How Hard Can It Be?

How hard can if be for people in the public eye, especially those in the media, who's job is to relate the facts of what is going on in our world, to get the basics facts right. If I hear one more politician, preacher, or journalist say that Memorial Day is the day we honor those who fight for our country, I think I will scream. Memorial Day is the day we honor those who have died for our country. Veteran's Day is the day we honor those who have fought for our country. Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day, the day on which we decorate the graves of those who have died in service to our country. How hard can it be to remember this simple fact? Also, if you are going to use a saying, get it right. I have had it with people saying someone "paid the cost". People "pay the price" not the cost. Or when they say they "paid the ultimate sacrifice" instead of "making the ultimate sacrifice". One makes a sacrifice, not pays it. If you are going to get up there and act intelligent, at least get your cliches right. I don't expect perfection, but at least try to get it right once in a while.

But it is not just the misrepresentation of the facts or inability to use a cliche that irritates me. It is the inability to understand or laziness that makes journalists take complicated subjects, be it Middle East politics or how the price of gas is determined, and reports them in simplistic ways instead of explaining them to us. By doing this, people get upset when their black and white world is covered in gray. Add this to the fact that most people have little to no understanding of simple economics and civics, and is it any wonder that the conspiracy theories and talk of "getting screwed" begin to run around the talk radio circuits. But, the failures of public education get reported as being caused by a lack of money, even though many private schools produce more educated students for much less money. But this is a gray that doesn't fit in the black and white reporting template for education, so it is ignored.

Liberals will tell you that the government is the solution to all our problems. I would have thought New Orleans is a shining example of how wrong that is. Conservatives tell you that government is the problem and needs to be less intrusive in our lives. If they truly believe this, why are they using the government to impose their religious beliefs on those who don't subscribe to them, currently through defining family only as they see it.


Okay, that is my rant for the day. In honor of Memorial Day, I would like to honor my gr-gr-gr-grandfather, Redden N. Gaunt. He died of his wounds in Mufreesboro, Tennessee on the twenty-second of December, 1864. Thank you for your sacrifice and may you rest in peace.

New Perspective on Life

Well, I did it. This week, I bought myself a new camera. Back in 1984, I purchased a Canon AE-1 Program SLR camera and used it quite a bit over the years. I bought a point and shoot digital camera in 1998 and have used it as my primary camera over the last 9 years. But this week, I took the plunge and bought a new Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I saw it as an opportunity to get back into photography and to get out and try and break the slump I have been in the last few months. I went out to Raven Run Nature Sanctuary and just walked and shot, trying to regain the creative eye I have not used in years. It is the first time in years that I have had to do anything more than aim the camera and push the button. Today was more of a play around day, to get the feel of what the camera can do and try different settings. A few examples of what I shot will appear on my Flickr page.

Unheard Pleas

Your pleas for peace go unheard
When sprinkled among the war crys.

Your pleas for forgiveness go unheard
When sprinkled among the condemnations.

Your pleas for love go unheard
When sprinkled among the rants filled with hatred.

And in the end, you get what you preached,
and wonder why your pleas go unheard.