Category Archives: words

Political Cartoons

Posted on by January 18, 2016

colorful-calendar-2016-template-free-vectorI used to love to read the newspaper. The daily, home delivery newspaper.I especially liked the comic section. Now my grandkids ask “what’s a newspaper?”

One thing I especially miss is looking at the editorial cartoon, which was usually on the editorial section, and by the letters to the editor. I haven’t seen one for a while. Oh well, such is progress.

Jeff MacNelly, who was a political cartoonist once wrote: “Political cartoonists violate every rule of ethical journalism—they misquote, trifle with the truth, make science fiction out of politics. . . . But when the smoke clears, the political cartoonist has been getting closer to the truth than the guy who writes political opinions.” read more

Benjamin Franklin’s Project for Moral Perfection

Posted on by January 16, 2016

Ben Franklin thumb pictureFranklin explains in his Autobiography his Project for Moral Perfection. He decided as a youth that he should try to become as perfect as he possibly could in thirteen character traits he described in his book. He worked on this project all his life, and I believe he did become practically perfect in most things.

One of the traits he wanted to develop was that of Order, which he defined as “Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”

Of all his listed traits, he said this one gave him the most trouble. But then look at all he accomplished in spite of that trouble! read more

Free to Be

Posted on by January 13, 2016

Give Me LIberty coverA life lived in liberty
Is one I’m proud to live.
And shout alliance to the men
Whose lives they did so give.

I see the blessings it brings to those
Who live in this great land,
And name each one as men of grace:
Who brought freedom with their hand.

I see our flag wave bold and bright
And shine for all to see,
We pledge allegiance to the flag
That says we’re “Free to Be.”

–Steven W. Allen, JD

Myths Relating to the Founding Fathers

Posted on by January 10, 2016

Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the National Speakers Association. One of the ThomasJeffersonpresenters, Rick McPartlin, spoke of “Myths and Principles” as they relate to professional speakers. It was extremely interesting.

Rick defined myths as: “a partially true idea or story that is believed by many people but is not true.” A principle is “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.” Pretty interesting stuff. read more

Peanuts—Lucy and Football

Posted on by January 9, 2016

GW RulesYou know in the Peanuts cartoons, Lucy sometimes promises to hold the football upright so that Charlie Brown can kick it a long ways? Then at the last minute, she pulls the football away and Charlie Brown kicks at nothing and lands on his back!

Well, there’s another quirk to that play. In this panel, Lucy herself, tries to kick a football when she’s all alone. She holds the ball up, kicks at it, tumbles over and lands on her back, kinda dizzy. Then at last she looks directly at the football she missed while trying to kick it, and she says to the football: “Don’t look at me like that or I’ll let your air out!” read more

Snoopy and Worries

Posted on by January 8, 2016

I watched the news report about Cologne, Germany, and the women who were accosted (that’s my polite term) by groups of migrant men in the city square. It happened right in front of the Kolner Dom (Which is the Cologne Cathedral—a beautiful large Church building which was used by the Air Force in World War II as a marker of where the planes were!) It’s a gorgeous building in a beautiful city. I’ve been there.

Then, that same morning, I happened to open a book of Peanuts cartoons which I received as a gift from my kids this past Christmas. I turned to this one particular page which had this cartoon: read more

The U. S. Constitution and Judges

Posted on by January 7, 2016

constitutionI have read the U.S. Constitution many times. I have never read anything in it that claims to have any jurisdiction over the civil condition or authority of marriage. And the Constitution does clearly state that what ever is not directly, by the words of that document, given authority to control or decide, is left to the States or to the People.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People.” (Amendment X, The Constitution of the United States). read more

It’s Global Warming. . .I Mean Climate Change!

Posted on by January 6, 2016

ForgivenessListening to our President today with all the turmoil in the world, telling us how climate change is our most serious problem facing us today, reminds me of a Peanuts cartoon.

In the first frame Lucy is making a face while Linus, with his arms outstretched says: “All right, if you want me to worry about over-population I’ll worry about it!”

In the next frame Linus has a big frowny face and says to Lucy: “Look—I’m worrying . . .see? I’m worrying . . .”

Then Linus looks at Lucy and asks: “How was that?” Lucy looks bewildered. read more

Communication

Posted on by January 4, 2016

colorful-calendar-2016-template-free-vectorSometimes the message in the Peanuts comic strip is just too close to reality. I guess that’s why it works so well! Here’s one example:

Charlie Brown and Linus are walking together. Linus says: “Your trouble Charlie Brown, is that you live by mottos and trite sayings.”

Then Linus continues: “You really thought that if you gritted your teeth it would help you become a hero. Well, there’s more to life than gritting your teeth. . . .

“Charlie Brown, do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?” read more

Happy New Year

Posted on by December 26, 2015

colorful-calendar-2016-template-free-vectorHere’s a thought for the New Year:

“The old year dies and we face the new year as though it was a new entity, new as a newborn babe (sometimes it’s even pictured that way)

. . . Yet all our yesterdays are summarized in our now, and all the tomorrows are ours to shape, . . . and year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom and experience can instill in us.” –Hal Borland, as quoted in “Worth Repeating” by Bob Kelly.

Thanks Bob!