What do you stand for?

You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.
I like that song by the great philosopher and country music singer Aaron Tippin.
Quite often we allow ourselves to be lulled into the most inane things because we don’t follow our core beliefs. When we fail to stick to our guns, we get things like trillion-dollar deficits, government-run health care, abortion pills, gay marriage, rap music, Oklahoma, Chihuahuas, Brittney Spears … you get the picture.
If you’re not looking out, the next thing you know banks are failing, U.S. automakers are going under, taxes are going up and the wrong person is winning American Idol. (OK, I’ve never watched American Idol, so I wouldn’t know.)
I’ve spent some time lately thinking about things that are important in life. The essentials are solidly in place: Jesus, my wife and children, my career and a roof over my head. I’ve made an inventory of things that matter to me. I think I’ve been pushed to do this because so much in our culture runs contrary to what I know to be true and just.
I believe:
– That Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life.
– That abortion is murder and should be outlawed.
– That credit, in most cases, is wrong. (Save and then spend.)
– That more government control is not the answer to our problems.
– That the entertainment industry has too much control of our lives.
– That man is at least partly responsible for global warming and has an obligation to repair the damage we have caused.
– That pornography is a cancer of the soul.
– That marriage is exclusively for one man and one woman.
– That smoking, drinking and drugs are harmful to more than just the users.
– That parents have given up too much responsibility for their children and need to be a better influence in their lives.
– That women who stay home to raise a family should be commended and honored.
– In forgiveness.
– In the Golden Rule.
– In civility, charity, honesty, loyalty, caring, goodness, thrift, monogamy, justice, grace, responsibility, faith, self-control and a number of other character traits.
And just for fun, I believe:
– That cheeseburgers are the most perfect food in the world.
– That opera is as boring as hip-hop/rap is disgusting.
– That Seth Rogen, Will Farrell, Michael Moore and Woody Allen should stop making movies.
– That the Houston Texans have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl this year.
– And that the Lone Ranger will ride again.
Of course this reflects my values, thoughts, beliefs (and humor). We each have our own beliefs and all of us are unique in our values and practice of those qualities.
I have close friends whose values are quite different from mine. I respect them even though I don’t agree with them. What I don’t respect are those who reject morality – those who know what is good and unrepentantly chose to do wrong.
For example, I do not respect drunk drivers, smokers, drug users, racists, rapists, child molesters, murderers, and so on. They have willingly and knowingly made bad choices.
In contrast, I am often at odds with liberals, pro-choicers, homosexuals, etc., but if they are resolute in their beliefs, I can respect them for that. I may disagree with them, but I can respect that they feel they are doing what is good and right. It’s those who wantonly do wrong or lack a belief system that irk me.
My blood boils whenever I see someone throw a cigarette butt out their car window. First, they show lack of respect for their health and those around them by engaging in that nasty habit. Secondly, they show lack of respect for others and the environment by littering. And third, their carelessness puts others at risk, especially under dry conditions.
Now I can respect a smoker who refuses to smoke around others and who does not litter the sidewalks and roads with their butts. They may disrespect their own health, but they respect the health and rights of others.
I guess that’s enough of this ranting for now. It will be interesting to look back at this several years down the road to see how well my beliefs hold up and if I’ve changed in my convictions.
How about you? What do you stand for – or will you fall for anything?

