quod erat faciendum

Man, how we have screwed up a good thing.

August 16, 2017

 

It is clear that I am not wanted here anymore. The new guy, sorry, the new person has taken my place. I will gather my things and walk out of the building quietly with my cardboard moving luggage. People want to hate and people want to be right for all of their choices and beliefs. Temporarily, the rules of social physics can be ignored. But sooner or later, that pesky constant called reality sneaks back in… Everybody can’t have everything and be right all the time. Those concepts are exclusive of reality as far as “We the People” go. We aren’t capable of civilly being different or disagreeing in this land anymore. Let’s not kid ourselves. There are many hate groups of all genders, sexes, creeds and colors and religions. Recognized or not, they exist and have power.

 

My one sentence interpretation of the origins for America — America was created and built to protect people who had been harmed and equip them to not allow it to happen again. They wanted to be free from tyranny. They had to Unite to protect and afford those protections. Nationalism meant standing up for a common good and purpose. Unalienable Rights were identified by the framers to protect, not to be used as weapons to divide. That creation blossomed into absolutely the most-bestest land on the planet. Opportunity for everybody and potential riches way, way, WAY beyond any person’s needs. Comfort has killed us. Over the decades, our land has become a quagmire of rules, lies and Bureaucratic meddling for one side or another. America is now a grotesque mutation of the original intent. “Not enough”, driven by greed has replaced altruism and freedom. We pawned that freedom long ago in exchange for comfort.

 

No. Now we can’t reason or talk civilly. Any idiot can yell and scream and hurt. That takes little to no skill or talent. Thinking is hard. Reason is tough. Common good is a significant effort made by serious people. No, we are now left with the option of dividing the space and eliminating all of the symbols and examples of offensiveness. Everybody is offended all the time and the moment it is decided to help or support one group, then another is disenfranchised. Equitable is the elimination of all offensive materials or creating individual space for each group, thus ending the United part of USA. It’s the MeSA or UsSA now. There are consequences, responsibilities and burdens associated with operating the best Country on the planet. The consequences were ignored and falsely muted with unnatural guaranteed outcomes. The responsibilities were ignored and left up to somebody else because it was easier that way. Burdens are too much like work for a lot of inhabitants of this land. Again, much easier to take rather than create. We keep electing foxes to watch over our precious henhouse and we keep getting mad and hurt when they let us down; then we pick another fox.

 

Y’all, I don’t give a damn about statues. Somebody beat me to it, and pointed out that we actually have statues in this Country of some other very bad people that nobody cares about. We aren’t savvy enough to recognize that probably less than one half of one percent of people could identify any of those people depicted, so they are now just “art.” Different but similar type folks who are trying to tear down the statues will rant and rave protest for Mapplethorpe making a picture about a priest pooping on a napkin while riding a house cat — that is protected art and free speech after all!!! Let me be clear. I despise the behaviors of those who hate people for no other reason than ignorance and stupidity. I stop it when it is present in my world. That same courtesy has become increasingly missing for me. Even more so I am being blamed and punished very similarly as those expressing historical transgressions and hurt. You can’t get to equal and harmony by demanding to be more than equal and trying to shame or tear down another group in the process. You can’t fix wrong by doing the same wrong things. Crap, that is revenge, not progress.

Fair in America today means 100% my way all the time and you are less than dust if you don’t see it my way and give me everything I want NOW! Some embellishment, but definitely the direction we are going and the destination we will arrive at shortly. How do these folks have all this time on their hands to be offended and destructive as a collective? If it weren’t for a cancellation, I would be busy right now! Do you now how many opportunities I would have to be hurt and offended if I tried really hard to focus on that? Y’all, I got stuff to do! AND, I have learned that if you play with stupid people long enough you tend to get some on you. Don’t play with them! Don’t feed stray cats! Wait, got lost on the rabbit trail…

 

I have been called many things from hater to racist to greedy or whatever. Don’t give a rip. Why? Because I know what I do when I do it.. I also know my intentions behind my choices. I don’t owe anybody anything other than courtesy and a helping hand, if I can. Even that has been taken advantage of so much, I am thinking I have squandered my talents or have become a fool. For a while, I thought I owed it to my Country to work hard, sacrifice and make sure my kids were raised correctly to follow the rules, respect authority and other, now mostly junk ideals that go to enable the selfish and evil. Today, working hard, sacrificing and playing by the rules almost makes you a sucker. Nice guys do finish last, you know. Our leadership does not deserve respect or deference because they have been corrupted into lying, cheating thieves. I don’t recognize what a President is anymore based on recent and current examples. Congress is a cesspool of graft and corruption. Serious rabbit trail down that way…

 

We are going to get what many are screaming, rioting and begging for… we are going to get evicted. That is if we are lucky enough to not get eliminated first. America is now filled with partially educated people with an ever-increasing percentage of diplomas and advanced degrees. A Democracy is “Everybody has a say.” Even if you are dumb as hell and evil. A Republic is “Everybody has a voice.” To keep a republic, you have to work and sacrifice and reason with each other for a common good. We have little-to-no experience idiots who think they can drive a Ferrari because they stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Corporations have hijacked social groups and media and often the other way around for personal gain. Fools continue to rant and riot for one side or another. There are so many Red Herring swimming around that we are going to starve to death trying to catch every one of them.

 

It’s not a threat. One day We will stand up again. Pray, plan and prepare. America was a good idea and did good things for good reasons. Sure, it had problems and issues. Sort of like a good dog, some slobber and a few fleas doesn’t mean you trade him in or put him down. But we have fixed and done surgery so much that it is so disfigured in an attempt to make everybody happy. I think they knew what they were writing when they said we have the right to pursue happiness. We don’t have the guarantee of the outcome. I have babbled enough for one day. I get the impression that these writings are mostly for me to process and get through the confusion and frustration.

 

— R. A. Grier

 

June 24, 2015

Avenge or Love?

Lately, the subject of racism has been more noticeable on the news and in water cooler chat. In recent months, there have been riots, murders and police shootings that were made to be centered on race that all seem to have been sparked up (again) by Trayvon Martin in early 2012. Folks, it’s getting old.

