Books .... and medical 'juana

First i must answer the Great One's query regarding books worth reading a second time posted at his website a couple days ago ....

To date i have found only one book (both fiction and non-fiction) that i HAVE NOT been able to either finish reading or never wanted to re-read again ... that one book being "Sheba" by Jack Higgins. I have immensely enjoyed ALL his other books and have read and re-read them many times but that one tripped me up. As to other books both fiction and non-fiction i find that by reading and re-reading over and over again i am always made aware of small details i missed or that in my re-reading made a much bigger impact the second or third time through ... its like movies which i also watch over and over ... each time i see them i catch nuances and themes that i passed over lightly the time before but there is always SOMETHING that catches me in a new way or new light every time through them ... maybe im weird (those who know me are cordially invited not to comment on this fact) or am i?

Your bookish thoughts welcomed ....

Medical 'juana .... with the Supreme Court hearing arguments and with my hometown being in the process of trying to start its first "medical pot" store ... i offer one common man's opinion ...

The highest laws of the land are put there for specific purposes .... as our Constitution so eloquently states "... in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."

as a common defence, insurance of domestic tranquility and promotion of general welfare system we the people have allowed certain of our individual liberties and rights to be subject to the adage of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one". We have done this in issues of moral right and wrong (such as limits regarding the legality of bigamy/polygamy, child abuse, threats against another's person or property, etc.), on public safety issues (such as legal limits of blood alcohol while driving, extra penalties regarding hate crimes, etc.), and on issues affecting maturity of intellect and thought (limits on voting age, driving age, marriage age, even limits on libelous, slanderous or dangerous speech, etc.) when those issues are of such import to the citizenry as a whole. As the highest law of the land the Federal statutes protect each of us no matter what state or county we actually are in and rightly all other levels of laws are subject to the Federal limits ESPECIALLY when those laws or restrictions deal directly with domestic tranquility, common defence and general welfare. As a nation we the people either directly through constitutional amendments, or through our elected representatives have determined limits on individual freedoms when the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few -- or the one. I am no more free to shourt "Fire" in a crowded building or threaten the life of a publicly elected official or any other citizen without acceptance of the consequences of my actions then i am to murder, steal, or betray my country ... all of these actions have been deemed to be outside the permissible limits of "acceptable behavior" consistent with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship -- and rightly so. Unlimited freedom without responsibility and acceptance of consequences leads down the short slippery slope to anarchy. As responsible citizens we willingly subject ourselves to limits on our freedom in the name of the common good.

It is the opinion of this common man that the medical use of marijuana falls squarly into this category. I will readily admit that it serves the needs of the few and the one who receive benefit from it; however, its potential to greviously harm the needs of the many -- especially the youth of our nation GREATLY OUTWEIGH its beneficial aspects. No one can dispute the findings of study after study outlining the dangerous effects on brain function continued use has on the human being; no one can dispute the findings of study after study outlining the "gateway" potential and reality of marijuana use in leading to misuse of other illegal and even more dangerous substances. We prohibit polygamy on the basis of moral right and wrong and it is right and good that we do so ... despite the needs and wants of a few; we prohibit the abuse of children as a moral right and we are right and good to do so ... despite the wants of a few. When an activity has a much greater potential for harm to the common good, common welfare, common defence and domestic tranquility then it has as a potential for "good", it is right and good that we proscribe and prohibit its use and function.

Marijuana has a much greater potential to be misused and lead to a disolution of the common good, common defence, common welfare and domestic tranquility than it has right now as a proven beneficial substance. As such, until such time as WE THE PEOPLE, in totality, either by direct vote amending such laws as exist through the constitutional process or through the votes of our elected representatives, change existing Federal laws banning use of marijuana, NO lover level of laws should be legal and binding and all such lower level laws that DO exist should be overturned by the Supreme Court.

as always opposing viewpoints cordially welcomed....


and now for today's Military Thank Yous:

US Air Force - 39th Wing and 628 Air Mobility Support Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. this is another "selfish" thank you as i was proud to have been able to serve in both these units during my term of service.

US Army - 278th Armoured Cavalry Regiment, Knoxville, Tennessee

US Navy - The Officers and Crew of the USS Thach, FFG-43, San Diego, California

US Marines - 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

US Coast Guard - The Officers and Crew of the USCG Cutter Razorbill, Gulfport, Mississippi

May GOD BLESS each of your and your families as you continue to serve and sacrifice for your country. THANK YOU!

a few thoughts on thanksgiving ....

If you have not been there yet you MUST go to Hugh Hewitt's website for the greatest words ever written about Thanksgiving by President George Washington in his proclamation. Try as i might i cannot believe that that resolution would ever pass through Congress today ... much to our eternal shame.

Since this will be MY thanksgiving message and post, it is fitting to thank God here for the benefits I so greatly enjoy, job, family, health, happienss, and above all the benefit of being an American. I consider it a true blessing that i am still priveledged to have both my parents still living as well as all of my siblings, first cousins, one grandparent and all my aunts, uncles, neices and nephews except for three (two uncles and one nephew) ... considering the state of todays world that is remarkable.

I am also priveledged to have GREAT friends ... you know who you are ... all four of you.!!!!

It is also fitting here that in todays post i announce a new feature which will be a regular occurance in all my future posts. A thank you each week to the members of one unit of our incredible and brave military forces. I am a veteran of the US Air Force having served for Ten years from 14 Jan 1980 to 16 May 1990. I still consider that to be the GREATEST thing done in my life.

I will admit that this first unit does indeed have a bit of a selfish tone to it as my First thank you is to the current and former members of MY first unit the 552nd Air Control Wing ... i will always treasure my time spent there and know that those current members are proudly, positively and professionally upholding the honors and traditions of those of us who went before them.

My first Navy salute is also a selfish one as it is given to the men and women of the USS McFaul, on which my nephew Jonathan L Hicks is currently serving. He being from an Air Force family he is the only member who chose to jump ship so to speak.

My Thanksgiving inagural salute to the Army goes to the officers and soldiers of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC. For the US Marine Corps i proudly salute those who serve or served with the II MEF Special Operations Training Group. Coast Guard salutes for this initial word of thanks go to those serving on the USCGC Marcus Hanna.

And lastly on again a very personal note a special word of thanks to the members of some now defunct units whom i had the distinct pleasure to serve with, those of the 63d Military Airlift Wing, the 10th Tac Recon Wing, 527th Aggressor Squadron, 1st Tac Recon Squadron. Gentlemen and Ladies -- THANK YOU ... for the good times ... for the hectic times ... and for the sad times and lost comrades .... LEST WE FORGET.

In all things, give thanks .....

The Z Files - Thoughts of a common man

first some thoughts on the long overdue retirement party for Dan Rather .... and then again perhaps just the thought that this event is so long overdue is all that needs saying here.

As you will note in coming weeks i am center-right fiscally and center-center on most csocial issues. However you wil also find tha ti have very little patience for those among us who believe that their superiority is due to breeding, education, wealth or social standing. A co-worker of mine who is extremely liberal but describes himself as a thinking liberal is a classic example of this ... the day after the election his only comment to me (not knowing where i live) was tht the reason that middle america and especially the inland portions of California voted for W is that they are mostly ignorant because they do not have the vast variety of sources for informmation like they do in the major matropolitan areas of the country and of the state.... it is this ARROGANCE which makes me take time to blog what will become random thoughts of a common man. I hope you will enjoy ... agree or disagree if you will and i welcome disagreement but please remain civil.