Perspective
We all view the world and life issues from our on unique vantage
points. In many ways our perspectives and vantage points are similar. In a democracy
we discuss similar and opposing views freely. There are those who would bully
others into accepting their views. The world is full of them. They can be found almost
everywhere man is, even in cyberspace, my space, you tube, etc.
I wrote a poem about perspective:
Perspective?
Having been asked
What’s it all about?
I peered out through my eyes window
Tinted as with darkened glass
That hindered light’s passing
To illuminating truth
And saw there only shadow
Which mocked my searching gaze
Viewing the world through sun glasses
I saw mostly smoke and haze
Confusion delusion and illusion
Gathered blinding my mind
Searching for truth I reasoned
Was just passing time
Till I set aside the coolest
Sun glasses ever made
And looked for truth
Where only the blind can see
Within the heart and soul
Where the spirit breathes
Copyright © 2004 Richard E Alford
Jay Leno shares a very interesting perspective in a letter he wrote:
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just isn't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Oceanwithout having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler or intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
2007
A senior U.S. military officer said on Tuesday.
Washington is trying to gauge whether Russia's recent bomber mission near a U.S. aircraft carrier indicated Moscow's return to a Cold War "mind-set" and is considering how the Pentagon should respond.
Peering into this news article utilizing the new found perspective of our souls we are now free to
view the vantage points of others:
But other senior U.S. defense and Navy officials stressed they did not see Russia's weekend bomber flights south of Japan as provocative.
Four U.S. fighter jets were scrambled on February 9 to escort Russian bombers that approached the USS Nimitz south of Japan. One Russian bomber flew over the deck of the aircraft carrier, escorted by a U.S. fighter jet.
Adm. Gary Roughead, U.S. chief of naval operations, downplayed the incident and said it reflected Russia's emerging naval power.
"I think what we are seeing is a Russian military or Russian navy that is emerging and, in the case of the navy, desiring to emerge as a global navy," Roughead told reporters at the Pentagon.
"I do not consider it to be provocative," he said of the bomber mission.
But on Capitol Hill, another top U.S. military officer -- Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright -- said the Pentagon was trying to assess the implications of Russia's actions.
"Now, what we're concerned about is what are the indications of this return to a Cold War mind-set, what are the implications of that activity and how do we best address that," said Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The incident happened in neutral international airspace, Cartwright said.
"We're just trying to go back and look at what message was intended by this overflight," he told a Senate panel.
At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack said the Russian bomber flights were not seen as a threat.
"The Russians made a decision to resume some of their long-range aviation flights, involving some of their assets left over from the Cold War," he told reporters.
"I don't think we view it as a particular threat. It is something that we watch closely, and I'm sure folks over at the Pentagon watch it as well."
Any U.S. expressions of concern to Russia would probably be carried out through military channels, McCormack said.
TESTY RELATIONS
U.S.-Russian relations have become testy, with Washington concerned that Russian democracy is being eroded and Moscow complaining of U.S. interference.
A dispute over U.S. plans to place missile defense assets in former Soviet-allied territory has also raised tensions, and Russia is unhappy with continued U.S. support for expansion of the NATO military alliance.
Russian officials have said they will revive some of the military power and reach that was allowed to collapse with the Soviet Union.
Russia could train its nuclear missiles on Ukraine if the pro-Western state joins NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow on Tuesday.
Asked his reaction to Putin's statement, McCormack said: "There he goes again." McCormack offered no further comment, saying he had not seen Putin's remarks.
The Russian Air Force said the mission by four Tu-95 bombers was part of long-distance patrols in the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans and the Black Sea that began last August.
A Russian news agency quoted Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky expressing surprise at "all the clamor this raised."
The last time a Russian bomber flew over a U.S. aircraft carrier was in July 2004, and Russian bombers have increased their flights near U.S. territory to demonstrate their long-range strike capability.
Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who raised the issue during the Senate hearing, said the Russian maneuver "sounds pretty provocative to me." He said the Armed Services Committee, of which he is a member, would look into the issue.
Here is another perspective:
Could it be that Vladimir P is simply a boxing fan and is trying to intimidate Ukrainian Boxer Vladimir K
who will be facing Russian fighter Sultan Ibragimov Feb 23, 2008 at Madison Square Garden? You
know, pointing his nuclear at the Ukraine and all. After all Vladimir K's brother Vitali is a canidate for
Mayor of Kiev, Ukraine and has political ambitions. Then there is that Klitschko conspiracy to unite all the Heavyweight Title Belts too. Vladimir K seeking Sultan's belt and Vitali the WBC belt from the winner of the Maskaev (Russian fighter) and Peter fight. Who is also by the way not American born.
Maybe I should put my sunglasses back on. All this hoopla
about a fight could be blinding me? Feb 23, 2008 at Madison Square Gardens, CYA there.
Come on Vladimir P a truce for the fight?
Oh yeah, you got me,I do have more than a casual interest here in this fight. I have both Russian and Ukrainian roots
having one set of Great Grand Parents who came over from Russia to America in 1898. My Great Grandfather
as the story goes was a decendent of the Czars and my Great Grandmother's brother was a Professor at
the Kharkov institute in the Ukraine. I guess if I was a racist my feelings on the fight would be split. Thus giving
support to all those who say I have a split personality: some say I'm half nuts and the other half is just plain
crazy!!! Well as woody woodpecker would say HahaHahaha...
For more fun and fight buzz check out the video below:
