Recent Blog Posts: Bakotopia

Sheath

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:45:09 PDT

Oh’ truth

How you torture mine eye

with the tip of your sword

Metal gleam stings

binding my focus

to your point

Your wit

for fine balance

I cannot restrain

nor rebuke

Truth

so willing

Be warned

in this very hour

I am

at the ready

to linger long

in your presence

Shift not

the weight

of your worth

loan it to me

with full measure

Until I am

blinded

Deemed insane

Torture

me no more

come for me

I am willing

to become

your sheath

Written about Jesus Christs pursuit of truth. Published 2005

The Weedpatch Gazette

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:59:20 PDT

Governor Sarah Louise Heath Palin was not only the wisest choice McCain could possibly make, I take personal satisfaction in a Heath having a chance at the White House, perhaps even President of America! But the greatest satisfaction of all is having a woman of proven ability with so many truly American attributes shining a light of hope on an otherwise barren political landscape.

We the People can take justifiable pride in the choice of Governor Palin and the encouragement she is going to give people to go to the polls that would otherwise be sitting at home on election day. It may be God will give America this one more chance to get its act together; and though it sounds extreme I see Sarah Palin as that one more chance with someone who unlike the usual species of politicians actually has a soul and will motivate me to vote with a clear conscience. John McCain may be the best of a bad lot, but Sarah Palin is the best of the best lot, and more than that she is a Lady in every sense of the word, something America is sorely in need of to inspire and give hope to both men and women throughout America that not all is yet lost and the Devil given our nation by forfeit.

But she’s a woman! No one who has read my writings as an advocate of women and especially my critique of To Kill A Mockingbird or any of my other books would ever accuse me of not wanting to see women in leadership positions. My greatest criticism of the U.N. has been the lack of women there in leadership positions. My criticism of the Great Books of the Western World was the lack of women being represented in that monumental set of books. A constant theme in my writing is the way women are treated as of less value than men, how the compatibility of differences in honor of both men and women is so sorely needed for a truly civilized society.

It needn’t be said women are capable of being just as crude, vulgar and vicious as men, but this does not in any way detract from the fact that women are the softer and gentler part of humankind in general. Nor does this in any way ignore the fact that a woman can be tough in ways that are generally accorded men, my apologetic about this is pointing out the tragedy for America has been in women having to be tough in ways they should never have to be.

My girls were raised to hunt and fish, to ride motorcycles like dad, to enjoy wilderness areas and care for the critters just like me. I did not want them excluded from anything my boys could do; I never treated them as though I had lower expectations for them in any way because they were girls. The biggest difference was in the way a little girl finds her way into the heart of a father, something that brings out the very best of the tender emotions of a father that boys cannot do; and this is what God intended little girls to do for fathers, this is where the genius of Harper Lee had little Scout disperse that lynch mob, something Ms. Lee knew no man or boy could do.

It is my two angels, my precious daughters that give me whatever empathy I have for women, who keep me many times from something that would be unworthy of their love for me. Had it not been for my two angels, Diana and Karen, both of them now with the Lord and watching over me and continuing to inspire me to keep on living and writing I would not now be so supportive of Sarah Palin, I would never have been a writer of the romance of life; I would never have appreciated the true value of women that God intended them to be to men, there would never have been that critique of TKM emphasizing the importance of little girls in the scheme of things, I could never have really understood little Scout coming to the realization that there might actually be some skill involved with being a girl.

In the weeks and months to come I know there are going to be some hard things said about Sarah Palin, many of these things are going to be said by men that both fear and resent a woman in the White House. Much criticism will be leveled at her by those that both fear and resent her conservative views, but most of all the criticism will have its roots in her being a lady, a loving and faithful wife and mother, something quite different than what We the People have been offered in politics, and especially at such an historic level of prominence and importance.

Quite obviously Sarah Palin supports our military and is not naive about the evils of this world system, that America requires a strong military to confront the enemies of America. I have no doubt about her ability to make the tough decisions that may eventually be required of her, and she has already proven her mettle in this regard.

