To Vote

The Right to Vote

By

B.D. Adams ©2016

   The day before the scheduled Presidential Primary here in New Hampshire, we were hit by a snow storm. Not much -- maybe 4”. No matter, that Tuesday morning was sunny with a new layer of snow. The roads had been plowed, so Daniel and I drove to vote in the Primary at our polling location for Alton/Alton Bay.

   Voting is always a crap shoot. That means you never know who will be the winner until the votes are in. This candidate or that candidate did so well in the early campaigns. What happened? Well, it had to be because the candidates that got the voter’s nods did everything right. Or something like that.

   There are so many reasons to say this was right or that was wrong, to point a finger or to cheer for a winner.

   The Democrats had a narrower field than the Republicans did, without a doubt. The Republicans need to weed a few more candidates from their field … in my humble opinion.

   The Right to Vote!! Awww, yes. Voting is a right and should never be taken lightly. To those who believe that it doesn’t matter, voting doesn’t matter, think again. Just remember your history classes – your 20^th Century world history classes!

   If you’ve forgotten what you learned about WWII, here comes a brief reminder of Nazi Germany. From 1933 to 1945, Germany was under a fascist totalitarian state controlled by one man and one party – Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party! The German citizens had given up their right to vote, gave it to Hitler. They thought he would lead them staunchly.

   What a shame!

   Once Hitler gained his autonomy to rule Germany and many other European countries, he was almost unstoppable! He used his heinous desire to rule unopposed. No political combatants – hence dictatorship. Anyone who opposed was shot on the streets or shipped to the concentration camps. Jews (mostly), Protestants, Catholics and even just regular Germans, those who opposed.

   The German citizens gave up their right to vote, therefore, they had NO say in their lives or government. They should have studied the Roman Empire to get a clue.

   Americans got bits and pieces of news of what the Nazis were doing from letters and some German newspapers smuggled to the U.S. However, those sources were quickly silenced. Then there was no news out of Germany. Only propaganda.

   The citizens truly believed, in the beginning, that Hitler would be the leader they wanted. Little did they know – he would destroy their country!

   Think, really think, how you’d feel about no voice, no recourse. If you can feel the destitution of this situation, then you can understand why The Vote is so precious in our lives! It is our right! One person, one vote!

   Never be too busy to vote -- or worse, never think it doesn’t matter. If you don’t use it, you could lose it. Think about that.

   We are The United States of America. Proud and unwavering in our politics and way of life. Use your vote proudly and with the meaning it was intended.

   Look forward to November, dear readers!

We the People ……

Opinion -- The Days Boston Stood Still

The Days Boston Stood Still

B.D. Adams

© 2013

I am a sports enthusiast! I love to watch football, some basketball, car races and tennis. Before I had my stroke, I played tennis and I had been a runner. Not a marathoner, more like to a miler.

My former husband was a marathoner. I would ride my bicycle with him while he would train.

In fact, he qualified for the Boston Marathon one year! We were so excited!

Any person who has participated in that marathon (or any marathon, for that matter) can understand what it means to just finish that kind of race!! Forget the idea about winning ... just to finish without throwing up at the finish in front of the cameras is no small feat!

On April 15, 2013, like many other folks, I watched the Boston Marathon from the beginning to the finish of the top runners! So happy, I was for the winners and the finishers I saw! Afterwards, my boyfriend and I opted to watch other television programs (a movie). Then, we decided we wanted an early supper of Chinese, so he went to pick up our meal. I continued to watch a TV program on cable. This was around four o’clock.

When he came back home, he left the food in his SUV as he hurried inside and frantically asked, “Have you seen the News?!”

I switched to CNN ... and then, saw the horrifying scenes of unthinkable mayhem!!

Why would someone set off bombs at a marathon finish? The Boston had always been an “ambassador event” ... so many nations were in this race. That was obvious by all the flags at the finish line!

Like most everyone, I stayed glued to the News stations. It was so unbelievable that two young men could turn a city like Boston into a zone of terror, made in fear!

When the “persons of interest” were made known, I was amazed that these young men ... brothers, Tamerlan (the older) and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ... were not seemingly part of terror factions; like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan or Ireland (of all places).

Their national home was Chechnya!! It’s a small country in the southwest section of Russia. This country has dealt with wars and discontent for centuries! Of late, however, they hadn’t seemed angry with the US. Unless you figure in the Islamic factor.

