Why Was Alexander the Great - So Great. Here's Why!

Alexander III was born in 365BC.  He ascended to the throne of Macedonia when his father died; Alexander was only 20. As a young boy he was tutored by Aristotle and by the age of 30 he had conquered most of the known world from Greece to India.

On his death bed, Alexander the Great ... was said to have summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes before his death:

1. Only the best doctors should be allowed to to carry my coffin to the grave site.

2. All the wealth I have accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) in my life should be scattered along the procession route on the way to the cemetery.

3. My hands should be let loose and hang outside my coffin for all to see !!

One of his generals was surprised by these unusual requests and asked Alexander to explain.

Here is what Alexander the Great supposedly told his generals:

1. "I only want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death, even with all their knowledge and skills they do not possess the power to heal all”

2. "I want the road to be covered with my personal fortune so that everybody will see that all the material wealth one acquires on earth will always remain on earth - you can't take it with you to the afterlife.”

3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people will understand we all come to this world empty handed and we all leave this world empty handed.

I want people to understand the most precious treasure of all is: TIME.

TIME is so precious because it is LIMITED. We can always produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.

When we give someone our time, we actually giving them a portion of our life - for our time is our life!

The best present we can ever give our families and friends is our TIME.

Why the Heck do They Sell Those Dumb Poppies Every Year?

Most of us expect to see some old veteran or some “nice lady of the auxiliary” standing in front of a grocery store - a street corner or in front of the courthouse later this month. They will be out there trying to sell us a Poppy. 

Every year the VFW’s and American Legion’s ask us to buy and wear a Red Poppy, yet few people actually know why? With Memorial Day fast approaching (Monday, May 29th) I thought I would share amazing trivia about the Poppies. 

The reason we are asked to wear Poppies is to remember fallen soldiers. Sadly many people who buy Poppies don’t know this. Second, few if any who buy Poppies know how to properly wear them. A Poppy should always be worn on the ‘right side’ of one’s chest – as near to the heart as possible. 

The red of the Poppy is meant to represent the blood each veteran shed when they gave their life. Sometimes black is seen on a Poppy. The black represents the mourning the loved ones endured when their soldiers did not return home. Finally, the green leaf on the poppy represents the grass and crops now growing, and the prosperity that came, after the war - even though the fields where battles were fought were destroyed.

If there is one thing to remember from reading this article it’s this - Remember the green leaf on the Poppy should always be positioned at the 11 o'clock position. This position represents the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month - the actual time that World War One officially ended.

The idea of wearing a Poppy was inspired by a simple poem - a poem written by Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian surgeon with Canada's First Brigade Artillery during World War I. Colonel McCrae wrote his poem shortly after visiting an old battle field which had been transformed into a cemetery. Hit with sadness he needed to express his grief after seeing "row upon row" of graves - for all the soldiers who had died on Flanders' field - a major battlefield - located in western Belgium and northern France.

The poem he wrote created an image of what he saw - bright red flowers growing among the rows and rows of white crosses on the field. His poem about Flanders Field made the Poppy a rallying cry for all who fought in the First World War. Below Coloneil McCrae's actual poem:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
between the crosses, row on row,
that mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Colonel McCrae’s poem was first printed in December 1915, in a British magazine and it had a huge impact in Europe - especially on two women - Anna E. Guerin of France and Moina Michael a Georgia native now living in Western Europe. Both ladies worked tirelessly to initiate the sale of poppies. Their goal was to raise money to help orphans, widows and others impacted by the war. In 1920, with the help of the American Legion, Mrs. Guerin, was able to establish the first annual Poppy sale in the U.S.

The Poppy, already a well known flower in all the allied countries - Britain, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – was known as the "Flower of Remembrance." In 1922 the VFW adopted the Poppy as the official memorial flower at its national convention in Seattle, Wash. However in 1923, there was a shortage of Poppies so the VFW decided to rely on unemployed and disabled veterans to produce the artificial Poppies needed. Today, the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary sell roughly 14 million Poppies.

