I like America...but

I think of myself as a lover. Almost first and foremost some days. But no matter how hard I try, I can't fall in love with my country. Oh, I can fall in love with life. And with another. A special one. But hey, I find it inappropriate to fall in love with the United States of America. That's a little too abstract for me. I can't bring myself to declare 'America, uber alles.' Maybe it's that I think that would be dangerous. And even immoral. Not a good thing. I would even find it difficult to kill in defense of my nation. Because I think America too often does wrong. Acts like an imperial power. Oh, America does some good, too. And that makes me proud of my motherland or fatherland, or whatever we choose to call it. But I think of myself more as a citizen of the world and the universe and all of Creation -- more so than a citizen of the U.S. I like it that I am afforded freedom of speech. In some places on this Earth, I wouldn't have that right. And maybe I don't have full freedom of expression here and now, today. But still, it seems that I am free to say what I want to say to a reasonable degree. Yes, speech should be a basic human right. No matter where one lives. And I'm also free to fall in love. With someone. Someone precious. And to cultivate this love. And even to write love letters. And to tell everyone that I am truly in love with life. But I'm not in love with America. I like America...but that's different than being truly in love. --Jim Broede

Who's the real John McCain?

Listening to the presidential debate tonight, I got the feeling that maybe John McCain is getting tired of playing his role. That his handlers are trying to make him another Sarah Palin. To make him mean-spirited. And shallow. I sensed that McCain is trying to put up some resistance. And that he'd like to say, 'Hey, folks, I don't want to be a sonafabitch. And that's exactly what my advisors are trying to make me. I'd rather just retire and go back to Arizona and live the rest of my life in peace.' Anyway, if that's the thought on McCain's mind -- well, then I have new-found respect for him. But if he truly buys into the crap coming out of Palin's mouth, then he really is a sonafabitch. --Jim Broede

My most basic necessity -- love.

Don't worry. Be happy. That's my motto. I'm not lettting the sagging economy get me down. I am concerned. But I'm not gonna let it worry me. Not as long as I have my love to keep me warm. I say that with a smile. I'm trying to look at the bright side. Maybe we are seeing the demise of capitalism. At least as we have known it for so many, many years. I think we are becoming more aware of the haves and have-nots in this world. That's what capitalism has done. Created an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor. When the goal really should be to create a huge middle class. A happy medium. Capitalism encourages greed. A hoarding of wealth. I guess I believe in a comfortable life. Not an extravagant life. A life with some degree of leisure. And a society built on accomplishing the common good. By guaranteeing virtually everyone the basic necessities of life. And to some degree that's accomplished by taking from the rich and giving to the poor. But that's gonna take some doing. We'll have to recondition our thinking. First, we have to recognize that capitalism as it's now practiced doesn't work. It's unfair. Immoral. I think most people wouldn't mind allowing some people to get relatively rich. If only we had a society that provided the 'have-nots' with the basic necessities. Anyway, I know what's my most basic necessity -- love. --Jim Broede

...on the path to recovery.

Doesn't surprise me one bit that John McCain has launched a very negative campaign against Barack Obama. McCain, in so many respects, is unprincipled. A politician prepared to resort to smear tactics to try to win. Winning is everything. And McCain is desperate. It'll hurt his ego if he loses. And besides, McCain is an old man. As old as me. So maybe he figures it's now or never. Really, McCain should retire. From the Senate. From public office. I don't think his mind and body can take 4 years in the presidency. He won't make it. And that means his vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, would become president. That would be a national disaster. The end of America as we know it. Time to flee to Canada.
Anyway, I think there's a good chance that Obama will win. The polls show him pulling ahead. And that makes me feel good about America. To know that Americans would repudiate McCain-Palin. But one can never be sure. After all, Americans elected George Bush twice. That has brought the nation to the verge of ruin. Maybe Obama and his administration can put America back on the path to recovery. --Jim Broede

Not what's best for the few.

I heard an interesting statistic on the radio today. Can't vouch yet for its accuracy. But I'll check it out. Seems hard to believe. But really, I suspect it's true. That the 1,000 richest people in the world have more than the poorest 2.5 billion people in the world. Yes, folks, that's a glaring example of the gap between the rich and the poor. It's obscene. It's immoral. It's a disgrace. Yes, another reason why we have to scrap capitalism. And find a better economic system. We're moving closer to a global economy. And I think a basic tenet that we need to keep in mind is doing the common good. Let's do what's good and best for mankind as a whole. Not what's best for a few. --Jim Broede

A nice ending to Mike's story.

Mike posted under 'musings' on the Alzheimer's message boards. To tell us he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He told everybody how he feels. And I think that took courage. Lots of courage. Mike is a well-educated man. A trial lawyer. He's taking deep breaths these days. He's gonna try to make the best of it. And I'm in his corner. We need more of his kind in this world.

Look at it this way, I told Mike. You could have dropped dead yesterday. Instead, you're very much alive. And still quite with it. Mentally. And physically. But you have no guarantee that you won't be dead tomorrow. So, live today. To the fullest. Savor the day. I'd also suggest that you remind yourself that you're in love. With life. And maybe with a few people near and dear to you. Love 'em more than ever. That might be the best way to live your remaining days. It might prompt those others, too, to love you more than ever. To appreciate you today. Think about your fate, too. What if the Creator gave you a choice? You could die suddenly of a stroke or heart attack or in a traffic accident or a plane crash. Or, instead, your life could be extended for several more years. And you'll fade away gradually. In a sense, you'll eventually lose your mind. But you'll still have some reasonably functioning time, maybe even years. Hard to say. I had my Jeanne for 13 years after the onset of Alzheimer's. She was functional to some degree right up to the end. I'm grateful for that. I think Jeanne chose to live as long as she did. Maybe because she loved life. But I know one thing. That time worked for me. I learned to love Jeanne more than ever. And maybe even someone around you will learn to love you more than ever, Mike. That would be a nice ending to your story. To your life. --Jim Broede

A sharp contrast to McCain.

John McCain is NOT a nice man. He is mean-spirited. And a stretcher of the truth. If not an outright liar. He knows he cannot win the presidency by addressing the issues. That would be a sure way for him to lose. So he has to come up with gimmicks. And by attacking his opponent, Barack Obama. Yes, disparaging Obama. Smearing his character. And distorting Obama's positions on the issues. Yes, negative campaigning. I felt sorry for McCain when similar tactics were used against him by George Bush in the 2000 election campaign. But now, McCain is out-bushing Bush. Yes, more evidence that if McCain gets elected, it'll be very much like having Bush in for a third term. Obama, meanwhile, seems like a nice and decent guy. A sharp (and pleasant) contrast to McCain. --Jim Broede