As more was made known of the brothers, the older one stated on a social media

venue that he “didn’t understand Americans,” he couldn’t “make friends” with them. My

words to him would have been, “Then, move ... go some place else, go back to Chechnya.” Perhaps others had made that suggestion, as well, which did not please him.

He had a wife and a three year old child. Why do this to a child? As it is known, he did not survive his attempt to out-run-the-law.

The younger brother was evidently an aspiring medical student. This would please most any mother ... for her son to be a doctor!

He did survive, but with his brother’s death, he should have given up! This is not going to be like Osama bin Laden’s event. This boy is in the United States with the full determination of our judicial system and all the fame seekers with their own itineraries!

I’m sure the younger brother was a likable fellow. Everyone who was interviewed said this. However, whether the older brother instigated this change in his younger brother’s personality or not, the fact remains he made his choices! They both did.

Personally, I am so glad and relieved that both bombers were found and put away without the added mayhem of more huge explosions, more blood and death! The killing of the MIT policeman was so unnecessary, just so senseless, as everything they had done!! They went to the lengths to make fairly sophisticated bombs ... was that all they thought they would need to do? Didn’t they think beyond the bombing? Did they think they would not be found out! Their lack of reasoning escapes any rational thought!

Were they going to pull a “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” shoot-out? Well, they failed at that. Were they more involved in terrorism than the FBI/CIA had informed?

My thoughts are with the injured people (dead and still healing) and their families. Also, my hopes are with the families of the bombers/killers. Hopefully, they will understand that Americans, born here or legally immigrated, will not tolerate killings, no matter how flowery their families and friends speak of the killers or how indignant they feel of how Dzhokhar was hunted! He is a killer!!

And now, let’s hope we are not inundated with copy-cat bombers at other sporting events!!

I am a Texan, an Ohioan, a New Yorker, a bit of a German, and a New Hampshire-ite (for 11 years)! And, as of April 15, 2013, I am a Bostonian!!!

Note: When this is published on my Blog, there might be new information. So, stay tuned to all News!!

Lions

Lions

 by Bill Ferullo

© 2012

It really is of no surprise

    That all the life before our eyes

Should earn the traits we notice there

    A dumb old ox, a quick, white hare

So it is the word has passed

    Described the leader we would keep

is an army of sheep led by a lion

    not an army of lions led by a sheep.

Critters of the Forests

Critters of the Forest

By

B.D. Adams © 2012

         Forests are full of all kinds of “critters.” Big critters, odd shaped critters, those on the ground and those in the air, in water and on land, some with fur and some with no fur ... all kinds of critters.

