110 Years Ago

A simple gravestone sits on the ground at the Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio. I bears the inscription "Henry Holcomb Bennett, Dec. 5, 1863 - Apr. 30, 1924." He was an author, journalist and poet. Recently, I came across one of his works of poetry first published in 1900 and thought it is worth sharing.

The Flag Goes By

Hats off!

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,

A flash of color beneath the sky;

Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

Blue and crimson and white it shines,

Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines,

Hats off!

The colors before us fly;

But more than a flag is passing by.

Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, 

Fought to make and to save the State;

Weary marches and sinking ships;

Cheers of victory on dying lips;

Days of plenty and years of peace;

March of a strong land's swift increase;

Equal justice, right and law,

Stately honor and revered awe;

Sign of a nation, great and strong

To ward her people from foreign wrong;

Pride and glory and honor - all

Live in the colors to stand or fall.

Hats off!

Along the street here comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;

And loyal hearts are beating high;

Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

A special thanks to James M. Tarbox, editor of The History Channel Magazine for introducing me to this wonderful image.

A Dual Standard ???

While the name Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43 year-old woman, may not be one many recognize the news generated by her mobilized governments and organizations around the world.

She was convicted of adultery and sentenced to be stoned to death but earlier this month Iran caved to international criticism and suspended her death sentence.

Now, in the State of Virginia, the first woman since 1912 is slated to be executed. Teresa Lewis, 41, is said to have an I.Q. of 70 which puts her in a category of "borderline deficient" or by some standards mentally retarded. She is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection in Virginia.

The United States Supreme Court refused to grant a last-minute reprieve and Virgina's governor said he will not intervene to stop the execution.

Personally I don't believe the death sentence is, as some claim, a deterrent. To me it is no more than vengeance. But, I too have a dual standard here. While opposed in principle, if someone committed a crime against a member of my family they better hope the system takes them in custody before I get to them and render my own justice.

By most accounts there are 195 countries in the world. Amnesty International reports 137 have abolished the death penalty. The leaves 58 nations that still condemn people to death. Fifteen of our 50 states have outlawed such punishment. 

With that being said, it seems our nation also has a double standard in many ways. While we condemn human rights violations around the world ranging from child labor to locking up dissidents, we lead the world in the number of people locked up.

The United States has less than five percent of the world's population but we have almost 25 percent of the world's prisoners, according to research done by the New York Times. Americans are locked up for crimes - from writing bad checks to using drugs - that would rarely produce prison sentences in other countries. And, in particular they are kept incarcerated far longer than prisoners in other nations.

The International Center for Prison Studies at Kings College in London, says America has 2.3 million criminals behind bars. China, which has four times our population, is a distant second with 1.6 million criminals in prison.

I do not consider myself either a liberal or a conservative. My thinking is more along the moderate lines. But I do consider myself a patriot. As such, I can't help but wonder what kind of message we send the world with such numbers.

In this One Person's Views, perhaps we should worry less about what other countries are doing and concentrate on our own problems and discrepancies and once again become the beacon the world has come to expect from leadership and example.

A New 007 Weapon ???

So often in the past things what we have seen fantasized has become reality. Anyone recall Dick Tracy's watch? It had two-way communication capabilities. How about microchips? They were once portrayed only in spy novels and movies. Now, we implant them in our pets.

Those of us who use computers routinely are familiar with malware, spyware, viruses and such things as worms. We know they can range from being a simple nuisance to inflicting massive damage on a computer's system or files. But what about a worm that is an actual cyber weapon created to cross from the digital realm to the physical world  - to destroy something.

Top cyber security experts say they have identified the world's first known cyber super weapon. The cyber worm named Stuxnet. After spending nearly four months reverse engineering Stuxnet they believe it was designed specifically to destroy a real world target. Could it be a factory, a refinery or just maybe a nuclear power plant?

