Welcome Back Kotter... I mean, Mike

It has been a while.

A lot has happened... in the news... in my personal life... and it's been hard to think of the words to explain my take on them... hence, the absence.

I have taken a different stance on things as of late. I've tried to stay neutral, which makes opinionated writing very difficult. The trade-off is worth it. I feel that I approach things more logically, am more open to different views, and can contribute more to a conversation without emotions getting the best of me.

That is what my life is ultimately about. Keeping my emotions under control.

First off (and this is something I've been trying not to say outloud too much lest I get my hopes up and it can never be)... I'm looking into joining the Freemasons. I've been researching it for some time, and the more I learn about it the more I'm excited about it. The organization, the rituals, the symbols, the history, the charity, literally everything. I hope that I can call myself a Mason someday... because honestly, I feel it would give me some direction and meaning that I need.

You just don't see enough of everything the Freemasons embody today. The politeness of members, the exchanging of ideas, the compassion... it's remarkable. I have not once been discouraged by the "nay sayers"... or those who are just out to discredit and attack the Freemasons. For every single negative viewpoint I find, I find twenty positives... for every 1 negative thing a religious group states, I find a countless number of responses... both historical and logical... that prove that no matter how great something is, someone will always hate it. Just or not.

If you don't believe there's unbelievable injustice in the world... or downright ignorance running rampant... take a look at the Westboro Baptist Church.

So I can't believe the negative things I hear. Because I let my own reasoning, my own research, and my own logic override it.

It's this reasoning that I have always held. Does it make sense? Do I agree? Can I be dissuaded?

My views are everchanging, but I have found something constant in the Freemasons. I look forward to seeing where this path takes me.

Some good news to announce... my brother in law is about to have another child as is my sister. Yes, she just had a son. I'm very excited for her... and not envious of having two children under two. Lots of diaper changes and feedings are in her future...

Alright... now that which I have felt mixed emotions about. A huge news event. A huge world event.

Osama Bin Laden. I remember hearing the news right as I got home from a visit to Spokane. Immediately my fiance and I turned on the news just in time to catch the first airing of Obama's address giving information. It was remarkable the mix of emotions I felt. This huge part of everyone's lives was finally resolved. He was gone. Can there be backlash? I'm sure. But a serious, deathblow was struck against the heart of terrorism. It felt great.

My great mood wasn't even deterred by some idiot who decided to put bumperstickers saying the government orchestrated 9/11 on our street's stop sign. I currently have a framed copy of the next morning's newspaper framed in the office.

So what are my feelings? I don't know that I can answer that yet. It's something I feel had to be done and that I'm glad was done. Do I feel the lack of a photo and a body was suspicious? Yes. Yet what would we rather have? Constant news airings of a death photo? His body in a travelling show? I think we handled this with maturity and respect, although I know a lot of people aren't that concerned with respecting him in any fashion. In my eyes, despite the atrocities, it's a question of decency. I think not releasing a picture is better for our country... because the last thing I would want is for my little girl to one day be able to google "Bin Laden" and see a picture of a dead man with a bullet hole in his head. No thanks.

I take enough solace in knowing he's gone. And despite the suspicions... I ultimately believe we got him in Pakistan. The way it was reported. Because logic dictates it.

So those are the big things going on. Now... I'm more than exhausted. Hope to update this again soon.

I was half tempted to put this on my news channel

Alright.  So yeah, I'm a Republican by nature.  In the basic ideals the term embodies.  In most of the key issues the politicians under the term defend.  However, I'm coming to the point where I'm not sure I can call myself a Republican anymore.

I find things right with my party of choice.  More than I find in the other parties out there.  But lately I'm losing faith.

In politics?  No.  In the government?  Certainly not.  Just in the train wreck heading our way next election.

If Donald Trump and Sarah Palin are serious candidates for the Republican party... I can't understand what happened.

Politics have devolved.  The issues that each politician beliefs in... the agenda he supports... is forgotten.  I don't care if it's popular.  I don't care if it's accepted by those in my age group or older.  One thing you support that I agree with or want for this country isn't enough.  You have to be stable enough to handle the job... the best interests of the people... and stand against the allure of popularity. 

Like being part of a reality show. 

I don't need a celebrity in office.  I need someone who's going to fix our economy.  Tackle the problems of today.  Be competent enough to stand up against all the threats... domestic and abroad.  I need to be able to sleep at night, not worrying about whether or not you're smart enough to get through an interview without looking like an idiot.

If Sarah Palin can't get through an interview... a simple back and forth with questions that YOU SHOULD HAVE THE ANSWERS TO... how is she going to deal with the complexities of the most important job in the nation.

We need to remember that the President isn't an American Idol.  He is a celebrity only in the sense that we know who he is.  Not because he said something stupid.  Not because he did drugs.  Not because her daughter got pregnant.  Not because he can use slang and hit flies and look at you like "hey what's the big deal."  He should be a celebrity because he can command the authority of his position with wisdom.  With capability.  In the end he should be a celebrity because he isn't a celebrity.  He's the President.  Eloquent words.  Words with meaning.  Actions with more.  And the direction with advancement in mind... not degradation.

The sad part is... we're either going to see huge changes under a Democratic platform next election... huge changes that avoid the key changes we need...

Or we're going to have a Republican whose interests aren't where we need them... an ongoing joke... where we can only cross our fingers and pray that we make it through the next four years... and that no lasting damage is caused to what used to pass as who should be President of the United States.