Mikes Place

By Michael L. Craner

After the Presidents State of the Union, and being sparked by other issues lately, I felt it was time for another edition of my own State of the Union Address. Let me forewarn you too, especially those newer readers who missed out on my last one, I speak my mind, without concern of hurt feelings or being “politically correct”. If you don’t like what I’m saying, go read another column!

A thought occurred to me the other day, as I was driving in to work, as thoughts often do. It was overcast and foggy from the recent snow. Last year I had acquired a $2.00 pair of glasses with amber lenses which I have found to be wonderful for driving conditions such as these, or during night time hours. As the sun began its ascent behind me, I was treated to a beautiful dawn, with the sun changing the colors of the clouds and fog in front of me. The amber colored glasses further intensified my enjoyment of the view before me, casting a warm golden glow all around, kinda like one of those “Golden Grahams” commercials. It was at this moment that the pessimist in me realized that while everything appeared golden, it really wasn’t. Next, I realized that most people are running around with invisible amber colored glasses. Always thinking that everything is golden, or if it isn’t, someone else will fix it. Even when they do decide to take a stand, it is usually half-hearted, and poorly informed. I am even humble enough to place myself in this category.

A local TV station has joined in on the excitement of interactive media, and has been posting daily questions about various issues and current events, anywhere from “Should cloning be allowed?”, to “What was your most memorable Super Bowl Commercial”. From time to time I find a question that really gets my dander up, and a week or two later after they post the comments, I become even more infuriated with the naivety, ignorance, and outright stupid people who are my neighbors and countrymen. By focusing my observations of the human race on a community as a whole, rather than by the individual, I have discovered something else wrong with this country; the “citizens” who live here.

One question that truly disgusted me was brought about by an accident where a truck driver for a logging company hit and ran an Amish woman driving her buggy and 17 year old son to his doctor appointment. (He had 2-3 a week to treat him for some kind of condition or illness.) The woman was killed and the son was mildly injured. The poor Amish husband wept and mourned for his loss, forgave the driver, and wondered how in the world he would care for his 12 children. A week later the question appeared on the TV Station website asking “Should our tax dollars be used to make roads safer for the Amish?”

What kind of question is that? What person short of a fascist nazi would ask such a thing? The Amish follow our road laws, driving on the shoulders of the roads, with warning triangles and flashing red lights to alert drivers of their presence. I’ve never heard of an Amish being a menace on the highway, drinking and driving, or anything else negative.

We will feed, clothe, and house fat lazy slobs who contribute nothing at all to our society. We will entertain ridiculous lawsuits filed by lifers in “the pen”, feeding them, educating them, and treating them like our favorite prodigal son… But when asked if we should make the roads safer for the Amish, I was shocked that so many so called “Christians” here in the heart of the bible belt felt it was not “our responsibility”.

Another question has me hot under the collar as well. “Should flag education be mandatory in our public schools?” Certainly not, if these so called educators of our society were real teachers, and not part time babysitters/full time losers. When thinking back to my grade school/high school years, I can count the number of teachers on one hand that I can really remember, impressed me, and made a difference in my life. I fear my children will need even fewer fingers.

Given the state of schools these days, I feel any kind of mandate from the government that helps them figure out what to do with their time at school is helpful, especially when it comes to our flag and American History. The other day my first grader brought home a paper that had a diagram of a human heart, color coded to show where blood flows in and out of the organ and labeled, yet he can’t recite the pledge of allegiance without help.

If a person grows up with little education about their flag or heritage, they will never appreciate it, and never defend it. They will grow up, and wonder why they should pay taxes, serve in the military, or help their neighbor, (like the Amish?). If we ever come under attack it will be over swiftly. Thanks to adulterous, lying, draft dodging, S.O.B’s, and others, we will be UNarmed, UNeducated, an UNwilling to fight for our rights, and the UN won’t help us because we won’t let them. There will be massive runs to the boarders as millions of so-called Americans invade Mexico and Canada seeking protection. That is of course assuming that it isn’t Mexico or Canada attacking.

Do you think I am overreacting? Go to a parade or other public event, wait for the colors to pass, and observe the people around you. How many get off their lazy asses, stand at attention with their hats removed and hand over heart? Very few, I have noticed around here. If you can’t show respect for Old Glory, and the men and women who died to defend her and your sorry ass, you don’t deserve the PRIVELEGE to live in MY country.

Fifty years ago, children started their day off with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Teachers cared about their students, not their paychecks. Young men lied about their ages to get the chance to honor their country by serving in the Military, defending the flag and freedom. People believed in hard work, honesty, and helping each other. Had they not, this would be a very different world today.

So in closing, my assessment of the State of this Union is that it’s NOT all golden. It’s time to take off the amber colored glasses, and go back to work. Lets do a good job, teach the children, clean up the environment, and just be nice to each other. Last but not least, NEVER forget who gave us our freedom and chance to make our own paradise. The flag and military are icons and preservers of this freedom, but it was God that gave them to us.

Don’t throw it all away.