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Jim MacCain and his cronies have been slinging a lot of mud lately, most of it in the direction of Obama, but leaving a little extra for the main stream media. Followers of the democratic nominee are urging him to fight back, fire with fire. His attitude is to rise above the fray and fight the lies and insinuations with the simple truth. Truth will out!

Well… I’m not sure that is going to work… sitting back and letting the opposition continue to punch invites too much garbage to fly around and some of it is surely going to land, and inevitably begin to “stink!” Bottom line, the public as a group will believe just about anything dished out. You would hope it isn’t true, but alas, in this day we are easily persuaded. For example… there are those who actually think that Brittany Spears is a good actress! Or that that “Hilton Princess” is actually running for public office. (Paris Hilton is the one who created the mock ad?!? - duh? It really was a make believe… honest.)

We’ve seen enough. Time to punch back Obama! Punch and DEFLATE THOSE LIES. Enough is enough.

We don’t often appreciate history as it happens. Last night the Democrats nominated a man for President. Not a big deal… they have done it every 4 years for a hundred years. But this man is black.

45 years ago today (August 28), another black man, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in front of hundreds of thousands of people in Washington, D.C. His “I have a dream…” speech has become a part of our American history. Both men claim roots in Africa. These two are like bookends… and not. Beginnings happened long before and future endings stretch far ahead. But today… is history in the making.

How far we have come. How far we still have to go. I’m going to appreciate the moment as it becomes history.

MIdlifers still remember World War II. Not personally, but through a grandparent, or parent. We hear stories, watch documentaries, listen to the music of the war years… Unless you’ve been there yourself, you can only imagine what it was really like.

My Dad was a WWII veteran who signed up in early February, 1942. He told us the story of how he went down to the recruiting office to check things out. He knew he wanted to sign up and was there to ask a few questions. There were two lines. One green, one red. He chose the green line, and before he knew it, had volunteered for the Army Air Corps. Within hours he was on a bus to Fort Devens and on his way to war. He didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to his best girl, so eager was the corps to get the troops on their way to the battlefront.

He trained as a techie, repairing plane engines. He was sent to the North Africa front and stayed there for most of the war, fixing bullet riddled planes. “Keep ‘em Flying” was his motto, and somehow, he and his crew did just that. He never spoke of his nitty gritty days and nights in the trenches. There were details he just didn’t want to share. But it changed his life. An easy going guy of 26 became a tough minded man of 31.

War changes everything. For everyone. Remember that.

Does my small monetary contibution make a difference to a political campaign? It sends a signal to the candidate, that someone is listening. Someone is paying attention. Someone still wants to see a particular candidate win.

Several times in the last few months I have listened to the talking heads predict that Hillary and Obama are driving the Democratic party into the ground with all their wrangling. Actually, I think it is just the opposite.
I think keeping the fight alive and well is an effective way to discuss, debate and promote the cause of democracy. How can engaging millions of people in the process be bad?

People who never got involved, who sat on the sidelines watching the parade go by, are now joining in, speaking out, putting their time, and their hard earned cash on the line for the candidate they think will do the best for our country. So my small monetary contribution does count. To me. It tells me I am committed to seeing this democratic process work and I am willing to put out for that.