All the proceeds generated from the sales their Poppies go to help veterans, their widows, widowers and orphans all over the world. Amazingly, the Poppy itself still survives and grows each year in Flanders’s Field as a perpetual tribute to those who gave their lives for freedom so many years ago.

So this year during the Memorial Day weekend, if you see an old veteran or a beautiful woman standing outside somewhere selling Poppies try to make a point to buy one. There is no set fee required - a nickel, dime or quarter would be fine, but if you can – try to throw in an extra buck or two and please, please, please wear your Poppy correctly.

Note:  Seldom, if ever, do I ever ask any post of mine be shared; but this is one post I respectfully ask you to share so people know about the significance of the Poppy.

Gabe

The Socratic Test of Three - Something All Public Officials Should Think About

Socrates was a respected citizen, statesman and philosopher of ancient Greece. Many say he laid the seeds for modern western civilization.  He was revered by his neighbors and fellow Greek citizens for both his wisdom and high moral character. 

One day an acquaintance of his ran over to approach him and asked "Socrates, have you heard the latest news about Marcus?"  Socrates raised his hand slowly and said "Wait! Before you tell me what you have to say about Marcus, let's see if it passes - The Test of Three." 

"The Test of Three?" inquired the man. “Yes” said Socrates. "The Test of Three."

"The first test" Socrates explained "is the test of Truth. Are you absolutely sure that what you are about to share with me about Marcus is the truth?" "Well no I don't know," replied the man, "I just heard it a few minutes ago."

"So," said Socrates "you want to share with me something about Marcus that you yourself have not confirmed as being true". The man replied "Yes".

"Well let's apply the second test" Socrates said, "the test of Goodness". Is what you are about to share with me about Marcus good?" "No, on the contrary Socrates ..." the man began; but Socrates cut him off and said "So You want to tell me something bad about Marcus even though you are not certain it is true?" The man shrugged his shoulders as though he were a little embarrassed.

Socrates smiled and said "Don't be disappointed you may still pass the third test - the test of Usefulness. Will what you share with me about Marcus be of any use or value to me?" "No, not really said the man." 

"Well then," commented Socrates, "If what you want to share with me about Marcus is neither True, nor Good and has no Use or Value for me - why in the world do you want to tell me this?" 

The man, then hung his head, obviously ashamed and just stood silent.  Finally he turned around and just walked away.

As elected officials, civic leader, or business owners would not all of our places of work - especially our seats of local government - be a much better off if we all just remembered and employed the Socratic Test of Three?

Airman First Class (A1C) Clerow "Flip" Wilson US Air Force (Served 1950-1954)

Yes its true Flip Wilson was in the Air Force and he lied about his age to enlist. He was stationed on the Island nation of Guam and assigned to the Strategic Air Command.

View his Service Profile

on TogetherWeServed.com at http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/profile/171488

Short Bio: Clerow dropped out of school in the 8th grade because he was embarrassed by the poor clothing he had to wear to school each day. 

At 16, he lied about his age and joined the U.S. Air Force. It was while serving in the Air Force that he got the nickname "Flip." While he was stationed on the Island of Guam, he entertained his buddies at night with jokes and humor.  One of they guys in his unit remarked, "He has 'flippeth' his lid" and the name stuck - ever since.

After Flip was discharged from the USAF he began to try his comedic talent in small night clubs and bars. Finally he built up the courage to try out for the Chitlin Circuit in hot spots like the Apollo Club in Harlem, New York.  Flip would often sleep in pay toilet stalls because he did not have enough money for a motel or hotel. He made ends meet by working as a bellhop and paid for the birth of his oldest son by working as a truck driver during the day. 

Flip was quoted as saying "But I was happy because I knew where I was going with my life."

What Goes Around ... Comes Around

He almost didn't see the old lady who was standing on the side of the road; but even in the dim evening light he could see she needed help standing there in the rain. He pulled his old car next to her shining new Mercedes and got out. 

Even with the smile on his face as he approached her she began to look worried. No one had stopped to help her for the last hour or so. What was this man going to do? He didn't look safe; he looked poorly dressed and very rough.

