Make-A-Statement Commentary Blog

While drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, I scanned the headlines to find that Israel has launched an attack against the Hamas militants who have fired more than 300 rockets into Israel this past week.  As expected, the world media is condemning Israels actions as unjust.

Give me a break folks!  If you attack me, I am going to counter your attack regardless of who you are or think you are. In the same manor, I believe that Israel is justified in its use of force to protect its citizens.  In fact, I think they should adopt Ronald Reagan's philosophy on war and that is: "WE WIN, YOU LOOSE"  This whole "Proportional Response" line of thought is highly immoral and the only outcome is a prolonged conflict with many more casualties than would have occurred with an outright full scale attack similar to the Allied bombardment of Berlin during World War II. The purpose of an all out assault is to bring your enemy to its knees and break its will to fight, this is the only thing these people will understand. Destroy their weapons and soldiers until the only thing they have to fight with are sticks and stones.

It is tragic when civilians are caught in the crossfire but when the cowardly dogs hide under the children and use them for shields, there is no alternative.  If these Radical Islamic Zealots are so eager to meet their Allah then I say arrange the meeting!

 

Posted by hillpehle at 07:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In my younger days, I was often compared in looks to Alan Ladd. Then it was Robert Wagner….then Tim Conway. Last week it was Burl Ives. This is the end of the road for me. 2009 is going to be the new year for me. I am committed to losing weight and getting into better shape. Burl Ives , indeed! The person telling me this had to be at least eighty years old…perhaps his eyesight was failing. Who knows, but I can’t take a chance.

My last three columns have been written about bad things that have happened in this country and I promised to write something positive before Christmas, so here it is.

Last week a friend of mine had to opt out of playing Santa at a local church so he conned me into going in his place. Having the vision of Burl Ives freshly planted in my head, I decided to accept, knowing that this is the last year I would be able to play the part without extra padding. My golden retriever was very surprised to see me in a Santa suit. I think it dawned on her who I was and that she might get her wish for thumbs or a can opener.

 The church had no instructions, no training manual, no list of do’s and don’ts…just show up, be nice and it will all work out.


I was somewhat apprehensive at my lack of training for this position. Several people warned me that my attitude and my performance would impress these children for years to come. In other words, don’t screw this up or some kid will have to go to years of therapy because of me. My mind is telling me this might not be good.

I arrived at the church about fifteen minutes early and waited in the car for the noon hour to arrive. I wanted to go in on time since that was about the only instruction I received.  I arrived in the lobby just as about two hundred little, very little… kids were filing into the sanctuary. All of them staring and waving at someone.

Then I realized it was me.

Showtime.

One of the ladies came over to me and told me to just sit in a big chair, hand out candy canes, let the kids sit on my lap or wherever and let their parents take their pictures. No big deal, she was sure I could do it. The room was hot and I was hotter in this velour suit. My glasses kept fogging up, so I took them off and sat down and told myself that anyone who has been in the Army, and a cop and has been in God knows how many fights and shot at can handle a bunch of two, three and four year olds.

Let me tell you this. It was a hoot. I had so much fun I am determined to let my beard grow full next year and do it again. I laughed until I cried at some of these children. Their personalities are so evident even at this early age. Some held back while others ran to jump in my lap and talk. One little girl told me she had food for my reindeer in her backpack. I told one of the little boys to be sure and set out some milk and cookies for me on Christmas Eve. He looked at me and said... “We did that last year, and you didn’t drink all of the milk and the cookies got hard and we had to throw them away.” I promised I would do better this time.

There were many requests for puppies, but I kind of reneged on promising them that they were a sure thing. I just told them we would have to see if we had enough this year. Let Mom and Dad handle that one.

I asked another little girl what she wanted and she did not hesitate to tell me… “A baby sister”. I told her mother what she had said and the mother advised that was one request that wasn’t going to be answered anytime soon.

The best one was a precious little girl with a sheet of paper with cutouts of all of her toys that she wanted to tell me about. On her way out, I asked if she wanted to give the sheet to me to take back to the North Pole and she told me…. “No, I think I’ll keep it.” No fool there.

I only managed to make four or five cry and these were very young…so I didn’t feel too bad. I don’t think they had a clue as to what was going on.

