Taking back our country

Tonight I listened to the speeches from the GOP convention. I liked what I
heard there too. No I didn't listen to the talking heads as I can figure
out for myself what it means to me.

Everyone talked about the problems of the day with the economy and the like.
The message for entrepreneurs is that you did build that. Obama thinks you
didn't and claims that line was taken out of context but it wasn't and is
much worse when heard in full context.

Ann Romney was gracious and classy yet firm in her convictions. She talked
of what it was like when they were young and what realities families face
today. She spoke to the women of the country while speaking to the whole
country. She spoke about rising prices, women struggling to keep their
families together and thriving and what it's been like in these economic
times. She spoke simple truths and spoke about Mitt as a man who has been
there for her and will be there to lead the country

Chris Christie followed that with the keynote address and spoke of wanting
respect rather than love. He spoke about the ballooning debt, the
ballooning size of government and an education system that is in need of
reform. We need to deal with our problems now so that our children and
grandchildren will have a future. He spoke of supporting teachers,not
teachers' unions. He cid things in New Jerseyt hat people said couldn't
be done and said now that the country needs this to happen at the national
level..

What does this mean in practical terms for the disability community? It
means that as the GOP looks to cut spending, rehabilitation needs to be
looked at. We will have to accept some reforms and some outcomes that are
expected of this program. We need to think in terms of equality of
opportunity, not equality of outcomes. We need to think in terms of working
hard for what we want or need and not expecting that the government will
hand us everything. Is there a role for government? Yes there is and that
role is to provide opportunities for us to better ourselves. If that's done
through a public-private partnership then so be it as long as we have the
opportunity to succeed. Do standards need to be set for those who provide
service? Yes they do and that is a role for government. Is it proper for
government to deal with someone who provides bad service? Yes as this might
be a result of violations of the law.

I could go on but won't as I think you get the idea.

All I can say is this truth-loving American is waiting to hear more from the
GOP about how they will take back our country.

It makes no sense

I came home from a great weekend only to find out about yet another mass
shooting, this one in Oak Creek WI at a Sikh Temple in that community.
Right now we know that there are 7 dead including the gunman and 3 or 4
injured including an Oak Creek Police officer. More will be known tomorrow
but this one is especially nasty because a local incident meets the world
stage; and for that reason is being investigated as a possible domestic
terrorism incident. We'll know more on that tomorrow.
All I have to say is that it makes no sense at all. Why must people express
their anger or hatred at the point of a gun? Why can't people just live
together in peace? That's a difficult one and I surely don't have all the
answers. But it's getting to the point of unreal to hear these stories all
the time.

There were warning signs in the Aurora CO incident that likely were ignored.
More will come out on that for sure. Was the same true here? Only time
will tell. People may not like to confront the fact that there is evil out
there but it is there and needs to be confronted when it rears its ugly
face. Is today such an incident? It looks like it to me but only time and
a thorough investigation will tell.

Meanwhile my prayers to the families and the community. May you have peace
and healing from God above. May all religious and civilian leaders speak as
one in condemning this outrageous violence against a peaceful community.