I will try really hard to take my own lifelong advice about using logic in an argument where there is none. I will also remind myself that there are a hefty amount of zealots out there that wouldn’t know truth if it stepped on them like a T-Rex. (The thousandth Jurassic movie sequel is out now, yay…)

So, opening with full disclosure here. I am a white male. I know, I know… How can I stand to admit that??? Being white, male, Southern and Christian feels like a chain around my neck in today’s society. According to TV and American pop-culture, that makes me stupid, greedy, hate-filled and incapable of communicating with my children or wife. Throw Conservative in the mix and I am truly a dangerous creature that must be caged!!. Crap, I like guns too. DANGER DANGER!! They might as well start banning all symbols like me from the public eye. Why? Because there mere thought of me is now offensive and of course threatening because somebody else that looks like me, hurt someone else, somewhere else, some time ago. Some fools are still doing it today.

The next bit of ramp-up on the topic lately has come from a little thing called “I wanna play in the Whitehouse sandbox.” Good gravy! The absolute bunk spewing from this process is nauseating. Say whatever, do whatever, believe whatever… all to get validated and comfortable. All to get/stay rich and powerful. United, WE stand. Divided, THEY prosper… I would argue that a truly altruistic public servant leader would shy away from notoriety, fame and the like and just get the job done and then leave. Not these clowns… Sorry, that wasn’t nice or really fair. Let’s just call them entertainers.

Back to the dreaded white boy…

I have mentioned before that I spend a lot of time thinking and I am pretty good at deciphering human behavior. It intrigues me that people are so threatened by words and being disliked by someone else. Golly, to think that someone might act petty, selfish, hurtful and unfair too? Certainly people are not capable of those things. BUT WAIT!!! It is because I am _____ (fill in the blank of your particular demographic quality). That makes me special and protected, not unlike the Arkansas Fatmucket. (go look it up)

Any time you hear a word that ends in “ism”, immediately think, “power”. Well, you can think what you want, but I am saying that I believe “ism” is about power. Those wielding these cards of offensensitivity have been coddled for far too long. I akin this to how we approach bullying today. We have stripped the ability of the “victim” to address the bully in any meaningful way, and a proxy-parental oversight committee (PPOC) is in charge of making the problem go away. Since the PPOC has long since been coddled by the FEDGOV, we know that a solution is just another opportunity to spend money and do nothing meaningful, thus creating more problems to spend money on and do nothing meaningful. Back to solving the bully problem… We do this by protecting/saving the victim. It makes sense until you go through the “reductio ad absurdum” phase of planning. This is the part where you think things all the way through. So, maybe, if you thought it all the way through you would recognize the psychological pitfall of protecting people to the point of stripping them of being able to defend themselves… Hmmmm, victims become better victims and easier targets for bullies. Of course, the bully is smarter and savvier than the PPOC, so the bully continues to bully. Now, whether or not there is any real bullying taking place… Today, people are so damn delicate that if I look at you, I am committing hate crimes.

AND, for the record, I don’t give a flying who-who if you are black, white, brown, yellow, red, male, female, homosexual, tall, short, skinny, fat… blah blah blah. God tells me that I will love ALL people. However, just because I am tall, that doesn’t qualify me to operate a crane. It also doesn’t mean that just because I am a woman, I will make a great defensive back for the 49ers. There might be a skill set and ability factor coming into play there.

Also, just because you are different than me, I should not fear you or try to hurt you out of that ignorant fear. Those who do hurt people or hold them back for no other reason than a demographic quality need to be corrected.

Also, just because someone is acting-out toward me out of fearful ignorance, I must exercise something called self-dignity. I don’t care if you called me a cracker. I know that I am not a cracker. I am not even sure what that is, nor do I care. I don’t need to know, because I know what I am. Further, instead of seeking vengeance on you for calling me a cracker, perhaps I will return your hate with a hand and offer of help. “Obviously, you are not happy. Can I help?” Oh my! Character check time! That will separate the “talk about it”, from the “be about it” leaders. It will also show who is running your mind and your heart.

Back to the dreaded white boy…

I am trying to think of a time that I have said hurtful things to anyone. Sure, back when I was in grade school, I did stupid things and probably said something to hurt someone’s feelings on purpose. Why? Probably because I felt I needed to puff up and act all big and bad. Probably, I wasn’t very confident. Probably, there was a girl involved… BUT, as an adult, I am struggling to recall an instance where I was hurtful. I am certain that I haven’t oppressed, or belittled entire groups by attacking single representatives of any protected demographic group.

But, society wants me to feel as though I have. Today’s society wants the dreaded white boy to feel less-than or guilty ALL OF THE TIME. I must completely validate every thought, belief and position of every other protected demographic group or I am a/an ____ist. Funny, but it is almost as if the solution to “____ism” is to oppress me because people who look like me have done stupid things. Global solutions to individuals’ actions IS ALWAYS A REALLY GOOD IDEA!! That makes sense! (I am guilty of sarcasm) Let’s solve racism, sexism, genderism, ageism, toeism, treeism ismism by doing the exact same act that created some of the hurt to begin with. Vengeance is… whose? WAIT, can’t bring CHRISTIAN in the mix, because they hate homosexuals, right? We need to make sure we get rid of all those Christians!

I know, I have gone and tried to introduce logic to an emotional argument. I mentioned God a few times too. I will wait patiently for the Justice Department to show up. 😉 People don’t think anymore. Why? They don’t have to. Someone else will do it for them. Maybe, one day, some of those who have been taking a break from the difficult subjects and tasks will start to pay attention. Maybe then, they will realize that those wonderful “leaders” have been using them. Yes, you are being USED!! Evil people, calling themselves ‘leaders” of the political, religious, social and educational varieties are using people’s fears and hurts like weapons of mass social destruction against the differing cultural groups. Why? For selfish reasons of course, which usually involve money and power. BUT WAIT… this is coming from the dreaded white boy. I forgot, America has been well trained to not listen to me 🙂

— R. A. Grier

Hijacked! Who is flying and to where?