It was a wonderful day. It renewed my faith in the human race once more and makes me want to try harder to make a difference in this world while I have time. God Bless you all….hug those children, call someone and tell them that you love them and be good….Santa is watching.

Merry Christmas to all…

Comments go to www.pearyperry.com

Posted by hillpehle at 08:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What Happened to America? (Part Two)

Last week, I wrote a column about a nineteen year old boy in Florida who committed suicide on the internet and only one of the thousands who were watching this take place bothered to call the police. Oh, and did I mention that the young man posted his name and address? What a shame.

This week I wanted to write something about the upcoming holiday season and try to be in a more upbeat festive mood, but things just keep getting in my way. I really did have good intentions.

So what am I going to discuss this week?

Holiday shopping at its worst.

The day after Thanksgiving, up in someplace called Valley Stream, New York a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by the crowds rushing in to buy their on sale Christmas items. The police had been called to the store at 3:30 in the morning to help with crowd control. By 5:30 am the crowd was out of control and had become what one observer called a ‘rabble’. Wal-Mart workers tried to calm the crowd down but had no success. The glass to the doors shattered from the force of the 2,000 customers and as the mob made its way into the building, one 34 year old Wal-Mart worker was crushed to death as the ‘holiday’ crowd rushed over him.

Four other people, including one pregnant woman were injured and taken to a local hospital.

No wonder other parts of the world have a low opinion of our country.


I’ve read reports where people in some parts of the world are living on less than a dollar a day. What do you think goes on in their minds when they read that Americans are stampeding over each other to buy flat screen televisions and other Christmas presents while they were on sale. The people in other countries are fighting over each other for food and a chance to survive, not game boys, cd’s, tank tops and tennis shoes.

To add insult to injury, when the police arrived and wanted to close the store since it was a crime scene, many of the customers refused to leave and told the officers they weren’t going until they had finished shopping because they stood in line for so long and didn’t think it was fair to make them leave.

I’ll bet the dead guy didn’t think it was fair either.

I have been fortunate to have never been in a crowd as wild as this appeared to be, but I can tell you that if I were to enter a store or anywhere else for that matter and felt myself walking over a body, I do believe I would be aware of it and would want to either help or get some help for whoever was laying on the ground. How could you not notice that you were or had been stepping on another human body?

Are Christmas gifts so important that people need to wait outside of some building for hours on end and then participate in the unnecessary murder of a store worker? I don’t know about you, but if I had been there, I think I would have wanted to go on home and call it a day and forget the shopping until some other time. No gift I have ever bought is worth someone’s life.

Come to think of it, the best gifts I have even been given have been simple, even homemade, not some expensive do-dad that was the hottest thing on the market that year.

Perhaps we need to step back and look at the real reason we even celebrate this time of the year. It isn’t about the gifts or what they mean, it’s about relationships. It’s telling our friends and family that we are thinking of them and that we love them. Why do we send Christmas cards in the first place? Because it’s simply to let people know that even though we haven’t talked to them for a year or so, we still consider them to be our friends.

It certainly isn’t about a gift on sale at some store where you have to stand in line for hours and then some poor unsuspecting clerk gets killed while trying to do his job. The people who find nothing wrong with their behavior should not be called shoppers, they should be called savages.

 They don’t deserve Christmas.

Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com

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Well America, YOU ASKED FOR IT!

Bailout, Bailout, and more Bailouts! Insurence, Banking, and now Auto Manufactures all in our governments hands.  Now doesn't that inspire HOPE! oh yes, CHANGE too!

In the words of Thomas Jefferson in 1802:

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

Sleep Well,

David Hill

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I don’t know about you, but I’m not happy with the way things went during this election.  And on that I’m not just referring to the results but also many of candidates running for the various offices. 

            Here, on the county level, it was better.  Most of those running for office were no more or less than they portrayed themselves to be.  A few of them you could just meet and know, without a doubt in your mind, how much this county and the people within it mean to them—men like Ray Nutt and Scott McKee who will, I honestly believe, as Sheriff and District Attorney, do much to make this county a safer place to live.

However on the state and national level, many of the candidates running were less than satisfactory in my opinion.  We don’t need any more politicians who are working for the special interest groups, the big corporations, the drug companies, foreign oil (or any foreign interests for that matter), or for anyone other than we, the people.  We need more people like Congressman Louie Gohmert, Congressman Leo Berman, Congressman Duncan Hunter, and our own Congressman Jeb Hensarling.  We don’t need anymore candidates to seek to be elected out of their desire for the perks and power, with the only campaign promises they intend to fulfill being the ones made behind closed doors to their biggest supporters and special interest groups. 

What we need to do is demand that our elected officials do the job we hired them to do.  We need to demand that the candidates chosen to run are worthy of the position they are seeking rather than simply continuing to hold our nose while we vote. 

Our votes are more valuable than that.  Our votes are what decide the kind of country we leave our children and grandchildren.  And I, for one, want the best for my children and grandchildren as I’m sure you do as well.

How do we do this?  We watch what our elected officials are doing, closely.  We let them know what we want them to do.  We seek out people of honor and integrity to run for office and help them get in office.  Then we pray: for without God we have no hope of maintaining the United States as the greatest nation in the world, nor Texas as the greatest state in the nation.

 

 

This is Melissa Pehle-Hill writing for make-a-statement.org.  Thank you and have a nice day.

Posted by hillpehle at 11:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For Immediate Release: December 3, 2008               Contact: Cindy Mallette, (512) 476-5905

 

Governors Just Say “No!” To State Bailouts

 

Americans For Prosperity Supports Texas and South Carolina Governors For Defending Taxpayers In Bailout Vote

 

AUSTIN─ In a political culture that rewards fiscal irresponsibility, Americans for Prosperity-Texas praises Texas Gov. Rick Perry and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford for standing for taxpayers and opposing federal bailouts for state governments.

 

“Americans for Prosperity is grateful for these leaders taking a strong stand against state bailouts,” said Peggy Venable, AFP-Texas state director. “It is shocking that federal tax dollars from Texans could be directed to states facing bankruptcy because of their own irresponsible fiscal policies.”

 

“ Texas leaders have exercised fiscal responsibility,” said Venable, “and we are entering this coming session with an $11 billion budget surplus thanks to taxpayer and job-friendly  government policies.”

 

“Texans should not be expected to send their tax dollars to any other state, let alone one that continuously hurts its own economy through heavy taxation and irresponsible spending practices,” Venable said.  “Government bailouts and irresponsible government spending are leaving our children a legacy of debt.”

 

AFP encourages other state leaders to promote the free-market principles that have paid off for Texas as our economy is growing faster than any other in the country. 

 

According to Comptroller Susan Combs, “ Texas continues to fare better economically than most other states. The Texas economy, the world’s 12th-largest, continues to grow and is unlikely to slip into recession. In fiscal 2008, Texas ’ gross state product grew by 4.2 percent, versus 1.9 percent for the national economy.”    

 

AFP attributes that economic growth to a limited state government, lower taxes and civil justice reforms that welcome business and investment to Texas .

 

“States need to learn that huge spending increases during good economic times lead to budget crises when the economy weakens.  States need to exercise fiscal restraint during the boom years, as Texas did, to prevent this harmful cycle.” Venable said.  “Federal bailouts force all taxpayers—including Texans whose state government acted responsibly—to pick up the tab while state legislators avoid learning this important lesson.”

 

#  #  #

 

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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Hello again from the West Texas Anti-Global Gun Clinging Supporters Of Jingoism.
 
This past week my old friend and ex-partner Peary Perry, who presently resides in the "People's Republic of Austin", wrote an article which pointed out just how sick our society has become.  He was specifically referring to the young man, 19 years old, who committed suicide over the Internet while many sat idly by and watched this occurrence. The police in that jurisdiction reported that only ONE person called them to report the incident.  People who watched this incident had various responses ranging from "I thought it was a joke" to "All you are doing is looking".
 
Apparently this attitude prevails in many parts of our great country.   I am proud to say that it is not a practice which is nationwide BUT it will get that way if we sit around and do nothing to change this attitude.  Of course if this had cost many of those onlookers money out of their own pocket, perhaps they would have viewed it a bit different.  A sad commentary of our times.
 
