Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Our economy is in the doldrums, to say the least, and things look bleak down the line. I do not mean to sound like a worry wort but, the economy is tanking...sliding into a recession that is mimicking a depression. The "stimulus rebate" checks that more than 170 million Americans are waiting to receive beginning in May, 2008 will do little to turn things around except for a momentary boost.

Our tax dollars were used a few days ago by the Federal Reserve Bank in New York (Week of March 20-26, 2008), to bail out Wall Street banking- lion Bear Stearns to the tune of billions of dollars! They speculated, gambled, ....and we paid the bill. What do you think of this? When was the last time the Federal Reserve Bank bailed you out of your mortgage-debt? Never! The Fed says it was necessary to bail-out Bear Stearns to prevent a major run on Wall Street and the economy.
Congress bailed out Chrysler Corporation in the 1970s even as it did nothing to stave off bankruptcy for the City of New York in 1974! How do you feel about the federal government using your tax money to bail out Wall Street bankers and big business, while ignoring your ills altogether?
Why are we so indifferent it seems, to the pain of our families? We can do more for one another.
But...let's see what can be done to help our National economy.
Private enterprise can step in and do more to pump up the National economy. Government intervention is often saddled with a price tag at the end of the crisis. Once everyone cashes that "economic stimulus" check, we can anticipate a rise in our taxes some time around the year 2010 or 2012. They will make us pay for the money we got...by taxing it out of us down the line. You will see this sooner or later. New York State is tanked. We will be in the red fiscally for a few years. One way to pump up the economy is to raise the cigarette tax at the federal level so a pack of cigarettes costs up to $15.00 and we use the money to fund health research to combat the cancer rates that have soared from habitual use of cigarettes, which will create thousands of research jobs. Take the "Sin Taxes" on Rum and boost them to levels the equivalent of the booze- bottle-cost itself, and you will find more money for research to aid the campaign against alcoholism. If we do this nationally, raise the cigarette and rum taxes, we will pump 1 Trillion dollars into the economy.

