Sometimes I have to Tune Out

The wrap up of the presidential primaries can’t come too soon for me. It is getting indigestibly stupid. The Republican front-runner Mr. Trump continually hurls insults at his competitors, apparently auditioning his best impersonation of Don Rickles in case this political thing doesn’t work out.

Hillary Clinton leads the elderly socialist, Bernie Sanders for the Democrat Party nomination. She alternates between screaming monotone rants and disingenuous attempts at being hip or funny. Both approaches create the same reaction as fingernails on a chalkboard and remind me of an ex-wife that I’d rather forget.

Fortunately I have the option of turning off the media and spending time in the forest. It is an irrefutable fact that the high country has the ability to calm one’s nerves when they are being rubbed raw by politicians. I am concerned that as the political silly season continues, more of this country’s citizens will discover this truth while vacationing in Island Park this summer. They may decide to not return home and seek sanctuary in the caldera. The increase in population will shatter September’s calm and screw up the bow hunt!

If residents begin hearing visitors contemplating the move to Island Park, I suggest that you emphasize the cold winter weather, deep snow and frozen water pipes. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to remind them that there is little shopping in the caldera and no movie theaters. I realize that this may appear selfish but remember that you are doing them a service!

After their first winter, they many will flee back to the flat and the glut of cabins on the market will drive down real estate prices. They will have to sell their property at a loss. Make their financial well-being a priority and discourage tourists from moving to Island Park. It is your humanitarian duty.

Spring Ushers in the Political Silly Season

The arrival of spring brings with it the increasingly intense political drama associated with the presidential primaries.

Let us review the current state of affairs.

Donald Trump became furious when a third-rate new super pac in Utah published an ad on-line containing a tasteful nude photo of Trump’s wife. The photo was taken by a fashion magazine for international distribution during Mrs. Trump’s modeling career. The Donald focused his anger at the photo’s publication into an attack on the looks and mental health of Ted Cruz’s wife. Ted Cruz responded by denying any association with the super pac and calling Trump a coward for attacking Ted’s wife.

Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was charged in Jupiter, Florida with misdemeanor battery after an altercation with a young female reporter.

Halfway through the primary, Governor John Kasich has won only a single state (Ohio, his home state) and has deluded himself into thinking that he can win the contest. His rationale is that since he is the son of a lowly postal carrier and his story is too important to be overlooked.

On the Democrat side of the isle, Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist has actually been finding a large constituency within the party.  Despite a nineteen trillion dollar national debt, his proposals of free college and other social spending are attractive to many who find their opportunities limited. A small bird landed on his podium a week ago and many took it as a sign that he was anointed to accede to the presidency.

Hillary Clinton has amassed enough “super delegates” to assure her nomination despite being regularly beaten by Bernie. While campaigning, she is under investigation by over 150 FBI agents for maintaining classified information on a private server in her New York residence.  

While this drama was going on, the president was attending a baseball game in Cuba with the Castros and dancing the tango in Argentina.

If a writer submitted these events as an outline for a soap opera, the concept would be rejected as too unbelievable to green-light.

Living in the Collective Basement

The rise in popularity of avowed socialist Bernie Sanders is a phenomenon that would have horrified the citizenry a decade ago. Proposing systematic wealth confiscation and redistribution was considered political suicide until recently. What happened?

There are a few social changes that are responsible for the rise in acceptably of the socialist philosophy.

The first is the coming of age of the Woodstock generation. The 1960’s radicals invaded public education. It was one of the few fields where they were accepted and provided with a regular paycheck.  As true zealots, they preached their brand of utopia to their students relentlessly and condemned dissent from their orthodoxy.

The second precipitating event was the rise of crony capitalism. The appearance of the bad mortgages and derivatives were only a few of the obvious signs that the free market was being gamed by the financial services and the political class. With the advent of stock options as compensation, the long-term health of a company was no longer the focus of the management. Annual reports determined their compensation and that compensation was enormous. Two or three years of gutting the company while looking profitable on paper made it possible for the executives to bail from their positions with millions of dollars lining their pockets. When the financial collapse hit eight years ago, the same executives retained their compensations while the taxpayers were left to pick up the tab. Those compensations should have been returned to the companies from which they were engineered.

Finally, the economy overseen by the current administration has been anemic. The current jobless rate is purported to be fewer than 5% (U-3) while the number of people who have dropped out of the workforce is enormous. If one adds those individuals into the equation (U-6) the unemployment is closer to 12%. The jobs that are available are lower in wage which allows politicians to make a case for increasing the minimum wage. At the same time, the Federal Reserve has been giving the banks interest free money which has pushed large investors into the stock market, inflating the price and increasing the wealth of the rich.

