Let's Step Back

Contention lately seems to be the process by which one opinion does not listen to or even assimilate, as valid, other opinions of life and its possibility in the solvency of truth.

I am seeing, better yet, feeling a contention within the American system of civility and within the political structure of governance. Many sides are trying to maneuver us through the daily drudgery of existence. Most political passions do not understand the individuality of diverse daily lives.

The tea party folks have taken a minor accommodation of voting power into a false mandate of political change. Their victories are important and may be a trend and may at some point be the majority thinking, but at the moment it is not a mandate. It is a consideration and it must be acknowledged in the process of  political compromise and common sense.

There are many in this magnificent country that do not see or feel a swell of conservative values as a tidal surge for change.  It does not mean that conservative concerns should not be addressed and addressed with courtesy, consideration and inclusion.

Contention also does not mean that liberal values should be repudiated as wrong or seen as inimical to American principals. The political pundits in all of our media do a disservice to American ideals when they continue to pit side against side for the sake of ratings.

What all change and considerations mean is that the growing bulwark of ignorance needs to be publicly admonished and a common agreement of compromise must be cemented into the consciences of daily political and civil thinking. This is America; this is what we do as a democracy. It is not a fundamentalist takeover. It is the exercising of a fundamental principal in our constitutional guarantees.

Do not listen to those who support and promote fear as the buttress of our democracy.

This old world is in a powerful time of change as we transition into the future of aware consciousness.

Let us not linger in the morass of fear and violence and contention. Let us not forget that we are ONE and the miracle of life is not the Oneness, it is the diversity within the Oneness.

A Rant

Good Morning,

I'm home from a magnificent trip. Thank you to all of you who logged in whenever possible.

What is interesting to me as I catch up on the world's headlines is that so much of the information coming out of Libya and elsewhere as fact is really unconfirmed observation. Some of the world's media takes these reports as if the they are from trained journalists or reporters, but that is not the case.

I do not demean the information coming from either rebel forces or from the Government sources, but all of it is tainted to the belief of the deliverer and should not be considered as fact.

Unfortunately the Fox network is quick to accept any information that blends with their conservative philosophy and that may advance their commentators prognostications.

I still cannot accept anything Fox says until they become a legitimate reportorial organization that gives us only the facts and leaves opinion in can labeled "detritus."

We have so much to gain in this changing world by embracing truth. We have so much to lose by only acknowledging the fear that disruptive change engenders. Truth increases understanding. Fear builds a cocoon of seeming protection when it really segregates the open truth from the illusion of fear. To many of us are willing to live in the house of fear because the foundation of truth is courage and it requires a new house.

Fox is not the only the media outlet that by omission, innuendo and theatrics influence viewers opinion and awareness of current events.

I would like to make up my own mind without color, without shouts, without distortion. All of us are  capable of enlightened discernment without distortion. I encourage every media organization to get back to factual reporting and astute analysis labeled commentary.

I'm baaaaaack.

Homeward

Some random observations.

Wifi is now free in more places that a year ago. Bravo!

Americans are too fat.

The talk at the lunch counters centered the political contention again in Washington and not getting together to fund the daily operations of our government.

Other conversations thought NY Congressman Peter King's upcoming hearings into the radicalization of Muslim America were indicitative of McCarthism; others thought it was a good idea; too many others didn't care.

Everybody thought the weather sucks and can't wait for spring.

The roads are smooth in Colorado, Kansas and parts of Missouri.

The roads still need attention and repair in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. New York has some problems with road surface too.

Semi-Tractor Trailer trucks should not try to pass another truck on a steep hill or any road with 3% inclines. I saw attempts that backed up car traffic for a quarter of a mile. It is discourteous and dangerous and causes frustrated drivers to take unnecessary chances.

If I criticize the truck passing, I must also compliment the truckers for their safety and courtesy for stopped vehicles along the road. They would pull out and give space to stopped vehicles or to police stopping a vehicle. 

And “NO”, they don’t always eat at the best places.

One state’s speed limit is 75 and another 70 and then another 65. The roads are the same. Why the difference? They are all part of the federal interstate system and I am not talking about going through cities where the speed limit should be less.

Many thanks to all of you for tuning in to this Colorado adventure.

A major thank you and compliment to Seth, the night manager at a Best Western Motel in Greenfield, Indiana. His technical expertise went above and way beyond to fix a problem in order to make this post.

Thank you Seth and thank you Best Western. I'm a fan.

rgs

Last Day

Today is the last day of skiing for the 2011 Colorado season. I’ve loved it. There is nothing like the sharing of fun times with good friends and fine conversations.

I normally don’t post on weekends, so Monday will be the next epistle as I motor eastward and home.

Here are some pictures from the week. Most of them were taken by my friend Bruce, a consummate photographer.

Again

I'm off today for another test of gentle endurance. It means I won't grunt, complain, sputter, or even question why I am here in this glorious place. I will, of course, need understanding when I ache and sympathy when I wince, but beyond that I will tough it out and prevail. LOL

I've often wondered if in that " Other Place" it is more wonderful than some of nature's wonders in this place. I think it is, but in this finite mentality and density it is difficult to fathom how anything could be more beautiful or generate more wonder than the mountains of the Rockies. The majesty here is poetry in its most solid form.

Close up of groomed ridges

Within the glide on carpet's white

There is the frame of lasting bright.

Where worries end and laughs begin

With nature's breeze a violin.

Her music guides me in this joy

On ridges groomed in Corduroy.

Happy Birthday Ann!

Mountain Magic

I skied again yesterday and my muscles are telling me to take up knitting.

I remember my Grandmother saying, “knit one and pearl two,” whatever that means. Today I am pearling two and resting the Sartorius and Rectus Femoris and I am favoring the Gastronemius.

The rest of my bodies muscle groups seems to be content with a vodka gimlet.

I have mentioned the grace of silence that skiing engenders to those who take the time to listen. But there is another endemic element of the Rocky Mountains that one also feels. Power!

Standing on the summit one can feel the internal force and the magnitude of the mountain’s Being. It has an energy that permeates the soul and reinforces the grandeur of life.

Perhaps that’s why  smiles are part of skiing.

 

Skiing

A glorious day!

Windy on top at 11-thousand plus altitude, but warmish in the sun. Ambient temperature 23 degrees. I promised pictures of the silence and here they are.

More tomorrow too.