NEWS  COVERAGE:
 
I don't know about the rest of you but I am growing a bit weary of the constant reporting of Plaxico Burress and his problems with the law.  Every thirty minutes or so, it seems like we are subjected to the same film clip of Plaxico exiting the Police Station.  Then one of the news channels felt it necessary to begin to ask this probing question:  "Should professional athletes be allowed to carry handguns?"  Now this might not seem like much to some of you but I can almost guarantee that this is another attempt to erode our Second Amendment rights.  The anti-gun group will use any occurrence to further their cause.  We have all received messages and read about legislation in the works to regulate all firearms ammunition.  Not necessarily to block the sale BUT to make it so restrictive that the cost of already expensive ammunition would skyrocket to an unrealistic figure.
 

And here is my opinion on the matter.  If a professional athlete or for that matter an amateur athlete or a plumber or a salesman or an oil field worker or for that matter ANY OTHER law abiding American wishes to purchase a firearm and if their state laws provide for a concealed carry permit, that person should be able to purchase, possess, carry, and if necessary USE said firearm in protecting their families or others.  Recently here in San Angelo a man answered his door and had the touch put on him for a donation.  When he refused the assailant pulled a handgun and forced the man into his house where he proceeded to go into their bedroom where the man's wife was in bed and rob them of cash and some of their valuables.  Now I am not suggesting that you should answer your door armed with a handgun but this criminal had to turn his back to leave.  This could have given an armed citizen an opportunity to perhaps retaliate in kind.  It is this simple:  An armed criminal will shoot you to obtain what you have.  Doesn't seem sort of fair that you should be able to use deadly force to protect your life and property?
 
Now don't get me wrong, I have no idea why Plaxico Burress had a handgun with him inside a New York night club and I would have to chalk it up to at least minor stupidity him shooting himself but just because he was a professional athlete should NOT make him ineligible to own a firearm.
 
SUV:
 
I was listening to a news report a couple of days back where the newscaster reported that an SUV had crashed through a wall into someone's bedroom.  I have been paying attention for a good while to reports of motor vehicle accidents or other criminal acts in which a motor vehicle was used to either commit the crime or provide escape from a crime.  Isn't it funny that ONLY an SUV (now for those of you residing in the Freedom Loving Workers Province of San Francisco this would be an acronym for Sports Utility Vehicle) is singled out in these reports.  I suppose if a hybrid vehicle of some sort was involved it would not be as graphic or serious as an SUV.   I guess had it been a Honda Accord it would not have been newsworthy> Ah, but it was an evil SUV.  Once again the liberal media and the liberals/socialists do not want the behavior of the driver questioned, merely the type of vehicle and then ONLY if it is the dreaded SUV.
 
KEYNES  AT  HARVARD - Published 1960:
 
**Almost the entire membership identified as belonging to the first Ware cell(Soviet spy ring) came out of the Harvard Law School:  Alger Hiss, Nathan Witt,  Lee Pressman,  John Abt and Henry H. Collins Jr.  Harry Dexter White and Lauchlin Currie were Economics Teachers  as well as students at Harvard.
 
The clever artifice of feigning 'respectability' while at the same time subverting society for revolutionary purposes, is a Fabian tactic that has had phenomenal success.  It gave the Fabians easy entry into government, banks, stock exchanges and universities.
 
The Fabians were more realistic  then the Marxist socialists.  They understood that it is much easier to subvert sons, daughters and wives of the prominent and well-to-do than to impress the laboring classes.  They also understood that socialist movements spring from the middle and upper income classes--- and not the proletariat.**
 
Everyone stop and think about how our country's attitudes on almost everything have changed since the 1950's.   Of course some of us can remember back even prior to that.  But the point is that these socialists have gotten their foot inside the door since the 1920's and have steadily gained power and influence over almost every aspect of our lives.
 
Now of course, they are attacking religion like never before.  And if you don't believe they are succeeding just keep a close eye on how things are presented during this coming Christmas Season.
 
More to come.
 
ROCKY:
 
While watching a channel which I rarely ever watched in the past, ( I will change that habit), the Documentary Channel.  Most of their programming does not really grab you but they had a two hour documentary about former heavyweight champion, Rocky Marciano.   Rocky Marciano was always one of my favorite sports figures.  At one time in 1957 some friends of mine and I went by one of their houses and the boy's Dad came into the kitchen and said,"Boys, come into the den.  I have some folks I want you to meet".   We went in and there we met Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey.  Of course both had retired, but we were speechless.
 