It is small wonder that so many Americans are disgusted with the current economic state of affairs. Many who have been either living in their parent’s basement or on public assistance can see no improvement in their future. They feel that their only option is relieving someone else of what has been deemed as obtained unfairly.

To negotiate ourselves through this quagmire, this country must return to the principle of the free market where the success or failure a company is based on their market acceptance. The unholy alliance between the public and private sector has got to end.

Confronting Radical Islam

I watched the coverage of last week’s terrorist attack in San Bernardino in stunned amazement. My concern for those who were victimized at the county Christmas party was predictable. The satisfaction that I felt when I saw that the two terrorists had lost their lives in a gun battle with police was also normal for me.

The female was an import from Pakistan. The male suspect was obsessed with ISIS and Israel according to his father. Both shooters immersed themselves in jihad theology.  As in the Paris tragedy, this sect of Islam uses its determination to install a global caliphate as the justification for the killing of innocents. There are over a billion Muslims worldwide and if only one percent ascribe to this belief, that is still ten million idiots trying to kill infidels. 

Interrupting my predictable emotions was a shock and disgust at the responses by some national politicians and media outlets. The verbal gymnastics employed while attempting to divorce the terrorist attack from radical Islam was astounding. We were treated to constant reminders that Islam is a religion of peace and the attacks shouldn’t be ascribed to radical Islam. We were also treated to an immediate attack on gun ownership. Never mind that the guns were purchased legally in California, which has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws. The couple could have engineered just as much carnage in their home bomb-making factory without access to a few guns. Perhaps if these and future attackers are identified as members of radical Islam, the Islamic community will be shamed into cleaning up their own house. Inevitably it is up to the Muslim community worldwide to stamp out this doctrine of destruction and bring its adherents out of their thirteenth century delusion.

Finally while we are being admonished to show religious sensitivity, the New York Daily News ran a front page proclaiming “GOD ISN’T FIXING THIS” and mocking those who offered prayers of support for the victims of the San Bernardino tragedy.  The lack of outcry from the same quarters who caution the country against offending Muslims was deafening.

Political Bullies

A pair of national political stories left me incredulous last week. The first was the Justice Department announcing that there would be no criminal prosecution of Lois Lerner or any other IRS employees for the aggressive targeting of conservative groups applying for 501(C3) statuses. The second was the testimony of Hillary Clinton in front of the House Benghazi Committee. 

In the case of the IRS, agents aligned with the administration used their authority to intimidate and dissuade members of newly formed Tea Party groups from organizing prior to the 2012 presidential election. The active use of the IRS as an enforcement arm of a political party has never been this blatant. The Justice Dept. dismissed the scandal as isolated cases of bad judgement!

The Clinton appearance before the House Committee was equally disconcerting. Why were the Ambassador and staff left with so little protection in such a dangerous place, despite over six hundred pleas for increased security prior to the attack?

Mrs. Clinton’s response was astounding. The requests were not received by her but were handled by State Department professionals. When asked by Rep. Jim Jordan if any of those “professionals” were disciplined for dropping the ball, Mrs. Clinton became morally indignant. How dare he question the integrity of the dedicated government employees? How hateful and callous could Mr. Jordan have been?

Politicians and bureaucracies are convinced that they know what is best for the populace. If one publicly disagrees with a policy, the malcontent will be labeled a hateful person, marginalized or destroyed. It is an intelligently lazy but effective tactic. Most people strive to avoid confrontation and find it more comfortable to relent than to be assertive in the face of such allegations. The rise of the non-politicians in the Republican primary is a grass-roots response to this behavior.

Regardless of whether it is federal, state, county or city government, shutting down opposing ideas by intimidation does a great disservice to the citizenry and should not be accepted.

Original Sins

There are quotes from every U.S. president that become woven into the fabric of America. President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, President Franklin Roosevelt’s “we have nothing to fear but fear itself”, President Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” and President Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” are all inspiring messages from the Commanders in Chief.

Some of the less inspiring but equally memorable presidential utterances include President Nixon proclamation “I am not a crook” and President Carter’s “malaise” television address.

