Respect: Colin Kaepernick – The Extended Cut — Stonekettle Station

Wrong question. Wrong questions get wrong answers. — Master Gregory, Seventh Son (2014) As veteran, what do you think of the Collin Kaepernick controversy? That was the question As a veteran, what do you think … Readers often ask me about current events. Why? Why me? Well, because that’s what I do nowadays. That’s…

via Respect: Colin Kaepernick – The Extended Cut — Stonekettle Station

There is sooooo much more that you have to read. You really should read it.

In case you doubt me, here’s an important part:

We swear our oath, our lives, to the Constitution.

Not the flag.

Not the anthem.

Not to the president.

Not to congress.

Not to the citizens.

Not to a political party or ideology.

Not to a race.

Not to a religion.

We swear our oath to the Constitution.

But what does that mean? That we swear to give our lives for some raggedy old piece of paper? Is it the sacred paper itself that commands our allegiance? Some old piece of parchment, yellowed, handwritten in an archaic language, falling apart, stored away in a nitrogen-filled box somewhere in the National Archives. Is that it?

No?

What then?

Ah, I see. It’s not the paper — whether it be that hoary old original document or one of those mass produced little booklets supposed patriots and politicians like to toss around. The paper doesn’t matter, it’s the ideas written on it.

We swear our oath to an idea.

This idea: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

We swear we will bear true faith and allegiance, and give our lives if necessary, for that idea.

That idea was the foundation of the United States of America.

Let The Education Begin!

Alright! Got an email from my online instructor for my one and only class. It’s PSY 1001 Section 27 (online only), Fall 2016! I am super excited!

Oh, and a bit scared. This will be different. I have to motivate myself, at home, with all the damn distractions that come with it.

Running

Yup, hit the trail. Pushed myself despite the cold. And I managed a minute faster average mile than on Wednesday. But, I took a Musinex to deal with the dry cough this run produced. Oh, I also ran an extra 15 minutes compared to Wednesday. I’m happy to be getting back into the swing of things. I missed running.

The Color Of Grass

Brown. And getting browner by month.

Guess I’m Still Sick

So, yesterday, after work, I thought it would be a good idea to go for a run. I was feeling better after over a week of aches, pains, and the threat of a migraine.

Yeah, guess I was wrong about feeling better.

This morning? Ears are ringing loudly again. My jaw and throat are sore. And every tendon used in running is threatening to separate from me.

For the record, being sick on top of getting old really, really sucks.

There is no Try

There’s no such thing as “trying to give.” Give or give not. It’s that when giving, understand the expectation of having it returned is the bigger problem. That kind of control is beyond our ability. So give without expectation, and know you are the better for it. Love comes in ways we cannot force or command.

givelove

Good Morning World

Nothing much to really say, other than I spent some time reading my text book again. Where once this time in the morning was spent writing in my journal, it will now be spent doing school work.

Oh, and I finished chapter two, which was statistics. Chapter three is brain biology. Ugh.

Unbelievable

The Trump campaign held a rally to get Latino support in Anaheim, California. It was called “Operation Taco Bowl.” Really. Are they planning an “Operation Watermelon” in Watts to get out the black vote, or is that too on the nose?

via Today’s “You Can’t Make This Up” Entry — Bark Bark Woof Woof

This

coffeeology

You got to have a philosophy, man. You just got to.