I previously mentioned that I’ve “dialed back” my exposure to talk radio, in order to maintain positive mental health. But I can never resist occasionally tuning in. Today I heard this little nugget that I thought was worth mentioning. It is true and right and beautiful. Like many things its power lies in its simplicity:
“The bigger the government, the smaller the citizens.”
Let that marinate and I’ll add my two cents in a subsequent post.
Happy mental health!
Crawford tourney champs, 6th grade girls
March Madness arrived early in Crawford on Saturday. Two of our three kids played in a basketball tournament hosted by our school. This meant we had six games between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with a pair of games going on simultaneously in two different gyms.
Since my kids have banned me from cheering (loudly) for them during games – “mom, your voice carries over everyone else’s!” (my mom’s did too!) – I’ve gotten in the habit of bringing earbuds with me so I can listen Hillsdale online courses on demand. Whether you’re a history buff or concerned citizen I highly recommend these lectures. Hillsdale College is a liberal arts college founded with principles that connect it to the American founding and these guys know their stuff! The online courses are free, though I try to make a donation each time I register for one, because the college does not receive any federal funding. (No strings attached to further the indoctrination of the bureaucratic state). These lectures have become a staple of my daily routine, replacing Fox News and El Rushbo. I do, occasionally, tune into these media outlets but when I feel myself becoming too depressed, despairing, or anxious, I switch to one of my favorite Hillsdale lectures as they help me focus on the positives actions I’m taking to improve the current state of affairs.
Watching the kids’ basketball games Saturday presented me with such an occasion. I find that if I’m listening to a lecture during a game I’m able to keep my emotions in-check and my voice in the appropriate “decibel range” (all the while learning and being inspired) – a “win-win” for everyone! In doing so, I was reminded of what some of our best presidents (hint: they have February birthdays) had to say about liberty, America, and the human heart. Given it’s February, with both Valentine’s and President’s days looming, it seems fitting to highlight some of their thoughts. Subsequent blog posts will do just that.
By the way, both teams took first place in their respective basketball divisions!
p.s. I’ll have to forfeit the competition for “Mom of the Year” as I can only find a picture of my daughter’s team! Sorry Ty:(
I ran into Office Depot today to get some nice, resume quality paper – something I like to keep on hand . Though I didn’t have a particular brand in mind I wanted it to have a good look and feel, preferably 100% cotton and ivory in color. I found a box that met my requirements, grabbed it, and rushed over to checkout. As the cashier bagged my purchase, the box flipped over and I caught a glimpse of Abraham Lincoln printed on the back of the packaging. I was instantly transfixed but snapped out of it as I felt the cashier’s impatient gaze. I hurriedly paid, while commenting that I was a history buff and couldn’t wait to find out why Lincoln’s picture was on the box!
When I got in my car, I pulled out the paper and feasted my eyes on the following:
Inscription on the box of Southworth paper I purchased today.
The message beside Lincoln’s image reads: “WHAT MESSAGE DOES YOUR DOCUMENT CONVEY? For generations, people have been relying on Southworth papers to provide greater impact to their ideas. In fact, President Lincoln chose Southworth paper to accept Stephen Douglas’s invitation to debate, documenting the seriousness and historic nature of the event. . .”
While I recognize that only those closest to me – those who have shared the 2 1/2 year journey of bringingThe Liberty Brand (TLB) to life- can fully appreciate the impact of this revelation, I , nevertheless, couldn’t resist sharing and noting it. That it occurred in February, mere days away from Lincoln’s birthday, amplified its impact. Lincoln’s understanding of the relationship between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence is central to The Liberty Brand’s message.
Canvas of promotional poster highlighting the choice America faces today
In fact, at Christmas my sister-in-law presented me with a canvas of a promotional poster designed to capture these sentiments and serve as a focal point in TLBCo.’s flagship shop.
So I’m passing through my bedroom in the rushed, morning ritual of getting 3 kids to schools on different campuses, at slightly varying times – this keeps it exciting – and a story on the morning news catches my attention. (I leave the TV on while I dart in and out of my room hoping to stay connected to the outside world). The story highlights Madonna’s support of a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Russia in protest of the Communist regime’s imprisonment of the female rock band, “P*ssy Riot.” In fairness to the context of the story, I am not sure if the band’s imprisonment was the result of the Russian government’s attempt to (a) squelch their “First Amendment” rights (recall the First Amendment in America’s Bill of Rights guarantees five freedoms, one of which is freedom of expression); or (b) punish their lawless behavior – specifically, staging a raunchy riot in a church, no doubt vandalizing someone else’s property. We’ll leave the topic of rights having corresponding responsibilities, like respect, for another discussion.
