The Weather

There is an old joke here in Michigan, It’s about a man who dies and while he is weighting outside the Pearly Gates he sees two of Satin’s helpers throwing souls into Hell. Beside them is a pile of souls and every so often they throw another on the pile. When the man asks whets going on he is told that those souls are from Michigan and they are to wet and cold to burn.

It would seem that this summer that is not a joke. For the last few weeks we have either had rain or below normal temperature. They are saying we well have some sunshine soon, but it’s only going to get in the low seventies. It is playing havoc with the tourist industry, and the farmers are having a hard time of it. Its to wet to get in hay and to cool for the corn to grow, and who wants to go up north to the lake when it’s cold and raining.

Oh well its like they say we only have two seasons here winter and road repair. I guess we might as well make the best of what we have. So for now that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

History Then And Now

For the better part of my life I thought historically important events and places were things that were anyplace other then where I lived. One day I woke up and realized that history was all around me, just because something took place in my backyard did not make it unimportant.

Two hundred years ago most of my home sate of Michigan was a wilderness frequented by Fur Trappers and Indians. Before that the British and the French fought over the ownership of this land. There were forts built that played a major role in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812.

Than came the local history, the wilderness being cleared, towns being built, and people living dreams of a better life for their families. History is what went on before we came along and history is what we are making and leaving behind for those who will come after us.

Freedom Of Speech

I don’t have to agree with what you say, but you have every right to say it. Freedom of speech is one of our basic rights garneted to us by our construction. It is not a shield to hide behind when we want to be petty, gruel, or mean.

Each of us has this same right and if I don’t agree with you, it does not give you the right to force your point of view on me. It does not give you the right to vandalize or burn my property, nor does it say you can do me bodily harm or try to kill me if I don’t think the way you do.

When your freedom of speech turns to hate and can cause harm to someone than you are no longer deserving of that right. Respect for the opinions of your fellow man is key to your right to express yourself, you fall to give that respect and you forfeit your that right.