If we end the War in Iraq and Afghanistan in three years, we will start reducing the federal debt by about 50 billion dollars a year over the next 20 years. If the National government stops parceling off, meaning, selling off our National services to foreign interests, like the postal jobs at your local post office, to countries like China, we could reverse our unemployment numbers from up to down...meaning...we can actually create more jobs for Americans. Contracting our ports to foreign interests for millions, does us national harm in terms of security and we lose jobs that Americans should have had in the first place.
Take all the state lotteries and sell them to private companies! The government should not be in the business of encouraging gambling vices. Such sales or "Leases" of the state lotteries to private companies for 10-20 years per-lease, could rake in about 500 billion dollars annually for the National economy.
If we end all government subsidies and anti-trust protections to private monoliths like Major League Baseball, Pro-Football, Pro-Basketball, Pro This, Pro-That, we can actually save about 900 million a year in real money!
If we abolish the IRS, we can save billions of dollars by moving to a flat tax structure system.
We should stop taxing senior citizens after they turn 65 years of age! What do I mean?
Seniors should get FREE medicine, FREE Health care once they turn 65 years of age.
We should not require seniors to pay 30 per cent of their monthly income to keep an apartment in a federally subsidized public housing project or senior residence! Let's reduce this to less than 5 percent of their monthly income. Let's help our seniors keep more of their hard to live-on social security checks.
Social Security Fund: Start taking social security taxes from working teens at age 15 . This will help fund the Social Security Trust Fund, and will keep it in place 50 years from now.
Take the Federal Reserve Bank and vest it with powers to impose fines and seek prosecution of any lender , bank, institution who engages in fraud or speculative fraud.
Impose a 20 year moratorium on foreign investment in the U.S. A. meaning, don't let any foreign government buy our government bonds!
Tell China, Russia and any Nation that bullies us with imports that tip the scales heavily in favor of these Nations, that we will not accept their imports to the U.S. A. and are prepared to impose a 5 year moratorium -an embargo- stopping their imports...until... they let the U.S.A. level the playing field!
End the subsidies to the tobacco industry. This lucrative private enterprise has received one welfare subsidy after another for over 100 years from taxpayers thanks to the federal government! Enough already! we will save 900 million dollars a year, and surely help improve the health of all Americans , and our next generation will learn NOT TO SMOKE!
Mortgage foreclosures now underway, and the Mortgage mess of today should be dealt with by prosecuting the mortgage dealers who sold bad mortgages to unwitting families by inflating their numbers in terms of salary and income. The mortgage mess should be handled by the federal government by decreeing that all interest -rate on these bad mortgages is now at ZERO, and that all arrears owed on these secondary mortgages is FORGIVEN!
They just bailed out Bear Stearns with your tax money, and they did a lot of business in this mortgage fiasco, so you should be bailed out too.
Let's reinforce family values and faith-based initiatives, and reaffirm our faith in God. The principles upon which this Nation was founded are based on sacred Biblical truths. And remember this, you can't go around walking the walk of the righteous if you're going to walk and talk like you see nothing remiss with the "low-down and dirty...cussing and swearing", that a lot of so called faith keepers indulge in. I've seen a lot of Mormons saying "That S- - -ks!" You can't wear the breastplate of righteousness while promulgating and practicing the "lowest common denominator" in your home. If your children hear you swearing and cursing, what will they think of your church worship and your efforts to instill in them the value of going to church and of being faith-keepers? Perhaps they'll learn the double message that it's a joke to you as you want to be "righteous" when you want to be, that's what.
Living a righteous life means we walk the walk, and talk the talk, without middle grounds. You either are cold or hot. I have never dignified the behavioral practice of hypocrisy. You can't hate a person, promote hatred, while taking sacrament in your church on the Sabbath! You cant' go to Temple, or ...to Sunday worship, and practice cruelty and insolence to any one who has done no wrong to you simply because you do not like that person! In this case, examine your heart, and what you are doing in Church, and find out why it's become a daily dalliance of irrational aberration, for you to live one life in Church , and another outside the Church. You can do better. I too can do better. Heavenly Father needs you to be righteous in the fullness of the Gospel. Please don't indulge in "religion of convenience". Look inside your heart.
Our Nation was formed by the breath of revolution which was born from being enslaved by an antique colonial empire that once controlled our continent from far away shores. The Revolution of 1776-1783 gave rise to the greatest Nation on God's earth, the United States of America. Not surprisingly the founding "Fathers" of this Nation named our Land "United" just like the colonial empire that ruled us is called the United Kingdom.
In 1789 we cap stoned our National government by incorporating the imperial presidency. Our first president George Washington was elected by a chosen few delegates who spoke for the privileged families of that day, to be our Nation's first president. In 1789 only the wealthy families could read and write, and could afford private education of their children. Public eduction as we know it conceptually today, did not exist then. Most if not all of the 6 million citizens of the new United States of 1789 were illiterate and they lived on frontier land. From 1789 through the time of president James Monroe, the president was addressed as Your Excellency, and each president up until the 11Th president James K. Polk, was addressed formally in this manner. Public election of the president by the common people, did not commence until the time of Andrew Jackson in 1828.
In 1812 the Colonial Empire (The United Kingdom) launched an invasion of the former colony hoping to recapture the "United States". They failed because Americans were determined to live free of the Colonial Empire, and because friendly Indian tribes, and the French government once again helped us stay free of British hegemony much like they helped us in 1776-1783 during the Revolutionary War.
Today we are friends with our former colonizers and this is a nice thing, except when the British attempt to calibrate our foreign and domestic policy and influence our National elections.
Yes it's true that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who governed Great Britain from 1979 until 1991, has a home in Texas.
Our Nation practiced slavery in one the most terrible chapters of our history and racial segregation was open and prevalent up until some would say 1968. Today racial segregation still exists in our colleges where you can see how students mingle only and mostly with members of their own race, with a few exceptions. Housing is still sold on the basis of race and class to perpetuate racial segregation. There exists today an usual effort at promulgating inclusion by hiring only Women to the exclusion of Men, at many workplace settings even when the laws of the Land forbid discrimination based on sex. Those who practice this form of discrimination usually tend to have a "so-what" attitude because Men "controlled every thing for so long, and still control" policy and government in this Nation and in the World in general. So this justifies this modern form of discrimination? Do I want to vote for and elect a Woman president? Yes emphatically!
But not the candidate on the National high-beam at this time. Since 1988 two families have ruled and governed this Country for the last 20 long years! Enough already !!!
That's how I feel. You can disagree with me.
Our Nation is great and magnificent. We can make it greater and we can make it the beacon of light to the World. We must love our Nation, cherish this great Land, show tolerance for Americans of different nationalities, and colors, and see mistreatment and abuse of undocumented aliens as a cruel aberration that we must not condone. They are Human Beings created in the image of God. They are looking for work honestly, looking to feed their families, to bring the full measure of the American dream to their innocent children. Undocumented aliens are the innocent and cruel victims of fate. If a child , say, an "illegal alien child", were to knock on your door and ask for a glass of water or a piece of bread out of hunger, who among you would deny that child a piece of bread or a cup of water? Can anyone be that cruel and indifferent ? Not me!! Let's' show compassion and tolerance, please. We all love this great land. We must fight terror as long as it takes until the enemies of freedom and liberty finally learn we are not afraid. Let freedom ring. Where are we going as a Nation? For me the answer is onward ever upward.
God loves you. I love you all.
What do you think? Let me know. Thanks for reading this.