One of my concerns is those that can never relate to what God intended women to be as the softer and gentler half of humankind while not understanding the kind of strength required of women to fulfill this role in the face of so much barbarism on the part of men constantly in conflict with the better influence of women. I believe Sarah Palin understands the fact that men make wars while women attempt to make homes. My hope is that she will have the opportunity to emphasize this difference and give women the needed voice and power to make the better part, that of homes rather than wars a chance to become the reality.

Makin' Great Strides: New alt rock song about rise and fall of John Edwards

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:51:09 PDT

John Edwards seemed to have the world by the tail. Then he self-destructived. What are some of your ideas concerning why people such as Edwards self-destruct? Is there such a phenomenon as fear of success, or is this just a case of selfishness, narcissism, and ego getting in the way?

In the realm of blog n roll, I provide the topic and the tune. You provide the talk, in the comments section below. I hope you like the song attached here. I hope you enjoy the topic too.

The song is from the forthcoming CD, tentatively entitled Right-wingers Need Love Too: Volume 2. That can be found at:

http://www.drblt.net

Promises made in the Parking Lot at Trout's: hear/review new Krock (Kern County country rock) song

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:47:23 PDT

There's a brand new song that's just been written and recorded by yours truly. It's hot off the press, straight from the BuckarooM. It's from the CD, Trout's Tall Tales, found here:

http://www.drblt.net

Hear the song, review the song, do whatever you want with the song after hearing it, and reading the lyrics at:

Bakersfield Sound Underground

http://www.bakersfieldsoundunderground.com

Don't forget, if ain't goin' underground, you ain't goin' nowhere!

THE PASSAGE OF TIME

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:46:57 PDT

clots the blood

in my throat,

narrows my vision

and tightens my veins

around the fatty run off

of my passion for red meat..

This ride I take on rolling rubber

will bury me beneath

the holiness of unbroken earth.

Feel the cold solidify my transient limbs

and draw my tongue

back from my fear of words.

And listen!—to the flipping

over of calendar pages

that dims my eyes,

and observe how graying shingles

weigh hard upon

the prior heights

of my recall;

and who can bear to see life linger

on the last edges

of the last temptation?—Hear

my heart beating out

challenges for last bell to ring!—

as I cling

to life's rafters

with former dreams of flying .

As I brace myself,

clutching at branches of sky,

I hear the muted witticisms

of my vanity

dying inside the hushed walls

of my shrinking throat.

Today's Daily Stuff...

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:48:52 PDT

There are lots of things I do "daily" (or almost daily) in order to keep myself feeling relatively ok. I went to a therapist this Winter who said to me, "You sure do a lot to just stay feeling decent. You sure you don't want to try medication?"

Made me laugh. Made me get a new therapist, too, but that's another story.

I write a daily gratitude list, I have just started writing a "daily one sentence journal, and for September I am trying on the practice of Daily Contemplative Prayer. Right now, I am focusing on "Peace" as explained by the pastor of my church on Sunday. Peace as Wholeness, Peace as Completion. I appreciated that so I am following its call into my prayer life this week.

And, as I shared yesterday, I do a daily self portrait... the most recent one is not the world's most flattering and I appreciate its brute honesty.

So - I am not going to blog about politics or sports or entertainment (directly) today. I am going to blog about daily-ness. My own staying sane-ness.

Gratitude:

Today I am grateful for my Grandfather, who was born 112 years ago today. Because of his willingness to sit outside with me for several hours while I practiced balance, I learned to ride a two wheeler on the fourth of July while I was six years old. The Jordan Family didn’t do training wheels or the whole “running behind the kid while holding on” but apparently Grandpadaddy (that’s what we called him) sensed this Grandchild needed a witness. The next day I learned how to turn and the day after that, Granny and Grandpadaddy headed back to California and if you look on the family movies of their exit, you see me, riding in circles around them in the driveway.

Today I am grateful for my friend, Jennie – who I helped last night write her artist statement. She took me for dinner at one of my favorite places and we had some great, deep conversation.

