Some Things are Just WRONG!

Back in March students from one California school district walked out of class and marched to a school in a neighboring district to protest in favor of Mexican immigrants. While disruptive, this started out as a good example of the exercise of our Right to Free Speech and political free expression.

However, the specific message or viewpoint they were supporting and trying to express was completely lost when some of the assembled crowd lowered the Stars and Stripes and California state flag and ran this up the school's flagpole:

On a personal level I abhor this image! It makes me VERY angry! As I'm sure it does many others.

In an attempt to show support for Mexican immigrants these students made a terrible error in judgement. This act of civil disobedience will now serve only to make the case stronger for those opposed to amnesty and other immigrant supporting programs. Here, only five days from the most American of holiday's, July 4Th, Our day of Independence, this image and others associated with that protest in MARCH are still flying all over the Internet in Emails and on a number of blogs.

This image is contrary to EVERYTHING I stand for. This image repulses me on a deep emotional level. Yet, I show it because in a country whose independence was built on political dissension it pays to be reminded that DEMOCRACY IS HARD, DEMOCRACY IS WORK, DEMOCRACY IS NOT EASILY GAINED NOR EASILY HELD.

I will never support their viewpoint or cause in any way shape or form, but I will respect their freedom to piss me off by doing something which, to me, is just plain wrong!!!!

Here are my answers to their flag photo.

In God We Trust?

Do we really?

Do we live our lives secure in the knowledge that no matter what, God is with us?

Do we really trust that no matter how F-'ed up our day is, God loves us and wants us to succeed?

Do we truly accept that no matter what we do, or who we do it to, or with, God (and your Momma) will still love you?

Some people doubt the existence of God,
Some believe in God to the exclusion of all else,
Some just don't care either way.

But let's face it, every Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, even Atheist, at some point, in some way, in their life, or at the end of it, will have a moment when God speaks to them, "I am with you, Trust In Me".

I am NOT a overly religious man and I do not go to church as regularly as I should. But as I sat in my home, safe from the elements, and watched The Missus and The Princess snuggle together reading a book I was suddenly very aware of the good fortune, comfort, and peace I have been given.

Yes, I worked hard. Yes, I made the commitment to be a good husband and father. Yes, I am proud of what I have accomplished. But I am also keenly aware that a boy from the hinterlands of Scotland traveled thousands of miles to Massachusetts, met a girl from New Jersey, made a home in Florida and adopted a Princess from Russia. That CAN'T happen WITHOUT a plan, WITHOUT supreme guidance. That never would have been, without my willingness to live my life as well as I can and to be strong enough to understand that I cannot do it alone. Strong enough to TRUST without proof, or better said; to have FAITH that no matter what - God IS with me and wants me to succeed.

May God bless y'all and yer mom-an-em!

I AM A SUPERHERO!!!!!

Yesterday, The Princess was downtrodden due to two tragic (in her life) moments. First, at summer class IT RAINED and THUNDERED so the class had to stay inside and could not go outside and play on the "really cool" water slide the school had rented. Then, her swimming class got cancelled due to a cloudy (as in "can't see the bottom") pool at the gym. All in all a tragic day in the life of Her Royal Highness, our real life water baby. I mean she absolutely LOVES being in the water, any water! Telling HRH she can't get wet is like telling a bird not to fly.

Anyhoo, I took her home and like the bestest daddy in the whole wide world (my unofficial, official title) I grabbed a huge tarp, a fan sprinkler and some tent pegs. Add one sloping lawn and you've got the cheap a** Scottish version of a slip and slide.

***a little side note***
I can hear my dad now, "Bliddy sure ahm no payin' thone prices fur a screed eh polythene and some waatur!!"

Back to the story.
What resulted was me, SUPER-DAD! and the amazing, backyard slip-o-slide! The Princess had a great time, got sopping wet then got too excited and mouthed off at her momma. OOPS!
The mouth got her in trouble and ended the splish sploshing rather abrubtly. BUT, for a 4 year old, she did pretty good.

The Missus seems to have hit it right on the button - Although she can act very smart and mature for her age, Sometimes, just Sometimes, The Princess IS 4 years old.

