Time For Change...

This blog was originally intended to express my views on Native America (thus the name "Spirit Whispers".) And it's time I did that. So, much of what is on this site will be, over the next few days, migrated to my "Brilliant Midnight" blog.

But in the meantime...

Native America is dying in a most tragic and painful way and not a single man, woman or child in this county should turn their eyes away.

On the other hand, some are trying sincerely to renew the culture and celebrate the old ways, as they once were.

Enough tonight...more to come.

Read more!

London, England: February 3rd 2006

Like me you may have received an email this week containing pictures of extemists (I REFUSE to ascribe any religious affiliation to them) demonstrating in London.

While the email may refer to a date in May, these pictures actually document activity that took place on February 3, 2006 in central London.

There's no doubt, those pictures are alarming.

Here's a link to the Nine Eleven/Finding Answers (NEFA) Foundation's website which filmed the event. Once you enter the main site, click on the Prophet Mohammed Cartoon Protest" at the top of the page, which takes you to the video.

Life is forever changed.

Read more!

It's time ...

Tonight is the first time in months I've sat down to write.

I want to share some thoughts with you about a day that is dedicated to a group of American service men and women. A day celebrated annually in September--National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

It saddens my heart we still need such a day--they should all be home by now. But consider if you will, that today the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office lists thousands of men and women as unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and even the 1991 Gulf War.

On the POW/MIA flag, there is a motto "You Are Not Forgotten". Make sure we never forget.

War is never considerate, but a horrible business indeed. I often wonder of the many young men and women who stand on the corners raising their signs in protest against the most recent war, what they have done personally to prevent war. Now wait, I respect each for taking a stand, regardless of how popular it may or may not be.

Youth is best savored with a passionate outlook on life, rather than indifference.

Speaking out against war, takes action--real action. It's not just a few hours on a sunny day. In our country, as incredible as it is, and I say that based on experience as I've lived in many different cultures, we collectively have a habit of treating only the symptoms, not searching for the real root cause of a problem.

Expressed another way, we don't have the guts, or the willingness as a country--some individuals aside--to dig down deep inside ourselves and find that root cause (or perhaps causes) for some of the most significant issues facing this country.

Many of the problems folks complain about--education, healthcare, energy consumption, drugs, Katrina--have all had quick fixes prescribed based on the symptoms. Think about it and you'll see what I'm referring to here.

So what does this have to do with being against war?

Let me offer that peace is not just an absence of war, but also the absence of all those reasons for the violence. If you really want to protest the war, find the root cause for the violence and do something to, if nothing else, at least help eliminate it.

Look, if you live in a moldy house, you'll mostly likely get sick. Treating the symptoms still leaves you with the cause of your sickness, unless and until, you treat the cause. You must rid yourself of the mold.

Same applies for war. We'll always have war, unless and until we rid ourselves of the causes of violence that lead to war.

Consider for instance if poverty and hunger were eliminated; if arrogant consumption was curtailed; if we got back to some solid core values; or fought natural disasters one country shoulder to shoulder with one another.

So to all those who cry out in anger over the war in Iraq, what have you done for the family down the street who has no heat in the dead of winter; for the single mother with 3 kids who can't afford food or shoes for her kids; to make your family stronger; to help those who need it?

It all starts with that one small step. Okay so maybe that's a tired old phrase, but it's still very true today.

Read more!

What does it take?

A PhD friend of mine, when he's not being a professor, or being a most notable expert in his field, works a small farm here in northern Alabama.

He walked into my office this morning and asked me a question I just couldn't answer.

And just as you'd expect, this problem was full of complicated and interconnected concepts, various physics and engineering principles.

In the end, it came down to a very simply stated question.

But let's slip away from this intriguing problem for a moment, and let me tell you about a letter to the editor of a local paper, from someone who had just watched the animated movie "Chicken Run".

With all sincerity, she wrote that after watching the movie, she had an epiphany.

Chickens could have friends!

Yes, CHICKENS could have FRIENDS!

As a result, the writer stated she would never again eat chicken!

Oh yeah, the problem? Simply stated...how do you get a rambunctious, fast-running, highly elusive Rhode Island Red rooster who's just found his freedom roaming the fields, back in the henhouse!