The worst utterance from a president came last week during a Prayer Breakfast speech when Mr. Obama lectured Christians to “get off their high horse” when condemning radical Islam. Dredging up the Crusades and the Inquisition as examples of white European excess, he declared that the country had no right to condemn the ideology of those who are decapitating or burning alive their captives because our ancestors had been bad too. He then threw in slavery as an additional example of white cultural sin.

What the President neglected to mention was that while all cultures have dark chapters in their history, Christians have paid a hefty price to correct theirs. The Christian reformation beginning with Martin Luther challenged the excesses of the Catholic Church. Internally, the Catholic Church corrected the excesses of a bygone era and shed the intrigue. Today, numerous Christian denominations thrive peacefully and retain no remnants of the Crusades or the Inquisition.

The United States fought a civil war to eradicate slavery, at the expense of many citizens’ lives. The nation’s sin was washed away in the blood of its citizenry.

What amazed me was that no matter how much work has been done to correct the historical abuses of Christians; it is never enough for those who rule by guilt or excuse the bad behavior of others.  Personally, I feel no guilt for the crusades or slavery. I participated in neither. I do feel anger and revulsion towards those who currently slaughter innocents in the name of whatever ideology they claim to serve. 

Ferguson

The events in Ferguson, Missouri last week illustrated how wide the gulf has grown between the urban African-Americans and much of the country. The black youth unemployment is at 24 percent, double the national youth average. 67 percent of African-American children live in single parent homes. That is almost triple the rate of whites. It is of small wonder that the white and urban black communities have difficulty communicating with each other.

Those concerned with the situation are divided into two groups. One side’s message is that life has not been fair to the country’s black citizens and without a permanent subsidy, they cannot survive. The other side’s message is that the life of the urban African-American doesn’t have to be substandard. A stable home, a quality education and personal drive is the only way out. The offer of money and a modicum of certainty have become more attractive to many than the alternative.

With this lack of control over one’s life comes resentment of the very system that offers protection from the challenges of life. When the system does not perform its expected role as protector, its dependents lash out. It is not unlike a child who directs a tantrum at a parent when not given its way. This is especially applicable when the government has assumed the role of a parent and provider for so many.

Race relations will not improve until the trap of low expectations is removed from our social fabric. We are all brothers and sisters. No one should live in such a state.

Denial

Now that the election is over and the dust is settling, it is fascinating to observe the administration reinforcing their positions. The electorate voted to put the brakes on the dominating Federal government. The President declared after the loss that voters simply didn’t comprehend what he was trying to accomplish. His unpopularity is due to a lack of understanding by the citizenry, not the policies.

Last week a video surfaced of Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber speaking at a conference on March 12, 2014. Addressing the Affordable Health Care Act, he stated that the lack of transparency was a major factor in getting the bill passed because the “stupidity of the American voter” would have killed the law if they knew what was in it.

The paternalism in dismissing the will of the populace is further evidenced in the administration’s threat to use executive action to deal with immigration issues. There is no area of daily life that the central planners consider off limits. Consider the mandated school lunches that the students refused to eat.

This brings me to the “No to the National Monument” vote. If the administration thinks that the monument designation is a good idea, they won’t pay attention to the voices of Fremont County. The last best hope for Island Park is that Congress will keep the administration so busy that we will drop off their radar.

The central planners make life too difficult. The private sector has been forced to downsize due to the economy and new regulations. Simplicity is always the best route to solve a problem, but that doesn’t require hordes of bureaucrats. 

The Vote

With the elections less than a week away, the “Say No to the National Monument” referendum has dominated the local discourse. The current administration has instituted their agenda even if it means disregarding the will of the populace.

Consider any of the issues subject to intense national debate: gay marriage, immigration policies, health care, Ebola quarantines or Islamic terrorism; the administration has overridden the views of the American people and hoped that the populace would eventually accept their actions.

With such a mindset, does anyone think that if the administration felt compelled to designate this area as a national monument, they would consider local input?  Not Likely! The best thing going for Island Park is that President Obama is from Hawaii and has focused his attention on designating a significant area of ocean surrounding the islands as a national monument. Hawaiian residents are sharing our concerns but seem to be in the crosshairs.

While someone else’s troubles are never a reason to rejoice, Island Park is in fly-over country and not likely to hold the attention of the current administration. The vote by Fremont County residents regarding the national monument next week is a good thing. Do not doubt that if the administration wanted to designate Island Park as a national monument, a “no vote” could not dissuade them.

Bad Behavior in the NFL

I look forward to football season. The NFL is the one sport that I enjoy watching regardless of which teams are playing. The opening weeks of this season have been eclipsed in the media by the actions of a few players.

Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens was hit with an indefinite suspension after video surfaced of him punching out his wife in a casino elevator. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was initially suspended for one game after he was criminally charged with beating his 4-year-old son with a switch.

Excluding the football connection, these two incidents have something else in common. Both men struck those whom they apparently loved in anger. Mr. Rice knocked his wife out cold and Mr. Peterson left welts across the back of his young child. It is never acceptable to hit a woman or beat a child.

There is a difference between beating and spanking. Spanking is a swat to communicate your displeasure regarding the unacceptable behavior of your child.  When you incorporate a weapon, strike in anger or multiple times, you are beating a child to relieve your frustration. You teach your child is that beatings are justified if you are upset enough.  Regarding the Rice incident, you never punch out a woman, period!

People are raised in various environments, not all of them are optimum. Just because someone can run well with a football does not mean that they bring the necessary life skills to their relationships. Part of life’s journey is to learn any skills that we were not taught growing up.

The players’ behavior was reprehensible but their ability to make a living should not be permanently taken away nor should they be considered social lepers. Money and fame does not automatically come with behavioral skills. The players should resolve any criminal charges, seek counseling and modify future behavior. We can use these incidents as a reminder to evaluate our own behavior.

Let Kids Be Kids

There is some confusion within our society over what activities are age-appropriate for the youth. Parents and caregivers may be jumping the gun in a rush to share interests or activities with their kids. A few recent examples brought this to mind.

On August 25^th a nine year old girl was taken by her parents to a gun range outside of Las Vegas. The local range instructor consented to giving the youngster an introduction to a fully automatic Uzi machine gun. While the mom was filming the “intro” the young novice was unable to control the muzzle climb and shot the instructor in the head, killing him. I gave my oldest daughter a single-shot .22 rifle for her 8^th birthday and taught her the importance of gun safety, but she was not allowed to shoot my more powerful weapons.

In a rush towards “tolerance”, grade school children are taught about alternative lifestyles through both school curriculum (in some cases) and the media. My 5 year old grandson asked earlier this year how one knows if one is gay or straight? I remember my surprise when I attended the sex education class in 8^th grade. I don’t think it is healthy to introduce the subject any earlier.

Watching vacationers this summer, some pre-teens were given 4 wheelers and allowed to drive vehicles capable of speeds in excess of 50 mph unsupervised on streets and trails. Kids are being given small, powerful ATVs when they use to be treated to those battery-powered toys that couldn’t do 5 mph.

A 9 year old should not be shooting an automatic weapon; a grade school child does not need to know about sexuality and a pre-teen should not be turned loose on a powerful motor vehicle. Without the maturity that comes with age, the young cannot see the consequences that may result from a bad choice in adult situations. Their life can be scarred forever in an instant.

The responsibility of a parent to know what skills and knowledge to teach one’s child includes WHEN to impart that information. Some adults are in a hurry to introduce the youth to the things that adults find important or fun. There is plenty of time for kids to grow up, why rush the process?

Bergdahl

The recent release of Bowe Bergdahl was met with obvious joy by the parents and friends of the sergeant. Who can begrudge them the joy of having a loved one return after five years of captivity?

Almost immediately upon receiving word of the prisoner swap responsible for the release, social media blew up with harsh criticism of the deal. Much of it revolves around the circumstances of the soldier’s capture. He abandoned his camp one night and fled unarmed into hostile territory. One can only speculate that Boe was finding it difficult to cope with the stress of combat. The Army sent patrols to find the missing soldier and reportedly at least five of his brothers in arms were killed during those efforts.

So while the Bergdahls rejoice in their reunion with their son, five families will not enjoy a reunion with their loved ones in this life because of the poor decision made by Bowe Bergdahl.

And the damage from his decision may not be complete yet. The five Taliban leaders released from Gitmo will most certainly return to the battlefield. Whose sons will be the next to fall as a result of the prisoner swap?

As I watched Bowe’s dad, Bob Bergdahl’s as he participated in a press conference with President Obama. It wasn’t that he looked like he just came from a Grateful Dead concert with his full beard, pony tail and peace beads that bothered me. It wasn’t that he proclaimed that he was proud of how far Bowe went to help the Afghan people. You can’t blame dad for saying something nice about his son. But when Bob welcomed his son home in the language of the Taliban, my jaw dropped. Could anyone imagine parents going on TV at the end of World War 2 and welcoming the returning POW’s home in German? Unbelievable! 