Anyway Rocky Marciano was one of my  all time favorite professional athletes.  Of course back then you only had ONE  heavyweight champion.  For that matter, each weight class only had ONE champion.  This was a few years prior to the heavyweight championship  became a freak show.  Now don't get me wrong, while I did not particularly like Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali) I could not but notice that he was really quite proficient at his craft.  But Rocky Marciano was the ONLY heavyweight champion to retire UNDEFEATED.  49 fights;  49 wins;  43 knockouts.
 
The documentary gave quite a bit of information on his life prior to boxing and also had interviews with his brothers and old friends with whom he had grown up.  Rocky Marciano did not trust BANKS or MANAGERS.  Quite a bit ahead of his time, eh?  Anyway he was a class act and more professional athletes should pay attention to the manner in which he conducted himself.
 
GOVERNMENT  INVOLVEMENT  IN  SPORTS:
 
Now while I have a really major problem with the BCS and their method of crowning a National Champion in college football, I really do not believe that our Federal Government has any business getting in the middle of something which is already screwed up beyond recognition.  Of course I am for having a playoff system for the Division I schools just like they do in Division II or in other college sports.  Of course at last count, the NCAA didn't seem to give a damn about what I wanted.
 
But recently I have heard rumblings about our Federal Government having another level of bureaucratic bull crap to govern college sports.  Yeah, that makes sense.  Let a group of elected hacks do to the NCAA what they have done to Social Security, the Postal Service, and practically every other thing they touch.  While our collegiate sports aren't perfect by any means, they do not need government oversight.
 
ODDS AND  ENDS:
 
Thank God that the voters of Georgia had the good sense to re-elect Senator Chambliss back to the U.S. Senate.  Now if only the State of Minnesota will reject that idiot Al Franken.  Don't get me wrong, I am not sure that with some of the liberal/socialist thinking and acting Republican Senators that a filibuster proof Senate is in the bag.  But at least we won't just be giving it to the democrat party.
 
I have a really tough time even watching the CEO's of "The Big Three" put on their dog and pony show before Congress.  Oh, but let us not forget that for today's hearings they actually made the trip from Detroit in 'Hybrid Vehicles' rather than private jets.  Boy, the sacrifices those guys make.
 
Also I would like to thank all of you who have decided to send packages to our brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.  On the day I mailed my 3 boxes I received an e-mail from a Marine Gunnery Sergeant thanking me for something I had previously sent.  He is from ALABAMA and is a diehard fan of the ALABAMA  CRIMSON  TIDE.   I had found a bunch of football magazines and hunting/fishing magazines and sent the a few weeks back.  He told me that they were able to watch the Alabama vs. LSU game on TV.  I was really hoping that the BCS rankings would have made it possible for the BCS championship game to have been between ALABAMA  and TEXAS but it doesn't look like there's much chance for that.
 
On Barack Hussein Appointments.  I am not completely thrilled about some of his cabinet appointments BUT they could have been worse.  Actually I think he has made some fairly intelligent choices although I am not a big fan of any of them other than Robert Gates remaining on as Secretary of Defense.  At least his appointments did not include Donna Shalala or Janet Reno.  But his choice for Director of Homeland Security,  Janet Napolitano, leaves a bit to be desired.  What is really frightening is who will that idiotic Governor of New York appoint to fill Hillary Clinton's vacated Senate seat?  Some have suggested that her husband Bill might get this appointment.  If so,  female Senate Pages, BEWARE!  Also secretaries, cleaning women, pizza delivery chicks, etc.......
 
PRAYER  LIST:
 
Tony Knott,  Ann Fraley,  James and Pat Murphy - Hobbs,NM;   Ella Dunlop - San Antonio,TX;   Susan O'Brien - Vacaville,CA;   Arthur Baebel - Houston,TX;   Irma and L.T. Drennan - Ada,OK;  Ralph Glaeser - Gainesville,FL;   Rudy Bates,  MSgt. Randy Morrow,  GySgt. James Walker,  Cpl. Michael Rice,  LtCol.  James Moore,  Brandon Robinson  Sgt. Eric Harmon - USMC;   Jason Plilar, Kenneth Thomas - US Coast Guard;   Elizabeth Chaffon,  Clair Vest,  SSgt.  Aaron Brown - USAF;  LCDR.  Robert McLay - USN;  Midshipman Levi English - US Naval Academy;  SSgt. Michael Strawn,  Sgt. Logan McKinzie,  PFC  Richard Lee Bishop,  Capt. (Fr)  Kevin Peek - USA;  Fr. Joseph M. Peek;   John Mallory - DEA.  Let us not forget the families of the brave men and women serving in our U.S. Military.
 
