The Power of a Child, August 30, 2006

THE POWER OF A CHILD IS AN AMAZING thing when you stop and think about it for a moment. Today, on my way to work, I witnessed that power first hand as three simple words from a four year old little boy drew two people from two entirely different era's and walks of life together long enough for them to realize that they had more in common than either realized.

It all started just a few minutes after I started my daily 20 mile commute to work this morning. Like every other morning, the mass transit bus I was on rolled up to one of it's many stops and among the passengers that boarded was an elderly woman in an old beat up wheel chair. I'm not sure why she was in the wheel chair, but the look of her face, arms, and hands told the story of a less than priviliged life. Despite her obvious handicap and her worn appearance, her pleasant demeanor was met with the typical smiles and nods of acknowledgement.

A few minutes and a couple of stops later, a young 20-something, blonde haired, blue eyed woman boarded the bus with a toddler. Both were impecably dressed, well manicured, obviously accustomed to living a more comfortable lifestyle than many of the passengers on the bus on this morning. The two took a seat directly across the aisle from the woman in the wheel chair. The little boy looked around the bus surveying his surroundings until his gaze fell on the old woman in the wheel chair. For a moment, he looked confused then he smiled at the woman in the wheel chair and said those three magic words......."Who Are You?"

Those three magic words from a wide eyed child started a conversation between two women from entirely different worlds. It was a conversation that lasted the 35 minutes that I remained on the bus and probably well after. Under any other circumstances these two women most likely would have never given each a second look. But on this day, two vastly different people found out that they actually had more in common than either of them could have possibly imagined.

It was a chance encounter that could have taken place on any bus, in city, anywhere in the world. But today, it happened in my world and I had the privilige of witnessing the formation of a new friendship and it happened all because of three simple words and the innocent, non-judgemental power of a child.

Scoreless Soccer-Silent Stands, July 17, 2006

IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE HUG A TREE Free to be you and me crowd from Martiniville (otherwise known as Massachusetts) are at it again....spreading their sickness called liberalism. This time the victims are the children of America. In particular children who play soccer and other organized little league sports. It's all about games where no one keeps score or stats and no trophies are handed out at the post season banquets. It's a trend that has been going on for a while and was again pushed to the fore front during the recent World Cup Tournament.

Why are the liberal whackjobs subjecting our children to this nonsense? The reason they give is that they don't want anyone to get their feelings hurt. Personally, I think they're doing it because they feel guilty over their own status and success and they don't want their kids (and our kids) to experience that success in their lives and have to endure the same guilt that they do.

But now the libs from Martiniville are taking it to a whole new level....."Silent Stands." Yep, now in some leagues across the country, parents and friends aren't even allowed to cheer for their own little Bobby or Susie when they make a great play or score the winning goal. HUH???? I'm sorry, if my son were about the score the game winning goal or pitch a no hitter.....you would have to weld my butt to the bleachers and duct tape my mouth to keep me from cheering my son on to victory.

But more importantly than that, what kind of children would we be raising if we totally removed the competition factor from little league sports? Sports psychologist Richard Ginsberg says that sports is about more than winning. He actually says that sports is about feeling good about yourself....oh and he did mention skill development just so he would sound like a total idiot.

Where I come from competition, whether it be sports, business, or academics, is about striving to be the best you can possibly be. It's about learning to win graciously, learning to lose gracefully, and the strong helping the weaker to become stronger so that they experience success as well. It's also about learning how to deal with adversity, learning the concepts of teamwork, self discipline, determination and yes learning to deal with disappointment, rebounding and doing better next time. The list goes on and on. But not if the liberals have their way.

Oh! But Mark, what about the parents who are totally out of control at their kids sporting events??? Two words: BAN THEM! Let them know that taking their kids participation to extremes is unacceptable and won't be tolerated. If that doesn't work.....Ban Them! But don't turn it into some limp wristed hug fest that most normal kids and adults wouldn't want to ever be caught participating in.

If these invaders of our kids childhood games are allowed to continue, we will end up raising a generation of children totally unprepared for the realities of the competitive world in which we live. I can see it now.....little Johnny tries out for his Jr High football team and starts crying during the first practice because the coach yelled at him for missing a hand off. Can you imagine the ridicule little Johnny will have to endure when that happens. And it will happen because of people like Sports Psychologist Richard Ginsberg and crap they spew. Because of Ginsberg and people like him, we are raising children who will enter adult life as emotional cripples unable to cope with competitive situations in school, sports, or work.

As for all the folks in Martiniville...... just shut up! If you don't want your kids to play in the real world......fine. Take them home and put them in the bathtub, give them a rubber duckey, a bowl, and some plastic spoons and we'll call it good. As for me, I want my son to learn all the valuable character building lessons that playing in competitive sports can offer. Sports whose game plans do not include scoreless soccer, trophyless tournamnets, or silent stands.

Is removing the competition factor from youth league sports good or bad for our kids? (closed poll)

Good 0

Bad 12

(originally posted 7-17-06 on Yahoo 360)

Happy Mothers Day!, May 14, 2006

Here's a special something
for all the Moms out there! Enjoy!!!

Here's wishing you one

and all a Happy Mother's Day

(originally posted 5-14-06 on Yahoo 360)

Thankful for Our Healthy Kids, March 9, 2006

But for the Grace of God!