He could see that she was frightened and cold. He waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady on a raining night it was no easy task to fix so Bryan crawled under her car. Looking for a level spot to place the jack, he skinned his knuckles a few times. However in no time he was able to change the tire. But he had gotten dirty and his hand was bleeding.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was just passing through after visiting her sister who was in the hospital and she couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he put the jack back in the trunk and closed it.

The lady asked how much do I owe you young man. She would have gladly paid any amount he wanted for what he did as she imagined all the awful things that could have happened had this nice young man not stopped. Bryan never thought twice - "Not a thing Ma'am - I was just glad I was here to help someone in need". God knows there were plenty of times when people had given me a hand in the past and I just wanted to pay them back.

However he told her that if she really wanted to pay him, the next time she saw someone who was in need of help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and then he added, "Just think of me!" He stood next to her car until she drove off. It had been a cold and another depressing day for Bryan, but he felt good as he headed for home.

About six miles down the road the old lady saw a small cafe. She went inside to grab a bite to eat as it was still a long ride home for her. It was a dingy looking restaurant however the waitress came right over with a dry clean towel and said "Here, you might want to use this to wipe that wet hair". The waitress had a sweet smile.

The lady noticed the waitress was pregnant and when she returned with a menu the lady asked "How far are in your pregnancy". "8 ½ months the waitress replied". The lady thought if must be hard for her to be working at 8 ½ month pregnant, but the waitress never let the strain or aches of her pregnancy affect her positive attitude. The old lady wondered how someone so young and carrying a child could be so giving and friendly to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.

After the lady finished her meal, she handed the the waitress a one hundred dollar bill and said will be kind and take care of my tab for me. The waitress smiled and said sure.  The waitress quickly went to get cash register paid her bill and then walked back to bring the lady her change. However when the waitress returned to the booth the old lady was gone; she had slipped out the side door. The waitress then noticed something written on a napkin next to the lady's plate. Tears swelled in the waitress’ eyes when she read the note the lady left - it said: "You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, so let me help you out. Under the napkin the old lady left four more $100 bills.

There were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another night at midnight the diner closer. When the waitress got home she undressed and climbed into bed; however she couldn’t stop thinking about that nice old lady and the hand-written note and money left. 

She thought how could the lady have known how much her and her husband had really needed that money? He had been laid off since the mill closed and with the baby due next month, it was going to be hard for them.

She looked over at her husband who was sound asleep.  She knew how worried he was the past few weeks not being able to find steady employment.  As he laid there sleeping she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. She then whispered soft and low, "Don’t worry honey - every thing's going to be all right. I really do love you, Bryan Anderson."

The Gift Of Flying

Once upon a time there was a little boy who wished he could fly like a bird.  It was difficult for him to understand why he could not fly. He saw birds at the zoo much bigger than he was and they could all fly. "Why O’ why can’t I fly he asked himself".

Across town was another little boy; this boy had contracted polio when he was an infant and could not walk.  His wish was that some day he would be able walk and run like all the other boys and girls.

One day the little who wanted to fly like a bird became upset with his parents decided to run away from home.  After walking several hours he came upon a city park where he saw the little boy who could not walk playing in the sandbox.

He walked over to the little boy and asked him if he had ever wanted to fly like a bird.  "No," said the little boy “however I have always wondered what it would be like to walk and run like other boys and girls." "That is very sad," said the little boy who wanted to fly.

"Would you like to be friends so we can play together in the sandbox?  "Sure," said the other little boy come on in the sandbox.

The two boys played for almost an hour making sand castle after sand castle. Then the little boy's father walked over pushing a wheelchair.  He was there to pick up his son and take him to the car. The little boy who had always wanted to fly ran over to meet his new friend’s father and whispered something into his ear.  "I guess that would be OK," said the boy’s father.

The little boy who had always wanted to fly like a bird ran over to his new friend in the sand box and said, "You are a good friend to me; I wish that there was something I could do to make you walk and run like other little boys and girls. But I can't; however there is something I would like to do for you – if you will let me."

