I have been thinking about one thing as of late.  So many people consider pornography to be free speech, or freedom of expression.  I have thought about that and do not find it to be expression or speech.  What are they saying?  What could they possibly think they are telling us?  What, buy more, get addicted, so they can make money.  That only reminds me of Babylon.  Song, however explicit, I can understand as saying something.  Art, however clear, I do not find has any expression or speech to it.  Even print media, without words is simply open for interpretation.  This only opens a new bag though, different from some of the common political discourse of the day.For example, the right to desecrate the flag as freedom of speech.  I don’t believe they have any standing at all.  What does burning have to do with speech?  Some take it to be desecration, some take it to be offensive, yet we burn the flag in ceremony for decommissioning or destruction.  Talking is one thing, or “written talk” I can see, or even gagging someone so they cannot speak.  But to print pictures or symbolic speech I do not see.  On the other hand, while it is not speech as far as I can see, I believe we can limit the burning of anything on property.  If they purchased the flag, burn it where they want.  But if they do it on public property, then they are in violation of fire burning laws and code and should be punished accordingly (the same for burning crosses).  If it was not their flag, then prosecute them for that as well.  Why does public property grant the right to be obnoxious?  Who knows if our laws will ever make sense.

As for what we will do to make the world a better place.  Who knows.  Sometimes I think I am so different from the present state of things that not a soul would listen to me.  Most seem to be far too caught up in the emotional side of things.  What happened to both reason and emotion.  Nevertheless, zeal without knowledge seems to rule the day.  I don’t believe in “running” for office.  I think like ol’ Thomas Jefferson and that good people should be sought out and placed in elected office.  I find it terribly prideful to say I am your man and run on my laurels to be elected.  It removes the elector from the process.  Somehow we stand idly by and allow the current system to continue.  Well, we will reap our harvest of those decisions as well someday.  I write my elected officials, but I have learned the sad truth that they do not listen much unless you contribute to their campaign, and then you are only hoping.  Which only takes us back to the first bag.  Somehow it is not that they represent us, but we have to pay them to represent us.  Sounds pretty priestcraft-like to me.

Next, I have never been much of a suck-up.  While I like to make friends, and that with all people, I am who I am, and you are who you are, and I will tell it like I see it from my perspective and as I see myself and you.  Unless an elected official sees your actions and likes what they see, the chances of appointment are pretty slim.  I am not saying that all appointed people are suck-ups.  But I would have to say divine appointment would have to play a pretty big part for me to ever get appointed to any position to really be heard.

So now, we come full circle.  I will not run for office and will likely never be elected!  Only if a good person is then elected or appointed, and notices me, and likes me, will I ever get appointment.  Which seems just as unlikely to me.  So therefore, what will I do.  Well, I will continue to make sure I know what I think.  I will continue to write to those who I think might listen and to those who ask questions.  Hopefully I may be somewhat of a catalyst for others to think and maybe require something more of government.  As for what else, who knows.  My comments on social commentary might be all the State of Idaho (or any state) or the US will ever see of me.  Who knows, I may write a book someday, but that seems like a total bore.  While it may bring in some income, that would not be the reason I would write it.  Don’t think I would ever teach as I would not have the certification to do so (I will save the whole licensing topic for another time).  Who knows what the future holds for me.  I do plan on law school and going into law.  Perhaps that will put me into a position to help a community be straightened out, if they will listen.  I may be one of those extremist lawyers who barely can put a meal on the table.  Who knows.  One thing is for sure, I hope to be known as a man without guile, honest, and known for his word.  I try and believe I can succeed at being those things.  Where they will take me, I don’t know.  So that is what I will do for a brighter future.  Be the best I can be and see if providence places me anywhere.  I do admit, I have ambition, but so does everybody else.  I will take the spot I am given and serve to the best of my ability there.  If that be a father, then so be it.  If it be a street sweeper, I will be the best there ever was!  I only hope that my gifts and talents which God has seen to give me might be used as he would.  Sometimes though, I think gifts are given and not used allowed to be used, to see if we will be humble enough to do so, but then recognizing they are there with faith, not despair.

“ ‘Father, where shall I work today?’

And my love flowed warm and free.

Then he pointed out a tiny spot

And said, ‘Tend that for me.’

I answered quickly, ‘Oh no, not that!

Why, no one would ever see,

No matter how well my work was done.

Not that little place for me.’

And the word he spoke, it was not stern;

He answered me tenderly:

‘Ah, little one, search that heart of thine;

Art thou working for them or for me?

‘Nazareth was a little place,

And so was Galilee.’ ”

—Meade MacGuire