February 18, 2015

I will start off Socratic. Do you know many people under the age of 70 that care deeply about honor or character? Of the ones that do, I bet they are either military, or emergency services or closely associated to those groups. Do you know many folks who give and help people who are in need? Do you know many folks who will help someone and then run like hell from being acknowledged for the good deed or even thanked for it? Do you know many people in supervisory or entrepreneurial positions that are trying to teach, mentor and leverage other people to be able to take their place one day?

It really wasn’t that long ago that I felt good about America and was ok with the direction we were headed. Was it perfect? No. Was there crime, social/cultural deficits and things that needed serious attention from serious people? Yes. Of course we weren’t perfect, but I had the comfortable impression that we still wanted to be. Recently however, things got wrong… bad wrong. What changed? I frequently say out loud that things just don’t make sense anymore. Did America suddenly become stupid and evil? Did everybody, over the course of a generation, forget how to think, work and solve problems? Something in the water? Side effects of vaccinations?

My friends, we have been hijacked. What changed was the definition of America by the new people who were Peter Principled into power, shepherded behind the scenes by evil power brokers and opportunists. The road to ruin is paved with good intentions. Many years ago, people thought that by ensuring outcomes, you somehow embolden people to continue to try and compete. To make the “right” from the “wrong” of oppression, you simply give the oppressed everything. I really cannot fathom how this would work outside of academia and theoretical models. Anyway, we ran with it and we handed out a trophy to everybody on the field, the stands, and even a few folks that were at the ball field by accident. Sometime during the guilty confusion of the aftermath of the Women’s Rights movement, Civil Rights movement and follow-on bandwagon parades of “I got special rights too because I am ____”; we made demographic qualities into skill sets and qualifications for jobs and schools . “We need a Woman President.” Or “We must have a Black man in the White House.” Again, this practice of social promotion was certainly (is certainly) not exclusive to elective office. People have been hired and promoted based on nothing but the color of their skin, presence of body parts or their preferred gender identification – or more specifically the fear of being accused of NOT hiring those people because of their skin or body parts or self-identifications.

That method is not good. It is “short term pleasure – long term consequence” thinking. It is actually destroying the opportunities and benefits of America. Golly, say that out loud today and you are quickly demonized as sexist, racist, homophobic, religious nut or worse! There was a time, not that long ago, when you could argue, debate and attempt to reason with people regarding their choices and beliefs. Those days appear to be long gone. Somewhere along the way, we evolved into a culture that can’t even bring up problems, differences or ideologies. Now, you must attack, destroy, ridicule, defame, discredit, slander, lie or do “whatever it takes” in order to squelch any opposing ideas or thoughts. Who cares what damage is done in the process. Who cares about the collateral damage to truth, integrity and character? Methodology and tools for the battle??? Control the language and the definitions and you can control the story, and ergo the path. For quite a while, the definitions of things have been slowly changing. Quite recently, the definitions of more concepts like success, work, citizen, responsibility and so on have been altered too. Success now means that you get what you want, regardless of how. Work is for suckers. A citizen is anyone in a geographic location or anyone who wants to be. Responsibility is now a banned word and its meaning has changed to “bad”. Right and wrong are merely convenient descriptors, not constants such as breathing or gravity. In my lifetime, being unproductive and unmarried with children was discouraged. Now, creating children regardless of ability or intention to take care of them is closer to the norm. Soon, it will be the norm and therefore, no longer “wrong”. That is just one cultural example. Now, I had better not even cast a disapproving look toward this type of activity. I am wrong and I should feel about it.

Guilty for what? Whole sections of cultural corrective action plans are based on demonizing and destroying other groups. Concepts like “white privilege” and “micro aggressions” are working their way into the language of social, educational and business life. It seems that these groups must be validated to the point that they are protected like an endangered species. I cannot recall a time that I disenfranchised, mistreated or discriminated against someone based on their skin, body parts or self-identification. Yet, I am bombarded with attempts by some of these groups to embrace shame and blame to ensure they are on top of my group. When that doesn’t work, I am threatened with consequences from laws, and regulatory agencies to ensure I get in line… in the back of the line. AND SHUT UP!

Feel uneasy about reading this? Feel like telling me to put on the robe, drink he punch and start chanting with the rest of the zombies?

If not, then maybe you are able to think about this scenario. The pendulum of power shifts back and forth naturally. Having wealth and power is not bad, nor is being poor and without influence. What is a good model? Those with wealth and power give back and raise up those without, so that the culture and the Country is consistently in stable quality-conditioning and growth. Those with wealth and powerful ensure that the playing field has a “welcome” and “equal opportunity” signs on it. Those not on the field should want to be on the field and then practice hard for the game and listen carefully and respectfully to the coach. That is their job.

What about now? Nope. I am aware that I am writing cultural fiction tales with my panacea. Well, there was a time or two when it wasn’t fiction. No more. For far too long, we have allowed social construction using the methods of manipulated and artificial outcomes. The natural order has been disrupted. The class warfare has identified the enemies and the ignorant masses have had sides chosen for them. Those with power and influence have been demonized by those without. They protect themselves and their assets by encapsulating with CPAs, lawyers and gated communities. Then, you have the truly evil power brokers and opportunists lurking around elective offices. These folks are using the media to create, extinguish, incite and discourage… all so that their own power and influence is maintained. The truly desperate and those who are less fortunate are encouraged by the power brokers’ and their lackey politicians with speeches and promises, but all along are just used as fodder and pawns. They are taught to blame and despise those with wealth and power. The results are true oppression, learned helplessness, rage, and the establishment of geographic collectives of the disposable people.

Hold on, I have to make a brief stop at Analogical Story Land…

Years ago, I was working in a residential program that had about 175 or so clients on the property. I remember a conversation I had with a fellow employee one day while looking out over the property, watching the client mill about in the daily routine. At the time, there were maybe five employees present for the 175 clients. I remember telling my colleague that it was an amazing thing to see. If the 175 decided to organize, then they could EASILY take over the campus. Instead, the 175 were held in place, not by chains or barbed wire, but rather a perception of psychological boundaries. We treated them very well, provided for physical needs and beyond and we helped them grow. In return, they didn’t riot. Of course, it wasn’t utopia. They were growing pains and periodically, there were small insurrections led by those with a misguided power need. But, more often than not, those rebellions were quelled by their fellow residents who knew things were good and who also didn’t want any disruptions in “good”.

