September 11

For most Americans, today is a day of reflection. Many are moved to tears, remembering the horror of that morning ten years ago. Some probably feel emotions of a darker nature. Both are understandable. People around the world are remembering, too. The impact is different depending on where they are and, perhaps, where they were.

Today in Fresno is a gray, cloudy day, with the possibility of thunderstorms. Usually, a summer day here starts out on the cool side, with comfortably low humidity. Today started a little warmer and a bit on the sticky side. The weather could easily contribute to a darker mood, but I welcome the change. It will still get hot this afternoon, but the morning feels somehow quieter through the open windows.

There are ducks moving about in the "river" outside the living room window. Do they feel the emotional turmoil of the humans around them? We anthropomorphize so many of our brothers and sisters without a clue whether it's appropriate. Perhaps they are, as many will say, simply animals, with no concern or social consciousness. But if we are to believe, as I do, that our thoughts can be, and are, emanations into our surroundings, then surely on a day of such strong and less-than-bright emotions, we are sending out that same kind of energy.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't feel what we feel. On the contrary, if it is still part of your life or your grieving process, I won't deny you that. The loss of loved ones is a profound and long-lasting impact. Besides, it's the nature of the human animal to have the emotions that we have. I think the key is to be aware of them and realize how they can affect our judgment and our actions.

On that surreal day ten years ago, my first reaction was shock and disbelief. Initially, it felt as though Orson Welles had pulled another one on us. (For the young among us, if Orson Welles is unfamiliar to you, look up "The War of the Worlds". Not the movies, the radio broadcast.) Then the second tower was hit. This was no longer an elaborate "scare tactic". I was sitting at my computer in North Richland Hills, TX watching the Today Show. I started flipping through all the networks and the cable news networks. Everybody had this story. It was real. How could it be? Who would do such a thing?

As the news unfolded over the next couple of months, we learned that terrorists had taken minimal flight lessons, commandeered the aircraft and flown them into buildings. By that time, I had moved to Rhode Island and begun traveling. Extensively. Another surreal experience as, instead of simply picking up my tickets and walking to my gate, I encountered a gauntlet of security measures. Those measures continued to become more invasive and pervasive as the following eight years progressed. I had a trip to Georgia in March of 2003. We were all still talking about the collapse of the Twin Towers. I had the Flight Simulator installed on my laptop. I showed the class, during a break of course, how even without a joystick, I could launch a commercial jet from La Guardia, circle it around and plow into the Tower. Flying a plane is not that difficult. Taking off is even easier. Landing is the really tough part and these guys didn't need that knowledge! Really, then, they didn't need flight lessons and their tracks would have been even more difficult to trace.

We had become an angry nation. Our leaders determined that the proper response was to hunt down those responsible and "make them pay". Personally, I agree. However, the truth was/is that an organization was responsible. As such, "we" needed to wipe out the organization. Thousands of members across nearly every continent and protected by an elaborate "stealth" system. They could hide in plain sight. Because we couldn't develop a covert, undercover operation to discover the identities and locations of this organization, a simple and comprehensive military assault system was devised. Part of the result was that we "got" some of the leadership. In the process, we also destroyed the live and livelihoods of innocent civilians.

I've heard many argue that none of them could be "innocent" because they held the same religious belief system. Let's face it, war is not a pretty thing. It's not a terribly accurate thing either when your weapons are designed to to obliterate entire buildings. "Collateral Damage" is the term that gets spouted in such instances. Yes, the terror attacks on September 11 were not carried out against military targets. Ok, two were. Of the four planes that were used as weapons against The United States, one was aimed at the heart of government (it went down in Pennsylvania) and the other at the heart of our military leadership. The others, as would be logical in a war scenario, were aimed at our financial stability. Do not think for a moment that if this country decided there was an enemy state which posed a real and present danger our leaders would not exercise the same tactical options. Our military technology, however, makes it possible to bring down such institutions without the use of a commercial airliner filled with civilians. Would it really be any different? Would it not then be logical for our "enemy" to respond that all Americans need to "pay" because they all believe the same thing?

You may be getting the impression that I don't agree with this country's choice of "retaliation". You would be correct. I don't agree. Not entirely. I know, it sounds absurd to agree with only part of a military action, or "war on terror". So call me absurd, call me naive, call me whatever names you like. That's your prerogative. You're not going to offend me. I believe what I believe, I feel what I feel. No words are going to change that. I'm not trying to change the belief or felling of any other person, either. I'm simply sharing my viewpoint.