He then turned around, squatted down and told his new friend to climb on his back. When the little boy was secure on his back the other boy began to run across the grassy field.  Faster and faster he ran.  The faster he ran the more the wind just brushed across the faces of the two little boys.

Suddenly the little boy's father with the wheelchair began to cry … he started to cry uncontrollably.  For as he watched his beautiful son riding on the back of his new friend he saw his young son flap his arms up and down in the wind and begin  shouting at the top of his lungs…"LOOK DADDY- I'M FLYING – I REALLY AM FLYING DADDY!"

Remembering President Harry Truman

Sadly, President Harry Truman does not often receive the credit many people think he rightfully deserves. Below are some interesting facts about Harry Truman our 33rd President many people may not be aware of.

President Truman was a different kind of President for three primary reasons:

First - and foremost, he was not elected to his first term of office; he inherited the position of President after the death of President Franklin Roosevelt.

Second - While serving as President of the United States, he chose to pay all of his travel and living expenses such as the food his family ate out of his Presidential salary.

Third - he placed a sign on his desk in the Oval Office which read - ‘The Buck Stops Here’

Ironically, President Truman probably made as many, if not more, important decisions regarding our nation as any as the other 32 Presidents who preceded him. Most notably on August 6th, 1945 he, and he alone, ordered the dropping of the 5 ton Atomic Bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

However, his true measure of greatness actually does not begin until after he left the White House in 1952.

After President - Elect Eisenhower was inaugurated into office as the new President of the United States, Harry and his wife Bess drove themselves back home to Independence Missouri in their personal automobile. There was no such thing as a Secret Service escort which followed them.

When they left Washington the only source of income they had was a small U.S. Army pension Harry earned and the only asset he and his wife Bess had to their name was a small house in Independence Missouri which Bess inherited from her parents. Other than the six years Harry and Bess spent in the White House, this was the only house the two of them ever knew during their entire married life.

Almost immediately upon returning to Missouri large corporations from across the county began to contact Harry Truman. They all wanted to offer his positions with huge salaries to come work for them. However Mr. Truman declined every offer he received saying "You don't want me, Gentlemen you want the office of the President, and that unfortunately doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and I am sorry but that office is not for sale."

Several Congressmen soon noticed the former President was paying for all the stationary and the stamps he was using to respond to letters her received from US citizens and people around the world who wrote him. Not only that, President Truman personally licked every stamp he placed on an envelope. Congress voted to grant President Truman the very first 'Retired Presidential Allowance. The following year, Congress voted to give him a retroactive Presidential pension of $25,000 per year.

In May 1971, Congress was preparing a bill to award President Truman the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday; however President Truman wrote a letter to Congress in which he stated he would refuse to accept any such medal. He said "I don't consider what I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise – all I did was my job."

The one Truman quote I will personally never forget was the one he gave during an interview with the New York Times. When asked why he had gotten into politics in the first place he said "My choices in life were simple, either become a piano player in a Missouri whore house or enter politics. And to tell the truth, the way I saw it there was hardly any difference – so I choose politics."

Many Presidents and numerous political figures that followed President Truman found new levels of success by cashing in on their time in Public Office. Many used creative ways to accumulate untold wealth as a result of their time serving in public office.

It might be wise for us to take a moment now and then to remember President Harry Truman.

What is Your Perspective as a Local Government Official?

Sometimes it takes only the perspective of a child to remind us of what’s really important. The quality of our lives is based solely on our individual perspectives.

One day a very wealthy businessman, who was the father of an eight year old boy, decided to take his son for a trip out into the country.   He thought by visiting a rural area he could help teach his son some basic facts about life and more importantly help him appreciate all the things he had living a "The Big City". 

The father wanted to show his son how life would be if they were poor. So through a friend - the father arranged to spend a few days out in the boondocks - on a small farm owned by a family that everyone in the local area considered to be very poor.  

The father took off a Thursday afternoon and all day Friday from work.  He and his son got in the car and drove for about four and a half hours to the middle of no where to reach the farm were they had planned to stay at.  Upon arriving they were warmly greeted by the farmer and his family and so they spent the entire weekend with them.  After three days and three nights on the far the father and his son got back in their car for the return trip home.