Back on the road…

In America, there are small numbers of truly evil and selfish people that are controlling the great masses. Again, just because you are wealthy and have a title, doesn’t mean that you are one of them. Also, just because you are without a lot of resources and have no title, doesn’t mean that you are evil either. We are being manipulated to think that though. Someone wants us to be separated, because United We Stand and divided, they prosper. Conspiracy? Maybe. However, this is how I see it playing out. The truly evil do not have honor, nor do they care about anything other than themselves. They will say and do whatever is helpful in perpetuating their prosperity. Once usefulness of the Country is used up, then they will move on. They will have ample assets, stolen from America and they will simply move to another geography. To this group, America is like toilet paper. Before it is used, it is quite valuable and can be a desperate possession. Once used…

I am no longer encouraged to be successful. While my intentions and goals are designed to build for myself family but also so that I may mentor others to do the same. I want to help others succeed, because that makes for better, happier, healthier, safer and more prosperous communities. Trickle up cultural economics says that my Country thrives and prospers as well. However, my goals, beliefs and values are no longer thought of as “good” or desirable. The power brokers of evil and opportunists only want me to succeed enough so that the fruits of my efforts can be distributed to those paralyzed by learned helplessness to keep them from rioting. Further, I no longer have a comfort of faith that the systems of justice are in place to make our Country better, safer and healthier. I have lost faith in the remaining Federal Government as I fear they are predominantly corrupted and controlled by the evil power brokers and opportunists. The last bastions of hope for a new Country are the States and local communities. Even with that hope, I fear that the States may have already mortgaged their 10^th Amendment souls.

Where are you going? Who is driving? Why? Folks, we don’t have many more mulligans left. You can only operate in fiction for so long before reality and the pesky constants of natural consequences show up. One day soon, the cost of all of the social construction and manipulations will come in the form of a devastating bill. I am not sure we can or have the wherewithal to pay it. Maybe it is time to choose a different path.

— R. A. Grier

November 3, 2014

Another stumble or another opportunity?

Just another day before another set of elections in America.

I am going to start and end my soliloquy on positive notes today. The positive about the pending elections tomorrow (using a weak car/engine analogy) is that after all the sugar and trash that has been dumped in the fuel, after all the inferior replacement & stolen parts and after all of the absolutely horrible maintenance and mechanical work – America is still the best running thing in the world. America is still the target for hate, because we are number one. America is still the most reviled nation in the world, due in part to our freedoms and our wealth. We are still the top dog in any fight, and everyone knows it. Despite enormous and prolonged efforts by Americans to destroy America, it is still great!

So, on this eve of another very important election cycle in America, I find myself melancholy and even somewhat depressed. I don’t think it is a secret that I am conservative in my political persuasions. You may be wondering a bit, given the polls’ foreshadowing of a GOP victory for the midterms, why I would feel down? The very simple answer is because I see the whole process as a farce. I am sad, because I see it all as nothing more than GREAT advertising to sell (long-term lease?) another “x” number of years of one of the many seats of power and responsibility in our Nation to small groups and individuals who have nothing but their own interest in mind. I see too many clowns in suits warming up for the opera. {think of a singer warming up} “Me, me me… what do you want to hear?”

There are some of these politicians that are spending MILLIONS of dollars on giant tubes of lipstick to rub on their records. Lies are presented as tasty points and counterpoints. Some are trying to be magicians with distractions and smoke and mirrors keeping your eye while they take your wallet and watch. Then there are the environmentalists telling about we must save the endangered Red Herring which are swimming under bridges to nowhere in Death Valley. If it weren’t real, it would make for the absolutely best and most entertaining reality show EVER! BUT, it is real and it makes me sad. I see all of this plastered on TV, radio and web. There is so much stuff about the candidates’ positions as all being, “for the people.” Then you get the straight up, LIE TO YOUR FACE politicians who tell us things like, “I have never fully supported the policies of the Administration…” Yeah, not “fully”, just 97% of the time. I am sad because America wants this. America seems to think this is what it should be.

I debate with myself quite often and wring my hands periodically, all while wondering if the People care about our Nation and elections. Voting turnout seems to get smaller and smaller while our population gets larger and larger. Campaign costs get larger and larger while the productivity of those elected gets smaller and smaller. How can the People not see?? Seems like they took the blindfold off of old lady justice and put it on the American Citizenry. How do I rip it off and put it back where it belongs?

Here are a few policy positions that I want us, as a Nation, to work on:

Foreign Policy & National Defense

Each American should be aware that there are those in the world and in our Nation that want to eliminate America. They want to keep the land, riches etc. They just want to eliminate the barriers like our Constitution and those willing to defend it. You can’t argue with a zealot bent on your destruction. Reason with the ones you can reason with. You must neutralize the rest.

Campaign Reform

Take monetary gain out of Public Service. Getting comfortable and getting rich is not a “public service.” The ones who pop up and scream loudest on this have failed the political Whac-A-Mole test. Beat them about the head and shoulders until they go down.

Education

Make schools a place where learning how to learn is the goal. Foundational educational skills ought to be the ability to read and do simple math. “Truth” is subjective. The ability to seek, sort, digest and discern is the power.

Further, not everyone needs to prepare to be a doctor.

Along those lines, not everyone who decided to not be a doctor at age 16 needs to be left out of the adult education process. Change your mind once you “matured” a bit? Go back to school and learn to earn whatever you want. Educational opportunities should be lifelong, not the mandates.

Not everyone is equal. However, everyone should have equal opportunity to gain, demonstrate and utilize their skills and abilities to provide for themselves. A degree does not make you educated. A diploma is a sheet of paper.

Economics & Social Policy

There are a million forms of “work”. There are so very few that absolutely cannot contribute. Ensure that those who cannot are provided for. Further, ensure that those who can are made to by the consequences of their own choices.

Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency or obligation on my part. The FEDGOV is not your mother. Go ask her for help. She won’t talk to you? Why? Go ask your neighbor. He won’t help you? Why? Go ask your church for help. Don’t have one? Why?