I Love a Snot-Box

In my profile I mention my daughter, The Princess. Well, Her Royal Highness (HRH) has effectively, efficiently, and stealthily infected both myself and The Missus with what I affectionately call THE CREEPING CRUD!

My "little darling" has in the span of two days produced more snot than a clogged up camel. This tiny little girl has disembodied literally buckets of the gooey green stuff to the point that Shrek is thinking of adopting her!

And of course, since we always taught her to share, she did! Now me and The Missus are snot factories, just like HRH. Oh Well, We should just videotape the fun and then think of what to title it before posting it for all the world to enjoy!

How about: "a snot in the dark", "Booger Beach Boogie", "Noses Off", "Snot In My Backyard", or "Booger Nights"

Anyway, If you need us we'll be here in the living room hanging around from our booger ropes.

Snarft! Hawnk!!! EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWW!!!!

An - Tis - I - Pay - Shun

For almost 2 years I have been on the Sergeant's promotional list. In October 2005 I and about 90 other deputies took the series of exams that culled the herd down to 40 qualified candidates. Yours truly was #17!!! Not bad, eh!!! 17th out of 90 plus! Well, smug as I was then I recently realized that the current list expires THIS OCTOBER, Oh Crap! and I was still just a DFL (Deputy For Life).

Well, Halleluia!! I just got the notice that the guy ahead of me just got promoted. That, of course, means I AM #1!!!

Okay, I need one more Sgt. to leave, retire, get fired or otherwise no longer perform their function and I am good to go! Of course, I could always end up as an "experienced" test taker this fall. I remain Quietly Confident!

Immigration & "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree"

No matter how you slice it the current immigration bill offers rewards to those who:
1- Cut in line, in front of millions of hopeful immigration applicants who want to come to the U.S. legally,
2- Have thumbed their nose at the American rule of law by entering this country illegally, often repeatedly,
3- Have ignored our sovereign authority to regulate both visitors and immigrants to our nation,
4- Blame the American people and call us racist for wanting to enforce laws that apply to ANY NON-U.S. Citizen regardless of national origin or ethnicity.

What we have is a huge population that, because of prior ineffective Federal enforcement, have been able to live in the United States "under the radar" until now. That population is now scrambling to show themselves as the "victims of harassment" by the not just the Federal Government, but by any American who has the stones to question why the illegally entrenched are here in the first place.

You cannot have a meaningful debate with the supporters of illegal immigrants because they are working from a factual and moral abyss. Instead they call us racist. They call us protectionist. They call us hateful. They call us oppressive and unjust to "hard working" individuals and families. They do this because it all comes back to the old adage; two wrongs don't make a right!

This reminds me of a legal requirement all law enforcement officers must meet...."Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" doctrine. Simply put - any evidence, fact, or statement I want to use against a defendant MUST be obtained LEGALLY by court order or in accordance with the laws of the United States, The State of Florida, and/or County Ordinances. If I do not get it legally I cannot use it - ever!

So lets put that in the context of our discussion. If the immigrant enters this nation ILLEGALLY then he/she has no right to use anything gained by committing this illegal act as a reason for why they should be allowed to remain in the United States. Their job - obtained through an illegal act. Their improved lifestyle - obtained through an illegal act. Their claim to "deserving a chance" to live in the United States - obtained through an illegal act.

To be fair, a great number of the illegal immigrants into the United States DO seek work, prosperity, and a new life in a new country. That is all well and good but why should they get preferred status over those who want all of the same things, but choose to do so LEGALLY?

In short - THEY DON'T! Illegal immigrants arrive here through a criminal act then try to use the fact that they got away with that criminal act as the prime reason to give them preferred status over all others who yearn to come to America legally.

As for this Bill, Congress and The President are wrong! As an American I will not stand by while politicians and bureaucrats mollify a vocal special interest group and try to cover up and paint over decades of ineffective and incompetent enforcement of existing laws.

Call YOUR congressman/woman, Email The President, let them know how you feel and that you are a voter. I did.