Sources of Irritation

Take a look at this jackwagon.

A Michigan man who won $2 million in a state lottery game continues to collect food stamps 11 months after striking it rich.

And there's nothing the state can do about it, at least for now.

Leroy Fick, 59, of Auburn won $2 million in the state lottery TV show "Make Me Rich!" last June. But the state's Department of Human Services determined he was still eligible for food stamps, Fick's attorney, John Wilson of Midland, said Tuesday.

Character must be at an all-time low in this country. The attitude that everyone owes a person is at an all-time high. "I am going to get what's mine, whether I earned it or not" is a value that has been proliferated by government.

Emotional Motives And The Decline Of Common Sense

I know that many have told me I am cynical. Tis true, I cannot argue.

But how can I help it when the overt incompetence surrounds us so tightly? Anyone that has the slightest bit of abstract reasoning abilities can plainly discern we are living in a very mad world right now. It is compounded by the fact that there is a culture of paradoxical value systems. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right, on one side of the coin. On the other side, we still have some people who are desperately trying to speak sensibly. But they are being shouted down and labeled offensive hatemongers.

There is no better illustration of reversal of values, than where Mustang gives us a short but poignant history lesson. I would highly recommend reading it.

To think that there are people who actually believe they are smart enough to charm their way into the hearts and minds of people who hate our guts. It wouldn't be so bad if there were a minute possibility it would work. In fact, I cannot think of a time when such hostility has ever been successfully resolved by appeasement, certainly not with any long-term positive outcomes. Bring this up at a dinner party where liberals are being seen in public and you will find yourself being demonized for not being on the right side of this argument, and fast.

Another example of pure idiocy is found here.

There's a new bogeyman lurking in the closet, and this one isn't imaginary. Us. One out of three children aged 6 to 11 fears that Ma Earth won't exist when they grow up, while more than half—56 percent—worry that the planet will be a blasted heath (or at least a very unpleasant place to live), according to a new survey.

It's not idiocy for the results of the survey, but for the lack of proof from these claimants. I wonder if any of the posters at this site, think it would be helpful to publish a link to the actual survey, to review the samples, the methodology, and the usual things an intelligent person would use to decide whether the study was a good one, or not. But on the chance that it is a good study, how can we claim we are surprised when these masters of the error are advancing scare tactics, to promote their weak and faulty claims?

It's so difficult to imagine this is what the founding fathers had envisioned when they drew up the blueprints for this nation. Somehow I cannot fathom that this is what they had in mind. The men that sought to protect its citizenry from the overreaching control of government would be astounded to see how insidiously liberties have been stripped from Americans, for no other reason but for government control. Feelings have been elevated above common sense.

I tell you, and I am not exaggerating. We are a little less than a generation away from the biggest farce of a culture, we will ever see. This world may never recover completely if this madness is not stopped along with the liars, who are perpetuating these dangerous myths.

Orwell had it so right. Only his timing was just a little off in his prophetic metaphorical analysis.

Michael Phelps: Flying High

Here comes Mikey.

Michael Phelps.

Mike worked hard training to achieve a goal and the objective was met. This has to be a story for the ages, right there. No need to go any further. Stop.

But no, we are not stopping there.

It seems that Michael was photographed smoking pot from a bong and now the world is agog. Some have assumed a holier-than-thou, he should be held accountable by losing the $100 million in contracts, etc., etc., etc. Many of these people were never 23, they never made a mistake. Just ask them. Others may be so under the influence, they still haven't heard the news story, even yet. They are not sure what day it is.

With this scenario in mind, this is your lucky day. PYY readers will get two rants in one post:

The drug laws in the U.S. are antiquated and hypocritical. Let's just (for this argument) take marijuana and alcohol, for instance. Both are drugs, no? Both create euphoria, right? One is legal, the other is not. Makes sense, right?

Wrong.

The history of alcohol in the U.S. should teach us the lessons we need to know about this. Prohibition is the era, in particular.

Remember how alcohol distribution went underground and created the opportunity for the growth of organized crime? Well, take a look around now. Marijuana is one of the modern day mob enterprises. Knowing this to be the case, what sense does it make to create these opportunities today?

We know that demand is there, we know that supply is there. We know that the war on drugs has not worked.