Island Park National Monument and Bunkerville

The recent events near Bunkerville, Nevada raise concerns about how the Federal Government deals with local citizenry. When rancher Cliven Bundy challenged the BLM over grazing fees and the protection of the desert tortoise, both sides were so entrenched in their opinions until it escalated into an armed confrontation.

The locals in Bunkerville have been living a particular lifestyle on public lands for well over a hundred years.  Federal land managers concluded that the existence of the desert tortoise was threatened by the grazing of cattle.  The heavy-handed response by the BLM included armed troops, dogs and Tasers.

The government evacuation of the cattle during calving season only exacerbated the animosity held by the Bundy camp and their supporters. As each side armed and stood toe to toe, they were one bad move away from a Waco or Ruby Ridge disaster. It was the intervention of the Clark County Sheriff that convinced the federal government to withdraw, avoiding bloodshed. When local people are employed by any law enforcement agency, they tend to use more common sense and compassion than those who are imported to deal with complex situations.

An Island Park National Monument may come with benefits but the designation comes with more Federal control. There is less concern for the lifestyles of local residents. There is also an increased vulnerability from outside pressure groups to change the land usage based on their ideology.

There is already too much tension in this country over Federal control. Things are almost to a boil. Inviting additional control and tension here will serve no one well. The confrontation over tortoises and grazing in Nevada could be sparked by grizzlies, hunting and 4-wheelers here.

There is a meeting at the EMS building on April 23^rd at 6:00pm. During this meeting the county commissioners will address the proposed National Monument. It would behoove anyone interested to attend. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Super Bowl Results *

The Super Bowl was a bit disappointing. The Broncos looked unprepared from the first play of the game. Congrats to the Seahawks.

Phil and GQ

My introduction to the Duck Dynasty family was several years ago. The Robertson’s were in a hunting show entitled “Buck Commander” on a sportsman’s channel. They were an odd group that spent the entire show in face paint and engaging in disjointed banter, but they could hunt. Fast forward to the present, they have the hottest reality show on TV, a ZZ Top theme song and Duck Dynasty stuff everywhere. Isn’t America wonderful?

When Phil Robertson’s interview blew up several days ago, my first thought was “Why is a hillbilly from Louisiana subjecting himself to an interview with GQ?” It was doomed to end badly.

Do we want to punish someone for their expressed thoughts or for their actions? Religious beliefs assist in family structure, with great success. If those beliefs contradict a cultural shift, does it make them any less valid? Gay marriage and the dissolution of the African-American family unit are difficult subjects that require honest conversation. When Phil expressed his disapproval of certain behavior, he did not suggest that action be taken against anyone.

The intolerance for those who do not accept various “progressive” causes are labeled racist, homophobe or sexist. It was refreshing to see Phil’s family and fans support his right to express his religious views despite the threats. We will never resolve all our cultural differences. If we demonize those with whom we disagree, how are we to coexist?   

Cowards with Guns

The shooting at Colorado’s Arapahoe High last week is the latest tragic example of a disturbed individual who decided his life was over and wanted to inflict maximum grief on others before he journeyed to the other side. Getting demoted in the high school debate team evoked a murder/suicide response!

Karl Pierson entered the school last Friday armed with a shotgun, a machete and three Molotov cocktails with the intention of killing his debate coach and as many students as possible. The carnage was limited to 17 year old Claire Davis before Karl was confronted by an armed school resource (police) officer. Realizing that his rampage was over, the suspect turned the shotgun on himself.

There is an established pattern to these attacks. They are directed at “gun free zones”. Assailants choose locations where people are not capable of defending themselves. Schools, theaters, airports and workplaces are chosen to maximize news coverage in a desire to share their inner pain before they leave this life. All seem to have submerged themselves into an emotionally dark mental state where they no longer have a grip on reality.

Having armed responsible adults in these locations would discourage these attacks. In Switzerland, every adult male owns a weapon and is a member of the military. Perhaps it is time for less gun control and more training. Local residents could take some responsibility for their own protection. While budgets do not allow for armed police officers in each school, there are plenty of retired peace officers who would be happy to guard their grandchildren.  Trained and certified parents could take shifts as well if necessary.

States should develop mental health programs to identify and treat those individuals who are seriously disturbed before they commit violent acts.

Claire is currently alive and hospitalized in critical condition. Pray for her and her family during their time of need.

Yellowstone Country Safety * NO Politics on Thanksgiving *

Washington has suggested that as we gather our families together for Thanksgiving, we invite them to bring their tax info and explore enrolling in the new health care system. I think we should forget about politicians for the entire weekend and focus on those who are important to us.

