I choose Truth and Justice. SC

I'm frequently asked why I continue to post things of a partisan nature; would I not prefer to get along with everyone? Of course, in this time of rampant polarization, if you have any convictions at all, you're not going to get along with everyone. I'd love to get along with everyone. I'm a humorist by nature. I'm gratified by making people smile. But I have no intention of pursuing humor and jocularity at the expense of my convictions. My convictions are to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God. Truth and Justice are inherent in my faith. When forced to choose, I choose Truth and Justice. SC

THE FROG JUMP

Back in '65 (1965) I was blessed to attend the frog jump in Angel's Camp, with Sis, my folks, and my grandparents. We went in our '56 Chevy Bel air station wagon. Grandad's ancestors had arrived in Massachusetts Bay, back in 1636. Grandad was mighty proud of his country and his heritage. His family had arrived in the gold fields of California during the goldrush. Granddad, heritage, and history were synonymous. There was standing room only around the platform where the competition was taking place. They'd put a frog in the middle of the circle and his efforts were judged by how far he could go in three hops. Most didn't make it from the circle. Some just squatted, dumbstruck and never jumped. One little girl had entered a big, ol' frog, big as a platter! It was all she could do to carry him squirmin', out to the middle of the circle. He plopped down, rubbed his eyes, and peered off into space. The little child stooped down and gave him a good talkin' to, and then she stepped behind him. That ol' frog's eyes just oozed sagacity, as though ol' Mark Twain hisself was a peerin' out. A hush fell over the crowd. A moment passed. That little child stomped her foot within about an inch of that hoary, ol' frogs' bony backside, and he launched! His first jump took him clean out of the circle! With his second jump he cleared the crowd! And with his third effort he took to the sky like he'd just been swatted by Babe Ruth hisself, until he was no more than just a tiny speck, high in the sky over Angel's Camp. Some say that ol' frog ain't come down yet. Some say he caught the tail of Halley's comet.

SC

The good news is...

Recently, I did an innocuous, little post about heritage, ancestry, and genealogy. Following a dozen comments or so we worked out that for the most part there's not a dime's worth of difference between us. And that's true, mostly. There is one difference. There are basically two types of people. There are children of light, and there are the others. Children of light are compassionate, caring people who are passionate about truth and justice. The others tend to be apathetic, deceitful people who care mostly for themselves and have only contempt for everyone they consider inferior. But don't count anyone out. The good news is there's still hope for everybody. Everyday somebody sees the light. SC

I don't need some self-righteous zealot telling my family how to live.

I don't need some self-righteous zealot telling my family how to live. My family is perfectly capable of making our own decisions. And I support the right of others to do likewise. Neither do we need the state to interfere with the freedoms provided to us by the Constitution. What we need is a strong Federal Government to ensure the separation of church and state and to defend our freedoms against all threats both foreign and domestic. SC

Understand what you're voting for, and don't be surprised when you get it.

I hear repeatedly that neither party has a good candidate. Here's the situation. The Republican party has become synonymous with the MAGA movement. They believe the climate crisis, which is causing floods, droughts, famine, food shortages and high prices all over the world, is a hoax. They believe more coal and big oil are the energy source of the future and that environmental concerns are for hippies and tree huggers. They believe science is an antireligion, leftist conspiracy. They believe senior citizens should stay in the workforce and flip burgers until they die. They believe affordable health care is a socialist plot. They believe the pursuit of truth and justice is a witch hunt. They believe lies and big money win elections and that truth and democracy are for losers. They believe people's personal choices should be made by the government and that the government should consist of those who support their radical, alt right agenda. If you agree with that, go ahead and vote Republican, but understand what you're voting for, and don't be surprised when you get it. SC

Truth tempers honesty and restores nations. SC

 Knowledge vs Wisdom

We now live in the age of misinformation. Be wary of alternative facts. Knowledge is merely accumulated information, both accurate and inaccurate; wisdom is the ability to wino out that which is erroneous, in so doing divining truth from knowledge. Misinformation brings down empires. Truth tempers honesty and restores nations. SC

The last eight years of Trump's influence on the country have taken a terrible toll on me.

The last eight years of Trump's influence on the country have taken a terrible toll on me. I'm estranged from my church family and most of my friends and relatives. They think I'm sick and evil because I despise Trump. It's as though truth and integrity and everything that all those years in the church taught me to believe are now wrong and we're to lift up and praise life's ugly underbelly instead. I'm sorry. I won't do it. They say the truth will set you free. I pray that happens soon. SC

The scope of my sagacity

So, they don't believe in established facts, verifiable science, sustainable energy, human rights, civil rights, reproductive rights, worker's protections, environmental protections, pursuit of a more equitable tax policy, or any of the policies that for over two hundred years have made America one of the most powerful forces for good the world has ever known, but they continue to support Donald Quackenbush Trump, Marjorie Turdworthey Green, and the fabulously farcical machinations of the dysfunctional freedom caucus. I've been told I have a pretty vivid imagination, but how anyone continues to support the agenda of the MAGA movement greatly exceeds the scope of my sagacity. SC