Artificial outcomes need to go away. Consequences are both good and bad and are dependent on the actions that precede them. Those actions are called choices.

Healthcare

If we sorted out the “Education”, “Economics” and “Social Policy” sections above this would not be a concern. I am conservative. I have been helping others for my entire professional life; very often at no cost to the people I helped. There are plenty of those out there that would do the same in medicine. Good gravy, get the FEDGOV out of any business other than providing for the common defense, and the other on the VERY LIMITED LIST in the Constitution.

Faith

Why reinvent the wheel? “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” – Ronald Reagan
So, just a few hours to go before the 2014 Midterm elections (plus many State and local elections.) What will happen? Will we put our blindfolds on and stumble in again to the polls grabbing for the lever? Or, will we seize on an opportunity that is afforded so few in this world and taken for granted – even ignored – by some many in this country?

But, as promised, I will end this on a positive note. It’s gonna be ok. I know it will be. Even though our families, schools, governments and nations all seem to be completely lost in the dark; it will be ok. Regardless of how the votes are cast, lost or forged tomorrow, it will be ok. Why? The schools are not our savior. My government is not my savior. My Nation is not my savior. AND my temporary existence on this wretched planet is just that… temporary. Eternity is a much longer time and it is in a place called Heaven.

— R. A. Grier

February 14, 2014

Raising Kids in an Underground America

Cultures change and that is a fact. Raising children must also change in order to meet the demands and expectations of the culture. Here is my fear. I will teach my kids to do their best. I will teach my kids to take responsibility for their choices. I will teach my kids to be frugal with their resources. I will teach my children not to lie, cheat or steal.

Then the culture decides that those values are not worth propping up anymore. The culture runs past the point of tolerance and embraces the new normative behaviors as “right” and “correct”. Outside of God’s authority, what else are mores or laws? They are the accepted practices of the culture and the punishments for violating the normative behaviors. The New World Culture deems my children and their antiquated choices as undesirable and even a threat to the correct way of life.

If my children live a life according to the values that I mentioned in the first paragraph above; the ones that that my wife and I are trying in earnest to instill, then… My children will live a life of pain, suffering, disappointment and of no value. If my children adopt the values and choices of the culture, then… they will be accepted, prosperous, comfortable and happy. They will be free and have friends and the liberty to roam the earth unfettered.

I have mentioned many times that America is no longer the America of the founders. Long gone are the days of the protestant work ethics and the merits of a disciplined relationship with God. Our culture just does not care. Today, the name of the game is hedonism and warming up for the opera in EVERY WAY and EVERY DAY. Me, me me…

Only fools and suckers try not to cheat. Heck, it isn’t even cheating because everybody is doing it. Only an idiot would worry about bills and working. Forget worrying about laws. Do what you please. Why on earth would you struggle for a moment with a moral dilemma? Shake off those antiquated beliefs and join the Eric Cartman for President bandwagon!!! Or should we pledge our support to Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho??? There are so many more qualified candidates now that nothing matters!!

And what about God? I am deeply concerned that I am doing my children a disservice by teaching them to work hard, save money and treat others with respect. I am deeply worried to teach them about the love of Christ and how they should show that love to other people who may not know Him. Learn, worship and share the gospel… That would mean a life of ridicule, isolation, pain, suffering and more than likely execution for their Christian crimes.

Or maybe I should teach them how to manipulate and hide and be covert in their beliefs? Teach them to be the ultimate chameleon. Play the “get ahead” game during the day and pray to God in silence and secret meeting places with the underground bands of other believers.

Why is it that academics are so vehemently opposed to plagiarism, but have no problem creating and maintaining a cultural system that steals the work of some and re-distributes it to other people? What is the difference between stealing work at the college level and stealing work in the corporate world through taxes?

Companies like Hobby Lobby are not permitted to “force their” beliefs on others. BUT, they had better swallow those beliefs when a protected/preferred class of people enter their presence. I may not offend someone of the protected/preferred class, but I had damned well better suck it up when they offend me. “They” are protected in their beliefs, while I must capitulate mine in order to accommodate them.

Racism, sexism (and others in the laundry list of federally protected classes) are vile processes that seek to disenfranchise a certain group of people. Our culture has responded and our leadership has repeatedly made it clear that it is unacceptable. We are so good at ensuring it is unacceptable that we are giving 110% effort in making sure those protected groups that were once oppressed are now better, more protected, more deserving and more apt to have beneficial outcomes. The corrective action cannot be the same behaviors that necessitated the need for the corrective action. Justice, especially social justice, will be the tool that creates the next civil war by slashing at the decency of man by seeking historical equality and reparation.

There is nothing wrong with wanting everyone to be happy, free to pursue dreams and unencumbered by inequality of opportunity. There is nothing wrong with ensuring a good life for those who CANNOT provide that for themselves. There is nothing wrong with helping people who find themselves in unforeseeable circumstances that limit their livelihood or threaten the union of their family. There is nothing wrong with allowing people to have beliefs, regardless of the fallacy of those beliefs.

Here is what is wrong with trying to MAKE all of those scenarios a reality. People. Each person has a different flavor preference. Each person has a different perception. Each person has a different ability. So in the attempts of extremely misguided social constructionists, we try to force every situation in order to achieve some artificial outcome. Somebody gets more than someone else or a different color lollypop and then the children start fighting. We make rules. We have lost the foundations of understanding and we have certainly lost the backbone to withstand more than a featherweight of pressure. We set the bar as low as possible for achievement, and we incessantly create artificial equalities of achievement. The effort is made, of course, to obtain advantage in order to ensure equal outcomes.

I am not the smartest person in the world. I am neither omnipotent nor am I omniscient. I do know a little about people and their behaviors. Pretend for a moment that we had the ability to eliminate EVERY asset and currency from EVERY person on the face of the earth. EVERYONE was suddenly equal. What would happen?

Some would steal.

Some would create.

Some would isolate.

Some would seek protections and strength of other in forming groups.

Some would get ahead

Some would not

Some would fall behind.

What would be the situation one hundred years after the start of that experiment? 500 years? 1000? 2000? Yes, we would be right where we are now. Some would steal, some would create…

So what do I teach my children? How do I tell them to accept and live out a life choosing that there are some things that are right because God said they will be right. Well, I guess I must go with what is most important. God must be above all. Hold on kids, it is going to be a rough ride.