Today I am grateful for David, with whom I shared a brief phone conversation yesterday as he drove West again. I can’t believe we have only been friends for only two years. Admittedly, they have been a very full, densely lived two years within which he was mostly absent yet ever present in that absence. Mmmm. Poetically felt, my friend, poetically felt.

Today I am grateful for each of my three children for very different reasons. I am grateful I have become such an education advoccate….

Today I am grateful for my American Women in History instructor. She inspired me in ways she probably doesn’t realize yet and it just reminds me that showing up wherever I am called to show up always always always is fruitful… often in surprising ways.

Today, I am grateful.

Daily Sentence Journal:

Jennie and I wrote, reflected, ate, revelled in our senses and shared deeply while I wondered, aloud and silently – “What is this?”

Processing about Daily Contemplative Prayer:

I gave myself more latitude, meaning – I didn’t expect myself to be a contemplative prayer dynamo. It was a decent experience… and I am looking forward to seeing how I develop… although I am wondering if it might be better to do walking meditation and then sort of settle into the contemplation part. Walk out my wandering mind and then lower myself into the feathery down mattress of contemplation.

I’ll see how the next few days go with this.

And finally - because it is Friday... and I haiku every Friday, here is that:

Was it yesterday
When we said “Until next time?”
I must be dreaming

RubiconReader's New "Caption this Book Picture" Book Contest!!

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:23:35 PDT

Hello everyone. Well as promised I am back with another book contest! This one is going to be really fun! You know how sometimes you get those e-mails from people that has some crazy picture with some funny caption? Well... this time YOU get to make the caption! The pictures is going to be book related (duh) and I want you guys to have a lot of fun with this. Unfortunately, this presents a small problem. With viruses being invented everyday by some basement dwelling, still living with mommy, never had a girlfriend, former Dungeon and Dragon playing, Halo 4 for XBox Live addicted, Mac hating, Raisin Bran Crunch BUY ME SOME MOM losers; getting the picture to you is going to be a small challenge.

A lot of you use your work e-mails (oooo... I'm gonna tell your boss) and businesses have blocked out any e-mails with pictures or attachments. I DON'T think they have gotten to the point of blocking out links and that is how I sent the picture. If the link is blocked out as per your business, PLEASE let me know and I'll be happy to send you the picture to your personal e-mail. I can also send it to your cell phone, or you can just forward the e-mail to your personal address. I will, of course, have this contest posted everywhere online so you'll be able to get a hold of it somehow! We had a lot of fun with the last contest and I'm STILL getting books from authors wanting me to give away their stuff.

So here's the deal with this contest. All you have to do is send me the funny caption you want to place on the picture and you are entered in the contest! You don't have to resend the picture unless you're feeling creative and you really want too. The winning captions will be posted on www.russosbooks.com, www.bakotopia.com, and www.myspace.com, and inside Russo's Books at 'The Marketplace'. And this time I'm not going to limit the winners to just Bakersfield. If you get this e-mail then YOU can enter!! So enough of me blowing hot air you wanna hear about the prizes huh? Ok, here goes...

1st place: Wins a SIGNED copy of 'X-Rated Blood Suckers' by Mario Acevedo. This is his 3rd book and let me be the first to tell you; this man knows how to blend comedy, fiction, sexuality, and vampire lore. I became a fan of his when I read his first book, 'The Nymphos of Rocky Flats'. Felix Gomez is my type of vampire. Funny, persistent, loves carnal pleasures, and finds himself in the weirdest situations. Vampire books seem to be all the rage now with that Stephanie Meyer chick but don’t get it twisted... This book is for grown folks and you WILL enjoy it! For the story of course, but it's signed by the man, Mario Acevedo, himself. I've been "talking" (well... e-mailing, the way we talk now in the 21st century) with Mario for a few years now and he has always been gracious and friendly. I love supporting authors like him because it's really nice to meet nice people.

2nd place: Wins an advanced reader's copy of 'She Had It Coming' by Mary Monroe. Mary is an exceptional talent who has been writing for quite a while. Her 1st book, 'God Don't Like Ugly' is a modern African-American classic and is a must read for anyone. I've read a number of her books and my personal favorite is 'Deliver Me From Evil'. I LOVED that book!!!