This is not science fiction or a prelude to an upcoming television series or a movie. It is real. Ralph Langner, a German cyber-security researcher recently told the Christian Science Monitor "Until a few days ago, people did not believe a directed attack like this was possible." Today (Tuesday) he presented his findings at a conference of industrial control system security experts in Rockville, Maryland.

The cyber worm first become known in June and in July was considered to be an ultrasophisticated piece of work. Its author or authors are unknown as is its origin. What is known is in August researchers discovered Stuxnet seemed to be able to take control of systems it had infected and do whatever it might be programmed to do with them.

Senior U.S. cyber-security experts have confirmed Langner's findings. After reverse engineering large amounts of Stuxnet's code they concluded it is a precision, military-grade cyber missle deployed early last year to seek out and destroy an unknown real-world target of extreme importance.

"This is not about espionage." the German researcher said, "This is a 100% sabotage attack."

Michael Assanti, former cyber-security research chief with the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory stated: "What we are seeing with Stuxnet is the first view of something new that doesn't need outside guidance by a human but can still take control of your infrastructure."

Several other cyber-security experts agree with the classification of this cyber worm as a weapon.

So far it is estimated some 45,000 industrial control systems have been infected. One Canadian expert says majority of those infected are in Iran, Pakistan, India and Indonesia. However, some systems have been attacked in Germany, Canada and the United States.

Researching this has been like following a really good spy novel. It seems the epicenter of attacks has been Iran. Some reports claim the U.S. is acknowledged to have such cyber-war-fighting capability and Israel is also reported to have a formidable offensive cyber capability.

 Was the expected August start-up of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran really delayed by "hot weather" as one official stated?

Perhaps truth may well be stranger than fiction.

Poverty Hits Seniors Harder

For the first time in 51 years the poverty level in the United States has hit record numbers. Combine the unemployment rate with the difficult economic times and uncertainty, and we find a total of 43.6 million people lived in poverty last year, up from 39.8 million in 2008, according to the Census Bureau.

For years we have been hearing stories about senior citizens having to make a choice between buying the medication they need in their everyday lives or buying food. Today that choice continues to haunt them.

The National Academy of Science puts the poverty rate for senior citizens, those over 65, at twice the national level. The National Academy of Science differs in the formula used to arrive at the poverty figures. It is more realistic insofar as it takes into account medical expenses the federal method omits. One study done in New York City puts the number of those over 65 living below the poverty level at nearly one in three using a similar methodology.

 Cuts in social programs and slight decrease in charitable donations only adds fuel to the fire. Food banks across the country have seen an increase in the numbers of people turning to them for assistance. Drive past a Goodwill store or other "second-hand" store and the parking lot is much fuller than in the past.

According to ABC News, the average Social Security benefit check is $1,050. The Census Bureau defines the poverty level as one person who is making $10,830 a year and increases the level for a family of four to $22,050.

Simple math shows the reported average Social Security income for one person is only $1,770 dollars over the poverty level. This would account for many millions of people simply living on the edge, who don't have what they need to get by.

Last year the annual prosperity index, published by a highly respected London based research firm  listed our country as ninth in the world. In 2008 we were fourth, a drop of five places.

Is this the decline of America? Although the description of poverty affects everyone with a low income, people who have worked all their lives and believed in the American dream may be experiencing an American nightmare.

Once again, I don't know an answer to this growing problem except we all need to work together. We need to be united and not divided and rise above petty and sometimes selfish thinking to help each other. We need to be proactive with our elected officials and not complacent to let someone else do what needs to be done.

Look around you, do you know someone you can help? Not financially but maybe in a way that would save them a few dollars. Are they paying someone to change the oil in their vehicle? Would you do that for them and let them use that money for something else they need?

Just One Person's View on the possibilities of making a hard life a little easier. Get involved! Do something don't just read about it and say what damn shame it is.

Have a great weekend and help someone else do the same.

The Wisdom of Children

Those of us who are old enough to remember Art Linkletter will always remember a segment of his show he called "Kids say the darnedest things." As children across America venture out into their first year of school one first grade teacher shows us how right Mr. Linkletter was.

