Paraprosdokians

I got this from a friend of mine in the Jaycees today and found it both funny and very wise:

PARAPROSDOKIANS

Definition: 'Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising, or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation.'
eg .. 'Where there's a will, I want to be in it!'

Ok, so now enjoy!

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak!

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a Fruit Salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify: ' ... I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman!

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know He doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a kitchen makes you a cook!

27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember, the Fire Department usually uses water!


Words of Wisdom "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

Examples of What I've been Doing When Not Blogging

I've said it before, and I'm about to say it again - I'm a horrible blogger.  It seems that over the course of the last six months, I just don't have the energy to post anything.  It's not because I don't have anything good to post, you can look at my Facebook page for proof of that.  I think it's because I've been posting so much on Facebook about my travels as the 87th MIJC President that by time I get done with that, I don't feel like doing it again.

And yes, I know that I could link this blog with the Facebook notes, but it doesn't translate as I want it to look ... and I'm a bit OCD about the way my notes/posts look.

At any rate, let me share with you an example of what I've been doing during my term as President.  Here's a speech that I gave in Frankenmuth back in March in tribute to the Frankenmuth Jaycees being around for  50 years:

"Let me begin by telling you a personal story. I grew up in Kalamazoo, MI and was raised by my Grandparents. Every summer until I was about 11 years old, we would go on a weeks long vacation. Now, we would always go south and either visit Kentucky or Tennessee (where my Grandpa was from) or we would visit Maryland (where my uncle lived). Now our next door neighbors, the Kerecemen's would also go on vacation during the summer, but they would go north. Usually they went to Traverse City or Mackinac City.

So what's the point of this story? Easy, it's to tell you that until I went on my honeymoon in 1998, I never went north of the city of Grand Rapids, MI.

When I shared this story with my wife, as we were planning our honeymoon, she got a grin on her face and said, "Well, we'll just have to take care of that!" So she made sure that we went to Traverse City and to Mackinac.

Yes, she made me drive over The Bridge - both ways.

Yes, she made me drive in the outside lane.

But later on, she made me drive on I-75 and we visited Bronner's.

I joined the Kalamazoo Jaycees about three years later and as I moved up in the organization, I started hearing about the things that the Frankenmuth Jaycees did for their community ... but it was all hush-hush for some reason. I assumed it was because I hadn't eaten at Zehnder's yet or had sampled the Black Label - I wasn't fully initated or prepared for the Frankenmuth experience. Howrever, in time my good friend Deb Cross brought me to attend the World Expo of Beer in 2004.

Now for a guy who lived a pretty sheltered life, imagine how amazed I was at the spectacle that is the World Expo of Beer. Imagine, how amazed I was at that event. Imagine how impressed I was to see a group of young leaders raise over $100,000 for their community.

This group of people put the energy of WEB, energy I've felt and carried with me, into the restoration of a local park, into the building of a canoe launch, and into a new playground. They've put it into numerous programs that improved the life of everyone in the city of Frankenmuth.

And it only took me 30 years to get here.

In the Jaycees, we remind each other and the world that one person can make a difference. When I swear in a new member of the Jaycees at any of our 43 chapters, I have them say, "I am one and I am only one. I can't do everything, but I can do something ..." For 50 years my friends in the Frankenmuth Jaycees have been doing some amazing things.

And to the point that one person can truly make a difference, your Past President Bill Hart had an idea that started the Volkslaufe. It is because of that event, that my son Alex experience Zehender's Chicken for the first time.

Thank you, Bill for helping share great food with my son.

My tag line that I use for my year as MIJC President is "We Build Leaders!" and I always ask Jaycees throughout our state what is it we do. But to be fully honest with you, I can't take credit for that tag line. I can't take credit for it because, in a way, it was copyrighted and trademarked right here in Frankenmuth. It's been passed on for 50 years and it's been handed down to a group of 80 + young professionals who I am blessed to honor this evening. In fact, I'm proud to say to my FrayJays that you are the top growth chapter of the year. You are +8 and it's only March 4th. You are doing great things and I thank you for that.