As they drove the father turned to his son and asked "Well Son how did you like our farm visit".  “It was great, Dad,” the son replied.

“I now see how poor people live?” the son said. The father couldn’t help but crack a broad smile - his plan worked. 

“So tell me Son, what did you learn from this trip we took?” asked the father. Without hesitation the little boy said, “I saw that we have one dog and but that family had four. I know we have a pool behind our house that reaches to the middle of our yard and they have a creek that has no end. 

Mom buys fancy us all those fancy imported lanterns that she hangs in the garden but this family has stars to look up at each night.

Our patio deck is almost as wide as our house but when that family sits on their small back porch they have the whole horizon to look at everyday. 

We have a very small piece of land to live on in our neighborhood and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but everyone in that family is always serving each other.

Mom buys all our food in the grocery stores, but they grow and raise most of what they eat themselves. 

You built that big fence around all our property to protect us; but this family has good friends and neighbors who watch out and protect them.”

The father was numb and speechless as he tried to catch his breath.  Just then his son added, “Dad I really do want to thank you for showing me just how poor we really are.”

The Barbary Coast - An Important Lesson for all Public Officials

This is an interesting story that will tie together three things:  Thomas Jefferson - Muslims and the United States Marine Corps.

My hope is you will find this is a fascinating story full of pertinent information but also answer the question: Why the U.S. Marine Corp Hymn contains the verse, "To the Shores of Tripoli" in it. 

Okay, let’s begin. Most people are totally unaware that President Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America authorized the formation of the United States Marines (sea going soldiers). He did so when American ships were attacked by pirates of the Barbary Coast. The Marines had one job – repulse all invaders on American Ships.

Who were the Barbary Pirates? The Barbary pirates were the terror of the Mediterranean Sea - as well as a large section of the North Atlantic. They were Muslims who represented the Islamic nations of Tripoli, Tunis, Morocco, and Algiers - collectively referred to as the Barbary Coast

That’s right - over two hundred years ago the United States was fighting with Islam and it was Thomas Jefferson who led the charge against them and here’s why. When Muslims pirates attacked foreign ships they always took the crews and passengers and held them hostage for exorbitant ransoms. The captured sailors and passengers were subjected to barbaric treatment and forced to write heart-breaking letters home, begging their governments and families to pay whatever their Mohammedan captors demanded. If ransoms did not arrive fast enough the heads of the hostages were cut off.

Now before the Revolutionary War, all U.S. merchant ships (those belonging to the American Colonies) sailed under the protection of Great Britain. When the Colonies declared their independence from Britain and entered into the Revolutionary War, all ships of the United States were then protected by France. However, once the Colonists won their Independence from Great Britain the United States of America had to protect its own ships – thus the United States Navy was born.

Thomas Jefferson was elected President of the United States in 1801; however 17 years before Jefferson was the Ambassador to France when Algerian pirates captured several American ships. The ‘Dye’ of Algiers at that time demanded the U.S. pay a ransom for their safe returns. Jefferson saw payments to Muslim nations as extortion and was opposed to Congress making any such payments. Many other American leaders, including George Washington shared similar feelings. They too warned Congress against caving in and paying Muslims ransoms. They thought paying tribute would only further embolden these fundamentalist Muslims.

Never the less, Congress to appease the Muslims pirates and avoid entering into another war, agreed to pay the ransoms the Barbary States demanded. Congress felt it would best if they followed in the footsteps of most European nations and just pay the ransoms.

Well in 1786 Jefferson and John Adams personally met with Tripoli's Ambassador to Great Britain and asked him what right his nation had to attack American vessels and enslave American citizens and why Muslims held such hostility towards America, a nation with which they had never had a previous contact with.

The Ambassador from Tripoli told the two future Presidents that Islam "was founded on the Laws of their Prophet Mohamend and that it was written in the Quran that all nations who do not acknowledge Islamic authority were sinners and that it is every Muslims right and duty to make war upon non-Islam’s. Furthermore Muslims who should be slain in battle with Islam’s enemies would all go to Paradise."