Not Leaving a Shallow Footprint

You can’t change the instinctive behavior of wild animals. When I am camping or hiking, I avoid actions that entice wildlife to react aggressively towards me. I leave a shallow footprint and hope to pass unnoticed.

A prudent government takes this same approach with its citizenry. Nowhere is this concept more obviously ignored than in implementation of the health care law. A group decided that they could reconfigure the insurance industry and extend coverage to everyone. Policy requirements were designed by lawmakers and advocates.  One example of their wisdom: avoid price discrimination against women by requiring all policies to include maternity coverage, including men’s.

Policy premiums once based on age, sex, health experience and benefits are now priced only by age and benefits. To pay for the relaxed criteria, prices and deductibles have necessarily increased.

The initial targets of the new law are those who own individual policies. Anyone who purchased a policy or made any changes (deductibles or copays included) in the last three years can no longer keep their policies. The plan requires an influx of participants to offset the cost of those who have preexisting conditions and the individual policy holders are the first in the crosshairs.

Citizens who agree with this approach could band together, form an insurance co-op and market their ideas to like-minded individuals. They have decided to impose their concept upon their fellow citizens. An architect of the current health care law said that this disruption in the individual market affected only 5% of the population (several million policy holders) and was a small but necessary step to achieve universal coverage.  I guess you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs! It is tough if you are one of the eggs.

People instinctively do not accept laws against their self-interest, regardless of how it is packaged. Lawmakers have not left a shallow footprint. This behavior doesn’t work with wild animals and will not work with the citizenry either.

No Sympathy?

A couple of weeks ago, the EBT system went down for a few hours in Louisiana. When the food assistance cards were run at a few Wal-Mart locations, the computer system showed no limit on purchases. The word spread like wildfire among local shoppers and they legally looted much of the stores within the space of two hours. There was no concern for those who would have to pay for the shopping spree. It was free stuff!

During same week, I was in a local convenience store. The clerk mentioned that he felt bad for tourists who could not enter Yellowstone Park due to the government slim-down. I expressed sympathy for their disappointment and concern for local businesses but declared support for the legislators who were attempting to stop the new health care law. The clerk (who is approximately my age) expressed enthusiasm for the new law because he expected $100 per month health insurance. I advised him that while he might be saving $400 a month in premium, some of my income was from health insurance sales. This law forced commissions be cut and eventually agents may be phased out completely. So while he was happy for his good fortune, my family would be suffering a large financial loss. Regence Blue Shield has closed most of their local offices as a result of this law and friends that I have known for 20 years are now unemployed. The clerk was not sympathetic. He wanted $100-a-month health insurance!  I let it drop. 

A week and a half later, I entered the store and greeted the same clerk with my usual “Good Morning Sunshine!”  His response took be aback. He glared and responded “You can call me by my name or you can call me sir! If you call me anything else, I’ll come across the counter and punch you!” My only response was “Really, you want to go there?” I paid for my gas and left.

What has happened to our country? People feel entitled to free or almost free goods and services. If anyone suffers a loss as a result of government policies and complains, they are called heartless, stingy or even threatened. You’d think that if someone is getting hosed to give you something for free, a “thank you” might be in order!

The Lesson of Martin-Zimmerman

I watched the announcement of the Zimmerman/Martin verdict. The press portrayed the results in terms of winners and losers. There were no winners in the confrontation between George and Trayvon. One is dead and the other will carry scars that may never heal.

The sad truth is that the damage was a result of two men who were too inexperienced to share their concerns with each other. George was rationally suspicious of a stranger who was walking between residences at night, dressed in black. Trayvon was understandably annoyed and indignant that he was being followed.

When Trayvon approached George and walked around his car, George should have exited his vehicle and asked to speak with Trayvon. Striking up a conversation, George should have explained that there had been several burglaries in the area and he did not recognize Trayvon as a resident.

Trayvon could have taken control of the situation and motioned for George to roll down his window and inquired as to why he was being followed. He could have explained that he was trying to stay out of the rain while returning to a relative’s house from the store.

If either had made an overture, a conversation might have ensued and the concerns of both would have been alleviated. George might have even offered to give Trayvon a ride home to avoid the rain.

An initial conversation was replaced with confrontation and that never ends well. Two inexperienced men misjudged the situation. Suspicion and distrust ended in tragedy. It is a lesson that we should all learn.