I'll leave you with this parting thought. It may have taken me 25 years to learn that there's nothing to fear in the lands north of Grand Rapids, MI. Indeed there is a very bright and happy place just north of Flint, located off of M-83. It's a place where the people of the city of Frankenmuth build the best leaders around - and they're called the Frankenmuth Jaycees.

God bless you all and your families. And may God continue to Bless the Frankenmuth Jaycees now and for the next 50 years."

February 2011 MIJC Assembly Keynote Speech

“THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE – The Jaycees, Dr. Seuss, and The Places We’re Going to Go”

There are a lot of things that I do that really make me smile. For example, pulling up my Fantasy Football scores and noticing that, thanks to the Detroit Lions, I won a game over Gary Bulson. Those times when I leave the office after a very hectic day, turning on the car and finding that the iPod is singing Dave Matthews to start the commute to a fabulous Jaycee event. Getting the occasional text from my friend Steve Pickelmann and his bro-mance partner John Badeen reminding me to bring my Presidential koozie with me the next time I head up to Frankenmuth or over to the L-I-V. There’s even that time I sat with my friends Mary Jo Knitter and Angela Wolf when we noticed our plane did indeed have pilots and flight attendants and we could finally escape Detroit Metropolitan Airport and head to the 2011 United States Jaycees Leadership Academy in Tulsa, OK.

Yes, all of these things have made me smile and I’m sure that there will be 1,000’s of more things like these. When you think about it, for all of us, Happily Ever After usually comes along with various things that make us smile. What’s the point of living Happily Ever After if you aren’t going to smile? Now, thanks to the great work and the foundation that the folks from 2010 gave us, we are in a position where we can move forward with a number of changes that will transform the Michigan Jaycees into something that will always make us smile.

Tonight, I wish to share with you something very special, something that I look forward to doing on those nights when I get home early enough at night. On occasion, I like to find my daughter Cristiana and I like to read her my favorite book. A little thing Dr. Seuss wrote titled, “Oh, The Places You Will Go.” In the book, Seuss writes:

“You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.”

This sentiment has never been so close to the truth as what we will do in 2011. You see this year, after years and years of talk, we have decided – together – that we’re going to implement change in the way that our organization operates. You’ve heard about some of them already. Electronic award submissions.; a competitive awards program that no longer separates us based on size; an awards program that says to each of us “Be your best and let that decide who wins”; merging the Membership Area of Opportunity in with the ID Area of Opportunity.

Let me touch on that one for a bit because it can be a bit of a scary concept.

It can be scary because it is so close to the heart of the huge elephant that sits in the room. We’ve heard numerous times, “If we’re not growing, we’re dying!” You know, after a while of hearing that it can be very daunting to be the person or the team who is in charge of membership for our chapters. And whenever we change the ways we do membership in the Michigan Jaycees some hearts skip a beat or two.

Change can be scary, trust me I know. I know firsthand how scary it can be because when we came out of our November Board retreat my knees were knocking and I kept hearing a voice in my head saying, “Seriously? We’re going to do this? Are you nuts?!”

Then I remembered to look around me at the team that we have here tonight. I looked at them and I looked at all of you who are doing amazing things in our local chapters and I knew that we were going to be OK. I was recently reminded of this a couple weeks back when I heard my friend Andy Squires from the Greater Muskegon Jaycees (who is having a pretty good night) say, “It’s amazing what you can do for your community when you surround yourself with the best of the best!”

So right now, let me show you the best of the best. I need to have someone raise the house lights a little bit for me right now. If you are a Local Membership Vice President or a Local Membership Director, will you please stand up right now?

Notice there’s a lot of people standing right now. If you look closely, you’ll see that I’m standing here with you as well.

Change can be scary, but there’s no way that I’m letting you face it alone. Henry Giessenbier and Martin P. Luthy won’t let me. Plus there are a few other people who are here as well who are standing with us. For example, if you are a local chapter President – if you’re one of my Presidential peeps, will you please stand up?