If you're a parent like me (or even if you're a single with neices or nephews), the most cherished part of our lives is our healthy children. Every year though, thousands of parents and children across the United States and around the world are faced with the life and death prospect of childhood cancer. In years past the survival prospects were not good. Today, those survival rates have dramatically improved due in large part to the efforts of the incredible staff at a medical facility in Memphis, Tennessee called St Jude Childrens Research Hospital. They do lifesaving work and research on a daily basis. All of their work, research results, and treatment protocols are also shared where ever there is a need..... All at NO COST to the patient/family. They also hold radiothons every year to cover operating and research costs. You can get a real understanding for what St. Jude does and the impact they have on so many lives just by listening to one of the radiothons. A lot of the stories that come out of St Jude are heartbreaking and uplifting and the same time. That may sound like an odd combination, if you're not familiar with the organization. But if you know about St. Jude and what they do then you know EXACTLY what I mean.

If you would like to listen to a radiothon that is currently on the air out here in California, click the link here , then click the streaming live banner and listen for a few minutes. Then tonight as you tuck your little ones in and wish them a good nights sleep, just remember.........."But for the grace of God."

UPDATE: (SAT 3/11/06) The radiothon concluded last night at 6pm. The grand total for two days was $75,010.52. Thanks to everyone who clicked the links and commented on this posting. The more people who know about St. Jude, the more children that will be helped through this great organization.

(originally posted 3-9-06 on Yahoo 360)

Family Life Slogans, February 15, 2006

Since my last couple blog entries have been on the serious side, I thought I'd lighten things up a bit tonight with a top 10 list that almost every parent can relate to.

Top 10 Slogans Used to Describe American Family Life

10. Raising a teenager is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
9. The joy of parenthood: What a parent experiences when all
the children are in bed
8. Adolescence is the age when children try to bring up their parents.
7. The only people in this world who are always sure about the proper
way to raise children are those who've never had any.
6. Oh to be only half as wonderful as my child thought I was when he
was small and half as stupid as my teenager now thinks I am.
5. There are only two things a child will share willingly: communicable
disease and his mother's age.
4. Adolescence is the age at which children stop asking questions because they know all the answers.
3. Kids really brighten a household; they never turn off any lights.
2. Parenthood...If it was going to be easy, it never would have
started with something called labour!

AND FINALLY, The number one slogan used to describe

American Family Life…

1. "Avenge yourself! Live long enough to be a problem to
your children!"

....and of course my favorite that didn't make the list:

"Kids, can't live with them, couldn't live without them!"

(originally posted 2-15-06 on Yahoo 360)

Truth in a Restaurant, February 12, 2006

For those of us with ties to the military and a personal stake in the outcome of our current War on Terror, we already know the truth when it comes to our troops and why they do what they do. We need no explanation because we live it first hand, through our own personal service and the service of our family and friends. We need no explanation because we know that the coverage given the military by the mainstream media is very lacking and in some cases even downright deceptive. We need no explanation because we know the truth. Funny thing about the truth though, for those who don't get it......the truth has a tendency to show up in the most unexpected places. If you happen to be reading this and you are one of those who still don't get it, read on. The following is an excerpt from the Dax Files written by a good ol' boy from the south named Dax Montana. If only there were more guys out there like Dax.

Witnessing the Truth

After I graduated from High School, I had several choices to make. I had to choose between going into the workforce, Tech school, or college. The one choice that I never even considered was military service. For a long time I never appreciated the commitment young men were making when it came to military service. I pretty much figured that I wasn’t cut out to be a trained killer. I was a lover not a fighter. That being said, I never discounted the value of military service either. I never ridiculed anyone for making that choice. I just knew that military service wasn’t for me.

As I grew older and realized that I didn’t know everything, I came to appreciate the sacrifices that young men and women make when they join the military. Now more than ever before I have come to respect the commitment and the sacrifice our soldiers make when they decide to enlist.

Sometimes commitment comes easy. The biggest and easiest commitment I ever decided to make was when the lovely and talented Priscilla became my bride. That commitment was a no-brainer for me. However, the decision to commit to military service isn’t easy to make, especially now that our country is at war. That’s why I was extremely honored and proud today.

With Fort Gordon right around the corner from my restaurant, I am privileged to serve many, many servicemen. I make it a point to learn the different insignia and ranks so that I can properly address each soldier. I have befriended many of these heroes who come in regularly. However, I was totally shocked and surprised when a Captain approached me today and asked me if it was alright to have a re-enlistment ceremony in my store. I emphatically answered, “Yes.” It turns out that when a non-commissioned officer re-enlists, they get to choose where the ceremony takes place. This young Sergeant chose my restaurant. I was truly humbled and honored and proud.

This Sergeant was making one of the biggest commitments he will ever make in his life, and he wanted to make it in my restaurant. Even though my lunch crowd was going strong, about twelve soldiers gathered in the corner. The Captain and several Lieutenants watched as the sergeant read, and signed the re-enlistment papers. Then the Command Sergeant Major swore him in with an American Flag as a backdrop.

After the Sergeant was officially sworn in, the small group of soldiers broke out in applause. I was pretty wrapped up in the whole ceremony thing and not really paying attention to the line of customers. But when the soldiers began clapping for their Sergeant, the line of customers also began clapping and cheering for the young man. Twenty or so people put aside their own personal thoughts and focused their attention on the young Sergeant and his fearless commitment to protecting our country and our freedoms. I was speechless.

I hear in the news that people are tired of the war on terror. I hear reports that the backs of our young soldiers are broken. I hear reports that enlistment numbers are down. I call bullshit! Today I watched the truth happen before my very eyes. Today the truth set me free.

Dax publishes his blog " The Dax Files" at www.daxmontana.net . Just click the link in the blogroll and stop by and see him sometime.

(originally posted 2-12-06 on Yahoo 360)