May, June, July Newsletter From Brian
– July 4, 2013
Hello, Fellow Citizens,
I have been procrastinating in my writing of a May Newsletter and trying to settle in my mind, first why I would write again and then what to write about. I realized this is exactly how government works. Things that should be done in May are still being considered in July. It sounds absurd and somewhat comical, but seriously true. I have fallen into this trap………but only on the writing of my Newsletter!
I have been directly involved in and frustrated by the ability of our current governmental system to maintain its capabilities to defer, to delay, and to deter any form of expedient business to be accomplished. I have been bewildered and amazed at the lack of accomplishment that has been instilled and implemented in the system we attempt to live within. I have said that I have been inserted into the position that I chose to be elected into for the sole reason of comic relief. Unfortunately, if it were not for my sense of humor and commitment to accomplish something of value in my term as Commissioner, I would be plummeted into the life of what I fondly have nicknamed “the perpetual spin of government and politics.”
I know this sounds depressing, and that is because it is depressing. I keep making the statement to my closest friends……..friend……..which is my canine Ruger, (because Beth tells me to quit complaining and do something about it, so I try not to say much around her). Anyway, I was telling Ruger that government is broken and needs to be fixed. He concurred and told me to quit crying and do something about it.
Before I write of the things that are being worked on or accomplished, the latter of which being the least, I wanted to tell you a true story.
I am supposed to be at one of my brothers’ homes right now waiting for his fireworks display to start, but I chose to come home and relax for a few hours prior to going to bed early at 10 or so. I then decided to watch a DVD I bought for 5 bucks at a discount store not to be named here, but it has four B-movies on it. I moved toward the television to install the DVD into the player and found out that I had no clue how to use it. It is a DVD/Playstation type player. I do not even have a clue about where the remote is, let alone how to use it. This allowed my little pea-brain a moment of clear, precise meditation…….which in more common terms means…….I was dizzy with blurred eyesight from the rise in blood pressure from the inability to watch one of my four B- movies, so I decided to sit down and write this Newsletter with the newly found revelation of my above mentioned meditation.
I thought to myself, what happened to my old DVD player that I knew, understood, and was able to operate? Then I thought, what happened to the country that was so clearly directed not so many years ago in 1776 on this day? As I had lost touch with my old DVD player, how would Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, perceive the current condition and operation of our country and government? Would he recognize or comprehend the condition of our state today compared to when he penned the Declaration? Would it be like my old DVD player compared to this new way of watching my DVD? Would he be able to understand and function in the mechanics of today and what has been done?
Change is not always improvement. Have we lost those things that were so important to our Forefathers who were willing to sacrifice their lives to accomplish and maintain this independence? Have we fallen prey to the idea that an individual is more important than the whole of the people? Are we so inclined to ourselves that everything we say and think starts with I, me, my, mine, instead of Us and Ours? Do we not understand that the things that were written in 1776 were for the good and safety of all people of God’s creation?
________________________________________
“IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”
Would these words still ring true in the spirit of which it was written? Once you have read the above portion of the Declaration, you will have to draw your own conclusion as I have.
If you have not read the Declaration of Independence, please do. If you have not read the Constitution of the United States, please do.
I am afraid that we have fallen away from the very principles that this great nation of free people, who are endowed by our Creator, was envisioned upon. We have convoluted and confused those precious words that were written not so long ago. Have we abandoned those ideas and passions of those people who have gone before us, who were willing to die for our freedom and safety? Those that said within their hearts that we and us…..were more important than I, me, my, mine, and myself, and then went to fight here and abroad in that spirit of belief and faith that these words were inspired by our Creator and Forefathers. And that belief and faith was worth dying for if necessary to keep and hold for their children, grandchildren, and all those who were to be created after them.
If nothing else, I hope this newsletter that evolved from the desire to watch a B- movie on DVD will inspire you to read and understand those things that were written for our preservation of freedom and way of life……not so long ago, and to meditate upon and ponder where you are in this and what you believe to be the way of life we were desired to have……..not so long ago. And if there is something that you might be able to provide to bring the things that you hold of value for the good of all the people to fruition before they are lost forever.
Is it time for you to “quit complaining or crying and do something”? Is there something you can do to make life better for someone else, for the good and safety of all people?
I can only hope these words of hope and direction will challenge hearts of passionate and faithful people to stand up and be counted among those who have and are willing to sacrifice for the good of all and consider those words that were written and presented to us……not so long ago……..on July 4, 1776.
I have written way too many words for this one writing and need to stop for now, but I will make a point to bring you all up to date of those things that I am working on and trying to accomplish, and have accomplished since taking office in January of this 2013.
I will only add that my best friend and buddy, (besides Beth, Renae, Ryan, and Kelly), Ruger, has been diagnosed with lymphosarcoma (cancer). We are praying for healing, but are not ignorant and unaware of the seriousness of this diagnosis. I have grown to love my canine partner as one of my closest family members and will miss him dearly when the day comes that I lose my best buddy. Please do not hesitate to say a little prayer for him and me as we go through this trial of life. God is good all the time, not because He is good, but because He is God!
I hope and pray you all have a wonderful summer and that God will keep you safe.
God Bless.
Brian
P.S. Just for informational value……it is now 10:29 p.m.