Looks like our team is getting a little larger and none of us are alone. We’ve all decided that we will succeed and be on a strong team together. And there are many others who are there with us. Don’t believe me? Watch this.

If you’re a member of a local Board of Directors, if you’re an IDVP, a Management Vee Peep, a CDVP, a Secretary, a Treasurer, or other auxiliary officer of local Board, will you please stand up right now? If you are a general member of any of the 43 local organizations that call themselves “Jaycees”, will you please stand up right now?

If you are a 2011 Region or District Director will you please stand up right now? If you are a member of the 2011 Michigan Jaycee Board of Directors, please stand up.

Notice, there are a lot of people standing up right now, all dedicated to the proposition that Service to Humanity is the Best work of life and that it happens here in Michigan where WE BUILD LEADERS. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Don’t believe me? Watch this.

If you know, Right Here, Right Now, that the Sky’s the Limit because Now More than Ever there are people who are looking to Join the Journey to Soar to Success by Building Our Future and Bringing It On to Happily Ever After, please stand up!

Change can be scary. But when I look across this room at the people who are standing firm with our local chapters, I know that 2011 will be more successful then we dreamed.

My friends, you have brains in your head and feet in your shoes. You will steer us in any direction you chose. You’re not own on your own, I’m here with you too – and together we will see each other soar through and through.

In February, we’ll grow our organization and we’ll spread our hopes, our vision, and dreams to new places and light fires in new hearts … and that is not at all scary.

Indeed - that is what makes me smile.

Thank you for being on the greatest team of leaders ever assembled. May God bless you all and may He continue to bless the Michigan Jaycees.

This Is The Motor City and This Is What We Do!

Despite pretty much everyone else in Michigan posting and reposting and linking and re-linking the Chrysler Super Bowl commercial from last night, I feel the need to keep it going.  People need to know that why Detroit (and in many ways the entire state of Michigan) has been taking it in the teeth for a while, we don't quit.  WE KEEP GOING!  THIS IS WHAT WE DO!

Enjoy this video ... the script is found underneath the embed.

Commentator:  I got a question for you. What does this city know about luxury? What does a town that’s been to hell and back know about the finer things in life? I’ll tell you, more than most! You see, its the hottest fires that make the hardest steel, add hard work and conviction.  And the know how that runs generations deep in every last one of us. That’s who we are.  That’s our story. Now it’s probably not the one you’ve been reading in the papers. The one being written by folks who have never even been here. and don’t know what we’re capable of.  Because when it comes to luxury, it’s as much about where it’s from as who it’s for.  Now we’re from America – but this isn’t New York City. Or the Windy City. Or Sin City. And we’re certainly no one’s Emerald City.


Eminem:  This is the Motor City. And this is what we do.

After a Long Absence, A First Quote about Stars

It just hit me that it's been way too long since I've blogged. So much has been happening in my crazy life that it just made the time fly by. I hope that I'll be able to get back to this during my term as the 87th MIJC President, especially because I'm sure there's going to be many great stories to tell about this next year.

But for now, let's get back to the First Quote of the Day thing that I've used in the past to help keep things in perspective (and for some good kicks and giggles):

I will love the light because it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars. ~ Og Mandino

When I was a kid, I wanted to goto space. At night, I'd look out the window and stare at the stars until I fell asleep. Today, when I'm driving all over Michigan, there are times when I look up from the highway (only when it's fairly empty) to find my old friends Orion, Ursa Major, and Mars. In both cases, it always makes me smile when it is dark.

Be Real - The Disease Called "Perfection"

I know it's been a long time since I posted a personal blog, been a bit busy with Jaycee stuff and real life.  But I feel the need to post something today.  Actually, I'm just copying and pasting something that I read.  I have to give credit for this post to my old elementary school friend Casey Roon (http://www.caseyroon.com/), who found it on another blog she reads.