So over the years Congress voted to pay Muslims millions of dollars for the safe passage of American ships and/or the return of American hostages. The payments Congress made were estimated to be 20 percent of the United States government annual revenue in 1800. Jefferson was disgusted by this policy. He wanted Congress to form a coalition with allied nations who together would force the Islamic states into peace. However a disinterested Congress “voted NO” to his suggestion and decided to continue to pay ransoms.

Shortly after Jefferson was sworn in as the third President of the United States in 1801, the Pasha of Tripoli sent President Jefferson a letter. The letter demanded the U.S. make an immediate payment of $225,000 plus $25,000 a year for every year thereafter. Jefferson replied to the Pasha’s letter by saying he would not comply with his demand. The Pasha in turn responded by cutting down the American flagpole at the consulate in Tripoli and then declared war on the United States. Tunis, Morocco, and Algiers immediately did the same.

Until this time, Jefferson was opposed to America raising any naval force other than one to defend the coast of the USA; but having watched his nation be cowed by Islamic thuggery for 17 long years he had had enough. He decided it was finally time to meet this evil force with force and thus he created the United States Marines.

Once the Marines were in firmly established Jefferson sent a fleet of U.S. frigates loaded with United States Marines into the Mediterranean and north Atlantic. He authorized these American ships to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of Tripoli and to "cause to be done all other acts of precaution or hostility as any state of war would justify". The orders of the Marines were to confront Muslim pirates in battle and follow them back to their villages and kill every man, woman and child they found.

It didn't take long for Muslim nations to leave U.S. Merchant vessels alone. Algiers and Tunis were accustomed to seeing America’s cowardice and acquiescence but now they saw the newly created United States of America had both the will and the might to strike back and they quickly abandoned their allegiance to Tripoli and their other Barbary Coast neighbors. They left all U.S. shipping traffic in the Mediterranean alone.

The war with the Muslims in Tripoli lasted four years. During this war the exceptional bravery of the U.S. Marine Corps in dealing with Muslim pirates was noted by every nation around the world which led to the line "to the shores of Tripoli" being included in the Marine Corps Hymn. Both the English and French started running up US Flags on their merchant ships’ masts whenever they entered the Mediterranean Sea. They knew that by flying an American flag it would insure safe travels for their crews and ships.

Because of all those fierce battles the Marines had with the Muslims during this period - Marines became known as "leathernecks". Why? After engaging in a few battles with the Muslims, Marines had heavy leather collars sewn on to their uniforms. These heavy leather collars were designed to prevent their heads from easily being cut off by Muslims pirates with their scimitars when Marines boarded their pirate ships.

Now Jefferson had always been a very religious man and was well aware that America was a nation of religious tolerance. In fact Jefferson, himself, co-authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. However to him, and most of the civilized countries in the world, fundamentalist Islam was like no other religion. Islam was a religion based solely on its self-proclaimed supremacy over all other religions. The Quran - the Muslim holy book not only condoned … but mandated - violence against non-believers of Islam and that was totally unacceptable to Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson’s greatest fear upon leaving the office of President was that someday radical Islamist would return. He believed Muslims would pose more threats on the United States and its citizens as time went on.

Ironically we now know that Muslims who have immigrated to the United States over the past two decades have petitioned their units of local government, their local school boards and their State Governments to have women-only classes in public schools – which has been approved in many US school districts. We now know Muslims have petitioned to have women only swimming times in city and universities pools - which we also know has been approved in many American communities.

Muslim have successfully petitioned their local court systems that Christians, Jews, and Hindus cannot serve on juries where Muslim defendants are being judged - which even though this is hard to believe it has actually been agreed to in many American communities and several states. We know that Piggy banks, facial tissue dispensers, wall clocks and computer screen savers with Porky Pig images on them are now banned from many workplaces because they are deemed offensive to Islamist sensibilities – and this too has been approved in several American communities and a host of federal and state government offices.