If for no other reason in the world, look at the fiscal end of it. Money is getting dumped into this and has had little effect (if any) on the demand or the supply. The vast majority of the war on drugs has been on supply. This to to say, it has been spent on enforcement of the laws, by making criminals out of these people. I am sorry folks, but it just isn't working. Why keep beating a dead horse?

How about this? How about we legalize marijuana? Alcohol destroys many lives, wrecks homes, kills people. Far more so, than marijuana. So I am not accepting this particular argument, which many will be tempted to counterpoint with me.

Allow pot to be sold in liquors stores with the same laws as the liquor industry. Then, tax the hell out of it. Stop tying up jail space and police officers wasting time arresting people like Waldo (who likes to smoke a joint on the weekends in the privacy in his own home).

The exceptions to this should be driving under the influence and providing it to minors. If someone is caught doing either, throw the book at them.

Now, I promised two rants. I want to make good on that promise.

This one is directed at Michael and others athletes/celebrities that require physical health, drive, and dedication to perform their jobs. Knowing how Mike had all of these contracts lined up, knowing how he could be financially secure for life, what kind of an idiot cannot show the self discipline it takes to make that kind of money? Like the NBA stars that get busted at the beginning of training camp doing stupid stuff (SEE: Indiana Pacers, before this year), why is it that they cannot behave themselves long enough to perform their craft to the best of their ability?

As for Michael specifically, despite my liberality in the drug laws debate, I think you should leave that crap alone. You need to keep your body as healthy as you can, for as long as you can. That's the talent you have been given, that's the talent you should use to the best of your ability. You started out with nothing, your mom busted her backside to help you get where you are now. Don't blow it for a few moments of socialization and escape.

And the same goes to others.

If you want to be a doctor, leave that stuff alone. Do not compromise your ability to think clearly, so you can learn what you need to learn. And later, you can use what you learn without distractions. Teachers, lawyers, businessmen and women, whatever, it will not make you any more successful by doing it.

If it affects your ability to exercise good judgments, it cannot be a good thing.

No one is going to care if you screw your own lives up without affecting them. But they will, if you screw up their lives in the process.

Think about it.

Fun At The Fair

Last Saturday, Mrs. Sunsett decided that was the day we would make our annual trek to see the Indiana State Fair. Never mind that we go every year, it is a tradition that cannot be broken, once started.

Not much new here this year except for one event that my wife thoroughly enjoyed, many more times than I could/did (being the sports fan in the family). Don't get me wrong, this was a very interesting hour speaking to these guys.

Here are the four remaining members of the 1954 Milan Indiana basketball team that won the state championship, back when Hoosier Hysteria meant something (when there was a single class tournament and one champion). It was the team of which the 1986 movie Hoosiers was based on. This was about a true to life David that slew a true to life Giant. Interestingly enough in this saga, the giant was not evil, he was just the giant and the David was just the David.

The gentleman that is second from the left is Bobby Plump, the guy that hit the real shot to win the real game. He spoke of the time George Steinbrenner had Lee Iaccocca on his private plane for a flight to somewhere (long enough to watch a movie). At first, Lee balked at watching a movie about Indiana high school basketball history. After George talked him into it, he relented. After watched it, he said it was one of the greatest motivational movies he'd ever seen. In fact, he wanted to see it again on the way back.

Here are the four surviving members of the "Milan Miracle":





One of the attractions that the Fair offers, year-round, is a replica of a historical Hooks Drug Store, a chain of drugstores deeply rooted in the history of Indiana. Here is the outside of where the druggist worked:



Here is the inside:



These were some of the items that were probably some of the most popular:



When the cost of your tofu goes up, you can look no further than the use of soy diesel. It is used exclusively in all Fair shuttles:



One the regulars here is Amerloque. He raises apples. I clearly had him in mind, when I snapped these:





No trip to the Fair is complete without looking at the animals. This year, we gave some of that time to visit with the Milan guys. But we did manage to see some of the cows:





Do you like history? Like to walk in it? Anyone who wonders why the spirit of rugged individualism is still alive and well, can see by taking a tour of this popular annual exhibition. Here are a few shots of Pioneer Village, the first is from the barbershop:



Here a typical daytime farm kitchen, where the family had breakfast and lunch:



Here are a couple pics of the evening kitchen, where the evening meal was eaten:





These are just a few of the many shots I was able to get off, when I was not looking for something good to eat. This year we went lighter than usual. Only one funnel cake (as a hazardous ingestion material) was consumed by yours truly. The rest of my diet was fairly healthy. No fried Oreos or candy bars, this year.