— R. A. Grier

The Cognitive Restructuring of America

Or

Just Breathe

October 1, 2013

“Attitude reflects leadership” is a phrase I heard and learned while I was working with some amazing people as a contractor for the military. Our job was to affect change in the lives and the course of lives of young people. The youth that came to us were products of dysfunction, ignorance, avarice, hate, neglect and so much other evil. Those kids reflected the leadership they had received.

The foundation of America has been adjusted. Its focus is fuzzy. Its mission is 1000 points of light, but no one can find the switch. Its builders and future leaders are inhabitants that have little or no skin in the game and focus only on self. Hope and change are just vapid words sent out to distract the optimists a little while longer. Truth is relative and power is everything, whether you have it or not.

In headlines and blog posts and on TV and on radio; everyday, people ask, “What can we do?” Focus on what matters and what you can change. All too often in counseling, I am sitting in front of a client that is just overwhelmed by everything that has to be done, everything that wasn’t done and everything that was done wrong. Their focus becomes, “that which cannot be done” rather than the comforts of what is being done well. The resulting feelings are anxiety, anger and depression. Their system of thinking consumes the brain in an ever-increasing spiral of circular reasoning until something breaks. Call it depression, call it anxiety, call it a brief psychotic break – call it trying to control things you don’t have control over.

Inevitably, the client finishes telling me everything that is wrong and they stare at me. Most ask, “What do I do?” Often, they look at me funny when I ask them to breathe. One person even asked, “Why?” How far from the list of true priorities was he operating? My response was, “Because it is necessary for life. And if you do it right, it can help with happiness.”

We focus on what really doesn’t matter. We pour energy, effort, time and resources into projects that are contrived to be a cog in a machine of another project; neither of which serve any real benefit or purpose. When those contrived projects fail, we want it fixed. When it isn’t, we try harder and begin trading our happiness to get it fixed. We end up trying to fix everything, when in reality, we forget to maintain what we can.

I akin this process to that stage performance with the guy spinning plates on top of sticks. He starts out with one, then two, then more. Eventually the limit is ability to maintain is reach and plates start to wobble. The guy keeps on adding plates, runs faster, spins harder and then…. CRASH!!! One of the plates falls and gravity takes over on the rest of them when he stops trying. What plates are we trying to spin? Does that matter?

Recognizing limits of control and influence in your life is important. One of my personal happiness speed bumps are red traffic lights. I find myself uttering less than graceful words toward them when they illuminate in front of my path of purpose. I don’t think a single one of them has heard me yet. Like the person who asked why they should breathe, I think Americans (not the leeches or inhabitants) have forgotten what is truly important. We get angry. We are frustrated. We get sad. We get depressed. We get anxious and we ARE YELLING AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHTS! We are anxious about spinning, wobbly plates and saddened or angry when they fall.

What matters? You are more than likely a part of a family. You probably work. You are likely to be a member of a church. You are probably a parent, a sibling and definitely somebody’s child.

BUT THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY AND THEY WON’T LISTEN….

AND YOU ARE DESTROYING YOUR LIFE… will you listen?

There are only so many hours in a day and it is my understanding that time is a non-renewable resource. What did you ignore while you were frustrated at DC? Who did you ignore? What work function didn’t get done in that 15 minutes? What “Love!” text was postponed while you tweeted to the world your opinion of the level of stupidity of those people?

What were the secondary or tertiary costs of your choices? Relationships suffer. Work slows down. Churches are ignored or used as meeting places for gossip and political rhetoric. Marriages struggle. Children are ignored. You are sad, distraught and angry. The only Happiness, joy, comfort or hope you find is in Hallmark cards.

So I tell you all, “Just breathe.” Remember that most of the chaos is happening in the six inches of the world that you have the most control over – between your left and right ear. Breathe.

After you get a handle on that task, perhaps you can take a look at your priority list. Hand it to your spouse, your boss, your pastor or your child. Ask them what is important on the list. Adjust. Breathe.

Hold out your hands and see that your influence limit is more than likely at the tips of your fingers. Breathe.

Introduce yourself to and then solidify your relationship with God as his child. Upon that foundation and through Him all that matters can be built. A Country is a collective effort of society. Societies come from communities. Communities are formed by groups of families. Decide where your influence and control truly is and exercise that influence. Choose to lead your life. Choose to lead your family. Finding success there will assuredly bring you peace. Feed and nurture what you want to live. Don’t forget to breathe, it is important to life and happiness.

— R. A. Grier

Easily Offended

08-25-2013

My favorite group (my sarcasm here will certainly offend somebody) is the easily offended. My Lord! Our policies in this Country were supposedly designed to protect folks. Well, those policies have created SO MANY whiny, weak, ignorant, entitled, pampered, protected, petulant CHILDREN who go crying to their mommy (or Uncle in our case) at the slightest PERCEIVED injustice!!!! Folks, if you are one of those who “suffer” from that sort of thing, I will tell you that you will make an easy target when things do get rough. Grow up, stand up, and focus on things that matter! Oh, I forgot! You DON’T HAVE TO!!!! Your Uncle will make sure of that. Just keep calling him Uncle!!!

So, where did all this come from? I point the finger again at social construction. In humans, power and protection by proxy is natural… as long as you are six years old. Parents are supposed to defend their children and beat back the attackers to ensure survival. I think I have seen this same sort of thing played out on National Geographic too. The difference seems to be the continued prolonging (remain on parents’ insurance until 26?) of adulthood. You never have to grow up! Boy, it sure would be nice if the world were really Never Land and no one had to grow up. I would enjoy frolicking and flying about, without a care in the world. However, this seems to be reserved for only a few; well maybe a few million and counting.

The real world consequences for raising generation after generation of Peter Pans is that America is not Never Land. There are people who work, build, teach and grow families with the goal of creating a legacy of name and fulfillment for the next generation. The Peter Pans are beginning to outnumber the producers. Again, that would be fine, except for the fact that there is no magical pot of gold anywhere.

