FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024 - LIFE

 FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024  LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Happy Last Friday in June!!!

Next week is American Independence Day - or as more commonly called, “The Fourth of July”.

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So, what about Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

I’m not sure we’ve changed much from 1776.

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LIFE - Yes, we have life.  But we have gun (and other) violence in this country.  On any given day, there will be people shot in this country.  Maybe it will be an argument between two people.  

Person 1:  You did <something>

Person 2: I did not

Person 1:  Give it back.

Person 2: I don’t have it

Person 1: (brings up a gun and shoots person 2)

Or it is a group shooting - Like Sandy Hook, Connecticut, or Uvalde, Texas.

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Or from Elvis Presley’s song “In the Ghetto.”

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto

And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It is another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto

People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way

So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal
And he learns how to fight
In the ghetto

Then one night in desperation
The young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car
Tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries

As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
And his mama cries

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LIFE?  Not so easily gotten.  

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Hate still flourishes

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There are ‘hate crimes’ almost daily.  “Kill the N*****”, “Kill the Jew”, “Kill the Faggot”.

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But, I don’t hate anybody.  

Are you sure of that?  Did you look at the person (family) at the border trying to get into the United States.  “They are going to take our jobs.”; “They are from drug cartels”; “They are scum”; 

We use labels - and sometimes not very pleasant labels.  

We foster divisions.  

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We are in a pluralistic society.  But Oklahoma just did this: (yesterday). “Oklahoma State Superintendent announces all schools must incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments in curriculums.”

I’m pretty sure that not all Oklahoma residents are Christian. 

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First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and no one was left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller

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For over 200 years, we have had a separation of Church and State. While teaching the Bible and the Ten Commandments may not favor one particular sect (like Southern Baptists), it does endorse Christianity (as compared to Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others).  

Our constitution guarantees “The Right to Bear Arm”.  Many (most) colonists came from England (or descending from English people).  Seemingly the police could have guns but the regular people couldn’t.  So with the American Revolution in their mind, Americans want to have guns in their homes.  

There were two basic reasons for guns in American homes: hunting deer and other animals and protecting one’s family.  

The colonies (and later the States) were wild. Deer, turkey, ducks, geese, and other edible games were around, and feeding one’s family was important. One also had to protect one’s family from bears, coyotes, wolves, and whatever else (including Native Americans and the British militia).  

I have many friends who are hunters (especially in South Dakota).  Pheasant, deer, duck, and other animals grace their tables.  

BUT, these friends don’t need (and probably don’t have) semi-automatic weapons.  If Rick Puetz went after pheasants with a semi-automatic gun, there wouldn’t be much left of the pheasant for the dinner table. 

Yes, I’ve heard the arguments - if guns are banned, only criminals will have guns.  It’s in the Constitution - you can’t get rid of guns.  

But we can do away with inappropriate guns. Keep Uzi’s out of the hands of millions.  Likewise, for handguns.  If a person has a legitimate need for a handgun, okay (maybe), but for the average citizen, handguns are not needed.

(I have friends who went out and bought a handgun when COVID-19 became widespread.  I’m not sure why).

So, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - are threatened by guns.  Let’s be reasonable.  If you are a sport hunter, get a rifle and go shoot your deer.  But with a reasonable weapon.

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There are enough mentally unbalanced people out there (maybe even including me).  Why do we allow somebody who might “crack” at any point to have a gun?  

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LOVE ONE ANOTHER - because LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, June 28, 2024