Puerto Rico Governor Acevedo Vila Is Indicted.

On Thursday March 27, 2008, the 110 year old territorial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico which began on July 25, 1898, took a serious hit when the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Hon. Anibal Acevedo Vila, (a democrat), was indicted recently on federal charges by the (republican) interim U.S. Attorney in Puerto Rico, whose office waged a protracted probe of some 8-10 years, often overlapping the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth government in a manner that raises legitimate questions about the cost to U.S. taxpayers of this probe that netted approximately 12 individuals who received indictments.
It is interesting to note, that when Governor Acevedo Vila appeared for the arraignment, the federal judge presiding over the Arraignment was flown in from the state of Maine out of long held concerns that the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Puerto Rico has allegedly become a political clubhouse for the pro-statehood- oriented New Progressive Party (Partido Nuevo Progresista). Federal judge Margaret Kravchuk of Maine, did not require that the Governor be shackled or hand cuffed upon entering the Federico Degetau federal building in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico yesterday. Bail was not demanded, and the Judge did not require the Governor to surrender his passport. The Governor entered a plea of "not guilty". He has hired the services of the very able and experienced defense attorney Thomas Green, a respected Washington, D.C. trial lawyer.

It remains to be seen what will happen in the trial. The indictment has clearly dealt a death-blow to the Commonwealth-status itself, and to the sovereignty of the Commonwealth Constitution which had been approved in 1952 by Congress and the voters of Puerto Rico following a Constitutional Assembly. Many of the legal areas touched on by the long arm of the federal government in this matter, are issues that the Commonwealth Courts can and should have been allowed to address in their Courts. Until the trial is over and a verdict is reached, I will not make any remarks about the Governor of Puerto Rico, nor will I cast any aspersions on him in this terrible time for him and his family. I will not join the cruel chorus of detractors who have jumped on the bandwagon blasting noise and clatter that "kicks" the Governor when he is down. Cruelty is the order of the day it seems. I pity all who indulge in this insidiousness.

It is not lost on many citizens who see and suggest there could be the appearance of a taint or a politically motivated witch hunt designed to bring down democratic governors throughout the United States and Territories. This lamentable indictment in Puerto Rico suggests a political vendetta directed against the Governor of Puerto Rico who is a pro commonwealth advocate, and who had protested the tragic circumstances in the death of a pro-independence renegade advocate who died by gunfire at the hands of the FBI when they allegedly raided his home a few years ago. The Governor had directed his Secretary of Justice (Attorney General) to investigate the tragedy, and to subpoena the FBI agents who were implicated in the death of Filiberto Ojeda Rios.
The Governor had also previously (2007) sent a pointed letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice several months ago, asking her to clarify if the United States had in fact "lied" to the World in 1952 when it told the United Nations that the creation of Commonwealth-status for Puerto Rico ended it's colonial status of then, and thus did not require the U.S. to report annually on the "progress" of Puerto Rico as was the protocol of the U.N. at that time in our history. The federal government's involvement in Puerto Rico in the 1930s, 40s, 50s was often violent, and some times tragic.

The Governor has also previously claimed with ample evidence of press clips and TV reports that he was subjected to a concerted effort of unprecedented press leaks attributed to the U.S. Attorney's office in San Juan, designed to heighten speculation and turn public opinion against him, in regard to the Grand Jury inquiry into the Governor's fund raising practices when he ran for Resident Commissioner to Congress in 2000 and for Governor in 2004.