MUTTS:
 
"Fat Teddy" (Kennedy);  "Fat Jack"(Murtha);  "Bug Eye"(Pelosi);  "Bucket Head" (Kerry); Harry Reid;  Barney Frank
 
QUOTES:
 
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.:...................
...............................   THOMAS  JEFFERSON
 
"One of the simple, but overwhelming facts of our time is this:  of all the millions of refugees we have seen in the modern world, their flight is always away from, not toward, the communist world."......................  RONALD  REAGAN
 
"The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.  But the constitution, which at any time exists, until changed by an explicit and authentic act of the WHOLE  PEOPLE, is sacredly obligatory upon all."..........................  GEORGE  WASHINGTON
 
We will be leaving in a couple of days to visit our grand daughter and her family in Granbury, Texas.  I certainly hope that my gun clinging will not suffer over this week end.  Perhaps I should take one with me.  A firearm is sort of like an American Express card, "Don't leave home without one."
 
Later

JEM

Posted by hillpehle at 06:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I trust your holiday was joyful. Now that you’ve had your fill of pie and cakes and have drifted off into a sugar high state of mind, I’m going to bring you back into the world of reality.

No, I’m not going to talk about the upcoming holiday season and all of the pretty lights and parties that occur this time of the year. I’m not going to talk about some wonderful Christmas cruise or vacation someone is taking.

What I’m going to talk about is simple.

What happened to America?

Last week, there was a story making its way around concerning a young nineteen year old boy who hooked himself up to the internet and then committed suicide while people watched. This young boy posted a note about what he was going to do along with a link to his website and camera. He was using a blog site from some body building forum. The young man was discovered by the police some twelve hours after he had died. What disturbs me is that almost no one attempted to get him any help or see if he could be stopped. Indeed most of the comments to the blog were taunts and messages ‘daring’ him to go through with his plan.


How sick is this? The police reported that only one person actually called them to report the incident even though the young man had posted his name and address on line. I found this hard to believe and went back and read some of the comments. They turned my stomach. Several of the writers said that they could hardly be blamed for encouraging the man to kill himself as it was comparable to being on the street and watching someone jump from a building.

“All you’re doing is looking…what’s the harm in that” one person wrote. “He probably would not have stopped anyway…” another said. “I thought it was a joke” said someone else. “Even if I had called, he would have just done it next week anyway, so why bother?” said one lady from California.

To all of these I have one question..what if it was your son or daughter? How would you like to live in a society who sees some harm being done or about to be done and turns a blind eye to it? Is that what we have become? Are we that cold and indifferent that the safety and well being of our fellow man is no longer our concern?

I recall some years ago, when a young woman was assaulted in New York City while a bunch of people looked on and nothing was done to try and help her. I recall that that this incident made the news for some period of time. As I recall a number of studies came out on this matter and the attitudes of society were taken to task as a result. The question was then as it is now, how have we gone wrong in this country?

Is this the pervasive attitude across America or just in some areas? Do people in smaller towns and villages get more involved with their neighbors and people who need help and assistance than those living in larger cities? I certainly hope so. I want to believe it’s so.

In a civilized society the strong must look after the weak. I have no idea what was going on in that young man’s mind to make him want to die. I do know that there are few problems at nineteen years of age that cannot be solved by just sitting down and thinking them through with some mature persons with some experience. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems. No one should ever take someone’s suicide statement and dismiss it out of hand as being frivolous or joking. You don’t joke about bombs and guns on airplanes and you should not joke about suicide, it isn’t funny.

Oh, and one more thing…the police made a statement that had he (the kid) lived he ‘could’ have faced prosecution for having attempted suicide. There’s a sense of compassion for you if I’ve ever seen one. Succeed and you’re dead, fail and you might go to jail. We seem to have our values completely out of whack here.

My heart goes out to this kid’s parents and hope they know that most of us aren’t like those who wrote on their son’s blog.

Or are we?

Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com

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