I hope you take time to read it over and keep this in your heart today:

You’ve got to read this post.


In fact, since the author wants to share it with everyone who will read it, he has allowed me to repost it here… This wonderful post is entitled, “The disease called “Perfection”" and it was written by a single Dad named Dan Pearce (http://www.danoah.com/) ... seriously, go check out his blog after you read this amazing post… He is one heck of a writer, and one heck of a Dad…

“As a warning, the following post was written in complete desperation. I have recently learned some very sobering truths from people that I love dearly. These truths have set in motion a quest within me to do whatever I can to make a change. Today is not geared at funny. Today is geared at something greater. Read it to the very end. I promise you will be affected in a way you have always needed to be. I spent more than twelve hours writing this post because its message is that important to me.

I wonder. Am I the only one aware that there is an infectious mental disease laying siege on us right now? There is a serious pandemic of “Perfection” spreading, and it needs to stop. Hear me out because this is something for which I am passionately and constantly hurting. It’s a sickness that I’ve been trying to put into words for years without much success. It’s a sickness that I have personally struggled with. It’s a sickness that at times has left me hiding in dark corners and hating myself.

And chances are it’s hit you too.

What is the disease called “Perfection”? Perhaps a list of its real-life symptoms will help you better understand it. We live in communities where people feel unconquerable amounts of pressure to always appear perfectly happy, perfectly functional, and perfectly figured. “Perfection” is much different than perfectionism. The following examples of “Perfection” are all real examples that I have collected from experiences in my own life, from confidential sources, or from my circle of loved ones and friends. If you actually stop to think about some of these, you will cry as I did while writing it. If you don’t, maybe you’re infected with way too much of this “Perfection” infection.

“Perfection” is a wife who feels trapped in a marriage to a lazy, angry, small man, but at soccer practice tells the other wives how wonderful her husband always is. “Perfection” keeps people from telling the truth, even to themselves. My husband is adorable. He called me a whore this week because I smiled at a stranger. When I started crying, he said he had a game to go watch. I love him so much.

“Perfection” is a husband who is belittled, unappreciated, and abused by his wife, yet works endlessly to make his marriage appear incredible to those around him. “Perfection” really does keep people from being real about the truth. You would have laughed, guys. She said that I suck at my job and will never go anywhere in life. Then she insinuated that I was a fat, rotting pile of crap. Isn’t she the best?

“Perfection” is a daughter with an eating disorder that keeps it hidden for years because she doesn’t want to be the first among her family and friends to be imperfect. She would give anything to confront it, but she can’t because then the “Perfect” people would hate her as much as she hates herself for it.

“Perfection” is when a son has a forbidden addiction, and despises himself for it. “Perfection” makes us believe that nobody else could understand what it is like to be weak and fall prey to the pressures of the world.

“Perfection” is a man who loathes himself for feeling unwanted attraction toward other men.

“Perfection” is a couple drowning in debt, but who still agree to that cruise with their friends because the words “we don’t have the money” are impossible ones to push across their lips.

“Perfection” is a mom hating herself because she only sees that every other mom around her is the perfect mother, the perfect wife, and the perfect neighbor. I’d give anything to be Mrs. Jones. Today she ran 34 miles, cooked six complete meals, participated in a two-hour activity with each of her seven children, hosted a marriage class with her husband, and still had time to show up for Bunco. What this mom doesn’t know is that Mrs. Jones is also at home crying right now because the pressure to be “Perfect” never lets up.

“Perfection” is a dad hating himself because he can’t give the same thing to his kids that other dads do, and then hates himself further because he takes his self-loathing out on his kids behind closed doors. You know what would have been nice? If you were never born. Do you realize how much money I’d have right now? Now come give Daddy a hug because I can force you to give me validation.

“Perfection” is a child hating herself because the boys at school call her fat, and when she goes home she tells her mom that school was fine. Her mom never stops to question why her daughter doesn’t have any friends, becaue her mom doesn’t want to think that anything might be less than “Perfect”.