I may post more later, if anyone is interested.

What The 60s Hath Wrought

There is a group of people here and elsewhere in the world that look at the 60s as an era that brought a new social order, which at that time was supposed to change the world and make it a beautiful place. It was billed as nothing less than utopia and featured a group of people that believed Marxism was the future, which would bring this whole fantasy to fruition. Down with the establishment, up with the movement (whichever one was protesting at the time).

LBJ promised us the Great Society, where hunger and poverty would someday be eliminated. But instead, it has brought government dependency and laziness, and poverty is still every bit as problematic today. If the Great Society legislative programs of 1965 were so successful, why were radicals so restless in their protests in 67, 68 and 69? Did we not hear how the Watts riots were a direct result of the despair and frustration of being black and in poverty?

If this notion that people can truly be equal by simultaneously eliminating the rich and the poor if it were possible, wouldn't it stand to reason that the Soviet bloc would still have the same economic system as they did in the 60s? Wouldn't they be dominating the markets right now under those weak and unnatural systems? Would not China and the USSR be the dominate forces in the world now? They may be someday, but socialism has played no role whatsoever in their resurgences. But capitalism has.

Today we have Obama desperately trying to convince us he is the agent of change and can best take us into the future. if this is the case, why is his campaign trying to repeat the magic of JFK in Berlin. Why are they invoking the 60s as their measuring stick of influence? To me, it sounds like they are looking to the past and not the future.

Victor Davis Hanson's latest essay features some interesting aspects of the 60s, all of which are difficult to refute unless one has their thinking clouded with lysergic acid diethylamide. His take is more poignant than mine and features a recurrent theme that has some pretty strong roots in that same 60s era. It's known as hypocrisy.

Give it a read when you get a chance.

There's No One Answer To Energy Crisis

The premier issue this fall will be the energy crisis, more specifically the cost of it. I maintain right here and now, the one that wins this Presidential race will be the one that can develop, and then, effectively promote a cogent and workable energy policy.

I listen to those on the left and the right make their cases everyday on what is wrong and what needs to be done. Over and over again, we hear the pundits screeching their way is the way and the opposition's plans are worthless and will not work.

The right says drilling for more oil domestically, developing more nuclear power plants, and reviving coal as an alternative source are all valid answers. Paradoxically, the left believes that punishing the oil companies, conservation, and alternative sources that involve businesses which are lobbying the left, who they think will guide us out of this mess.

Both think they are right, the other is wrong, and there is no in between. This is known as politics as usual, and resembles nothing of the "change" that is so highly touted by everyone, who has a vested interest in government and/or those that stand to profit (one way or another).

Simply put, here is what must happen if we are to ever succeed at getting a handle on this situation:

1. We must drill. We should let the oil companies drill at ANWR and anywhere else that has oil deposits. But, it must be done in the most environmentally safe method possible and we must insist that refineries are built to accommodate the extra oil that should be flowing in a few years. Additionally, it must be stipulated that oil companies do not sell the oil on the open world market. If we do not have refining capacity for this new oil or we open it up to bidding, we will see no real benefit.

2. Detroit must start reducing fuel consumption by designing cars that use less fuel. Whether it is hybrids or just autos that get better MPG, this has to be done for any real progress can be made.

3. We must develop alternative forms of energy. To rely on one source (and one source only) is about the stupidest thing any civilization can do, if they want to ensure a crash and burn scenario. In the true spirit of capitalist competition, all forms of alternative energy that do not involve the food supply should be looked at carefully and circumspectly.

Some of the forms that should be looked at are:

A. Nuclear Power - Three Mile Island happened almost 30 years ago. Technology has greatly improved since then. So what's the problem? Environmentalists that are paranoid of another TMI accident scenario playing out. Europe knows how to do it, why can't we?