She collected well known proverbs and gave each child in her class half of a proverb. Then, she asked them to complete the remainder of it. The insight these six year-olds display may surprise you. And, they will definitely help start your week with a smile.

• Better to be safe than ..................................................punch a 5th grader.
• Strike while the ...........................................................bug is close.
• It's always darkest before .............................................Daylight Savings Time.
• Never underestimate the power of .................................termites.
• You can lead a horse to water but ..................................how?
• Don't bite the hand that .................................................looks dirty.
• No news is ...................................................................impossible.
• A miss is as good as ......................................................a mister.
• You can't teach an old dog .............................................new math.
• If you lay down with dogs, you'll ....................................stink in the morning.
• Love all, trust ................................................................me.
• The pen is mightier than ..................................................the pigs.
• An idle mind is ...............................................................the best way to relax.
• Where there's smoke there's ............................................pollution.
• Happy the bride who .......................................................gets all the presents.
• A penny saved is .............................................................not much.
• Two's company, three's ...................................................the Musketeers.
• Don't put off till tomorrow what .......................................you put on to go to bed.
• Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and ..........you have to blow your nose.
• There are none so blind as ...............................................Stevie Wonder.
• Children should be seen and not .......................................spanked or grounded.
• If at first you don't succeed ..............................................get new batteries.
• You get out of something only what you ........................... see in the picture in the box.
• When the blind leadeth the blind ........................................get out of the way.

      And the overall favorite:

• Better late than ................................................................pregnant!!!

Have a great week.

Nine Years Ago

Today will be filled with memorial events of the tragic attack on our country. Yet, my mind seems to be more focused not on September 11th, 2001 but rather September 12th of that year.

It was a day when the impact of the suicide attacks really took hold. Flags were proudly flown on our vehicles, our buildings and every imaginable place. America came together. Americans joined together in a common unity. This is OUR country that was attacked.

Churches, Synagogues, and yes, even Mosques were filled with those praying for our losses.   The attack was on the very soul of our great nation. And, as in the past, when our country is attacked there is no division between our citizens. We are united.

Strangers spoke to one another and joined together to help those they have never met. On that fateful day everyday men and women were heroes rushing to help. In the days that followed people from across our land gave of themselves to help those who suffered.

Yet, somehow, over the passage of time it seems we have fallen back into a more selfish mode. The unity we had for time has faded. Our great nation is again divided in so many areas.

I can't help but wonder what happened. The values and hopes we all shared on September 12th are still there, we simply need to remember them and return to the mindset we shared nine years ago.

A SPECIAL EDITION

A so called Christian church in Gainesville, Florida seems to have lost its way or, has elected to totally ignore the teachings of the one it claims to follow ... Jesus Christ.

This Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the attack by radical Islamists against the United States, this no less radical church plans to burn copies of the Koran. To the Muslim community the Koran is their Holy Book, no different than the Bible is to the Christian community.

According to the Bible, Christ gave his followers two commandments. One is: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34).

The Dove World Outreach Center claims to be a New Testament Church based on the Bible. At least that it what it professes on its website. Perhaps its pastor, Terry Jones, needs to read the Bible that church says it follows.

Burn the Koran? Book burning has a long and dark history. One of the more famous, or infamous, took place on May 10, 1933 when the Nazi regime burned the books it considered "un-German." The burning of books is recorded as far back as 213 BC by Qin Shi Huang in China.

In 1821, the writer Heinrich Heine wrote: "Where they burn books, they will end in burning human beings."

Indirectly Heine could be prophetic. Such an action will put our military at greater risk. Not just from the Taliban and those they facing in combat but the entire Islamic population. Where they are treated as friends now, they will be seen as enemies, simply by association with a handful of Christian fanatics. As a side note, the word fanatic has its roots in the word fantasy and these few people are certainly living in a fantasy world putting the rest of the world in jeopardy.