“Perfection” is a man feeling like a smaller man because his neighbor just pulled in with a new boat.

“Perfection” is a woman who is so overwhelmed that she thinks about killing herself daily. “Perfection” makes it so that she never will because of the things people will think if she does. How could I make my suicide look like an accident? If I kill myself, I don’t want anybody knowing that I ever had any problems. She never stops to look at why she wants to do it, because healing means admitting imperfection.

“Perfection” is a man who everybody heralds as perfect, and inside he is screaming to be seen as the faulty human being that he always has been. Because to no longer be “the perfect one”, that would be freeing.

“Perfection” is a woman having an affair because she’s too afraid to confront the imperfection in her marriage.

“Perfection” is a twelve-year-old boy killing himself because he is ashamed that he can’t stop masturbating.

Stop, and read that one again.

There is a twelve-year-old boy buried 20 miles from where I sit because the “Perfection” that has infected the people around him infected him to the point that he deemed his own life worthless. “Perfection” pushed him to take his own life over something most of us would consider negligible in the life of any teenage boy.

“Perfection” is my friend’s cousin swallowing hundreds of pills because she just got the news that she was pregnant, out of wedlock, and the shame was too much to bear. She was only attempting to cause a miscarriage. 24 hours later, she closed her eyes and never opened them again. She is dead because of the “Perfection” infecting those around her. We’d rather you die than shame this family. Thanks for taking care of that, honey. By the way, we’ll do the right thing and make ourselves out to be the victims now. We have to. We’re infected with “Perfection”.

I could go on. This is all a small sampling of the disease called “Perfection”. You have brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, extended family members, neighbors, friends, and children who are ALL these things, yet none of us will ever know. “Perfection” is a hideous monster with a really beautiful face. And chances are you’re infected. The good news is, there is a cure.

Be real.

Embrace that you have weakness. Because everybody does. Embrace that your body is not perfect. Because nobody’s is. Embrace that you have things you can’t control. We all have a list of them.

Here’s your wake-up call:

You aren’t the only one who feels worthless sometimes.

You aren’t the only one who took your frustrations out on your children today.

You aren’t the only one who isn’t making enough money to support your lifestyle.

You aren’t the only one who has questions and doubts about your religion.

You aren’t the only one who sometimes says things that really hurt other people.

You aren’t the only one who feels trapped in your marriage.

You aren’t the only one who gets down and hates yourself and you can’t figure out why.

You aren’t the only one that questions your sexual orientation.

You aren’t the only one who hates your body.

You aren’t the only one that can’t control yourself around food.

Your husband is not the only husband who’s addiction sends him online for his sexual fulfillment instead of to you.

Your wife is not the only wife that is mean and vindictive and makes you hate yourself.

Why didn’t somebody, anybody, put their arm around that 12-year old boy and let him know that they loved him and would always love him? What was he being told and taught that he would end his own life over something that almost no teenager can control? Maybe that beautiful and wonderful boy would still be alive if even one person had broken down the “Perfection” that completely controlled all those in his life from whom he desperately craved validation.

Why didn’t somebody, anybody, tell a beautiful pregnant girl that there was nothing so big in life that it couldn’t be made right. Maybe that incredible young woman would still be alive. Maybe her now one-year-old child would be learning to walk or say “Mommy” right now. Maybe.

Maybe.

The cure is so simple.

Be real.

Be bold about your weaknesses and you will change people’s lives. Be honest about who you actually are, and others will begin to be their actual selves around you. Once you cure yourself of the disease, others will come to you, asking if they can just “talk”. People are desperate to talk. Some of the most “perfect” people around you will tell you of some of the greatest struggles going on. Some of the most “perfect” people around you will break down in tears as they tell you how difficult life is for them. Turns out some of the most “perfect” people around us are human beings after all, and are dying to talk to another human being about it.

You’ll love them for it. And you’ll love yourself even more.

