Going To The Dogs

I'm paying much more attention, though it often takes some looking, to stories about the incredible good that goes on within our communities.  The type of activity that reminds me when put in the right hands all will be well. I need the mental boost.

Often such stories involve animals, in this case dogs.  Put a dog with a youth at risk in our area you don't get abuse, you get a miracle.  That is if the kids are engaged in a program called Pawsitive Works.

You've seen it work with adult offenders, you've seen it work with returning vets with problems, why shouldn't dog therapy work with kids?  What better match?

For five weeks youngsters are paired with a dog from local shelters and work with them three times a week. What a teaching tool.  Perhaps the greatest thing  learned is about love and that it goes both ways. And more.

Think about what is learned about how a dog acts and being able to translate that to people.  How a dog learns.  What motivates them.  It's all a positive two way street.  They even learn how to say good bye which is probably the most difficult part. Yet it is paired with the satisfaction  of knowing that a formerly unwanted pet is then adoptable because of your efforts.

Here the program began in somewhat remote Bonner County but is spreading.  The story that caught my eye was about the program in one of our local alternative schools.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if it caught on across the country.  Kids and dogs both getting a new lease on life.  It doesn't get any better.

Nuclear Options All Over The Place

I have never in my life seen an administration so detached from the country it is supposed to be serving not to mention the world.

It has tunnel vision and a huge disrespect for everything and everybody outside of themselves.  First let's look at the sham of a treaty with Iran which will allow them to give up nothing while we open the doors for a nuclear Iran.  Where does the arrogance come from that allows those in the administration to think they and they alone can control Iran?  Heck, they can't even build a web site.

Part of it is Kerry wanting to make a name for himself.  Funny.  The administration makes the point that everything is being done for the children.  Does that include a nuclear Iran? Have they even considered it?

Or is it enough because of Obama's desperate need for a victory and Kerry's desire to be seen as a great statesman.  So far all he has done is sleep with the enemy.  And let's not forget what has been recently confirmed.  Valerie Jarrett, who was born in Iran, has been paving the way for months according to the Times of Israel . Yes, the administration has flatly denied this, but if past history holds true, the more they deny it the more truth lies within.

All I can say is what in the world are they thinking?  They never consider consequences, wanting more the victory of the moment.

Then there is the Senate's passing of the 'nuclear option' which means that the minority party no longer has a say in, for now, appointments. I would expect they will expand it as needed now that a precedent has been set. The throwing away of one more practice that was designed to prevent this very thing. When, and it will happen, the Republicans regain power, the favor will be returned.  I'd like to think they're above vindictiveness of that sort but we all know neither party is.

The disturbing thing about this is it's all tied to the disposal of nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain, Nevada and he needs the President's support in order to continue stalling  progress on the depositories which had been approved and permitting begun.  There it is, that dirty word again.  Nuclear.

There are conversations all over the web about how to handle the influence of those who hold extreme ideologies on government.  One would be to be more thorough in scrutinizing candidates and make sure if in rejecting them it truly benefits the country.

I fear that's a pipe dream in this day and age.  For it to work the candidates have to get the message and so far all I've seen is each party wiping their collective brows in relief as one crisis passes to another.

Meanwhile the possibility of war hangs over the Mideast.  The  al Qaeda linked rebels in Syria have joined forces and are pushing out the moderates we refused to help when it would have helped. The Afghans have thumbed their nose at us yet again and Pakistan continues to protect the Taliban.

Saudi and Israel are left hung out to dry.  But they won't.  They'll do whatever necessary to protect their interests and the region, if not the world, will explode.

Meanwhile our politicians and the administration will continue living life in the bubble they've created for themselves with nary a notice of what's happening around them.  One thing they should remember, not only do bombs explode - bubbles do burst.  That's a given.

So far though the score is a dismal Nucs 3 - World 0. Iran is about to score.  Obama is calling the defense.  We lose.

Racist? Why Not Multicultural?

When I read that a school principal in Oregon said that eating or even talking about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be considered racist, I began to wrack my brain. What about this staple from my childhood and still a quick go to favorite have about it that's racial?

Is it racial if you use white bread?  Maybe because the white bread is encompassing the brown peanut butter and the red jelly?  What about where the pb and j are combined in  nice even stripes in one jar?  What does that do to the equation?  Besides, not all jelly is red.  Some is yellow or orange or purple.  How is that racist?  Especially the purple?

Then I thought that it's really more of a symbol of multiculturalism.  White and red or yellow or orange along with the brown all together, combining to make one beautiful and tasty repast representing a multitude of races.

Then I read on.  It isn't about the peanut butter and jelly at all.  It's about the bread and the name we've given the concoction.  A - sandwich!

This, according to the powers that be is indicative of our exercising our "white privilege".  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  But, for those poor souls coming from other cultures who do not have sandwiches as such don't seem to perform as well.  They have pitas or maybe wraps or tortas or some such.  This supposedly makes them feel inferior?  This particular school has what they call Courageous Conversations, an examination of news items to see what racist "white privilege" is displayed.  This to fulfill a mandate to improve the education particularly of black and brown boys.