B. Coal - The same thing applies here. Find a way to use it in an environmentally sound way and this resource can make a reasonable dent in our energy demands.

C. Wind Power - We have wind out the wazoo in the bread basket. Want to see how? Check this presentation out.

D. Oil Shale - This is a tough sell, from what I understand it's a tougher process to convert this resource into energy. But, this still affords us all an opportunity to reduce dependency on crude.

E. Hydrogen and other abundant gases - I am not a scientist but surely there other elements that can fill some of the void.

F. Solar Power - It's there, it's free. I cannot see it going away anytime soon.

All these things are nice and will go far, but there is one thing that has to be part of the equation, no matter how we attack this:

4. We must reduce our demand, by good old conservation. It must be voluntary, but I have no problem with creating incentives to do so.

Again I say to all, there is no one solution. The person that can include all of these things as part of a comprehensive energy policy, will be living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next year. But he must not promise and fail to deliver. There is no guarantee that either of these candidates will come through. And if neither will get on the train, in four short years we will be in worse shape than ever before.




(HT for the Wind Power link goes to Mustang at Social Sense, for e-mailing it to me)

The Functional Identity Crisis Of America?

If you haven't guessed by now, my favorite essayist on the internet today is Victor Davis Hanson. It's not because his essays help me post something on days that otherwise would be slow or days that I am extra busy.

Believe me, he does make it easy for me when those things happen. But the real reason I like him, he makes so much damned sense.

His latest hits the nail right on the head again. It should cause our elected leaders, as well as those the vote for them, to think about the direction America has taken and appears to be headed again in this election cycle. Granted, not many will read his wisdom and if they do, they will not heed his advice. But know this, their lack of interest in what he has to say does not mean his words are any less true.

March Of The French Cowboys

I have been on blogs that have certain regulars who write things which give the distinct impression, they feel French culture is superior to others. Certainly, they are entitled to their narrow views. But in the grand scheme of things, their folly sometimes doth precede them in the midst of their cavalier presentations.

I have read words like redneck, hick, and hilljack, as they present their arrogant and presumptuous opinions. With noses as high as Mt. Everest, they mock and ridicule Americans, especially those in rural and southern America. They perceive them as lacking in intelligence and class. And when visiting the US, they speak highly of the arts scene in NY, LA, or other high society cities that promote European art forms (over and above others that have no root, in the American continent).

Not all are this way of course, and to say so would come across as narrow-minded and bigoted. But many are and they know who they are.

These are they which prefer Achille-Claude Debussy, Guillaume de Machaut, and Pierre Boulez over Hank Williams (Sr. and Jr.), Willie Nelson, and Garth Brooks. They are also the ones that believe a classical waltz or ballet is far superior to a square dance or line dance, as meaningful expression of art. Personal preferences are a good thing to exercise, but not when one purposefully denigrates another to make their choice look better than it really is. (People do this, when their own self-esteem is low and need others to be in the tank with them.)

Why? You'd have to ask them, for I cannot speak for them. But I can say they will soon be forced to take a look at this attitude. I say this because, there is a new American import that appears to be gaining some serious popularity in the Republique.

They turn out in their hundreds in Stetsons and boots as hits such as the Crazy Foot Mambo and the Cowboy Strut echo around their village halls.

They are drawn by a love of American culture - although definitely not American politics - and a passion for line dancing, which enables them to swing but avoid all human contact.

Many of the people I write of claim that America has no endemic culture of their own. (And that which we do have have, has been borrowed from other countries.) They are partially right. But by the law of inference, this makes them partially wrong too. It is true that much of our culture is based on our European roots. But before the arrival of Europeans to this continent, there were a vast number of Indian tribes that had their own culture, independent of anything European. As time progressed, Americans of European ancestry witnessed an evolution of American culture, as well as the advent of other things that had no roots in European society at all.

This article points so distinctly points out that country music is becoming more popular than many would have us all believe, with line dancing now becoming more popular than they are willing to admit (publicly or privately). In Germany, C&W music has long been a favorite of many Germans.

But we can bet this story doesn't end here. Let's read on:

Now country and western has become so big in France that the country's bureaucrats have decided to bring the craze under state control.

