AG. That choice was a bad, bad mistake, Mr. President.) I don't need to see him trying to force an unbelievable debt on us. I want to see him reintroduce the import duties on goods from other countries. I want to see "American Made" back as a standard for the rest of the world to emulate. I want to hear the President crawl for his remark about the Special Olympics. (I'm sure that if Leno had made a remark about the racial structure of most basketball teams, he would crawl.) I don't want the names of various things the US is doing changed. If we're having a War on Terrorism, then have it. I want the President to recognize that half the voters are supposed to be able to think for themselves. He can't get away with blowing smoke up everyone's nostrils. I don't want announcements from the man that we're going to withdraw troops from Iraq. And then announce that we're going to increase troops to Afghanistan. (That's almost like taking troops out of Virginia and moving troops to New York.) I don't want to hear about sending arms and money to Mexico. How about sending three four divisions down there? I want the lies, evasions and double talk stopped Mr. President. It is going to be time for real Americans to step forward and help the President return the good of America and stamp out the evil that has crept into our way of life. Please don't make all our fallen dead objects of derision, Mr. President.