Many observers who watched the drama unfold on Thursday March 27, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico have been publicly asking:
1-Is the motive behind the indictment of the Governor of Puerto Rico designed to shatter Commonwealth status once and for all, and to force statehood, while destroying Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila in the process?
2-When Governor Acevedo Vila won election as Governor in November, 2004, a federal judge who was a dinner friend of the defeated "republican" candidate for Governor, "coincidentally" was assigned to the case -suit filed by the defeated candidate, and he held up a recount that was already underway, some have suggested this was so, to buy time for his friend, in the hope that the defeated candidate could find the votes to be declared the "Winner". The federal Appeals Court of Boston stepped into the matter, probably suspicious of an "attempted fix" and overruled the local federal judge, while publicly citing his "abuse of discretion", and Governor Acevedo Vila was declared the winner of the 2004 gubernatorial election.
3-Does it really make any sense to have the federal government bullying the Commonwealth government in a way that shows Orwellian arrogance, condescension that is neither necessary or fair, while displaying such outward and brazen contempt for the Laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in a manner that is so disrespectful of the special relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico?
4- Two pro-statehood advocates goaded the local FBI and US Dept of Justice to conduct a federal probe of the Governor, which resulted in his indictment on March 27, 2008. Many are openly asking: Is the office of the U. S. Attorney in Puerto Rico at the beck and call of one particular political group in Puerto Rico ? The fact that the feds pursued the probe at the request of two statehood advocates does this taint the indictments handed down yesterday? Does this kind of pursuit of the Governor not show a vengeful process of pursuit that is selective in prosecution?
5-Should the federal government make incursions that interfere with the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's system of Laws and ordinances?
The federal government at any level, should not impose its' will on the People of Puerto Rico under the color of an "indictment", and if Commonwealth-status must end, should this not be the prerogative of the People of Puerto Rico in consultation with the Congress? If democracy is the sacred protocol of enacting Laws with the consent of the governed, shouldn't the federal government allow for democracy to play out this process where Puerto Rico is concerned?
5-The Indictment was announced just 8 months before the next election for Governor. Was this done to deliberately help the PNP candidate for governor of Puerto Rico and to push the tide of public opinion in favor of the statehood party? The candidate for governor of the statehood party was instrumental in pushing the nomination of the current interim U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the Governor, and who is seeking to be permanently appointed as U. S. Attorney by Congress.
6-The sovereignty of the Commonwealth Territory of Puerto Rico warrants no role or interference by the federal government in local matters. This has been a long standing principle for over 200 years, and a benchmark that guides most of our states especially in the South West United States where our citizens publicly resent the Orwellian incursions of the federal government in their local matters. It is the guiding principle long defended by our American Indian tribes who denounce the technical and often supercilious incursions on their sovereignty as Nations, by agencies of the federal government. The U.S. Attorney firings in the U.S. points to what appears by some critics as a pattern of selective prosecution of democratic governors. Even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson warned that the federal government must never be allowed to become a tyranny in and of itself over the citizens that gave birth to our system of laws.

Puerto Rico's Jurisdiction Appears To Be
Under Unfair, Unwarranted Intrusion By The Federal Government.

We recall how a few years ago, a federal district judge in Puerto Rico interloped his way into a local election matter and he brazenly interfered with a local election where a candidate who was "republican" like the judge, was defeated , and the judge interceded in a manner that was highly unusual and unethical for a federal judge. Since at least the year 1993, the role of the federal government in the internal matters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has increased by over 500 percent. Pro-commonwealth supporters in the Popular Democratic Party appear to be targeted for scrutiny in a manner that is unprecedented by the federal government.
Even White House efforts to discredit Commonwealth-status point to what appears to be a concerted effort to discredit Commonwealth, "by any means necessary".
The cruelty of one pro statehood advocate's arrogance is glaring in the recent indictment of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It is truly sad and the height of arrogance for the republican candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuno to be casting stones of aspersion on the Governor. Surprisingly, this individual too is under scrutiny by the U.S. Dept. of Justice in regard to his own fund raising activities. Not surprisingly, the interim U.S. attorney in Puerto Rico who is a counting on the republican candidate for governor to get her a permanent designation as U.S. Attorney, has interestingly recused herself from that probe.
Is this what that office has become? A peddler of deals where inncoent citizens are prosecuted in what appears to be an effort to advance a career or enhance a republican office holders' chances of becoming governor of Puerto Rico in November, 2008 by smearing the democratic governor of Puerto Rico?
It was Jesus Christ who exhorted us to remember when we become possessed of condescending arrogance to cast judgment on others in their time of misery to remember Christs' Scriptural exhortation: "He who is without sin, may cast the first stone." Demagoguery is the bench mark of those who have no compassion.

I am praying for the Governor and his family and for all the others implicated in this terrible saga. I am probably not in the "popular majority" who has called for Governor Acevedo Vila to resign now. An indictment is a formal charge of accusation where a bill of particulars in tendered with the charges laid out. The discharge of his duties as Governor are not disabled by the indictment, and if he has legal counsel, it is really the prerogative of the Governor of Puerto Rico if he feels he can stay in office during this tumultuous time. I will not throw stones at him as others have been doing since yesterday.