First it was a war on words that are considered racist - like squaw and Redskins.  Then came the war on books which exposed the youngsters to things they already knew but their parents didn't know they knew.  Now it's words of common usage regarding the food we eat.  No wonder they don't learn anything practical in school.  The teachers are too busy trying to unteach them.  Forget it.  There's this thing called the Internet.  Kids can find out about anything their little hearts desire.

Me?  Well, I am finally going to quit fighting the obvious.  I spend a lot of time criticizing the policies of our President and his administration and am considered a racist because of it. Oprah says so.  Al Sharpton says so.  So many say so I'm tired of denying it.

 This is just the final nail in my coffin.  I am  a racist.  That's a "White Privilege" word too isn't it?  If you think about it.  But the real reason is because I do eat sandwiches.  Besides pb and j's, I love BLTs and French dips and Ruebens.  I also love tacos and gyros and egg rolls.  They are all sandwiches of a sort aren't they?  Maybe I'll be okay if I quit thinking that way and see the error of my ways.

No, on second thought,  I'm going to give up.  A sandwich by any other name is still a sandwich.  If that makes me a bona fide racist, so be it.

Obama Is No Jean-Luc Picard

Remember when on Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard would say, "Make it so" and the very competent 'Number One' would do just that?  I find myself wondering why our President couldn't do more to align himself with Picard. Well, for one thing he doesn't have competent 'Number Ones' and he doesn't hold anyone, including himself, responsible.  He just blames others.

As such, he gives the order and no one makes it so.  Especially with Obamacare as more and more faults are being found.  The lesson, of course, is read the legislation before passing it.

It goes further, however, and that takes us back to foreign policy.  Nothing in ours is concrete. If we even have something that is called policy.  Take the promise of having our troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014 being negotiated into a broken promise.

We have the National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, at odds with Secretary of State John Kerry as to whether we back Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood or the Military who is on track to having elections and a new constitution rather than an entrenched Islamic regime.  Side with Kerry on this one.  One wonders where the President is.  Probably with Rice.  The wrong side as usual.

Then there is Syria. By partnering with Assad and Russia over the supposed destruction of WMDs, if anyone will take them, we have left the Syrian people exposed to systematic slaughter.  The cause, of course, is Assad who is practically guaranteed to stay in power and continues to be a strong ally of Iran, an even bigger nemesis. Plus, if they need WMDs again, North Korea stands ready to help them out from their ample supply.

Stay tuned to Syria.  The al Qaeda rebels have brought in their own mercenary to run the show, a well known Chechan terrorist who was looking for a new gig.  We fear him.  The Russians fear him.  Assad fears him.  And the time when we could have intervened to help the 'good' rebels has long since passed.  Nothing good can come of this.  Now everybody's lives will be at stake! What lengths will Assad go to in order to remain in power?

Back to Iran.  Some have been suggesting that sanctions should not be tightened while negotiations are pending. Every minute of every day the Iranians continue their march toward weapons grade enrichment.  There is nothing in their past history with us nor the rest of the world that suggests they will stop that march or dismantle or destroy anything already at hand.

No one trusts them.  Why are we so willing? I don't believe one phone call between historically adversarial leaders should carry that much weight.  What can I say other than Vive la France!

Come to think of it Jean-Luc Picard was French!

The Tasteless Side Of Politics

What do you do when you're considered royalty within your party due to your parentage, are running for office the very first time (the Senate no less) and haven't been able to get beyond a shaky 50% in the polls against your opponent from the same party?

Do you bow out gracefully and admit maybe a lesser office might be a more appropriate goal or do you pick one of the most controversial items on the social conservative agenda, gay marriage, on which to take a very vocal stand?

If you're Liz Cheney you choose the latter.  Never mind that your sister is gay and married.  Now Mary, the sister, and her wife aren't exactly free from criticism here.  They both took to Facebook to criticize Liz about the stand she took during an interview on FOX, saying it was offensive.  Nothing like keeping a family matter private!

I haven't visited the Facebook spat.  I have no desire to watch a cat fight between three women in one family in a public venue. Especially when there seems to be political motivation behind it.

I could be mistaken, but this doesn't seem to me the way to woo Wyoming voters to the Cheney side.  From my perspective, I'm not really sure if what Liz says is true even though her Dad confirms her stance.  He had to dance that tightrope when he was still Vice President and found himself with a gay daughter and therefore at odds with his boss.

Even as more and more states are legalizing gay marriage, it's still a touchy issue. All indications, however, point to it becoming universal in the not too distant future. It is also a states issue so I wonder why it's necessary for Ms. Cheney to be taking a stand at all.  Especially because of the family situation.  Then I guess that's the very reason though since she never seemed to mount much of a challenge to her primary opponent before this spilled over into social media, I don't see it being used against her either.

Wyoming is itself a state in flux.  While it doesn't allow gay marriage it does recognize those married elsewhere.

If I were the candidate I'd make a non-issue of it.  Yes, my sister is gay and married and happy. I'm happy for her and have nothing more to say on the subject.

I think far more voters would accept that stand more than a dust up on Facebook which makes all sides look petty and yes, certainly lacking in good taste.