All Posts Tagged With: "responsibility"
The “Shoulds” of Life Have Me Down
I have been a responsible man for most of my life. Some would challenge that point – because my failures have stood out like atomic bombs. As a Senior Citizen I don’t face too many life changing events or decisions. But I do have some responsibilities and those become the burrs under my saddle – […]
10Apr2016 | Gary Clark | Comments Off on The “Shoulds” of Life Have Me Down | Continued
“Never Brag On Your Children”
A relevant post revisited: December, 2009. Parenting can sometimes feel like a complex endeavor – especially when the child is not cooperating. When the child is failing to meet expectations, to make the grade in school, to make the basketball team, to identify future aspirations – whatever – parents can become frustrated. And that frustration […]
22Apr2012 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Spiritual Responsibility
To think that any particular faith, such as Christian or Muslim, is more favorable to God than another is an astoundingly arrogant notion – and it is irresponsible.
10Feb2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Spiritual Responsibility | Continued
Greatest Generation – And Neocons.
Our father was a veteran of World War II. He came home with four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, never to speak of his experience. He kept his silence until his death at age eighty-five. He did not talk about the atrocities of war because the memories were too painful. As America entered other […]
10Oct2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
McCain, “My Friends, trust me”
McCain wants the people to trust him. We are nauseated every time we hear McCain use the term ‘my friends,’ he wears it out. He suggests he is your friend – but we should all check the value of or 401k’s today. That is the true measure of how much the Republican brand is your […]
17Sep2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
This Time – The Tide is Turning
This time, this election, we must bridge the chasm of race, gender, politics – liberal and conservative, religion – fundamental, evangelical, literal, figurative, Christian or Islam. Real leadership is nuanced. It is not black and white. It is not rooted in the winning and losing mentality of pure capitalism. I believe it was Henry Ford […]
27Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
vouchers and the public school dilemma
Dad, The debate about public school systems and what to do with them is complicated and seeped in emotion and personal experience. The program of offering vouchers has as broad a mix of public opinion as any of the publicly debated issues today. I have my own thoughts and feelings, and they are conflicting and […]
26Feb2008 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Local YMCA’s lose perspective
Son, Our local YMCA Board has lost touch once again, or perhaps I should say have never gained perspective. They had some sort of unexpected financial problem, I think with building maintenance, so they have decided to just charge all members double their normal monthly rate in January. That should raise about $60,000. They are […]
19Dec2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Local YMCA’s lose perspective | Continued
Family Life and Family Values
Son, I respect the values you and your spouse have adopted. But life is not all or nothing – your choices have actually provided your family opportunities that others will not have. This is not criticism, this is a compliment. The ideas of no debt, of frugal money management, of thrift store shopping, of minimal […]
27Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Family Life and Family Values | 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
Babies Vs. Politicians: Who is Smarter?
Son, A national magazine recently had an article titled ‘Babies Vs. Chimps.” It felt like I was reading an article on ‘Babies Vs. American Politicians.” The study examined theories of general-intelligence versus cultural-intelligence. The different study groups “performed about equally well on ‘physical learning’ – locating hidden objects…understanding concepts of more and less, using a […]
17Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Babies Vs. Politicians: Who is Smarter? | Continued
Angry Grandfathers Do Not Pray!
Son, I’m with you. A continued, recurring illness in your little four year old girl is terribly frustrating. One of my favorite optimistic sayings is, “We should be grateful that we live in an era of modern medicine.” But what do we do when the health care system comes up short? I don’t have […]
16Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Angry Grandfathers Do Not Pray! | Continued
Praying for Help
Dad, It is Sunday morning and your granddaughter has a fever again. She finished her antibiotics two days a go, and this is becoming a frustratingly familiar story. People have been suggesting alternative medicines, our neighbor is a chiropractor, my mother-in-law is concerned about all of the antibiotics that my daughter is taking. At first, […]
16Sep2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Let Us Have Peace, Shall We?
Dad, Our ship’s boatswain used to tell us, “look for problems, you’ll find them. Look for solutions, you’ll not find problems.” I think this can be applied to our current political climate. I don’t like the administration, but I don’t want to hear about it anymore. I want us all to get to work on […]
13Sep2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Let Us Have Peace, Shall We? | 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
George W. Bush Presidential Library
Son, People can be funny, creative, facetious and sarcastic. Our local newspaper has a column called “It’s your call.” They allow people to call in and leave comments. There is little editing and the column gets heavy criticism from local officials. Today there is a clever comment: How about putting the George Bush Presidential Library […]
11Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on George W. Bush Presidential Library | Continued
the politics of the modern crusades…
Dad I am a Democrat today because I cannot subscribe to the politics of the modern crusades. I have, in the past, been afraid to state a political position or defend a political candidate. I have also been reluctant to attack a public figure for fear that I might find in my heart that I […]
11Sep2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
My Opinion on Convictions
Son, I admire your determination. Opinions are the fodder of intellect, just academic talk until applied. Conviction is the result of integrating opinion with life experience. Our life experience will test our opinions – if we come out the other side with the same opinion then we call it conviction. We know many things – […]
10Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on My Opinion on Convictions | Continued
Bush says ‘Never!’ how smart is that
Son, I know a lot of people my age who, over time, have violated their own principles. They said “NEVER!” They were wrong. They were wrong to say never and they were wrong to violate their own principles. “Never” is a word that denies our own humanness. George double-u Bush is one of those folks […]
10Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | 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