My bottom line is simple. We will never have peace on this planet until we figure out how to stop quarreling over beliefs, lines on a map and greed. Put all those things aside and remember two things: 1) Our Creator instructs us to Respect All Living Things and 2) Christians are supposed to Love Everyone. Neither of those concepts leaves any room for "unless", "but" or "except". They are very simple instructions. There are no "do this don't do that" clauses. Just the very simple Respect and Love directions. While I haven't done exhaustive research into other belief systems, I do know that the ones I've looked at, even briefly, share similar concepts. Faith, belief, spirituality, whatever you want to call it, does not call upon us to damage each other. Ever. If you think of your life from that perspective, you'll see that many of the things we do today would NOT happen in the first place, leading to the dire predicaments in which we find ourselves.

I pray, on a daily basis, that everyone learns these two simple rules. I pray that those who already understand this will stand up and spread the word. I pray that you can be the change the world needs.

The Empty Polling Booth

The Empty Polling Booth is not a science fiction story nor a tale of a post apocalyptic geopolitical construct. It is instead an idea for change. It was presented to me today by a very dear friend. There is a possibility that some internet-scouring organization of the political establishment may read this article and label me with one of the dirty words they are sworn to suppress. No, I'll not put those words to this screen, that would be equivalent to shouting them out. You, dear reader, may discern one or more of those words as the idea unfolds.

Our tale starts with the history of a country now 235 years old. Really quite young compared to many others around the world. It started as an escape route, a haven, a paradise to be built. There were grand ideals set forth by the founding fathers in documents intended to keep those ideals alive and inviolate. For a time those documents stood resolute and strong. The people rejoiced in their freedoms and responsibilities as citizens. These documents were the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. I encourage all citizens of this nation to read these documents, including the Additional Amendments.

As time passed and society evolved, additional amendments, now numbered eleven through twenty-seven, were added and ratified by the governing body. Some of these amendments have been controversial, both in the time of their creation and today. Some have been undeniably necessary and morally correct. The one undeniable fact over the last 235 years is that the governing body should represent The People. It seems to me that within my lifetime, if not longer, this has changed. What with Political Action Committees, Special Interest Groups, Lobbyists and the rest, all of whom seem to have influential and deep pockets, the interests of The People have taken a back seat!

The Empty Polling Booth is an idea that will fall on deaf ears. I know there are not a lot of people who read my musings, but maybe, just maybe they can spread the word a bit. The deaf ears will be those who probably don't read my pages anyway. Those who live well above the middle class have no need to see changes to the system as it waddles its way through future history. Everyone else, those who are directly responsible for the infrastructure of this country, those are now most negatively affected by the flatulence of government, those who are being crushed by the weight of a bloated Budget, they are the ones that I feel will grasp this idea.

So now I'll address my commentary to those people, the ones for whom this country still holds the potential to be the greatest country on earth once again, if only it could regain its original values. Are you happy with your government (the legislative branch)? Are you happy with the legal system (the judiciary branch)? Are you happy with the leadership (the executive branch)? I have a feeling that a large number of people I would call friend would answer NO to all three questions. Of course, we've all heard the answer to these questions: Then change it! At this point, almost everyone will say something like, "There just aren't any good options on the ballot!" So we are relegated to choosing the lesser of two evils. I can't tell you how many times I heard that in 2008, on a variety of ballot choices.

It seems like it has been that way for over 20 years now! How sad is it that among the populace of this country we cannot find a candidate to truly represent the will of The People. Forget representing the will of The People, that's almost become a pipe dream. There are too many of us and we're all too different! How about representing the best interest and the good of The People. Anybody have a representative like that? Keep in mind all the constituents of their area. Is there anyone out there "pleasing most of The People most of the time"?

Since we seem to rarely have a positive choice to make at the polls, and a negative choice (lesser of two evils) isn't a great option either, can we send a different message? Can we send a message that says, "Not only are we disappointed with your performance, we're becoming angry. Enough nonsense from you and your colleagues." Since we don't like the choices, DON'T CHOOSE! Don't make a choice based on which is least distasteful. Sure, go ahead and voice your opinion on bond issues or road taxes, but don't give the power to someone you don't think deserves it!

Of course that begs the question, "What happens if nobody gets a single vote?" Does the incumbent retain the post? I would hope not, because in essence it's a dead heat tie! Is another election required? Presumably. But if the candidates are the same, then the result would be the same, IF WE STICK TO OUR GUNS. If we could make this happen, across ALL socio-political-economic barriers, the result just might be a change for the better.

The Empty Polling Booth aka: What if They Held an Election and Nobody Came?