3rd place: Wins a copy of '1001 Books for Every Mood' by Hallie Ephron. Ever wondered what to get that reader friend of your who has everything? Ever wondered what you should read when you are shocked, when you are trying to save the world, when you have heartburn, or when you want to join the circus? Well... this book will tell you! A very nice fun read!

All prizes can be picked up at Russo's Books in 'The Marketplace. If you are outside Bakersfield I will mail your book to you. The deadline for this contest is: September 21, 2008!! DO NOT be late!!

So have fun with this yall! I got some interesting answers last time and I'm really looking forward to hearing some of your clever quips! Here is the link for the contest picture:

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z212/RubiconReader/RubiconReader%20Book%20Contest%202/?action=view&current=contest14.jpg

**For the cool Bakotopia.com peeps the picture will be attached to this blog**

McCains pick for Vice President

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:40:52 PDT

NAME — Sarah Heath Palin.

EXPERIENCE: Alaska governor since December 2006; unsuccessful run for Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2002; chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 2003-2004; served two terms as Wasilla mayor and two terms on city council.

EDUCATION: Graduated University of Idaho, 1987, journalism.

FAMILY: Husband, Todd; five children.

BUSINESS: Worked as sports reporter for two Anchorage television stations; owned with her husband a snowmobile, watercraft, ATV business from 1994-97. Husband is a North Slope oil field worker.

AGE-BIRTH DATE-LOCATION — 44; born Feb. 11, 1964; Sandpoint, Idaho.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE: Do you think she's a good choice?

So there you go! A little info for you just in case you logged on the internet this morning and the first words out of your mouth were "WHAAAAAAAAAT THE? Who the hell is THAT????"

Looking for an Artist/Promoter

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:40:36 PDT

We are looking for an artist, who is willing to hang posters, hand out flyers, and just generally get out there, and promote The Underground Gallery and Studio.

In turn, we are offering free gallery space, for your artwork.

If interested, please contact Mike @ 661-304-9741 or come by the gallery 1525 19th St. between Eye St. and Chester Ave

Talent Quest

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:15:14 PDT

Talent Quest is almost here.Its in Laughlin,Nv. starts 9-21 this year.If you like karaoke this is a great place to be.So many great singers,best of the best,singing in a karoke contest.One of our own is heading there again this year.His name is Greg,kj at The Junction on Buck Owens Blvd.In 06 he got 9th in the Mens Country,07 he got 2nd in KJ of the year.There are a few others from here going to Compete as well.So if you would like to head over to the Junction and hear some great singing come thurs-sat and hear them and Greg who is the KJ there.

The Weedpatch Gazette

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:07 PDT

Recently discovered satellite galaxies described as “Puffy balls in space” may be orbs of dark matter. And these may be the explanation for the smaller orbs sometimes appearing in photographs, even the explanation for the many stories about ghosts and spirits, angels and demons belonging to a dimension apart from the physical limitations of space and time and confirming my belief life is of God and not a result of the separate creation of the physical universe as described in Genesis.

But before sharing this recent and astounding discovery, apart from prejudice there is no mistaking the quality of the writings finally accepted into the canon of Scripture compared to other writings that were rejected, though there are undoubtedly things of historical fact contained in some of these extracanonical writings. There is the continued need for textual criticism that helps put things in historical perspective and separates the wheat from the chaff. However, over the many years of my own Biblical studies my beliefs and opinions have changed about many things found in the Bible but there has been one constant; and that is the objective fact there are no comparable writings to be found anywhere else in recorded history.

The Bible despite some difficulties and discrepancies is quite unique and stands well apart and above all other writings of humankind, and I have no doubt some of its writers did have a special relationship to God and imparted things God intended people to know, and some especially chosen of God wrote these things down passing them on to others. That some of these things began as oral tradition before being written would explain facts lost to antiquity but resulting in stories about the Creation, Adam and Eve, The Fall, the Deluge and others open to interpretation, but still based on facts.

