The America I Know....

Greetings!

I woke up this Sunday morning with my head full of questions about what America has become, and where America's future lies.

I cannot help but wonder where America's courage has gone when the citizenship has been encouraged to be fearful about almost everything. We have been encouraged to buy plastic sheeting and duct tape because our government wanted us to be afraid in our own homes about some "pending terrorist attack". We were constantly barraged with "Terrorist Alert red/yellow/orange...etc" and we became constantly afraid.

In America today, we cannot fly with a full bottle of shampoo or mouthwash because we must be afraid of whats in our neighbors bottle. We must be willing to take off our shoes to get through airport screening because we have been asked to fear what's (possibly) in our neighbor's shoe.



In America, we gladly accepted the infringement of our government's wiretapping our calls to our friends and family while some politicians and old white men and talk radio hosts encourage a lot of citizens to be fearful of positive freedoms a majority of citizens voted to see take place in the last election. The majority wanted to see America have the courage to change, while a noisy, and fearful group wants everyone to be afraid.

"Be afraid of health care reform!!" the old fearful crowd shouts. "Be afraid of the president of the United States talking to your children!!" The old fearful crowd proclaims loudly. "Be afraid of socialism!!" The old fearful crowd shouts while they traverse to the library, public schools, and while they call socialist programs for help...like the fire department. "Be afraid of communism!!" The old loud fearful crowd shouts out while they wear sneakers and pants and t-shirts whose tag reads "made in China".

The old loud fearful crowd proclaims to be "a christian nation" but soon forget the words of Christ "Fear not, for I am with you." No, instead we simply give lip service to "being a brave American" while we cower in our basements with our plastic wrap and duct tape awaiting our "pending doom".

The America I know is not fearful. The America I know had the courage to send men to the moon. The America I know was brave enough to face the challenges of racism in the 1960's and pass a civil rights bill into law. The America I know will pass a civil rights bill for homosexuals in my lifetime.

The America I know has the courage to actually be a free nation. Free from fear. A bold nation who will take the correct action to make certain ALL Americans have available to them an affordable health care system where we are ALL able to maintain our health so we can compete with the world around us. A bold and fearless nation that encourages it's citizens to be brave, to boldly traverse the planet with no fear and with courage. The America I know is an inclusive nation, not an exclusive nation where "if you don't look like us, or worship like us, you are NOT one of us." NO!! we are NOT that kind of nation!!

We welcome ALL people, ESPECIALLY if you do not "look" like us..or worship like us. America wants to know you and love you and welcome you.

Maybe the old loud fearful crowd is afraid of themselves. Maybe they are afraid of their own prejudices, their own inclusiveness, there own self righteousness and maybe the old loud fearful crowd wants the American legacy to be a legacy of being afraid.

As the old loud fearful crowd has the courage to stand up and make all sorts of noise about what to be afraid of...I wish to stand up and proclaim that I WILL NOT BE AFRAID!!

America, DO NOT HAVE FEAR!! Stand up and be brave and be proud of the real America.

A nation that is brave and FEARLESS!!

To a bright future!!

What College has Taught Me...So Far

Greetings!

When I made the decision to return to college and (finally) get my degree I had all sorts of concerns. It had been over 9 years since I had attended any college classes when I left due ti a divorce and then working 50-60 hours a week and not having time to go back to school.

This left me with about 4 semesters to go to complete my AS degree in General Ed. and also I found I could get an AS degree in Political Science by taking just a few more classes, so I decided to do this.

Back to my concerns. I was afraid that maybe I was a bit too old to hold an interest in the classes, but on the contrary, I have found my maturity and age and experiences to be very helpful as I have attended my classes. My ups and downs in life have made my essays a great read, better than I could have written at 32 (ten years ago when I stopped my schooling).

I was also afraid that maybe I would not have time to pursue my schooling with working as well, but this too has been a false worry. With the advent of online courses offered through my college here in town, I have the freedom to pursue my classes after work and on my own schedule, so long as my assignments are submitted by the deadlines posted.

So what have I learned so far?

I have to say I am thoroughly amazed by the insight college courses have given me about myself and how I interact with the world around me. Some notions that I thought I did not have did rear their ugly heads, and now I know to extinguish those things in my life. I have learned to see more than meets the eye in things I would not have noticed otherwise as well.

One important lesson I learned the other night while sitting in class (I am taking a live math class at my college due to testing in to a lower math grade..details following...) listening to my math 920 teacher (pre-algebra) and watching her show us how to do prime factorization without using a calculator (calculators are not allowed in class yet) it dawned on me exactly why I never really excelled in mathematics. It's because I don't like bullshit very much.

Now, this is not a reflection on the math course or the techer, the course and the teacher are excellent. But, my mind kept asking me "why the fuck do I need to do this without a calculator?" and "why the fuck do I need to do this...PERIOD???" These were the same thoughts I had in high school. I never heard any good explanation as to why a calculator could not or should not be used. It's a great tool.

In my head I equate not using a calculator for mathematics with building a campfire in your backyard..in the middle of the lawn...to cook dinner on when you have a stove and BBQ which makes it easier and more efficient. Better yet, it's like rubbing two sticks together to even light the damned things. OH and by the way, what time does the fucking sun dial say it is?

I learned the lesson of my disdain for bullshit, and it answered my questions as to why I never excelled in mathematic in a school setting. I mean, I can DO math, my career has depended on my ability to DO math. But I can look up any formulaes that I need and better yet...I can USE THE GREAT INVENTION CALLED A CALCULATOR to do the math.

All these years I had a fear of classroom math, even at times thinking that "my brain is not wired for math" or having self doubt about whether I was good enough to excel in school.

Well, my brain is fine, and I am good enough to do anything I want to do, and smart enough to decipher what I should do or want to do.

I just don't appreciate bullshit getting in my way!! :)


Thanks for reading! I urge you all, go back to school, or go to school if you have not started college yet!!