A Thriving Success…

I’m in South Chicago spending the night in a growing community. Farm and woodland is being converted into homes and Targets as quickly as the builders can erect the structures. It is a growing middle class African-American community. The media angers me when they make it appear all African-American either by gang bangers or locked into the cycle of poverty with means out. Conservatives have fault in believing that we all start out with the equal opportunities and if not simple hard work will even the scale. Liberals assume that minorities are in constant need of parenting and that without aid they cannot do anything on their own. Both are dead wrong. While it is sadly true, that not all Americans are given the same opportunities or advantages in life, it is wrong to say that one’s life is out of their control. Middle class communities, such as these, do not come from purely hard work or an assisting hand. It is a combination of both. We can only hope for this type of success for others is if our leaders move from the polar extremes and into the middle.

Cancer knows no politics...

In the last few days, it has been shown, once again, cancer does not care who you vote for.

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Senator Edwards, cancer is back and in her bones.

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's cancer is back and in his liver.

Shame on both liberals and conservatives who were happy about either of the cancers. Praise to those who reached over the aisle with best wishes for the family and friends.

Keep them both in your prayers.

I'm tired of it...

I am tired of the fear. Everytime, I feel an extra heartbeat, which has been happening more often lately, I become scared that something will happen. I can't stand this sensation. It goes on a couple of times an hour. Yet, I don't want to tell anyone. For fear that I will be forced to endure the pain of surgery earlier than I need.

Fear, I say something or I don't, either way it has got me.

Four Years...

In one way, four years can seem an eternity. It took four years for me to go from fourth to eighth grade. And four more years to complete high school. Four years, in the future then, seemed long and distant.

Yet, four years can be short. Four years ago, I was a teacher. Four years ago, B, R and I were drinking bourbon and soda interpreting the news as a team. Together we were able to decipher Chinese enough to understand how far America had advanced in its march to Baghdad and how many U.S. lives it cost.

Learning that U.S. blood had been spilt defending the nation from Weapons of Mass Destruction, we would toast to the men and women who had sacrificed everything for us. Slightly drunk, we would stagger off in search of fried rice and water dumplings.

I would come back to my room, check the Internet, pour another drink and read happy to know that victory was certain.

Now, a short four years later, I have been cheated and deceived. Deceived into supporting a war against a country that wished us ill, but had no way of hurting us, and cheated of the lives of brave men and women who did everything to save me-someone they never met.

For some these four years must have dragged. Men and women separated time and again from their family to go on yearlong tours in the dessert.

In four years, I have a master’s, built a career and started my life. In four years, others keep returning to Middle East nightmare with no end in sight.

One more thing

For those who respond to the last post, please send a link of this blog to friends and family. I want to know their opinions as well.

Also, I am not giving away my thoughts just yet. I do not want to swing the voting one way or another. And since I am just a Yankee, I would rather hear from the nationals first.

A Query

Since I have noticed from my Google Analytics that many readers come from Taiwan, (I still dream of that country from time to time and always in the highest sense.) I have a little question. Should Taiwan be an independent nation? Should it become part of China like Hong Kong and remain relatively independent? What is your solution?

This is not a 'yes' or 'no' question. Just give me what you feel in your heart is the correct response.

Quick Update

Sorry, to post so little recently. I have been traveling with my job. My surgery is not until September; so, I am getting as much work done as I can between now and then. However, in the next few days, I have quite a number of posts stiring in my head.

Well, It Is Official

Had a nice little chat with Doc on Friday. It is official; I will be going back under the knife in a few months. It will be second operation in as many years and my second open heart. They will crack my chest like a chestnut.

In the coming months, I ask for your prayers and thoughts not just for me but also for L and my parents.


It is an odd thing. The whole situation has not really settled in yet. I no longer am planning a long vacation next year to support Edwards at the Nevada caucus. (One of the biggest letdowns.) I am not planning anything beyond September, the tentative date for the surgery. At the same time, I am still traveling for work: Iowa this week, Illinois the next. I still see L. I go to movies with A. I sleep late on the weekends and watch boxing.

All too soon, my joys will be replaced my pain. My desire to read and write will be supplemented by sitting and staring. I will be unable to sleep on my stomach. My joy in life, which I just recently found again, will be taken away. I will be back to the dark days of last summer: days whose only memory is of pain, anxiety and suffering.

A small rant

The blogs, the newspapers, TV and radio, they are talking about which Democratic candidate is the most electible. Who can win in the general election? (The debate is which moderate Republican can win over the conservative Republicans.) But no one, I think is asking the most important question.


Who would make the best President?

Of all the candidates out there, which one would bring the nation together, not tear it a part. (Remember, G.W. saying he was a uniter not a divider in 2000.) Who can restore American to its place as the shining city on a hill?


Maybe, instead of looking at who could win, the parties should be looking at who could do the best job?


Well, that's my small rant for the week.