In the private sector ice cream desserts that were sold at many Burger Kings are now banned because the picture on the BK wrapper looked to similar to an Arabic script for the word Allah – and BK agreed to remove these ice cream treats from many of its locations. Finally many school boards have agreed to remove pork meals, pork sandwiches and pork sausage from their school lunch menus at elementary, middle and high schools.

Jefferson believed it was wrong not to fighting back radical Muslims and not to insist that all newly arrived Islamists' adapt to American culture. He feared the United States would be cutting its own throat with a politically correct knife if we caved in to radical Muslim demands. He was unyielding - that not fighting Islam zealots would only help further the Islamists' agenda in America in the future.

As we all well know there are many of America's leaders today – in Washington, in State Capital and at Local government levels, who don’t share President Jefferson’s opinions. Sadly, the vast majority of our government and political leaders today still prefer to be appease and be politically correct rather than confront any Muslim threat!

If you have any doubts about the above information then just Google "Thomas Jefferson vs. the Muslim World." (Check out all this for yourself.)

The Beauty of a White Rose

I was killing time walking through a Big Bazaar type store, when I overheard a cashier tell a young boy who couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 years old, “Son, I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.”

The little boy looked at the cashier and asked, “Are you sure?''

 The cashier politely took time to count the boy's money again and replied, ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy the doll, dear.''

The little boy stood silent while still holding the doll in his arms. I walked over and asked him who he wished to buy the doll for. “My sister.  It is the doll she loved and wanted so much. I wanted to give it to her for her birthday on Friday.”

He went on to say; “I have to have the doll today so I can give the doll to my Mommy tonight so that she can give it to my sister when she goes to live with her tonight.  My sister has gone to live with God and Daddy says that Mommy will be going to live with God soon too so I thought Mommy could take the doll with her to give it to my sister on Friday.''

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, "I asked my Daddy to tell Mommy to wait until I come back with the doll.” Then the little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out a picture of him laughing with a little girl and said, “I want Mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won't forget me. I don’t want Mommy to leave me, but Daddy says that she has to go to be with my sister." Then he squeezed the doll against his chest as tears fell from his eyes.

I slowly put my hand in my pocket and grabbed a few bills I had and said, "Son, suppose we count your money one more time just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''

"Okay he said. I sure hope I do have enough." As we counted his money, I discreetly added several of my dollar bills to his pile. When we were done counting, low and behold there was enough for the doll and even some money to spare.

The boy looked up and quietly said, "Thank you God for giving me enough money!" Then he looked at me and added, "Last night before I went to sleep I asked God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll for my sister.” I also wanted to ask him for some money to buy a white rose for my Mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for that because I thought I would be asking too much. But look what God did. He gave me enough to buy the doll and also enough to buy a white rose for Mommy because she loves white roses."

I finished my shopping with a totally different state of mind from when I started. I couldn't get that little kid out of my mind. As I was checking out, I suddenly remembered a newspaper article from a few days earlier which mentioned a drunken driver hit a car occupied by a young woman and her little girl. The girl died at the scene but the mother was taken to the hospital and was in a critical condition. The family, I recall, was asked to make a decision whether to pull the plug on the life support machine because the woman would not be able to recover from her coma. I wondered if that was the family of the little boy who wanted to buy his sister a doll.

The next day on my way to work I bought a paper.  A story featured on the front page was about a young woman who passed late last night because her family had instructed her doctors to pull the plug. I don’t know why but during my lunch break - I went to a nearby florist and bought a dozen white roses and drove to the funeral home that was listed in the paper. The room was full and up front was a casket for family and friends to make their last visit before the burial would occur.

I walked towards the casket and as I neared it I saw a young lady holding a beautiful a white rose in her hand. Next to the rose was a photo of a little boy and a girl laughing and over her chest was placed a doll – a doll I had seen the night before. I immediately turned around and left the funeral home as my eyes filled with tears. On that day I learned the simple beauty of a while rose and a little toy doll.

Who Was That Man

A nurse on the intensive care ward took the tired and anxious looking serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain he was experiencing, he dimly saw a young man in uniform standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The young man wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp hand and squeezed a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so the young military man could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young man sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. 

