What Do You Do With A Dream?

Corey Ray

What do you do with a dream? Logically, you pursue it and make a dream become a reality! Sometimes, it seems to take forever and that's when patience becomes a virtue. This is what my great nephew, Corey Ray, is facing now. Corey has always loved music and is a talented drummer. I believe he has found his niche. He loves music, playing the drums, and heavy metal. This is where he enters his dream and where he begins his journey to reality.

He is based in Maine and has played in small venues but hopefully he will be able to increase his audience nationwide, soon. I will keep my readers updated because it is fun to follow a person with great talent as they pursue a dream.

Good Luck Corey! Keep On Keeping On!

Independence Day - God Bless America

In June 1776, Richard Henry Lee from Virginia proposed a resolution of independence from Britain. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the resolution. After approval, Congress wanted a Declaration of Independence to explain their decision.

A Committee of Five men shown in the picture above wrote it up. Congress debated on the declaration and revised it. The Declaration of Independence was finally approved on July 4th. The Committee of Five was composed of Roger Sherman, a lawyer and politician from Connecticut; Benjamin Franklin, a writer, a spokesman, an ambassador, etc; Thomas Jefferson, the third President of The United States; John Adams, the second President of The United States; Robert Livingston, a lawyer, politician, and diplomat from New York.

My favorite part of the declaration is the first part:

"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 - That to secure these rights,

(Now the next part becomes interesting -remember this come election time)

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government....."

It appears that we are approaching the threshold of the above statement. Our government is out of control. As each member of Congress comes up for re-election, we need to vote for the person running against that incumbent - no matter what party. Taking sides is evidently not working. I think it's time for career politicians to go home. If any Senator or Representative has served 2 terms, GO HOME! If they haven't fixed the problems of our beloved country in 8 years, they have failed.

~ Now Back To Independence Day ~

Just why do we celebrate Independence Day with parades, fire works, etc. Could it have been initiated by John Adams?

John Adams wrote this letter to his wife on July 3, 1776 - the day after the declaration was presented and the day before its final approval.

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more".

In conclusion, there is one series of coincidences that should be mentioned - both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Follow Up On Illegal Immigration

I read a news story on fox.com and I couldn't believe it. "About 3,500 acres of southern Arizona have been closed off to U. S. citizens due to increased violence at the U. S. - Mexico border, according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. U. S. Fish and Wildlife officials have warned visitors in Arizona to beware of heavily armed drug smugglers and human traffickers."

That is enough. It is negligence on the part of our government when Americans have been banned from a part of our country because of a threat of safety. This sounds like something that takes place in a third world county. The law enforcement in Arizona needs Federal help in guarding the border - NOW!

Please read this story at http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/16/closes-park-land-mexico-border-americans/

Be sure to watch the video, too. If all of this doesn't make you support the Arizona Illegal Immigration law - nothing will.

She's Had An Incredible Journey But It's Time To Retire

Helen Thomas has been a journalist for over 50 years but it's time for her to retire. She has covered U. S. news and issues, domestic and foreign, for so many years. She has been opinionated but yet, honorable in her journalism. She was born in 1920 and is 89 years old. It's time - Ms. Thomas - to get in the rocking chair and enjoy a little relaxation. The latest news on the "Thomas front" is that she has resigned. This decision came after her remarks about Israel. She evidently stated that Israel should get the hell out of Palestine.

After that insensitive remark, she didn't have much of a choice. However, she still should be honored for her past years of bringing world issues to life for us. Believe me, I didn't agree with her opinions on many issues but she had the right to report them as she saw them. Unfortunately, she went a little too far this time.

What Is Right Is Right and What Is Wrong Is Wrong

Is this demonstration picture for real? I have seen it several places on the internet, including in an e-mail but I have yet to see the credit for the picture. If it is authentic, please accept my advice demonstrators - this is not a sign that will win friends and influence people.

Dear Readers, I usually try to stay away from political issues in my blog but when I feel strong about something, it bothers me not give my opinion. As with any political issue, there are a vast amount of opinions. I am not writing this to say that everybody should share my opinion. But, this is mine!

I believe that Arizona' s new immigration law is "right on". Arizona has the right to pass this law and enforce it. The Federal government said they have had an immigration law for years but it hasn't been enforced. So, Arizona - if the federal government is unwilling to pass and enforce an effective immigration law "like yesterday" - then You Rock On!

I am not saying that immigrants should not be welcomed to our country. I am saying no amnesty should be granted to those here illegally. The illegals that are here should be sent back to where they came from and then enter the U. S. legally just like all the immigrants from other countries. My ancestors had to do it legally and so did yours. So why, all of a sudden, does this particular ethnic group think the U. S. immigration laws don't apply to them? I know immigrants who have spent years going through the system legally because they really want to be an American. A Big Welcome To Them!

So - illegals - Go home - Apply for citizenship legally - Do mounds of paper work like other nationalities that want to become U. S. citizens and you will be welcomed back by most American citizens. Your actions now and the defiance of the illegal immigrants are not winning you very much support.

That brings me to learning English. Every other nationality that immigrated here didn't have the privilege of pressing # 2 for their native language. If you love America and want to be an American - LEARN ENGLISH. English should be the only primary language in America. Of course, I realize that it may take you a while to learn it. You'll just have to do what the other immigrants have done in the past and what the present-day immigrants from other countries are doing, get a friend or family member that speaks English to help you navigate through the system until you do learn it.

In conclusion, what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Immigration laws are the same for all nationalities - no exceptions.

I read the Arizona Immigration Bill SB1070 to see for myself what it is all about before approaching this topic in my blog. I see nothing unfair about it. If you would like to read it in its entirety, here is the link. After you read it, you can then made an informed decision yourself.

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

Celebration Of Those Who Fought For Our Freedom Part VIII

Today's war - The War On Terror - is still raging. Our brave men and women are still serving in the Middle East to keep us safe and to preserve out freedom here at home. Let us not forget 9-11 - Never Forget!!!

There is a horrible enemy trying to destroy our nation. Meeting them, bowing to them, apologizing (for some unknown reason), hugging them is not going to stop them. We just need to get one step ahead of them and stay there. Believe me - I am a "hawk" when it comes to this war. Being weak and trying to negotiate with them is a terrible mistake. Please read and remember history and see what avoiding a needed armed conflict will get you.

Thank you Veterans for serving in this war and thank you to all the men and women who are still fighting this war for us. God Bless You All!!!

Celebration Of Those Who Fought For Our Freedom Part VII

The next war resulting from the Cold War was the Vietnam War. In 1961, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pledges support for "wars of national liberation" throughout the world. His statement greatly encourages Communists in North Vietnam to escalate their armed struggle to unify Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh.

John F. Kennedy is inaugurated as the 35th U. S. President and declares "...we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to insure the survival and the success of liberty." President Kennedy sends 400 American Green Beret "Special Advisors" to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese soldiers in methods of counter insurgency in the fight against Viet Cong guerrillas.

More and more advisors were sent to help the South Vietnamese fight against their Communist aggression. The first U. S. troops entered Vietnam in 1965. Until 1969, North Vietnam and the U. S. did most of the fighting. By 1969, the Vietnam War seemed endless, and the U. S. slowly began to withdraw troops. In January 1973, a cease fire was arranged. The last U. S. ground troops left Vietnam two months later. Despite the treaty, fighting between North and South Vietnam resumed soon afterward, but U. S. troops did not return. The war finally ended on April 30, 1975 when South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam.

American heroes who lost their lives in this war numbered 58,151. As previously stated, all the men and women who ever put on a uniform to preserve our freedom is a hero in my book. Thank you!