The French administration has moved to create an official country dancing diploma as part of a drive to regulate the fad. Authorised instructors who have been on publicly funded training courses will be put in charge of line dancing lessons and balls.

We know it's serious in France, when the government feels the need to regulate something. In true French-style socialist fashion, we can see that government wants a piece of this action. Fees paid to sanctioning bodies are nothing new in a civilized society and many times they are good for the consuming public. It is highly understandable why we want healthcare professionals to be trained and licensed properly. But when people feel the necessity to regulate art, it would seem to be a bit of overkill.

This begs a few questions here. Can a position of Country Music and Line Dancing Minister be far behind? How about rodeos? Is this the end of Haute Couture as we know it?

My overall point to this post is not hard to grasp. These people (who will probably become slightly irritable when they read this) fail to see the value of anything that is different from their own narrow world. And yet, this is precisely what they accuse of many Americans of doing. So any healthy analysis of this man's opinion should not overlook one very important point, as one gives it a fair amount of thought:

This attitude has a name and it's called, hypocrisy.

The Perils Of Egocentrism

Anyone that has ever been forced to endure a developmental psychology class fully understands that children are immersed in self-absorption and egocentrism. It's not unusual, it's a normal part of growing up. But when it doesn't fade out in early adulthood, there is a problem.

Victor Davis Hanson has a new essay that explores the repercussions of nearly an entire generation, whose members have not grown out of it. The evidence he uses for his claim is plentiful and very evident to all that have the ability to see past themselves and their selfish desires. if you are part of this generation (as I am), don't be insulted. He is only speaking the truth.

No matter what your age or generation, I'd give this one a very serious read and follow it with some true self-reflection. It is a very poignant piece.

The Growing Trend Of Teen Violence And The Questions It Raises

By now we have no doubt seen or heard of the video of the six teenage girls kidnapping and beating another, which authorities believe took place over 30 minutes. I will not link to it, if you want to find it, just do a search, it's everywhere. But I will note that shock, shocking, and shocked are all word forms that have been tossed around, when describing this act. It's deplorable at best, cowardly at worst.

But can we say we are really shocked? Or are we just so sick of the election, we must focus on one instance of something that has been happening for years, making it sound like it is a new phenomenon?

Let's think about this a second. Does anyone believe that there's anything new about an ambushing of someone for the specific purpose of causing harm to another, save for use of the video camera for the purpose of posting it on the internet? Even at this, since teenagers have discovered some pretty gross misuses for You Tube and My Space, they have been pulling these kinds of stunts as a game or a means or gaining notoriety.

But as you may surmise, the media is just now catching up this and they are now asking why this could have happened?

There are still many unanswered questions about the case in which sheriff's officials say six teen girls filmed a brutal, profanity-ridden beating of a 16-year-old schoolmate while threatening to post the video on MySpace and YouTube.

Why would something like this happen? Anger? Jealousy? Peer pressure?

How could "trash-talking" on MySpace, as Sheriff Grady Judd has described what preceded the events, lead to such violence?

The article makes some valid points about the many reasons, but the most poignant of them all is:

Parents and teachers must dive into the depths of cyberspace, learn more about the Web sites their kids are using, and teach them to have empathy for others, as well as themselves, he said.

So out of seemingly nowhere, after a "shocking" video gets much national attention, we have the media suggesting that parents ask themselves: What are the kids are doing online? Brilliant world we live in when we have become reactive, instead of proactive.

The victim in this beating up was apparently no angel, herself. This comes per her father. According to him, she has had her share of problems with anger to include some physical scuffles with her mother in the past. The girls that perpetrated this crime have also accused her of posting insults of them on My Space, but that is being denied by the victim's family. They are alleging that her My Space was hacked into.

Whatever the case, if she did write those things, it still doesn't excuse the girls that were seen committing this crime. They bear a large portion or the responsibility here. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me is a little saying that needs to be reinforced here. No amount of name-calling is worthy of this kind of response.

But in the interim, here's a noble thought to ponder. If the parents had known what their kids (all of them, to include the victim) were doing, just maybe this would have never happened. If they would have been more involved in their lives, this may have been averted. This is not a judgmental statement here, it's just the truth.

Now that it has happened, what will the responses of the parents be?

