I was going to write a long post for my first one in what seems like forever, but instead, I decided to post some quotes that I have been chewing on recently.

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Nations and peoples who forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms." — Robert Heinlein in his novel "Starship Troopers"

“The baths, the wine, and Venus corrupt our bodies, But the baths, the wine and Venus are our life...” -Inscription found on a Roman tomb

"Democracy is the road to socialism.” - Karl Marx

What luck for the rulers that men do not think. Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"Let the people think they govern and they will be governed." - William Penn

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world's greatest civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, and from dependency back to bondage." - Alexander Tytler

I know it's been another two weeks since I've last posted, however, I have a lot on my mind today.

First, let me comment about the current financial situation.  Last week, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan President mocked President Bush for being a hypocrite in the situation and claimed that he was acting further Left than Chavez.  To be honest, he is correct.  Bush's policy to spend money to "save" the economy is the biggest financial spending the government has done to help the corporate sector since the Great Depression era.  This is not traditional Conservative politics, but rather Socialist economics.  After this, Bush should not be considered a Conservative.  He has gone against his original stance and (whether knowingly or unknowingly) joined the left with this $700 Billion bailout (not to mention his $250 Billion spending the week later).  Since when do Conservatives willingly and openly spend taxpayers money on something other than military?  I cannot stand the way the Republican party is going.  Ron Paul was the last true Republican (at least from the definition I was taught in Civics class in high school and the one I actually believe in).  From what I've learned of her, Sarah Palin has these beliefs too; however, she is a neophyte when it comes to large-scale politics and thus I think that she is a liability rather than an asset.  Where has the traditional Conservative thought gone?  Why have we allowed the Neo-Conservatives to take over the Republican party?  Neo-Cons are just idiotic liberals who dwell in the Conservative appeal.  They use religion, fear, and power to get what they want, reguardless of who is in the way.  And the populace is still just pawns for them to appeal to.

The second thing that I've been thinking about is this upcoming election.  I cannot stand either major candidate.  Obama is cleverly hiding his socialist ideals behind a clever ruse to the youth that he is no longer Bush.  McCain is old (72) and if he gains the presidency, one should be more worried about his health for the next four years rather than what his policies are.  Not to mention, if he should pass away in office, Palin gains the presidency.  I do not think that two years as governor is a sufficient amount of time to lead people prior to becoming president.  Going along with this train of thought, Obama has yet to finish one term as senator from Illinois.  Is he qualified either?

Not to mention the media in this election.  Hounding McCain and Palin, rarely diving into the past of Obama.  Biden just seems to be there, not really an influence at all.  I'm pretty sure that his selection for VP was a wise choice on Obama's part.  Biden doesn't seem to add or take away votes, he is just mainly there as a stable figure in the Obama ticket.  I must say, "Good call for the Democrats" in this aspect of the campaign.  Palin was also a good decision in the Republican ticket, but really, the Democrats have the lead in the two candidates. 

Which comes up to another point, should we be limited to just two major candidates?  My answer is an emphatic NO!  The majority of democratic nations have several parties which vie for top spots.  Most have a system where the parties directly receive votes and the parties then get their apportioned amount in the legislation.  Why not in the US? 

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I was also thinking about friends I have over in Iraq.  Why are we still there?  Why does the US have the concept that we must spread democracy abroad?  Who decided that democracy is the best form of government and that every nation must have this? 

Thinking about this reminded me of poetry from 12th Grade.  Reading William Owen's "Dulce et decorum Est", thinking about the Lie:  "Dulce et decorum est pro patri mori" (It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country).  As Robert E. Lee so aptly put, "War is hell". 

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School is going well.  The girls volleyball team actually qualified for playoffs (they added a team this year to the conference and thus the top 4 teams qualify).  So, next Saturday is playoffs in Austin!  wOOt!

I am terribly sorry again, Xanga, that I have not updated you in such a long time; however, my life outside of the internet continues at a rate faster than I have time to keep you happy.  Please forgive me dear old friend.

Since my last post, I have ventured away from my home in Pennsylvania, away from my family, girlfriend, and known life back down to hot, muggy East Texas.  My dream of being a doctor was already put on hold for a year; however, I was given the golden opportunity to explore the realm of teaching young minds.  In fact, for the past month, I have been a teacher for four sections of biology and two sections of physical education in a small, private Christian School in Longview.  Basically, I have been given a crash course in teaching from various sources and have found that I am well adept at teaching at the college level, and in need of learning how to teach at the high school level.  I can say that my high school teaching skills are improving since I remembered/realized that my students are hearing some of the topics I am covering for the first time.

Besides teaching, I am helping out with the girl's volleyball team, which has been very rewarding.  I am getting the opportunity to hang around the sport that I played before and bestow what knowledge I possess of the sport to these young minds.  Also, I get to watch the head coach and learn from her sucesses and failures.  The only problem I have with this is that watching them play really makes me wish I could get out on the court and play.  Nuts!