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the young man take a break and go for a walk; however he refused.

Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the uniformed man was oblivious to her and all the other night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. 

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words to the dying man who said nothing, all he did was hold on tightly to his son's hand all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The young man released the now lifeless man's hand he had been holding all night and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, the young man patiently waited.

Finally, she turned to the young man and started to offer words of sympathy, but the man in uniform interrupted her and asked "Who was that man?"  

The nurse was startled, "Why he was your father," she answered. 

"No Ma' am', he wasn't my father, "I never saw this man before in my life. My dad is doing fine I just saw him yesterday."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you into his room?" asked the nurse. 

The young man replied "I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew that man needed his son at his side and his son wasn't here.

When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son and knowing how much he needed someone to be at his side, I just stayed." 

“I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey; his son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this gentleman's name?

The nurse, with tears in her eyes, answered, "Son, that was Mr. Grey."

The First Presidential Limousine - You Won't Believe It!

It's been a while since I have posted on this blog.  December was hectic and January just took off.  I am sorry.  Hopefully you will find this story fascinating and share it with your family and friends.  Gabe   

Just hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, the Secret Service found itself with a major dilemma - an unusual problem. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked to speak to an emergency session of Congress on Tuesday morning, December 9.  He chose to wait until Tuesday to address Congress as he wanted as many of the elected state representatives present and wanted to give them time to get back to Washington when he made his address to the nation. This joint session on December the 9th is where he gave his powerful “This is a Day That Will Live on in Infamy” speech. 

Though the actual trip from the White House to Capitol Hill was short, Secret Service agents at the time were concerned about his personal safety. Standard vehicles had always been used to transport the President wherever he travelled; however now with the possibility of war pending, they thought a more secure and safer mode of transportation should be used.

Federal Laws in place at the time prohibited government agencies and departments from purchasing vehicles that cost more than $750. The only recourse the Secret Service had was to get emergency authority and funding from Congress to purchase a safer vehicle; however with all the mayhem erupting in Washington, nobody had time for that. 

As luck would have it, one of the older (or should we say long-term) agents working for the Secret Service, remembered the US Treasury Department had seized a bulletproof car from a mobster a few years ago that might work. 

The mobster they seized the vehicle from was none other than Al Capone - the famous Chicago crime boss. Capone, you may recall, was sent to prison in 1931 for tax evasion.  He failed to file and pay taxes on $150,000 of income he earned from his illegal operations. The car the Treasury Department seized from Al Capone was now sitting in a Washington D.C. warehouse.

Capone’s seized car was a 1928 Cadillac Town Sedan which had a V-8 engine. 

Interestingly, Capone had his car painted black and green to look identical to the Chicago police vehicles of that era. Capone also had the 1928 Cadillac Town Sedan modified with 3,000 pounds of armor plating and one-inch thick bulletproof glass. Furthermore, he had a police siren and flashing lights installed behind the front grille of the vehicle which he used often to speed his way through Chicago’s congested traffic quickly.
 

Throughout Sunday night, all day Monday, and all of Monday night mechanics and Secret Service agents labored to clean the car and make sure it was in perfect running condition. On Tuesday morning, December 9, they had Capone’s car ready to transport President Franklin Roosevelt to Capitol Hill. 

The point we should all remember from this fascinating little story is: The very first "Official" White House Limousine ever used to transport a US President was a bulletproof Cadillac, formerly owned by the notorious Chicago gangster, Al Capone.

One of The Worse Stories We Have To Tell

Many of us, especially those close to my age, can easily remember that terrible disease polio. Several of us saw family members, relatives, neighbors and colleagues afflicted by this terrible illness.  

Rotary International, an Organization which I am active in and proud to be a member, has been trying to eradicate this disease from the planet for years.  Please take a moment and review the poster below. 

Hopefully you will see that there may be a light at the end of this long tunnel and the tragic story may have a happy ending.  I know today is Veteran's Day and we should all focus on thanking the Vets we know who served.  But maybe tomorrow or the next day, if you see a Rotarian in your community, you might just want to say thanks as well.

Gabe Gabrielsen