In times past, what would happen if you did not work? What would happen if you purchased something on your word or credit and you could not pay? What would happen if you chose a life of immoral depravity? What would have happened if you chose these sorts of things fifty or a hundred years ago? What has changed?

Today, and in the recent decades of memory, our culture and government have made every effort to ensure there are no consequences for choices. In many cases, the policies have ensured that there are no real choices to make. I have heard many explanations for this. Some include that certain people were oppressed. Others were victims of greedy big business tactics. Even more were victims of discrimination of varying types.

I have the right of life, liberty and to pursue happiness. I do not deserve an outcome. I do not get a free pass because I have been passed over in jobs for the purpose of selecting a quota candidate. Nor do I want employment or promotion because of my demographic descriptors. I do not have the freedom to demand everything be to my liking. I am not equal in skill, ability and education to everyone else.

AND, I am American counter-culture. America culture supports that removal of consequences and discomforts. American culture celebrates and ensures success and opportunity for some while denying equality for others all in the name of correcting issues of equality in the past. American culture seeks to ensure outcomes, no matter how they come about. American culture has blown past ensuring equal opportunity in jobs and schools by making neither necessary through lifelong entitlement programs.

BUT, we are helping people…

No, you are celebrating short-term pleasure while ignoring the blaring long-term consequences. Of course people will take the easy path. Of course people will take handouts, jobs they don’t qualify for and rewards for actions never taken. OF COURSE! It is in us to want the comfortable and easy and fun and irresponsible. YES WE CAN!!! We absolutely can! Recent American culture is making every effort to change the realities of “human physics” and then ignoring what will not change!! The same derailed culture then acts baffled. The cognitively neutered inhabitants are left wondering why people are acting like a/immoral soulless, sociopathic animals. You made them. You encouraged that. You begged for this.

The party will end. The bill and bone collectors will come calling. A nation will not survive with just inhabitants that are ignorant, absent and incompetent. A nation will fold under the weight of debt designated to falsely prop up myths. A nation will surrender to invaders when its citizenry has never even had to fight to make a budget, much less for unlearned concepts like honor, dignity, and freedom.

However, I doubt seriously that this will reach anyone other than the “choir”. The foxes are running the hen houses. The thieves are manning the cash registers. The foolishly ignorant are standing at the podiums and chalkboards. The family has sold their children as cultural slaves in order to avoid discomfort or inconvenience I their lives. The churches have traded the blood of the savior for the Kool-Aid of the Uncle.

So go ahead and keep trying to take my life, liberty and the opportunity for me to pursue happiness. Keep stripping away the layers of protection. Go ahead and sell out to the bullies of the new culture. Pawn our future in order to pay for our short-sighted and stupid choices of yesterday. Keep threatening the future of my children. Shun, denounce and throw away God so that you have absolutely no worries about guilt or shame or future consequence for your flesh driven evil choices! No, I am not easily offended. Instead I am properly prepared and equally determined to do what is necessary to ensure the proper future for me and my family. I am not offended. I am ready.

— R. A. Grier

Whose side are you on?

August 22, 2013

I really don’t have the desire to correct “stupid” anymore. There was a point in history where I would hear or read some re-re-re-(ad nauseam)-gurgitated “truth” or “fact” and get fired up; ready to right the wrong! There are SO many now. You really shouldn’t argue with drunks, zealots or stupid people. It is pointless unless you are just bored, need some entertainment and have a lot of time to kill.

Folks don’t bother to check the facts or even consider that the information being presented is just smoke & mirrors intended to distract. I talk about Red Herring and people start looking for bait and tackle in my hands. Too many generations have lined up to be cognitively neutered and stripped of any semblance of or compunction to exercise any level of critical thinking. All under the glorious flag of “progress”. Keep watching your favorite “news” show and listening to that radio host!! Certainly they have your best interest in mind!! Certainly!

How is all that “progress” going? The world should be perfect by now… right? Not so much. Forever, the politicos have told us, “We have regulated the bad guys!” How is that going? “We have declared a war on drugs!” How is that going? “We have been fighting poverty for decades!” How is that going? “We have spent trillions on education!” How is that going? BUT, you listen to that tasty BS gravy when the next candidate promises to make everything better than the last guy! By the way, how has that gone?

Wow, what an opportunity we were given! A few hundred years ago, we had a nation that was vast, filled with natural resources and led by a common goal and Spirit. Those new Americans struggled, fought and built their Country. Soon, those qualities and efforts yielded the strongest nation in the world. Very soon after that we have a shell of a Union, inhabited by so many that don’t know and don’t care. My, how far we have come! If you care to look for an answer for the downfall, I suggest you ask a simple question, “What changed?”

It seems that right wing folks forget that there are people out there who actually need help and are actually trying to do better for themselves, their families and their Country. Right wing folks don’t bat an eyelash when giving out huge bonuses to top level employees that emboldened the bottom line by eliminating lots of hourly employees. Right wing folks tend to want to run the world according to what they think should happen and are fine as long as no one disagrees; then they send in the soldiers to die for something that really doesn’t matter, all in the name of honor, duty and service to their Country.

It seems that left leaners are all squishy over protecting the endangered spotted dust mite (or something equally spotted and endangered) but have no desire to save an endangered country by saving the endangered logical thinkers. No, they will gladly run them over with inane regulation, policy and then back the bus up for another pass over the body. Left leaners tend to want to “just even the playing field” by evening everyone’s bank account. Well, devalue the dollar, deposit a million “whatevers” of the new currency in each single person’s account in the country and in ten years some will have more than others. Left leaners want to make the government the almighty. Well, that is just wrong.

You have to make choices. Every one of them matters! It may be something quite simple such as which milk to buy and where to buy it. It may much more difficult such as whether or not to end a life at a clinic that champions women’s health. Just know that no matter how great, how small, how many or how few of these decisions you make or avoid making; there is a consequence. Those of you enjoying the spoils of whatever side is currently winning will most certainly wail when your side comes up short on the power scale. Culture drives the hedonism that dictates the “get what you can, while you can” mentality. People getting the bonuses don’t care as long as there is another bonus. People getting entitled don’t care as long as they are still entitled. Those who hide their heads in the sand will feel so violated and victimized when their heads are snatched from the sand and they are enslaved by the new regime.