A season of dreams

A season of dreams. That’s what graduation is.
Each spring, high school and college seniors mark the completion of their formal education at that level. It is a moment they’ve dreamed of. It is the beginning of the fulfillment of their dreams. For those moving on to college, a new or modified dream is taking shape. Those who are not returning to school are finding their dreams turning into reality.
I don’t envy those trying to enter the workforce in today’s economy. There are going to be a lot of delayed careers by those who have to take jobs outside their area of study just to make ends meet.
It can be done. I did it in 1987 when the economy was bad, though nothing like this. The summer I earned my journalism degree from Adams State College, I moved to Minnesota, got married and started my four-month career with a national pizza chain. That’s how long it took me to finally land a newspaper job. I worked hard at the pizzeria, hating every minute of it. But I never let go of my dreams and hung in there until I made my goal.
Those who find themselves in the same boat, hang in there. Don’t quit. Keep trying because the job you want will someday be at your doorstep. Keep your dream alive.
The hard part is keeping your dreams living years down the road. Reality has a nasty way of derailing or even crushing our dreams. That’s where perseverance and determination must take over.
Too often the choices we make, interference from others or circumstances intervene to cause us to lose sight of our dreams. Sometimes even bigger and better things come along and we form new dreams.
Not many of my friends from high school are doing the things they dreamed of back in 1983. Shoot, many of the jobs we have today didn’t exist back then.
I reached the height of my journalistic dreams six years ago when I was doing the job I wanted at my hometown paper, the Longmont Times-Call. I had a great job, a new home and my fourth child was a newborn. I was on top of the world.
Feeling I had achieved my dreams, I dreamt anew. I started a home-based business that became a nightmare. The ensuing crash brought my old dreams sharply back into focus. That, in a nutshell, is how I came to leave Colorado for Texas. I now know that bigger isn’t always better. There is a lot to be said for being an ol’ country editor of a small weekly paper. I’m still living a dream.
Last Saturday I covered graduation at Prairie View A&M University. You could feel the hopes and dreams of the graduates and see it in their eyes and their smiles. Their enthusiasm was contagious. I hope they don’t lose that. The same goes for the hundreds of local high school students who will be gathering their diplomas in the coming weeks.
This is indeed a season of dreams. I hope for each of the graduates that theirs will come true.
Here kitty, kitty
A couple months ago we had to give away one of our cats. She had become a little wild and took to nipping at various family members in the middle of the night and tormenting our older cat. She found a nice home that we’re sure is a better fit.
At the time we promised our kids that we would replace her when kitten season came around. Well, it’s kitten season and as much as I hate to open the floodgates, we are in the market.
We’re not buying. We want one “free to a good home.” Our preference is an orange tabby (though a seal-point Himalayan wouldn’t hurt my feelings). With the exception of my son’s toad, all of our pets are orange. It wasn’t planned; it just sort of happened that way.
Said kitten should be good with kids and other pets. If it’s fixed, declawed and has all its shots, that’s even better. I’d be willing to pay for that, as we would have it done anyway.
If you or anyone you know has such a critter they’d like to part with, please let me know. You would make four children very happy.

"Back to the Future" could save clock tower

Some ideas are so crazy they just might work.
As I was writing a story for last week’s paper about efforts to finish the clock tower in front of the Waller County Courthouse, I kept thinking about the old clock tower in the “Back to the Future” trilogy. The old courthouse clock played a subtle but important role in the adventures of Marty McFly and Emmett “Doc” Brown.
In the original movie, Marty is given a fundraising flyer by a woman who rudely thrusts a collection can at him in an effort to save the clock tower.
In many ways that symbolically resembles the effort here. The county and the Waller County Historical Commission have taken a “build it and they will pay for it” approach to finishing the tower and installing the historic Seth Thomas clock that is currently collecting dust inside the courthouse.
The commission needs about another $100,000 to complete the job. The plan now calls for the $101,000 it has on hand to be used to jump-start construction in hopes that people will once again donate if they see work is finally being done. That’s basically thrusting the can in people’s faces in hopes their nickels and dimes will eventually add up.
I like the idea of having a little fun with it. How about throwing a “Back to the Future” bash one weekend? Just think of the possibilities.
In addition to having the usual food and vendor booths, games, dunk tanks and such, you could do a lot that is unique to a “Back to the Future” theme. You could have an “Enchantment Under the Sea” street dance with music from the ’50s and ’80s – or even a battle of the bands competition.
Perhaps the Hempstead Theater could arrange showings of the three movies. You could have a look-alike costume contest. People could pose for photos with the old clock like they did in the third movie.
If anyone has good Hollywood connections, perhaps invitations could be extended to some of the actors who played in the films to attend. Of course, if anyone knew where to find the old DeLorean, that would make a great centerpiece to an awesome car show. In fact, any props from the movies would make for a fun and fascinating display.
Who knows, maybe Huey Lewis and the News could be booked for a concert (or for the dance).
The potential for a lot of fun and funds is there, not to mention all the publicity Hempstead and Waller County would generate from such an event. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the first film. Wouldn’t it be fun to reunite the cast right here in Hempstead?
Anyway, I thought I would plant this seed of an idea to see if it might take root. Who knows, the future of the Waller County clock tower might actually be “Back to the Future.”