Some may assume defensive postures. My kid doesn't deserve this, the girl provoked it, may very well be their response. And they'll make excuses like this until the day they die.

Others may say, the girls were wrong, BUT, the girl shouldn't have posted the insults in the first place.

I seriously doubt many (if any) of them will look inward to see, how THEY could played an integral part in preventing something like this from happening? Maybe they couldn't have, who knows? But their reactions (as they become known) will tell us the real story.

I know one thing in all of this, these girls and boys that had any part in this premeditated scheme should be inherently glad that I am not their parent. Because life as they know it would end for a long time, after they serve the terms of their sentence. And you can rest damned assured I wouldn't be defending their actions. Instead, I would be counseling them on how to adapt to life in jail.

In addition, I would use this as a teaching moment to reinforce some things. I have often told my kids (and still do), a great part of your reputation is built on the foundation of the type of company you keep and if you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas. They may have a lot of time to think about this little principle, while they stare at the four walls they will soon call home.

Today, we live in a society that seeks to justify its actions, by blaming everyone else but ourselves for misfortunes and unintended consequences. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming weeks and months. But the question that we may never learn the answer to is, how many parents will use this as a wake-up call? My guess is, not enough.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Many people want to tell us how bad many have it in America. But as Americans, we often take some things for granted. How well we eat, compared to many others in the world, is one of those things.

If you want to see a visual comparison of the differences, take a trip over to the Hill Chronicles and take a look at what I am saying.

Recommended Reading

If you haven't had a chance yet, you really need to read Mustang's latest post. If covers a lot and is lengthy. But it is well worth the time you will put into it. It will give you much to think about as you ponder the future of this country.

One can continue to choose idealistic theory over realism, or they can wake up to reality and deal with it appropriately.

Are You Tough Enough?

To some, the word tough casts a misconception. Some see it as a chest-thumping trait that is brash, arrogant, and intimidating. But when we stop and think about it, we find that it is anything but.

Toughness is not barbaric, cruel, or sadistic. It is a quiet and subtle, yet strong inner resolve that often gets mistaken for weakness by those that view tough in a negative light. Toughness is not an overt trait easily seen, at first glance. It is something that is hidden until it is needed.

Mustang at Social Sense has an essay that looks at the toughness of people throughout history and laments the lack of it, in western society today.

Give it a read, when you get a chance.

Recommended Reading

Jason Whitlock says some things that will more than likely get him condemned from some circles, in this reality check examination. But he says what he says, because he believes it to be true.

Sometimes, reality is a bitter pill to swallow. One certainly can choose not to swallow it and remain sick, the patient's bill of rights guarantee us all that choice in the medical world. But to remain in denial about the illness and not taking the medicine, doesn't make the illness go away.

An Interesting Trans-Atlantic Discussion

It's going on over at Social Sense, here.

Be sure to read the comments, you'll recognize a PYY regular named Flocon (of Shall We Talk?), as one of the participants.

Understanding Americans

To my American readers, Flocon is trying to understand Americans again. Not sure I did much to contribute to a better understanding, but I left my two-cents worth.

I am sure he won't mind, if you do too.

Try To Be Nice And See What You Get?

A perfect example of the age old saying "give them an inch and they'll want a mile", can be found here.

It's not that I do not believe in being nice or trying to respect a person's rights to live the kind of life they want to live. What irks me is, when people make demands for respect and reasonable accommodation in a given situation and refuse to reciprocate, when the opportunities arise. I think all that grace this site on a regular basis, all know and understand that we could not go to the Middle East and demand that food outlets serve sausage, ham, and bacon for breakfast. We could, but it wouldn't happen.

Yet, Saudis and other Middle East Muslim nationals can come here, demand things, get a sympathetic audience, and at very least get a debate going. In those nations, the request would probably not even be considered, nor would it even be addressed.

Think about that a second.

I think it was long-time NBA coach Lenny Wilkins that made a statement, close to this: Respect is s two-way street. To get it, you have to give it. But for some reason or another, we (that understand this principle) are somehow supposed to do all of the giving and none of the receiving. Is this fair? is this just?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be treated fairly. It's only natural. But when someone expects preferential treatment over and above others, it ceases to be fair. When one religion demands preferential treatment and calls for the suppression of others (due to them being offensive to them), it ceases to be fair.