Let’s not forget this quote: “I went out to find a friend and could not find one there. I went out to be a friend, and friends were everywhere.” Somebody who is being a friend doesn’t spread “Perfection”. Somebody who is being a friend spreads “Real”. Then, and only then, can we all grow together.

I am not perfect, nor do I want anybody to think of me as such. Here’s my dose of real:

I once stole a box of money that was meant for a child with cancer. There was more than $150 inside. That was 12 years ago, and I still hate the person in me that did that.

I believe in God, but not religion. It took me 30 years to find the courage to say that. It took me 30 years to believe that I could be a good man and still believe that.

I once got so angry at my wife that I hit the wall. The dent is still there, haunting me every time I see it because I never thought that was something I would do.

I once sat in my bedroom crying uncontrollably because I felt like everybody thought I was fat and ugly. I was a full grown man.

There are some people I avoid bumping into in public because I feel like I’m not as good as them.

I judge people harshly who share the same features that I hate about myself.

Sometimes I’m sad. Sometimes I’m not funny. Sometimes I just want to be alone. Sometimes I stay at home on a weekend because I just don’t want to see the “Perfection” going on around me. Sometimes I want to drop-kick a perfect person’s head across the room.

“Perfection” infects every corner of society. It infects our schools. It infects neighborhoods. It infects our workplaces. This is not to say that there aren’t a lot of genuinely, happy people. I am one of those people. Most of the time. There is nothing more beautiful than a person finding true happiness in who they are and what they believe. No, this is not me trying to diminish the happiness in others. This is merely me pathetically attempting to put a face on a problem that I see everywhere but few people ever notice.

This is me, weeping as I write, asking the good people of the world to find somebody to put their arm around and be “real”. This is me, wishing that people would realize how beautiful they are, even with all of their imperfections. This is me, sad and desperate for the girls in this world to love themselves. This is me, a very imperfect man, trying to help others feel a little more perfect by asking you to act a little less perfect.

Will you help me spread “Real”? Tell us below just how perfect you aren’t. You never know who might be alive tomorrow because you were real today. You never know who needs to feel like they aren’t alone in their inability to be perfect. Even if you comment as an anonymous guest, please comment. Tell us what you struggle with. Tell a sad or dark secret. Get vulnerable. Get real. Let’s see if we can get 10,000 people showing the world that we’re not defined by perfection.

And please, share this post on Facebook, twitter, and your blog. If you want the people around you to start being real, you have to be real first. I believe in the power of numbers and that enough people reading it might actually help shake down a few of the problems we cause for each other. If it’s your first time here, we’d love to have you follow us. I promise it’s not always this intense (or nearly this long). I’ll post something really funny tomorrow.

- Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing Being Real

Harry Potter is Coming!

Having watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last night, it has occurred to me that another positive thing that comes in November (aside from a changing of the guard in Lansing) is the next Harry Potter movie comes out.

For those of us who have been holding our breaths for a while, here's a little something to get us over the hump.

Today, I'm an Angry Politico

Pretty much everyday, when I get to work and boot up the computer, I read the latest political news from the MIRS News Service and from the Gongwer News Service. These are both "Inside the Lansing Beltway" rags that typically get their scoops right. There are very few times that I doubt their accuracy.

Both MIRS and Gongwer reported on something today that left me completely bewildered. As my beloved GOP gets ready for our August convention where we will nominate candidates for Secretary of State, Attorney General, and a number of other statewide offices, a racist hit piece on candidate Paul Scott was mailed to GOP delegates. The piece looks like this:



Now, I don't care if you don't like President Obama because of his policies (which I don't). I don't care if you don't like Mike Steele because of how he currently runs the National Republican Committee (which I think has been troublesome). I don't care if you don't like Paul Scott because he's only served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives (which does not impress me).

I do care that someone is trying to insinuate that you should not support them because "they have something in common?"

I'm curious - what do they have in common? They're all men, so should you not support them because of their gender? Sure, because there have been no positive male leaders in the history of our country.