Keep on Trekkin’
When I was a year old, my mother used to sit me in her lap and watch this new TV show called “Star Trek.”
Three years later, she tried to get me to watch the first moon landing on TV. I was puzzled by the fascination with the moon because we had starships that were way out in space, well beyond the moon. That became my first big lesson on fact and fiction on television.
Here it is 43 years later and “Star Trek” is back in my life in a big way. Actually, it never left my life, it just sat dormant for a while. The new movie that opened last weekend awoke the sleeping Vulcan within me.
Wow! What a thrill ride. With the exception of a few very campy moments, this was everything “Star Trek” was meant to be. It contains all the Trekker stuff we diehard fans would catch and understand while at the same time providing a great launching point into the franchise for newcomers.
They say this is not your father’s “Star Trek.” It never was my father’s. It was mine. And it is and it isn’t. It is a great tribute to a cult classic. But it’s hip enough to be relevant to the next generation.
I can only hope that this version of Trek will live long and prosper.

Mamma's boy and proud of it

Being called a mamma’s boy was never a good thing.
For those of the masculine adolescent persuasion, it was one of the biggest put-downs you could receive.
I know. I got called that a lot.
Growing up, I was much closer to my mother than my father. She was the one who was always there for me and my two younger brothers. Dad was too, but the connection wasn’t the same. Dad was the enforcer – the one who made sure chores got done, spankings dolled out when needed and boys kept in line.
Mom on the other hand was the one I could turn to for anything. She was the “yes man” that Dad never seemed to be. Nothing against Dad, but Mom was the one who said yes most often.
More ice cream? Yes.
May friends come over? Yes.
Can we go to the movies? Yes.
More than that, Mom was the organizer of the family. Between Cub Scouts, youth sports, school events, church activities, doctor and dentist visits and the like, she was the one who kept the household moving. And she did it cheerfully with love and grace in equal measure.
As a child, I took her for granted. I assumed she did what every mother did for their children. She was the deal, model mother. It was natural for me to gravitate to her. I guess being called a momma’s boy – no matter how insulting – was accurate.
It wasn’t until I got much older that I began relating more with my father. It was hard at first because he is very mechanically inclined. His garage would put Sears to shame. This man is all about tools.
I can never remember which way to turn a wrench. I’m not big on cars – I see them as a necessary evil. I would have preferred to draw pictures and write stories than get my hands dirty under the hood of a car.
Once I got my license and a car, I suddenly had more of a need for my father. We also grew closer through Boy Scouts and a love for football. But through all of that, Mom was the one I could always turn to and confide in. She nurtured my hopes and dreams, fixed my owies, cooked my meals, slipped me cash for dates and gas, and, most importantly, she prayed for me.
Never underestimate the power of a praying woman. After 35 years of praying and pleading, she got Dad to commit his life to Christ. I had the honor and privilege of baptizing him. It was one of the proudest moments of our lives.
Now that I’m grown, married and have my own family, I find that I relate more to my father. But I still love Mom and appreciate her more than ever. The same goes for my wife, Sandy. She does a remarkable job taking care of our four children (our three sons and my daughter from my previous marriage who is with us during the summer).
She is the glue that holds the family together. She is the one who runs kids to Scouts, church, doctor appointments and such. She is the household manager or domestic goddess or whatever you call it these days. I admire and respect the job she does just as much as I did my own mother.
There is much I can learn from these two strong influences in my life. And if that makes me a momma’s boy, so be it.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. My mother and father will celebrate it in Omaha with Mom’s 91-year-old mother. I will spend it with the mother of my children. I hope that everyone will take some time to show love and respect to their mother, not just this weekend, but always.
To my grandmother, mother, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law and my wife, I want to wish each of you all the best and a very special and joyous Mother’s Day. You deserve it!