        In The Forest, everything a critter would want is available. There’s a nice pond to drink from and to swim in; with a small, cool waterfall to breathe better; a sunny patch to bathe in the beautiful sunlight for warmth and to dry off; plenty places to create dens to live in ... from the large critters to the smallest. All matters of nourishment are every-where, as well.
        Only a few meat-eating animals, Nastys, are welcomed! The only Nastys that are truly allowed into The Forest are the ones who do their hunting outside The Forest and stay to themselves. Those animals are only allowed to drink from the pond, and then go on about their business. A good separation.
        Most of The Forest critters have their leaders. Some leaders had been in charge for long periods ... most died of old age. Those critters left without a leader would be sad until they voted on a new leader. The Nastys were not allowed to vote ... they voted in their own elections far away in the Other Forest.
         As usual, some critters would try to waggle some kind of control over the Burro family, who had joined The Forest eons before. Because they are big and make a horrible noise when riled, they had become an important deterrent against the Nastys outside The Forest. For many, many years, the Burros served The Forest!
         Recently, however, the Geckos and Newts were in a stigma because both their leaders had died! The Geckos had already begun their nominations for their new leader.
         The Newts had decided to approach the Geckos with a novel idea.
         Leroy, the spokes-Newt, suggested to Glov, the spokes-Gecko, that the two species should join ... have more power. That would simplify their procedures ... make things go more ... fairly.
        “We can offer the Burros extra to battle more for us ... combine our forces and when those darned Ravens begin to attack us, we can fight them off. That’s how we lost our leader, you know,” Leroy said, as he remained half in and half out of the pond.
        Glov lay on a sunlit leaf and pondered this idea. “I like the idea of a stronger union ... but ...,” he hesitated.
       “But ... what?” Leroy asked impatiently.
       “But ... what more can we offer the Burros? We offer all we can, as it is. We clean their hooves and ears of parasites. My critters cannot drag the food they eat because we’re too small. I refuse to clean ... ahem ... under their tails,” Glov stated piously.
        Leroy pondered this question. He hadn’t considered this problem ... and he
wanted to be voted the “Leader of the Forest!” So, he pondered.
         While these little fur-less critters discussed these ideas, neighboring critters began to listen.
         “What’s going on with those two,” Ricky Squirrel asked.
         “Not sure,” replied Mac Chipmunk.
         “They want change,” Lady Frog suggested, as she hopped onto a lily pad.
         “Change!” Mac Chipmunk guffawed.
         “Yes,” Pat Packrat chattered, “They want to steal the Burros from the rest of us!”
         “No!” croaked Lady Frog.
         “What are you griping about? They’d be more on you side ... you amphibian!!!” Ricky Squirrel nastily said.
         “Glov is not an amphibian ... he’s a ... lizard!” shuddered Lady Frog.
         “And would you fight for us?” Pat Packrat demanded of Ricky.
         “If anyone needs a change, we need change. Our leader is always giving into those squirrels!” Mac Chipmunk whined. Then, he scampered to a group of chipmunks and they began to voice their grievances to each other.
         Ricky Squirrel, being irritated with the chipmunk’s accusations of their leader, hopped to a group of other squirrels! They were louder than the chipmunks!
         Then, the frogs croaked their protests that the salamanders were given more considerations over the other amphibians!!
         And, so it went. Even the species of birds made loud their protests!! So, it went for several hours ...
         Finally, all the critters got quiet and just looked at the old oak tree.
         Ted, the Owl ... the oldest and wisest critter (even though he was a meat-eater) perched on a low branch of the ancient oak tree.
        “What’s going on here?” the Owl queried.
        With his question, all the critters began their raucous, unpleasant yammering again!
        The wise old bird shook his big head and only said, “Tsk ... tsk.”
        The critters noticed the Owl’s quiet remark. Everyone got quiet, as well, to better hear the old bird.
       “Listen ... listen to what’s around you,” Ted said pointedly. “Can you hear all the Nastys, who want what you have?”
      The Forest critters began to listen more closely. They heard it ... they heard the sounds of anticipation. It was a growl, a low chuckle from all the Nastys in the Other Forest. They were just biding their time before attacking The Forest.
     “You can hear it ... yes,” Ted ruffled his feathers. “Do you really want “them” to take over because of your bickering? The Burros are here for all of you!”
     The chipmunks, squirrels, frogs, salamanders and different birds just hung their heads in shame. The old Owl was correct.
     All the critters went back to their daily routines. The fighting was over ... the elections would go on as before. Leroy Newt was immediately censored.

             The moral of this Fable is ... be careful what you wish for ... you could lose your ass!!

The Candidate, Herman Cain

Political & Moral Thoughts

by B.D. Adams

Yep ... the title makes for some interesting pillow-talk ... uh, issues. This particular election year fiasco ... uh, debates ... have opened some smelly cans of worms!

To begin with, Herman Cain thought ... actually thought ... he could run a candidacy for the presidency of these United States on the backs of ... sorry, on his experience making pizzas. Dear readers ... the guy isn’t even Italian ... what does he know about pizzas or Italians. He has demonstrated that he couldn’t pass Fifth Grade geography (remember, he didn’t know where Libya was *sigh*)

When all these white women started prancing out of his closets, we can only imagine how long it will take for Gloria to get one of those fancy divorce attorney’s to fix her husband. If she stays with that jerk, she is either the biggest fool or will be up for sainthood! Also, what the hey has he told his sons about how to handle women?! I can only imagine.

And, as usual, Herman keeps denying “all these unfounded accusations” by all these “disturbed women!” Come on, Herman ... you only chose the disturbed women to play with?!

I don’t know. I mean I’ve been around the block a few times ... I’ve been sexually active and not too bad looking in my younger days, but Hermie, baby ... you must be hung like a horse to pursue the women the way you have! Because pal, you ain’t that good looking!

Are the other candidates without sin? Who knows! However, the others have managed to look more ... credible. People are actually looking at Newt now! *cringe* The others seem to be waiting until they are elected ... if they get that far ... to show they are womanizers, sexual harassers and want a particular race, creed or sex to float their boat.

Mr. Cain ... in the future, be a bit more discreet if you want to run for a big political position (forget about Michelle ... she’s taller than you). The public does read and believes what they read or hear. Also, get some continuing education about current events, geography and work on your memory. An interviewing CNN reporter is not a good place to not know the reporter’s name.