Life
Housewives; House…Husbands?
My wife was reading a book a while back and there were some interesting points about language and the way that we relate to our family. I only read the parts that she showed me, so i don’t have an entire picture of the subject material, but a couple of things stuck with me. One was that we have moved into a culture of “stay-at-home moms” and even “stay-at-home dads,” and we have vilified the idea of a “housewife” as being derogatory.
21Sep2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
road trips and family…
Dad, As may know, I am taking a road trip this weekend with my cousin to pick up a dishwasher from his sister, who lives in Maryville, Missouri. In other words, I will be in your neck of the woods. I was invited because my cousin thought that it was critical that we go and […]
21Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on road trips and family… | Continued
Rednecks, faith, and self-help
Son, I ate breakfast at a truck stop today. My lady friend and I went to breakfast and we talked about Perkins and Denny’s and other franchise places. Then we decided to go to the local truck stop – you know, greasy spoons, heaping hash browns, sausage gravy, that stuff. The clientèle was what I […]
20Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Rednecks, faith, and self-help | Continued
Bill of Rights – a conservative document
Son, If we define ‘conservative’ as limiting the powers of Government, then we can justly define the Bill of Rights as a conservative document. I am fascinated when self described conservatives scream and holler when a purported ‘criminal’ is granted the rights guaranteed to any American. How many times have we heard, “Those criminals have […]
20Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bill of Rights – a conservative document | Continued
Economic Conservative or Social Liberal?
Son, I like to tell people that I am an Economic Conservative and a Social Liberal. Are these opposing forces? That depends on how the News Media defines the terms. The problem with labels is the inflexibility of thought or compromise. When I think of Economic Conservative I think of being cautious with my money. […]
20Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Political Base – Boston Tea Party
Son, Those rabble rouser’s went down to the dock and just dumped the British Tea into the harbor. “Take that!” Our country was founded by rabble rouser’s. Where are they? If a bunch of us went down to the dock today to dump the toys coming from China into the harbor – we would be […]
20Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Political Base – Boston Tea Party | Continued
the social gospel and Gary North…
Dad, I read this quote this morning and thought that I would share it with you… “Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200 and a substantial tax cut save you thirty cents” – Peg Bracken I also read an article from a guy named Gary North about the Social Gospel. the “Social Gospel” […]
19Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on the social gospel and Gary North… | Continued
Proud to be an American!
Son, I wear my patriotism with pride. I am embarrassed by the representation of our American Republic by our current Presidential Administration. The current flavor of our Government is not what the Founding Fathers had in mind. The Second Amendment is not more important than the First Amendment, or the Fourth or the Fifth – […]
18Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Proud to be an American! | Continued
Founding Fathers – Liberals all!
Son, I am fascinated by your ideology. You have achieved my dream for you – a dream that you would grow to be an independent thinker – a dream that you would base your thoughts on basic, solid, values. Your values are solid – belief in the basic goodness of humanity, belief in progress (let’s […]
18Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Founding Fathers – Liberals all! | Continued
Denial – Outdated Mythology
Son, There is a huge mistake by Addiction Treatment Professionals, law enforcement, and the courts in addressing the problem of alcohol and drug addiction. The dominant philosophy the past thirty years has been that the central problem is one of denial. That is to say, the belief that alcoholics and addicts have abnormally robust denial […]
12Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Denial – Outdated Mythology | Continued
Addictions – Losing Control
Son, Dante wrote The Inferno. I am not sure about this – anyone can correct me if they wish, but I think Dante described the greatest sin as giving up control of your life to something external – gluttony, sloth, envy, greed, power, or addiction. The punishment for violating the greatest sin was total loss […]
11Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Addictions – Losing Control | Continued
Opinions vs. Convictions
Dad, I think that convictions get muddled because they get confused with opinions. The difference lies in action and inaction. if we sit around the table in your living room and sip coffee and talk about feeding the hungry or staying out of debt, then that conversation is founded in opinion. If we cut up […]
10Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Opinions vs. Convictions | Continued
Say Never
Dad, I don’t like that phrase “never say never.” I hear that a lot. My wife and I will never borrow any money again. I said it. We will never get divorced. I said it again. I will never inject myself with anything that isn’t prescribed. Man, I am on a roll. I believe that […]
10Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Say Never | Continued
Enabling Our Children to Fail
Son, Please forgive me. You mentioned in an earlier post that you “…occasionally found myself in trouble.” I share in the fault. I will give you the notion that you were an adolescent, seeking independence and control of your own life. I will give you that adolescents make some bad choices. But I have to […]
9Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Enabling Our Children to Fail | Continued
The pain of cultural frontiers
Son, You are exploring cultural frontiers. You have left the safe harbor of familiarity to seek new ideas about living. Like Lewis and Clark, you find fear and uncertainty. I admire your courage. What is courage, Son? When people act on their convictions, even knowing that there will be pain associated with their behavior, we […]
7Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued