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The most original authors are not so because they advance what is new, but because they put what they have to say as if it had never been said before. -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Recently, my kids and Tamara and I went to see Kung Fu Panda. Loved it. My younger two now run around saying, "Skadoosh."
Today, we saw The Incredible Hulk. Like Iron Man's Robert Downey Jr., Ed Norton was Bruce Banner and nailed the part. I don't know who is running the show with these Marvel films, but they're exactly what movies should be. And the ending of this one made my clan oh so excited about the next two years in Marvel filmmaking. The boys all stood up from their theater seats, grinning from ear to ear.
"Skadoosh!"
ETC: Tamara and I rented P.S. I Love You.
Yep. Like that. My worst day with her is better than my best day without her. Good flick, but definitely bring the tissues.
What would we, the American people, define as goals for our country?
I think the answer might be different than much discussed "issues."
For example, I think the overwhelming majority would want the nation to continue. That's a goal, not an issue.
I think the overwhelming majority would want the country and its people to prosper. Again, I think that's a goal, and not an issue. A goal is not wrapped up in the "how," but instead paints in broad stokes. "Issues" are more of the "how."
An "issue" would be illegal immigration. An "issue" would be taxation. An "issue" would be universal health care. These are more the "how." Is allowing illegal immigration in line with our nation continuing? With prospering? How does taxation square with our goals? Universal health care? Other issues?
It seems to me that we get far more wrapped up in divisive issues and we forget the goals. If we remain focused on the goals, some of the issues can clear up quickly. Prayer in school, for example. Flag burning. Do they matter to the goals that we as a nation set? If not, perhaps these issues are not national, but more localized and cultural.
Is it a goal for our nation that no one ever die? Be it in war, in sickness, etc.
Is it a goal for our nation that every adult work, regardless of wealth?
Is it a goal for our nation that all our citizens be educated through college?
Or are we okay with death, retirement, and some depth of blue-collar work force?
Here's a question: do we, as citizens, have an obligation to think through the goals we might desire for our country? And then consider the best ways to get there?
In some manner, I think we all do that. But... I think that it's not hard to be distracted by the pitch of some "issues" from the "goals" we have.
Tamara and I spent the afternoon sandbagging. I didn't have my camera with me because it's in South Carolina with my step-son, Tyler, as he skateboards madly with his buddies before they all go to college. But it was interesting to be reminded how hardship brings people together. This is where I believe Iowa to be a magical place. We're a trusting, helpful people. Neighbors were getting reintroduced to one another and learning that they have a common goal where they live. There was no selfishness. It was a team effort.
Not every resident of Des Moines came to help. And that's okay, and as it should be. Charity is best right when it's delivered willingly. Ashley, Scott, Sue, and David (a few of our fellow 300 sandbaggers who were nearest us) were there with smiles on their faces and believing in what they were doing.
After about 5 or 6 hours of working, Tamara and I went home. The Des Moines Register took Tamara's picture and interviewed her briefly at one location. The local Fox News affiliate did the same later, with video. (I've also seen her in a movie last fall, where she gave an impassioned and impromptu speech about the definition of a hero, and those in the audience watching the film gave her a standing ovation.)
Today, in her talk to the Fox News reporter, she talked of the good of Iowa. She, a Georgia native, calls this state home. It feels right to her. I suspect that if you were to have to go through trouble, Iowa is about as good a place as any to endure it.
The issue with the Democrats now is they want to cut off any source of carbon. And there are those in the Senate who believe the more expensive you make gasoline, the less driving people do and you force conservation by making driving so expensive people can't afford it.
And the end of that becomes a poorer economy, more people out of work, and the harder it is to make a living for those who do work.
At some point, people will start figuring out that part of the reason for their economic difficulties is government getting in the way. If you don't like the hike in cost of living these days, vote the clowns responsible for this out of office.
Senator Barack Obama's general election plan calls for broadening the electoral map by challenging Senator John McCain in typically Republican states - from North Carolina to Missouri to Montana - as Mr. Obama seeks to take advantage of voter turnout operations built in nearly 50 states in the long Democratic nomination battle, aides said.
Back during the Iowa caucus in January, I wrote how I saw that "Obama supporters were out in droves this morning, standing on frigid corners, shivering with their signs held passionately up... No other candidate has that going for them."
It's all about organization, and I don't see the GOP doing well at organizing. Not on the scale that Obama has.
McCain believes that his substance will beat Obama's style. That kind of smugness is not going to help him when all that really matters is numbers in November.
ETC: Saw this on HotAir today... George Will seeing this as I've discussed here.
And this:
The problem with McCain is that he's middle-of-the-road, which inspires no one to get excited about him.
In my opinion, the only thing that will lose Obama his mojo is people telling the truth and others listening about his associations and policies and sheer ignorance of the way the world works. At this point, I doubt that wil happen, but then, Kerry was torpedoed by the Swift Boat Vets. Bush at least gave me some reasons to vote for him (ownership society, Iraq). I do agree with McCain on limiting the government, but how does he propose to do that while wanting illegals to be legal? He's like a trojan horse.
McCain could also break early by nominating the very common sense oriented Sarah Palin, in my opinion. I hope she's our first female president.
Conservatives tend to favor freedom and are willing to accept inequalities of outcome from a free market.
Liberals tend to favor equality of outcome and are willing to sacrifice and circumscribe freedom in order to get it.
Yep. That's the most cogent, well-considered definition I think I've ever heard. I even think that liberals would agree with that conservative's summation.
In the comments of my suggestion that "commitment is the greatest human attribute" and that "passionate commitment" will produce "someone to be reckoned with," Pale Rider says this:
I would say these have the potential to be the greatest human attribute(s), but also have the potential to be the worst. On the opposite side you could end up with a Nazi regime, 19 asshat's flying planes into the world trade centers, suicide bombers, etc.
Maybe commitment is the most powerful attribute?
Since he said that, I've wondered what makes the difference between the person committed to be constructive and the person committed to be destructive.
People who tend to experience [thankfulness] more frequently than do others also tend to be happier, more helpful and forgiving, and less depressed than their less grateful counterparts (Kashdan, Uswatte, & Julian, 2006; McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002; Watkins, Woodward, Stone, & Kolts, 2003)
Hard to be a terrorist or a murderer when you're brimming with thankfulness.
What's more, thankfulness tends to spawn reciprocity.
Gratitude may also serve to reinforce future prosocial behavior in benefactors. For example, Carey and colleagues (Carey, Clicque, Leighton, & Milton, 1976) found that customers of a jewelry store who were called and thanked showed a subsequent 70% increase in purchases. In comparison, customers who were thanked and told about a sale showed only a 30% increase in purchases, and customers who were not called at all did not show an increase. Rind and Bordia (1995) found that restaurant patrons gave bigger tips when their servers wrote "Thank you" on their checks.
Thankfulness becomes a catalyst for "pay it forward," gently urging others into acts of kindness. Want a better world? Be thankful. Practice thankfulness.
Thankfulness is a choice, and it starts with what we choose to see. That may seem like a phrasing of the age-old question of whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, but it's not. The thankful person who sees the entirely empty glass would become thankful for and see the beauty in the glass itself. Thankfulness is a way of seeing life. It finds joy in the little things.
Thankfulness is not self-centered, but rather appreciates what it finds outside the self. So here's my definition for thankfulness: "The choice to see the beauty in life and to unabashedly express it."
The opposite of thankfulness is likely bitterness (resentment).
Resentment will often manifest itself in the following ways.
The harboring of animosity against a person or group of people whom the person feels has mistreated them.
Unresolved anger over a negative event which occurred in the past.
Seething, aching emotional turmoil felt whenever a certain person or event is discussed.
The lack of forgiving, the unwillingness to let go and forget.
A root of distrust and suspicion have when dealing with people or events that brought pain in the past.
Unresolved grief experienced when finding it difficult to accept a loss.
A grudge held against a person or group of people whom the person feels has kept them from achieving anything.
Victimhood, plain and simple. It's the mindset of "I've been hurt and I'm pissed as hell." It's not an outward focus, like thankfulness, but an inward focus. Bitterness doesn't see what's right, but rather what's wrong.
What's more, where thankfulness leads to satisfaction, bitterness leads to a thirst for restitution. It believes that there is a debt to be paid, and the more deeply felt, the more it acts that out. Which can only spawn more bitterness for the victims it leaves in its wake.
Bitterness is also a choice. It's what we choose to see, if we are bitter.
If we become who we hang around, who would you rather have as the company you keep: the thankful person, or the bitter person? Who's likely to be the better leader? Who will be more productive? Who will be the stronger friend?
I just talked with my mother, a lifelong and very staunch Democrat. I knew that she was a Hillary supporter. Imagine my surprise when I heard this today:
I'm voting for John McCain this year.
I won't tell you the reasons why, but suffice it to say that Obama lost her big time. And other people she knows as well will be pulling for McCain this fall.
What's the best characteristic a human being can exhibit?
You can offer "compassion" as an answer. That's a good one, to be sure.
You might suggest "loving." It hints compassion, and a host of other good behaviors.
Me, I'll go with "commitment." Because it embodies persistence, which speaks to accomplishment, and signals that a choice was made, which shows freedom. A committed person will achieve things. A committed person is loyal. If you're committed, you're in for the long haul. Unwavering. Determined.
My second nomination would be "passionate." You can be committed, but if you don't have fire in the belly, the going can be slow and painful to keep up the nerve to do what you've chosen to do.
Passionate commitment? That's someone to be reckoned with.
Where do you consistently exhibit your passionate commitment?
