Some really important things to talk about...

I've been writing this blog now, off and on, for several years now. In spite of being a novelist, I write action thriller stories, when I sit down to write this blog my interests turn to the political scene in the U.S. I write about my observations, opinions, and just my general take on things going on in the world of politics. After all, this is pretty important stuff.
Now and then I'll indulge in Facebook. I think it's pretty cool to catch up with friends from the past that I haven't heard from for a long time and to keep touch with good friends that I don't get to see much anymore. But Facebook is, just well, Facebook. It's the small talk of life that just happens to take place on the internet.
Until recently that is.  I have a good friend that I know from high school that a couple of months ago started some posts on Facebook. He has been posting about his father's wartime experiences during World War II in the Pacific. These are not ordinary posts about ordinary experiences. He was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese and was held with thousands of other servicemen for years under the most cruel and horrible conditions imaginable. What he endured and experienced was so far from our ordinary lives it's difficult to comprehend the depth of the atrocities. Yet at the same time it is so well written and the story is told so well that you cant help but feel involved. You cannot help but feel indebted to this man and his comrades, all of whom suffered terribly and many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. This is one of the best examples of a beautiful story about a horrible chapter in history of what some great men, American men have done so that we can live free. We must not and cannot ever take this for granted and this story clearly shows us why.
The true irony comes in that this is not some unknown writer recounting historical events. This is a friend, that I know well, writing about his dad. I've known this friend for a pretty long time but I never knew he was a writer. Not just a writer but a pretty darn good one at that. Up till now his story has come in posts on Facebook. Due to the impact of his story and the quality with which it is written I've encouraged him to start his own blog. He could reach a lot more people who, like me I'm sure would be grateful to share this fascinating story.
If ever in my life I've read a story about heroes, real, true heroes, it's your story Jimmie of your Dad and his fellow soldiers.
Until his blog is published, please go to Facebook and search for Jimmie Brock. Read this story about American Heroes, his father, and leave a message and let him know what you think. For those of you from Alvin, you may know him as well. Thanks for sharing your story, Jimmie. And for your friendship.

Skipping the Inauguration?

I wouldn't recommend it if you're a member of Congress. If you're an entertainer, knock yourself out. Bottom line is no one cares or will remember that you skipped it anyway. All you little pretty faces whose mugs have been on the news lately regarding your decision to not attend the inauguration, we.dont.care. Stay home, smoke crack or whatever you do, don't go. All you people who get on Facebook or attend rallies and carry placards saying "Not my President", yeah, it's a free country and you have a right to say whatever you want. But, you also have a responsibility as an American to respect the rule of law. I know this is going to hurt some of your ears but Trump won the election. And according to the law he will become the next President. So you don't like his politics, you don't like his personality, you think he's weird, whatever it is you don't like, get the f*** over it.
You know, eight years ago when Obama was elected most conservatives had the same 'oh crap' feelings you're having. But we lived with it for eight years. And I have news for you, you're going to live with it too.
These issues go a little deeper than this though. As I said, this is a free country and we all have the right to express our opinion. But not one single person has the right to disrespect the rule of law or to refuse to follow it. The recent report of Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem was a show of his opinion that the treatment of blacks was oppressive and discriminatory. But expressing that opinion by being disrespectful of a tradition that honors our country was petulant and dishonorable. If you have an opinion and you feel strongly about it do you want to express it by being petulant and dishonorable? I don't and I doubt most people do.
If you are a congressperson and you don't accept Trump's presidency as 'legitimate' then you have no business being a congressperson. You have a responsibility to this nation and the people you represent. And that does not include promoting separatism. Obama spent eight years creating and promoting divisiveness and racial discord. We all thought a black man could and indeed would improve race relations like no one before him could. We were wrong. He not only didn't improve them he created the biggest chasm in race relations that we've had in this country since the civil war.
And for you, Mr. Obama, to refuse to support and stand behind your successor is nothing short of un-American yet it is consistent with your behavior of leaving dissent in your wake. Since the day you came to office whenever a situation arose that was not to your liking and you did not possess the intelligence or power to change it you simply created dissent between the parties involved. Period.
The one thing, most important thing that you were short of, devoid of, Mr. President, was humility. Which in that position with the power and responsibility to influence so many lives, was unforgiveable...