Well, I guess runaway Red isn't really friends with the girls in the coop, after all.

Read more!

The Cost of Caring (Part Two)

To help states cope with large unfunded expenditures caused by the growing use of services by illegal aliens, the federal government passed legislation in 2003 that set aside $1 billion to establish a reimbursement process for health care afforded to them.

See, for many years the cost of providing health care to illegal aliens--now estimated to number between 8 million and 12 million--has been a drain on many states, especially border states and those with large illegal alien populations.

Recently, the AP reported "the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued final guidance..." for reimbursement.

But the problem still remains. For so long we have chosen in this country to treat the obvious symptoms, not the root cause of the problem.

The problem is not the high cost of treating illegal aliens. The problem is the access illegal aliens are allowed to have to our services.

Look, if the neighbors next door--who you might have never met--walked into your house uninvited every night, sat down to dinner, and ate so much of your food that your family nearly went without, what would do?

Sure, some of us might sincerely want to help out -- and I'd be at the front of the line. But there's a big difference between a hand up and a just taking what you have not earned.

Is it just a matter of law and we arbitrarily refuse treatment to those who need it, because they are not legally in this country?
But what of that higher law, which causes us to each have a commitment to our fellow man?

(To be continued...)

Read more!

The Cost of Caring (Part One)

Collectively, we are an incredibly caring nation. But the question many have asked, how much caring can we afford?

In August of 1997, California Governor Wilson's budgetary decision to cut prenatal care to 70,000 illegal immigrants received lots of negative publicity, but was upheld by the state appellate court. At that time, prenatal care for illegal immigrants cost California taxpayers $83.7 million.

Los Angeles County health care costs in 2002 for illegal aliens was reported to be about $350 million.

In December 2004, the Washington Times reported illegal immigrants in the state of California cost the taxpayers "$10.5 billion a year for education, health care and incarceration... ."

On the opposite coast, a Washington Times article reported the Maryland State Comptroller claimed 2003 costs for emergency care of illegal aliens was $44 million. Some within the Maryland government estimated the state's 2004 total cost would be closer to $100 million.

These numbers are staggering!

Yet, news media continue to report on-going arguments over whether or not children of illegal aliens should be entitled to enroll in college at the in-state resident rates, vs the out of state rates.

And in some states, illegal aliens are even reported to be receiving rental assistance.

Imagine how far those dollars would go to provide health care, college educations, or rental assistance to US citizens.

(To be continued...)

Read more!

Lyrics, images and hypocrisy.

Why is it that a large--perhaps overly large--retailer refuses to sell music and video media with certain language or images, yet sells paint-ball guns, knives, shotguns and semi-automatic weapons?

Now, don't get me wrong. Paint ball is a great sport, knives have lots of reasonable uses, and some folks still hunt to feed their families (though they probably don't need a semi-auto to do it.)

Paint ball teaches tactics and strategy with the goal of "killing" others, while avoiding being hit yourself.

So, this retailer seems to think it's okay to promote a sport like paint ball, to sell knives, shotguns and semi-autos. Yet it's NOT okay to sell music and visual media because of the words or images they contain.

Does that mean the lyrics and images are more powerful than actions?

What is it we really fear?

Regardless of what those fears might be, the music has routinely either been blamed for our problems, or certain songs banned altogether during the last half-century.

In fact classicbands.com has a great page listing banned music over the past 50-odd years.

But getting back to the retailer who seems to be invoking a moral prerogative...that's fine. But please don't let it be selective. Apply that morality with equal vigor throughout both your support and retail operations.

That would be a welcomed step away from the hypocrisy!

Read more!

Ribs, Music and ... Refreshment.

The 5th Annual Rocket City BBQ and Whistle Stop Festival was recently the gathering place for some of the country's best cooks all hoping to win the coveted title of Alabma State BBQ Champion!

Now let me tell you, if you like BBQ, this was definitely the place to be with some of the finest tasting ribs, brisket and chicken to be had anywhere.

And leading up to Mark Chestnut's Saturday night show, were several groups including the Aerosmith and Eagles Tribute Bands Draw the Line and Tequila Sunrise.

It was another weekend in Alabama of good fun and great music. Ya'll ought to check us out sometime this summer.

Read more!