It is up to us!
It’s that time again!
Next week our national election season will begin in earnest. Sadly too much of it will be sound bites, doctored pictures, etc., all designed to trigger our emotions and divert us away from the issues. In many respects old time politics had a lot to offer. At least I remember more substance, more honest debate, and sorry to say a more informed electorate. No matter our political point of view it is our responsibility to vote wisely. I am not like so may others who feel everyone should vote even though they know nothing about the issues. These are critical times and we need an informed electorate to choose our leaders and then demand that they rise above partisanship and act as responsible stewards. Here is what I wrote at this same time of the year leading up to our last national elections, unfortunately I feel it still holds true.
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One of the things that truly frightens me this political season is how easy it is for people I know to say whatever justifies the ends that they seek. The same applies to the advocacy groups, the political spokespersons, and others. What must our children think when they see us placing less value on truth and accuracy than we do on winning or getting what we want. It seems too easy to sacrifice morality for expediency. I did not write the following but I believe it is absolutely right.
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy.
If you plant patience, you will reap improvements.
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.
But…
If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust.
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness.
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction.
If you plant envy, you will reap trouble.
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation.
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation.
If you plant greed, you will reap loss.
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies.
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles.
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.
So, be careful what you plant now for it will determine what you reap tomorrow. The seeds you now scatter will make life worse or better for you or for the ones who will come after you.
Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits or you will pay for the choices you plant today. Believe it or not, it is up to you to help deal with the problems we face as a society.
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It is unfortunate, considering that enthusiasm moves the world, that so few enthusiasts can be trusted to speak the truth.
Arthur James Balfour
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My cousin, a recent widower, who lives up in the Tampa area thought it might be a good idea to get himself a dog for a bit of companionship. Checking out the pet ads in the local newspaper he came across one that read: "Purebred Police Dog $25". Thinking that sounded like a pretty fair bargain, he called and ordered the dog to be delivered and paid up-front by credit card.
The very next day a van pulled up and left on his doorstep, in a cardboard kennel, the him mangiest looking mongrel he had ever seen.
In a bit of a rage, he telephoned the man who had placed the ad and shouted over the phone. "What the hell do you mean by calling that mangy mutt a purebred police dog?"
"Hey calm down," the man responded, "Don’t be deceived by his looks, mister," "That dog’s under cover and in the Secret Service."
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"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
Dwight D. Eisenhower
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She said: I had forgotten to get my estrogen patch prescription refilled, and soon the symptoms of menopause–hot flashes, forgetfulness, and irritability–returned.
At the drugstore, I found myself telling the pharmacist all about my problems. After listening patiently, he asked, "So, how many people asked you to get this refilled?"
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I was pleased to learn that as men mature they become even more attractive, in their unique, distinguished appearance. Women find them overwhelmingly seductive and can’t help themselves. Although I was not happy to learn that men my age are also a lot more gullible and will believe most anything!
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Never put off until tomorrow what you can forget about entirely.
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Reverend Smith, a respected church leader, arrived in a large city to deliver a series of speeches. At a banquet the first evening, he noticed some reporters in the audience.
Because he wanted to use some of the stories he told that night in his speeches the next day, he asked the reporters to omit them from their articles.
One article that came out the next day, written by a cub reporter, concluded with this line: "Reverend Smith also told a number of stories that cannot be printed."
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I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainty that just to be alive is a grand thing.
Agatha Christie
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A tired homemaker opened the front door of her home to find a young minister from the neighborhood who said, "I’m collecting donations for the new children’s home we’re building. I hope you’ll give what you can."
"To be sure," said the beleaguered woman, "I’ll give you two boys, two girls, or one of each."
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Ask why until you understand.
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She said: My teenager was headed to school one morning when I told him that the neck tag on his shirt was hanging out.
"I know," he replied. "It’s a fad me and some of the guys started."
Weeks later, as the style persisted, I commented, "I can’t stand it! Every time I see that, I want to fix it for you." I gently tucked the tag in place and rumpled his hair.
"Yeah," he said smiling slyly. "All the girls do, too."
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Have you ever thought that life is a car wash and you are on a bike?
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A friend and his wife were considering traveling to Alaska–a trip that the husband had long dreamed of taking. He kept talking about how great it would be to stay in a log cabin without electricity, to hunt moose, and drive a dog team instead of a car. "If we decided to live there permanently, away from civilization, what would you miss the most?" he asked his wife.
She replied, "You."
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"Where all think alike, no one thinks very much."
Walter Lippmann
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Stay well, do good work, and have fun.
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies.
The editor is somewhat senile.