Be happy you are winning. Your side is in power and they are making all the bad stuff go away and they are making your side comfortable!

Be incensed that you are being ruled by those who don’t understand. Your side is in the minority so you must yell, scream, write letters, plot, scheme and whatever else it takes to get back on top!

Be turned off by it all because it’s just too difficult to sort it all out. They are all idiots and corrupt and too stupid to change and you are just one insignificant person. Give up and turn Oprah on or flip the channel to Honey Boo Boo.

Any of those is fine, because I fear it doesn’t really matter at this point what you do. I fear that particular ship of opportunity has sailed.

What can come of this? Most assuredly, there will be another civil-type war on American soil. Rational thought is in such short supply now. When you add the constraint of time and the very real danger of war; there will be no stopping bloodshed. Many will die and many more will be scarred in some form or fashion. Some of the non-flesh scars will look like vehement segregation from those unlike themselves. Of course, there will be some segregation along color or ethnic lines, but I believe that the next civil war will create lasting divisions along cultural, religious and class lines. If you are smart perhaps you can begin to choose whose side you are on!

— R. A. Grier

We Should All Lose the Race

07-14-2013

RE: Zimmerman trial and verdict –

There are many things that echo the abysmal state of the Union and culture of America today. The case du jour is the killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. What was Trayvon doing there? Why was Zimmerman seemingly so ready for this conflict?

My stance is probably different from most on this case. I freely admit that I was not a witness, nor was I a juror in the courtroom. My responses are purely speculation and opinion.

What did Trayvon do to deserve to die? Was he simply in a neighborhood that, “he didn’t belong”? Mr. Zimmerman was looking for this fight and his verdict will solidify his justification for doing so.

When the two got together, there was no rational thought or action, because both had something to prove; especially when the situation yelled, “I triple dog dare you!!!!”

Life can be very simple. Trayvon should not have been in that neighborhood. While he had a right to walk down the sidewalk, he knew that he was ruffling feathers. He wanted that. Regardless, he should not have been killed for being where he did not have business.

What was Trayvon’s crime? Being black in a neighborhood of elites? A neighborhood of “not black”? What was so special about this neighborhood that justified killing someone?? How many thousands walk by the front of the Whitehouse every day? I cannot imagine a more important home.

George Zimmerman has been planning this event in his imagination for quite a while. He would be the Knight in Shining Armor, driving back the hordes of “unwanted”.

Now for the twist…

This is just another fanning of the flames by everyone caught up in their own cultural identity and the burning of another inch of the fuse, on its way to the TNT of Cultural Revolution in the USA. We all have been striking matches and dowsing the fuse with gasoline for decades. Unfortunately, both (all three, all twenty) sides are so caught up in their own ethnocentristic BS that they are blinded to anything that even smell like truth. Each of the fevered fighters have so little inside that they MUST CONTROL EVERYTHING OUTSIDE in order to feel comfortable.

If all you have is your color or ethnic heritage, then you ARE LOST!!! You are also doomed.

If all you rely on are the laws and mores of society, then YOU ARE LOST and equally DOOMED!

Trayvon and Zimmerman gave us an opportunity to do better. They gave us an opportunity to reach outside of our comfortable worlds. They each gave us an opportunity to grow. America has seemingly chosen not to take advantage of any of those opportunities. Instead, we chose to increase our gate while running down the path of destruction.

You will find what you look for. You will live in your own reality. Red pill or blue pill; it doesn’t matter. God gave us a rulebook and a map for life. Justify what you wish and minimize your action to any degree you deem necessary in order to sleep. Act outside God’s path and you are striking matches and pouring gasoline. Enjoy the consequences of your actions.

— R. A. Grier

More words, fewer answers & greater danger

April 19, 2013

A few days ago, two brothers of Chechen heritage deposited and exploded IED’s at the Boston Marathon. I am just guessing here, but I would bet that they knew, wanted and planned almost every aspect of what has happened so far. I didn’t see them do it, nor did I hear them plan it. However, all signs point toward “yes” on the Magic 8 Ball.

Since the explosions, as I usually do, I have thought. What would enable a person to do something like that? The quick answers aren’t the correct ones. We would like to label it and tuck it away rapidly so we don’t have to look at it very long as that is uncomfortable. They must have been mentally ill. They must be some wacko’s, corrupted, NO brainwashed by some radicalized version of a religion. No.

IED’s are a cheap weapon of fear and terror. It isn’t a soldier coming at you with a rifled weapon. It is a bag on the street or the bus that is all alone. It is a trashcan that wasn’t there yesterday. It is a child’s toy left in a park. It is a tool designed to kill and do far more psychological damage to many, many hundreds of thousands who weren’t even in the same time zone. It is a tool of psychological compliance.

The faces of the two brothers are the faces of the new soldiers in the new war. They seek to destroy anything and anyone not like them. Why bother wasting time trying to convert or reason with someone when you can just eliminate them or terrorize them into insignificance. A while back in another war, Britain was disgusted at the cowardly and unprofessional tactics of their enemy at the time. The Americans didn’t line up and march toward the British during battle. The Americans hid and ambushed the regal British gentlemen as they marched by. We ought not to be too wrapped up in conventional means if we are to effectively address these news soldiers.

AND THAT is where I begin to scare myself with the options going forward. Are we to encapsulate our people with laws, boundaries and extreme loss of liberty in the name of providing safety? Or do we carry the fight to the ideology and areas of the world that grow it. Doing nothing is an act. I bet some hunters love it when their prey freezes when scared. It makes for a much easier target to hit.

I will not tolerate my FEDGOV putting me in a prison in my own land, regardless of how big the cell is and how many comforts are in it. I say we take the fight to them! Hoo-rah, hooah, aim high and go navy – It isn’t going to happen. We are going to play nice and see if we can coax them into playing nice. They don’t hate us. They are just hungry. They don’t really want to kill us. They are just desperate for a better outlook in life. They certainly aren’t trying to eliminate us form the face of the earth. They just want to be treated equally, fair, with tolerance and inclusion through multicultural acceptance. Yeah. That’s it.

— R. A. Grier