My stand on organized religion is not a secret. Although, I accord respect to those who believe and try to live their lives as their beliefs may dictate. However, this group and all those who tend to follow them, do not deserve the respect of any thinking individual.

To my knowledge, there is not a religion anywhere whose prayers and intercessions do not include peace for our fragile world. I wonder what their reaction would be if a splinter group of some religion decided to burn the Bible on Christmas or Easter.

Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, wrote in a letter in 1812: "The Devil does not want to lose this battle. He takes on many forms." 

In this One Person's Views, maybe Padre Pio's thoughts are right.

This self-proclaimed outreach is not only a threat to our national security but a disgrace to the Christian community. If they follow through with their plans, the Dove World Outreach Center will have accomplished more to harm our troops and their mission than any group carrying weapons.

Happy Labor Day

Any Monday that is a holiday is usually a good day for most people. For months I have tried to keep Mondays as a day to begin the week with a smile or at least to give you food for thought or that may serve as ammunition to drive your friends and co-workers a little nuts. 

Here are a few for this week:

• There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
• If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. 
• A penny saved is a government oversight.
• The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.
• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
• He who hesitates is probably right.
• If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
• The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he/she can tell when they're really in trouble.
• Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
• How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
• Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.
• If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
• Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!
• Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
• We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors ... but they all have to learn to live in the same box.
• A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
• Once over the hill, you pick up speed.
• If not for STRESS I'd have no energy at all.
• Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.
• Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have any film.
• You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.

Have a great week.

Attention Men ! ! !

During the past three months I've learned a valuable lesson. It is a simple one and something too many guys take for granted. Being a housewife is no easy task.

According to the Unites States Department of Labor, if you had to pay to have all the chores done in a home it would amount to a little over $1,130 per week, or $58,916 a year. And that's is without any children at home. If there are children, up the pay to $2,208 a week or $114,816 per year.

Sometimes it seems the work is never ending. Cleaning and vacuuming, laundry, selecting a menu and shopping, cooking, washing dishes, making the bed, taking care of the cat, taking the trash out and, in general, making sure it is a seamless job.

Should children be added to the task, we need to include child care, being a chauffeur, a recreation coordinator and tutor.

Three months ago my wife was hospitalized for a week and taking care of me became easy. At least for me it did. If I got hungry I'd eat and many times in a restaurant so I didn't have to cook and dirty anything I'd need to clean later. Laundry ... no big deal she had done it before her illness, I had plenty of clean clothes. Make the bed ... why?

Then she came home and for a while was unable to do many of these things. But, she recovered and I was relieved both that she was doing well and that she could once again accomplish things she had always done.

That was short lived. A fall in the garden fractured the orbit of one eye and reconstructive surgery was needed. Suddenly, I became chief cook and bottle washer. We had always shared household chores but this was different. I had the total responsibility for our home. Guys, NEVER take your wife's, girlfriend's or significant other's contribution for granted in your everyday life.

It seems the more I did, the more I realized there was still something else that needed to be done. When is the last time you cleaned your refrigerator? Or changed the sheets on the bed? How about cleaning the toilet? Somehow or other those jobs just seemed to have gotten done and we've never noticed.

Now, I have a greater appreciation of what it takes to make a house a home. A wise person once said: "Love makes a house a home." And now I know it's not just because it's clean and everything is done. It is because it is truly a massive amount of work and it is accomplished not for monetary gain or for accolades, it is simply because your significant other loves you and is happy when they see you are happy.

Once my wife is fully recovered and decides she needs to the things I've so poorly attempted I know the presents I'll give her. Sometime in the future I'll hire a service to come in and do all the household chores for a few days just to give her a break. I'll surprise her with breakfast or dinner out more often. And I'll be more aware about which clothes I wear when I'm doing something I know might stain them.

Just another thought ... should everything go to hell in a hand basket in your relationship ... Don't show her this blog. She might think a good divorce attorney could add back pay for all the years she's been "just a housewife."