The first order of business it seems would be to remind Madonna that the incident occurred in Russia not America! The American regime is unique among all the nations in that it is founded on the belief of the equal, natural rights of individuals. This is what is meant by “American Exceptionalism” – America is the exception to the rule. In America, uniquely, (we believe) government exists to secure these equal, natural rights, our Declaration of Independence eloquently states. Hence, the Russian band enjoys no “First Amendment” protection because freedom of expression – or any other kind of freedom – is not guaranteed in a Communist regime. (For a list of Communist regimes – past/present – consult Wikipedia or the t-shirt collections of many celebrities). The collective State is supreme in such regimes NOT the individual. And they employ force – not consent – to govern. I submit the band’s two-year prison sentence and Obamacare penalties, as evidence. (force = employing the power of the state/gov’t. to ensure compliance)
Which brings me to my point about the ideology/politics of celebrities. These are the people who make their living and whose vocation IS self expression – “the First Amendment incarnate.” They should be the standard-bearers of the American regime AND free enterprise, which simply put, is freedom of expression in the marketplace. In other words, celebrities ought to be Conservative not Progressive (synonym for liberal but more positive sounding). Conservatives believe in the preservation of the Constitutionally-defined role of government, embraced in the American founding; Progressives want to get past or “progress beyond” this pre-defined role of government, in favor of an ever-expanding government role.
My kids and me: Anne (12), Ty (9 for a few more days), and Jack (14)
I made the call today. As I was leaving my Pilates class I overheard one of my classmates asking our instructor how much weight she had lost, to which she responded 15 pounds. I congratulated her and told her how jealous I was; then quickly left, jumped in my car, and dialed the number for my “preferred” weight-loss program (the number was preprogrammed). Nervously waiting as the phone rang I felt a sense of relief when a familiar voice answered. I sheepishly asked her if the program took “repeat offenders” – the name I’d given myself as a feeble attempt to lessen my humiliation and embarrassment at being a “restart” TWICE! Of course they take repeat offenders, weight-loss being big business in a country where half the population is overweight! (My commentary, not hers; she was very gracious and immediately put me at ease). I scheduled my “work-up” for today – before I could change my mind. So as of now I’m officially “on the wagon.”
Weight has always been an issue for me. I went on my first diet when I was in 5th grade so I could wear “Luv-It” jeans – the original jeans with embellished pockets. My weight was successfully maintained through Middle and High School, no doubt due to my “religious” commitment to healthily eating, avid water drinking, and frequent exercise. Naturally I gained the “Freshman 15” (or 20) in college but was able to beat it back, despite being introduced to Diet Coke and late-night studying. The status quo prevailed until I had children in my early and mid thirties. Since then I have been a solid 40 pounds overweight except for a brief respite in 2009 when I initially enrolled in this particular weight-loss program at the occasion of my 40th birthday. I lost 36 pounds but it was back in less than a year.
What I’m trying to say is this: but for the grace of God I’m addicted to food and not heroin or alcohol! I’ve actually had the thought that if I was an alcoholic I’d be a miserable drunk because I couldn’t stay off the bottle. One taste is not good enough. So I understand why they say “once an alcoholic always an alcoholic!” Once an overeater . . . you get the picture. But unfortunately I still have to eat, so moderation and portion control are a must. It’s up to me to find a “framework” to achieve and maintain my goal – a healthy lifestyle of which proper weight is a byproduct. This is the genius of America’s Founding Fathers. They accurately assessed “flawed” human nature (self-destructive tendencies being one such flaw) and accounted for it in the republic they designed. In a society based on self-rule, people will necessarily be given a lot of power, particularly those popularly elected to govern over others. But that power has to be limited and checked, in other words, carefully prescribed. After much trial and error, the Founders devised our constitutional republic as the best form of government to maximize personal and public happiness. The Constitution prescribes the optimal arrangement of political power to achieve a government of, by, and for the people.
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