One of the several things that confound critics of the Bible is that the writings are for the most part free of many fanciful stories current during the times in which the Bible was being written, among these some of the “Jewish fables” to which the Apostle Paul referred. Even though the Hellenic influence is evident in places for example, the various mythologies and fabulous stories belonging to such mythologies are for the greater part missing in the Received Text. Comparisons have been made from various myths in regard to some miracles described in the Bible, but upon close examination the Biblical accounts of such things are superior to these other accounts, particularly in the quality of the writings themselves.

If someone were to take it upon themselves to make up a story about Moses they would be hard pressed to provide the many details found in Scripture and to tell it with the same authority of veracity as the original. The same can be said for the stories in the beginning chapters of Genesis. But the stories surrounding the birth and life of Jesus together with the rest of the New Testament would be the most daunting task of all.

First of all, what would be the motive for anyone undertaking such a task? If it entered the mind of someone to make up such stories what would be gained by their doing so, and how would they convince others to follow along? History is replete with charlatans and false messiahs, but eventually they are found out. No, there is simply too much of veracity in the New Testament for all the writings to be discounted as intent to deceive. And it could be as simple as the words of those officers sent to take Jesus by force and refusing to do so because “Never man spake like this man.”

One of many reasons I take the Bible very seriously in many places is because of scientific discoveries continually being made that affirm spiritual beliefs, such as the “Puffy balls in space.”

Galaxy surprise sheds light on dark matter. Galaxies circling the Milky Way pack about the same mass, study shows: By Clara Moskowitz, Space.com: Updated 1:53 p.m. PT, Wed., Aug. 27, 2008: A study of small galaxies circling around the Milky Way found that while they range dramatically in brightness, they all surprisingly pack about the same mass. The work suggests there is a minimum size for galaxies, and it could shed light on mysterious dark matter. Spinning around the Milky Way are at least 23 pint-sized galaxies, each shining with the light of anywhere from a thousand to a billion suns. Though each of these galaxies is very dim compared to large galaxies like our own, they span a large range in brightness. Astronomers led by Louis Strigari of the University of California-Irvine studied the movements of individual stars in these satellite galaxies to determine the mass of each galaxy. "What we found was astonishing, which was that they all had the same mass," said researcher James Bullock, a UC-Irvine astrophysicist. "It's not what we were expecting — we were really taken off guard." Loaded with dark matter: The finding could help explain the mysterious stuff called dark matter and how it affects the formation of galaxies. Nobody knows what dark matter is, but its presence is revealed by gravity that is not produced by the regular matter that can be seen. Despite their wide-ranging brightnesses, all of the 23 satellite galaxies around the Milky Way seem to have a central mass of 10 million times that of the sun. And what's more, almost all of that mass seems to be made up of dark matter, with just the tiniest smidgen of visible matter producing stars. "These are by far the dimmest galaxies that have ever been discovered, and the least luminous of these things are the most dark-matter-dominated things that we know about," Bullock told SPACE.com. Though they qualify as galaxies, the satellites are not pinwheel spirals like the Milky Way and its cousins. Rather, these dwarf galaxies look more like diffuse, puffy balls of light…

The Ancient Story Of The Samurai Rat

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:06:38 PDT

If you like comedy, you'll love this piece. It's the best comedy I've written. And in a way, it's terrifying too...

I once lived in a little white house near downtown Bakersfield in the Oleander area. A rental, it wasn’t a fancy house. Probably built in the 1950s, it was still comfortable, had three rooms, and was just down the street from quaint homes built in the 1920s. Yet like some forgotten pagoda on a no-name Osaka hill, its cobwebs held secret voices and its cracks harbored spirit warriors.

(Read the full article)

Link: http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/nlbelardes/2008/08/the-ancient-story-of-the-samurai-rat

Kelvin's latest bluegrass report

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:30:42 PDT

Hey Folks,

Our next Rusty's Pizza jam will be next monday Labor Day. I know it is a holiday and was thinking about skipping the September jam but then I got to thinking "hey what else am I going to do" . So I will be there and if you are in town come on down for some pizza and tunes.

The tickets for the Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme out are on sale and available at the Music Zone and Dagney's Coffee Shop (see link below for address and telephone numbers). You can also purchase the tickets by mail at Kelvin Gregory 7108 Elias Ave. Bakersfield Ca. 93308 and we will have them waiting for you at the concert.

