A personal note

I'm visiting my sister in Lake Tahoe for a few days. Today, four years ago, our sweet mom passed away, and we will go and stand near her graveside and share thoughts and happy memories. It is a beautiful day with bright blue skies, the pungent smell of pine, and not one bit of sorrow. Oh, we miss our funny, optimistic mom, but we know she's busy in a glorious place.

Some people may think that that kind of simple faith is delusional, but I have had too many confirmations of a loving presence and guide to be a sophist on the subject.

All morning I've been singing my mom's favorite hymn, Scatter Sunshine, and several times I think I've heard her humming harmony to my soprano.

Let Freedom Ring!

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it."

--George Bernard Shaw--

Let Freedom Ring!

Freedom is a tricky thing. Some great thinker (either Cicero, or Voltaire, or Thomas Jefferson) said that "freedom without self-control is anarchy." I say, freedom without self-control is a scary proposition.

If some persons in a society don't exhibit self-control, what's to be done? We can't let them run amok and threaten the peace and safety of the other members of the group, right? What we do is institute laws--rules and restrictions to curb excessive behavior. The best laws are those that are not excessive or restrictive, allow for personal freedom, and at the same time protect the members.

Like I said, freedom is a tricky thing. Perhaps one way we could support the ideals of freedom is by exercising a bit more self-control.

Let Freedom Ring!

"The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves."

--William Hazlitt--

1778-1830

Let Freedom Ring!

"The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously."

--Hubert Humphrey--

I love that!

Haven't you ever had to sit and listen to somebody yammer on about this or that, and seriously wanted to amend the First Amendment...Freedom of Speech except for this yokel who is so irritating that he should have electrician's tape stuck over his mouth at all times except to eat and brush his teeth.

I was at a business party with my hubby one time, and was snagged by this fellow who went on and on about Medieval weaponry. I gave him his First Amendment rights for about twenty minutes and then I exercised a personal right, and...walked away.

My dad used to say, "Gale, you don't have to believe everything you hear." So true, and, I might add, you don't have to be bothered or worried by everything you hear. Shift through the rhetoric and take seriously the things that are true. And, if something is just plain silly, exercise your First and a Half Amendment rights, and...walk away. Ah, freedom!

Let Freedom Ring!

I want to share this thought provoking quote with you. The words belong to George Washington, the first President of the United States. He offered these sentiments in his farewell speech when leaving office. I think they're amazing words to ponder.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens...Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education...reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

--George Washington--

And in his reference to religion, I think Washington was inclusive of all spiritual sects which believe in a Creator, in right and wrong, in man's responsibility, and in an afterlife. These elements bring pretty much the whole world together, and make us stewards of the freedoms we are fortunate to possess.

Let Freedom Ring!

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned--this is the sum of good government."

--Thomas Jefferson--