Several times over the past year or so I've been in various discussions with various people, and I sometimes give an answer or voice an opinion that, given my background, sometimes surprises people. This is always followed with the question, "So just what DO you believe, anyway?" which I always answer.
So here's what I believe. The list may not be all-inclusive and what I believe today may not be what I believe tomorrow - after all, opinions do change from time to time - but for what it's worth, here's what I believe today.
I believe that everyone, no matter what their political or religious affiliation, believes in their hearts that what they're doing is best. If they didn't believe that, then they wouldn't be doing it.
I believe in the Constitution of the United States as it is written.
I believe that any "redefinition" of the Constitution is wrong, period.
I believe that the key to serenity and happiness is best found in the arms of a loved one or in the seat of a motorcycle.
I believe Lee Harvey Oswald wasn't the only one shooting in Dallas that day in November 1963. He may not have known about the other guy, but he sure wasn't the only one with a rifle.
I believe in God and Jesus Christ.
I believe in our country and the people in it. The government, not so much.
I believe homosexuality is wrong.
I believe that discriminating against someone because of their sexual preference is also wrong.
I believe that the term "racist" applies equally to blacks as much as it does to whites.
I believe that the Grateful Dead was one of the most misunderstood and unappreciated bands in the history of rock and roll.
I believe that the Rolling Stones is the most over-rated and under-talented band in the history of rock and roll.
I believe that conservatives have just as much right to voice their opinions as liberals do, and vice-versa.
I believe that anyone who tells me or anyone else under any circumstances that I can't fly or display the American Flag deserves a good old-fashioned country ass-whuppin'.
I believe in the old Southern values of honesty, truth, respect for others, and courtesy.
I believe in loyalty above all except honor.
I believe in the old saying, "My word is my bond."
I believe in the stopping power of a .45 caliber cartridge.
I believe that Islam is the biggest threat to world peace, followed closely by North Korea and its current delusional leader.
I believe that sometimes violence is the only answer.
I believe in justice and the American justice system. It may not be perfect, but it beats the crap out of anything else going.
I believe the Bill of Rights were put in that order for a reason.
I believe that there is evil in the world, and that I must be prepared at all times to meet it. That's why I'm a sheepdog.
I believe in karma. Sooner or later, everyone gets what they truly deserve one way or the other.
I believe in the men and women of our Armed Forces.
I believe that thinking someone is incapable of defending their country by serving in the Armed Forces because of their sexual preference is absurd at best.
I believe our country is headed for disaster under the current administration, and when that disaster happens the President will find a way to blame it on someone else.
I believe it will be a long time before America elects another black president, and that's a shame because it has nothing to do with race.
I believe in cold beer, aged whiskey, and spiced rum. Especially the rum part.
I believe Sailor Jerry may just be the best spiced rum in the universe.
I believe it's just about time for lunch.
MOLON LABE!
IHC
2 comments:
If you don't believe in "redefinition" of the Constitution, do you believe in an Amendment process? If you believe that the Founding Fathers wrote the document correctly, have you studied the history of Founding Fathers like Adams and Jefferson, who often wrote that if the document did not produce "sons wiser than their fathers" (who would then "redefine" the Constitution according to their new wisdom? If their intention was to allow revision (which of course it was, or why allow amendments?) than being true to their intention is to take new evidence in and make new decisions.
Also, you believe that the American Criminal Justice system "beats" anything else going on? That's either ignorant or insane - we imprison more of our population than any other country in the world, (a form of very expensive state welfare), and have similar levels of crime. We criminalize non-violent consenual behavior, and create career criminal re-offenders out of young, first time offenders.
Additionally, your views on the Benghazi attacks are surprising, considering your complete disregard of the numerous attacks on American Embassies during the Bush Administration.
Yes, I believe in the Amendment process. The Founding Fathers knew that the document they had prepared and approved was not perfect, so in their wisdom they included in that document the procedures by which it can be changed - amended. NOT "redefined;" that's an entirely different term which means an entirely different thing.
Yes, I believe that the American justice system is the best thing going. I've worked within that system since 1975 and have seen, through my military service, the justice system of four different nations at work. This has only reinforeced in my mind the opinion that our justice system is, indeed, the best thing going.
Is it a perfect system? Far from it. I don't believe such a system exists. We as a nation have some pretty silly things on the books as being illegal, and maybe I'll live to see them eliminated. We'll see.
Lastly, about my views on Benghazi, you would be well advised not to assume that I don't have an issue with what happened to our embassies during the Bush adminiastration. There are, however, some major differences between them, the major ones being that Bush and/or his Sec'y of State never denied assistance, and when the news broke the Sec'y of State and the White House didn't lie to the American people about the cause and their refusal to send aid. And the Sec'y of State didn't get up on national television and ask "What does it matter?" about the deaths of the Americans in those attacks.
So tell me, how long have you been a liberal? And how does that Kool-Aid taste?
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