This promises to be a great concert but we need your help. Tell you friends about it and come out and support local bluegrass music by purchasing a ticket and showing up.

Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out ......IN BAKERSFIELD. That's right folks. We have secured the band and the venue. You might be saying who is Roger Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out? Well read on. As the saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding,” and there is no greater proof of the band’s status as one of the world’s top bluegrass groups than its seven IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) awards for ‘Vocal Group of the Year’ and Russell Moore’s two IBMA ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ trophies. All in all, IIIrd Tyme Out has garnered over 50 industry awards, the last two being ‘Bluegrass Band of the Year’ and ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ (Russell Moore), both from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Here is your chance to see seven time IBMA group of the year and two time IBMA male vocalist Russell Moore up close and personal. The concert will be held on September 11th. at 7:00 at River Valley Community Church, 5131 Office Park Dr. Bakersfield, Ca. Ticket prices will be $15.00 in advance $18.00 at the door. Tickets are bieng printed as we speak and we should have them available early next week. Tickets will be available at the Music Zone 2808 Chester Ave. 661-321-3357 or Dagney's Coffee Shop 1600 21st Street 661-634-0806 you can contact Kelvin or Craig.

If you listen to any of the satellite radio stations you have heard this band. They are great! the success of this concert and more in the future depends on us putting butts in the seats so call your friends, buy some tickets, and spread the word. Our good friends over at the Music Zone have offered to help sponser the event by helping us cover our ticket, flyer, and some advertising cost. Once again bring a friend or two with you and lets make this a success. You can call Kelvin Gregory 661-392-7973 or Craig Wilson 661-589-8249 for more info.

Kelvin

George The Giant Injured on America's Got Talent?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:28:57 PDT

Giant Injury on Set of "America's Got Talent"

Posted Aug 27th 2008 5:03PM by TMZ Staff

Paramedics rushed to the L.A. set of "America's Got Talent" this weekend when a stunt involving a 7'3" giant went terribly wrong.
(CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED!)

TMZ has obtained footage moments before the incident showing a contestant named George the Giant bound by chains and hung upside down from the rafters -- but that's where the tape cuts. Moments later, the footage starts again, and George can be seen being strapped into a gurney and wearing an oxygen mask while a team of medics tend to his well being.

Moments later, he was rushed to a local hospital for "complications" -- no word on what those "complications" are.

George was scheduled to appear on tonight's episode, but at this point, is it unclear -- and unlikely -- that he'll make the show.

*Taken from TMZ.com. Thanks NL!

READ THE HISTORY OF GEORGE THE GIANT AT BAKOTOPIA!
(CLICK ON GEORGE'S PIC BELOW READ NOW!)

The Weedpatch Gazette

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:23:22 PDT

In the old days before email people used to actually write letters to one another, and looking back there is no mistaking how labor intensive such a thing was. But if such a letter was from a loved one, how precious such a thing could be since you could hold it in your hands and read it knowing the dear one who had written it had actually handled the paper while writing, that they had with their own hands folded it and put it in an envelope, sealed, stamped and mailed it. I have quite an archive of such letters from now departed loved ones, and it is a treasure trove of precious memories. If you are old enough you may be able to imagine a generation that has nothing but electronic communications from various people, but no actual letters such as my generation knew and appreciate what a melancholy loss this represents.

My mother’s scrapbook she began to keep before WWII and during the war contains a number of letters, some of them actual love letters expressive of that time in which she lived as a beautiful young woman. These are now properly a part of the history of that era, a part of the history not available in books that I can handle and read over and over again, primary source material not available to historians. They are filled with the personal hopes and dreams, even the fears common to most young people of that time facing so many dangers and uncertainties, and yet there were the hopes and dreams, the optimism that somehow, some way things were going to come out all right in the end.

Well, the handwritten letters are passing away and love letters have long passed away as an art form in their own right. This generation will have known nothing but computers and emails, even facing the prospect of robotics replacing the human touch in many ways that can’t help but dehumanize many of the things my generation took for granted would continue to put a softer touch on things now turned electronic and mechanical.