HT for the article: Boortz

Who Says American Media Is Always Anti-French?

This post is for all of my French readers that think the American media is dead set on presenting the French people in the worst possible light. Sure, there are some that are not willing to give the French respect for what they have done over the years, many do not want to give them a lot of respect for their contribution to the founding of this nation.

But on Saturday, Bastille Day, there was a local gathering here in my fair city and here are the details as put forth by the Indy Star.

There is not a large group of French people living and working here. But there are many in this state that can trace their heritage back to France, based on the western part of the state being under French authority before the Louisiana Purchase. Both Vincennes and Lafayette Indiana are former French settlements that do not deny nor do they disrespect their French roots.

Read the article, there is not a disparaging word in it. I realize that there are some articles that are written with anti-French sentiment here in America and I also realize that not all French believe that all Americans want to see the French presented in negative terms. But at least this will help to show those that have thought Americans to be anti-French, not all are this way.

Think Gas Is Outrageous? Get A Load Of This.

A famous line generally attributed to PT Barnum is certainly applicable, in this story.

It goes: "There's a sucker born every minute...and two to take 'em."

This is amazing when you think about it. When we see a product that is so ridiculously over-priced as some of these are, you have to consider that there must be a market for it. Even more so is the fact that somebody has actually paid what they are asking.

I guess some people want to be the first on their block to do anything, these days.

Multiculturalism: How Far Is Too Far?

Here's an interesting article I ran across this past weekend in my surfings. It's found in the City Journal and it's written by John Leo, one of the better print journalists I have read over the years.

Commencement weekend is hard to plan at the University of California, Los Angeles. The university now has so many separate identity-group graduations that scheduling them not to conflict with one another is a challenge. The women’s studies graduation and the Chicana/Chicano studies graduation are both set for 10 AM Saturday. The broader Hispanic graduation, “Raza,” is in near-conflict with the black graduation, which starts just an hour later.

Planning was easier before a new crop of ethnic groups pushed for inclusion. Students of Asian heritage were once content with the Asian–Pacific Islanders ceremony. But now there are separate Filipino and Vietnamese commencements, and some talk of a Cambodian one in the future. Years ago, UCLA sponsored an Iranian graduation, but the school’s commencement office couldn’t tell me if the event was still around. The entire Middle East may yet be a fertile source for UCLA commencements.

I am not against being proud of one's heritage. I understand it, it's something that helps us all better understand who we are. In my city, we have people from all over the world living here. It's nowhere near what it is in New York, Los Angeles, or a Chicago, mind you. But there's a good mix of international flavor here (certainly more than many people that have never visited here, may think). We have Mexican, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Middle Eastern festivals. We have restaurants that serve those same cuisines, as well as from Russia, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam, Morocco, Turkey, and many others. Multiculturalism, within itself, is not a bad thing. It gives us all more choices and helps promote learning.

But when we have something going on like what is being reported in this article, it makes me wonder how many have forgotten the lessons of Rome and other multicultural civilizations. Many of them tried to bend over backward to accommodate a variety of people and over time, it was a contributing factor to their overall demise.

I mean, how much is too much? When will everyone be happy and content? How far is this allowed to go in other countries?

To not allow someone to express themselves in a language they know or to practice the traditions they or their ancestors grew up with, is deplorable. But it's an entirely different issue altogether, when each and every group demands to be accommodated by a country that has so graciously accepted them. Not every country is willing to do this, much of it is for this very reason, right here.

If I go to a German or French University and earn a degree, is it realistic and practical for me to think I will get a commencement, especially for Americans? If I go to China, is it fair for me to demand that they accommodate me, because I do not speak Chinese?

As one who lived abroad for two years (many years ago), I can tell you that I would have never dreamed of expecting anyone I met in Germany, France, Spain, or Holland to go to such extremes for me. I made every effort to learn the languages and customs, and to not violate any social mores along the way.

Why?

Because I was a guest in their country, not the other way around. And I appreciated the opportunity to live and work in a foreign land, seeing and learning things that were inevitably going to become an integral influence in my life, thus making me a more intelligent and well-rounded individual.