No, that's not it? Hm, must be their apparent appreciation of wearing dark suits. Those types of clothes must distract people from the public policy debates that we need to have these days?

No, that's not it neither? Must be because they're black ... and how dare the GOP support someone who is a minority!

I have proudly been an African-American Republican for over two decades. I have put up and fought against the charges of being an "Uncle Tom" because I believe in less government, lower taxes, and allowing people to be and think for themselves. I have participated in a number of heated arguments at the Thanksgiving table because I believe the GOP best represents the public policies I support.

And I still believe this despite knowing that there are "closet" racists within the party. I know there are and there are just as many "closet" racists in the Democratic party as well. I maintain that is why Keith Butler was torpedoed in the GOP primary in 2006. But I have stuck with the GOP, have worked for the GOP, have volunteered and voted for the GOP for years rather to be taken from granted by the Democratic party.

However today, I am angry. I'm pissed off. I want to throw something because of crap like this! I understand where this Tea Party thing comes from. The partisanship in Washington has led to gridlock and opportunities for horrible policies to be enacted in sloppy ways. People are still trying to figure out what all was slipped into the Health Care Bill, things that have nothing to do with health care. It can be frustrating watching Congress go nuts when there's nothing that is really putting them in check.

But at a time where my beloved party can regain some traction back from the losses we suffered two years ago (and can even take back the Governor's mansion), the "closet" racists decide that these types of attacks and arguments are appropriate now.

How f'n idiotic!

If our goal is to win, then let's focus on the policies that will help us win - and those policies do not include anything that is based on race. If our goal is to win, the get behind the candidates who have worked hard to build the base of voters that will win the election for us. You want us to "stick with our pride and principles" then either put your name on this hit piece and get the hell out of the racist closet or frankly, shut the hell up because you're destroying our party, our state, and our nation!

If the GOP wants to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, then by all means let's keep mailing hit pieces like this and let's keep insinuating that minorities don't deserve to be in the GOP leadership or in the tent at all. Keep that up, and watch this angry politico leave the party in hopes of finding something else!

Finding Calm Within Ourselves

Not much time to write a full blog today, but I did want to share something an old high school friend posted on Facebook today. He posted the following:

"In the end, a healthy man's life comes down to a few simple things: --If you want others to be more loving toward you, choose to love first. --If you want a peaceful outer world, reconcile your own inner world. --If you are tired of cynicism and negativity out there, cultivate hope in here. --If you wish to find stillness in the world, find the calm within yourself." --Richard Rohr

My friend, Matt, always had a knack of knowing when I need a reminder on the wonderful and simple ways we can get back to basics in this complicated world.

Here's to my friend Matt and to all of us who need to remember to tap into our inner calm from time to time. Thanks, buddy!

Faith Works Both Ways

While trying to figure out what I wanted to do for lunch today, a random search about John Denver led me to an article about the movie Oh God! Frankly, I don't remember too much about the movie since it was released in 1977, when I was three. I do know that I've watched with my Mom and I think my Grandpa as well. My main impression at the time was "Hey, isn't that the guy from the Muppets and the really funny old guy that makes Grandpa laugh all the time?

For those who haven't seen the movie, the basic premise is this. God (played by George Burns, in the form of a kindly old man, selects an assistant supermarket manager (played by John Denver) to be his spokesman to the world. The movie covers the skepticism that Denver faces from the media, his wife, and really the entire world.

According to the article, at the end of the movie God (after testifying in court) leaves this parting shot for the world to remember:

It can work. Don't hurt each other. If it's hard to have faith in me, maybe it will help to know that I have faith in you.

All my life I've been told that I have to have faith in God. Have faith that things will always be better. Have faith in yourself. Yada Yada Yada.

But isn't nice to know, or at least to think from time to time, that something or someone else will have faith in you too. The working part of faith isn't always a one way street. Faith can work both ways and empower everyone involved with it.

So here's to us, who from time to time have a hard time with faith. Here's helping us remember that He has faith in us too. May we not let him, or each other down.