I’ve worn shirts my mother made from flour and grain sacks, I’ve slept between sheets that were washed in a galvanized tub of water propped up on bricks and heated over an open fire outside and scrubbed by hand; some of you may be old enough to remember those old scrub boards. I recall the flatirons heated on a wood stove, and used them myself to iron clothes. Children in my time were taught to do such things. But despite such hardships, mine seemed a far more optimistic generation than this one despite all the conveniences of modern living, the kind of optimism expressed in those letters in my mother’s scrapbook.

Text-messaging and emails will never take the place of personal letters, let alone anything approaching love letters. But unlike my generation that knew the hardships of everyday living, this generation can’t know what it has lost in the transition to the society into which they have been born. TV has been the tool by which this generation has been taught entitlement without ever having to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow, and betrayed by politicians that have never known want in their lives and have destroyed the means by which my generation could find jobs that ennobled labor and provided hope of the future. And the political mannequins now parading on TV mouthing glittering generalities and empty platitudes without any substance in either manner or words provide no hope for optimism anything is going to change for the better.

This will be the first generation of Americans for which hope for their future has been denied them. But it will also be a generation that is largely unread, ignorant and illiterate, something of which this generation of politicians is taking full advantage. My generation knew well there was no such thing as a free lunch, but this generation has been raised so ignorantly they have been convinced they are owed a living, that unproductive mouths are supposed to be fed by the productive. This weed of evil has born the bitter fruit of entitlement, and along with this insidious, terminal cancer eating away at America’s vitals is the fact of welfare and prisons being growth industries while the productive half of society is extorted by government to support the other half like politicians and their toadies feeding at the public tax trough.

We are now long past an era of good manners and civility, we now have a society in which elders receive no respect from younger people and to be old is now treated not only without respect but even open hostility. Elder abuse is becoming a commonplace and our universities and schools are churning out products that have never known how to show any respect for the elderly. It is a commonplace on websites and blogs like that of The Bakersfield Californian and elsewhere the elderly are frequently treated without any respect by youngsters, something virtually unknown to me as a child. Even granting some of the elderly not worthy of being treated with respect, there is an unhealthy pattern to young people addressing the elderly without even the semblance of good manners or civility, a callousness toward the elderly reflecting very badly upon a whole generation of young people.

Our leadership certainly does not deserve any respect from anyone, but few among our leaders have ever known the kinds of hardship that developed real character. The lack of such character in young people today may be a product of the times, but many politicians being elderly themselves do not have even that excuse. And having to be so very careful of what they commit to handwritten expression, it is doubtful any had the benefit of those love letters that were so expressive of the character of the America into which I was born.

This may help explain why our leaders are so willing to betray America, why they want to encourage the invasion of barbarians from places like Mexico and elsewhere for the sake of slave labor benefitting only the wealthy like politicians and their ilk. And being so sorely ignorant, so lacking in the experience of age, so lacking in good manners and civility, it would seem this generation of young people is eager to cooperate even to their own destruction.

I realize many young people today were never taught good manners, never taught the civilities of a polite society that young people in my time were taught. But to aggravate this situation is an entire society that seems given over to barbarism, to glorifying sex and violence as though there were no tomorrow. And given the present leadership of America with nothing better in sight, perhaps there will be no tomorrow for today’s young people.

When I was a child it was unthinkable to address a teacher by their first name, nor did I ever allow this when I became a teacher. But as younger teachers began to appear in the classrooms of America they had been taught in the universities that this was not only acceptable, but actually encouraged. Little by little teachers lost the necessary discipline needed in order to teach effectively. But now it is being debated whether to arm classroom teachers; a not unexpected result of the breakdown of discipline in the schools and in society.

In so many ways the young people today have actually been taught to disrespect authority, to disrespect the elderly. The blame might be quickly passed to those my age that failed the next generation except for this one thing: Even then we were given no real choice of leadership, but the Devil’s own were deciding who would lead America. And whether the Devil or not that’s the way it was, and this is the way it is.