I have never met the Governor of Puerto Rico, but I sense he is a good man with a compassionate heart. May our Heavenly Father guide him and protect him, and may he give the full measure of his worth during this trying time in his life, God bless him.
Let the ends of justice take their course. If any one subverted our Laws, they will eventually answer for their malfeasance. The Governor of Puerto Rico must answer the charges. Until then, I suggest we keep an objective mindset.
What do you think? Let me know your opinions and thoughts.
Even those found in the wanting on the scales of justice can also hear what Isaiah the Prophet said: "And ye shall seek me, and ye shall find me when ye shall seek me with all of thine heart." Amen.
Thanks for reading my comments.

Please remember my friends:

I love the United States of America, and I will always be a voice for patriotism, peace, and for peaceful dissent in the redress of grievances.
Freedom of speech is sacred, and is a protected right under our Constitution.

Hillary Surges, Obama Soars, McCain Glides

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is surging higher in the polls that suggest she will win the big Pennsylvania democratic primary. She could become the first Woman to be elected president of the United States. Her campaign is strong and her message resonates with the voters. Will Senator Rodham Clinton bring our troops home from Iraq as she promises, or is this more campaign talk designed to win votes? There is no doubt that Senator Rodham Clinton is uniquely prepared to lead our Nation.

Senator Barack Obama is surging once again, after a week of plummeting in the polls around published news reports that have highlighted some very pointed racial remarks attributed to his church Pastor. Senator Obama gave a stirring speech this past week that encapsulated his willingness to lead the Nation as president of the United States. Senator Obama offers a new beginning and a new era for America. His campaign inspires and shows courage.

Senator John McCain is making the presidential campaign a referendum on his candidacy for president of the United States. McCain is a venerable one-time prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict. He is a seasoned U.S. Senator who has been a moderate-conservative during his senatorial stewardship representing the great state of Arizona. Senator McCain is a patriot and has widespread support. It remains to be seen at this juncture, if he will choose a moderate or a conservative as his vice presidential running mate.

What do you think? Let me know. Thanks for reading this note

Congressman Charlie Rangel Has Recovered

Dear Friends:
I am very happy to report in this space that my dear friend Congressman Charlie Rangel is out of the Hospital. Mr Johnny C. Rivera, a former special assistant to Congressman Rangel informed me of Charlie's release from the hospital. Thank you Johnny, for the heads up.
The venerable Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means is taking it one day at a time, but he'll be back in the mix of things in no time.
We're glad you are up and about Charlie.
Can't wait to see you, buddy.
God bless him.

The Archibalds Left For New England

I had the distinct honor of making the acquaintance of the Archibalds during the 2 years they resided in The Bronx. A few weeks ago, they headed out to New England. This lovely LDS family came to The Bronx from Idaho, and they made us all feel like family. I hope they will send on an email and let us know how they are doing. I am prayerful for the Archibalds in their efforts to settle into Vermont. We will hopefully hear from Charles "Chazz" Archibald soon. His Dad Leon did great work in the Church leadership. Chazz' Mom, Mrs. Archibald also did magnificent work in our church, and the family which includes Chazz' sister and younger brother, should be settling into their new home in the state of Connecticut. Charles sent me an email reply, and he shared with me that he already landed a job, and the family "hit the ground running', meaning they are doing well.

We wish them well in their endeavors and hope they will stay in touch with us via this blog.

Jesus Is The Lighthouse-Heritage Singers

This photograph was taken by F. Strongbow Red Cloud in the mountains of Arizona,
with special thanks to Milton and Marilyn Farr who drove Strongbow to the site in August, 2007.
The pristine beauty of this area in north east Arizona near Nutrioso is magnificent.
Look at that sky. Wow.

Dear Friends:
In 1972, when I was the new kid on the block in The Bronx, I was invited by a friend whose acquaintance I had made at that time, to attend a "concert" at the Greater New York Academy in Woodside, New York. The singing group I saw on the closed-circuit screen was the Heritage Singers. I was taken by this beautiful hymn-song titled; "The Lighthouse", and it was not only moving to this sentimental fool, it was a special song that helped to imagine I was traveling back into the loving arms of my Mother and my Dad, whom I had left back home, in a change- of- life trip
I had made to New York City as a fellow approaching his 20s. The Heritage Singers group was formed in 1971 by Max and Lucy Mace in Portland, Oregon. They are magnificent, and consist of voice-harmonized singers who have a superb repertoire that is timeless, motivational, and inspiring. The Heritage Singers offer their outstanding melodies to a universal audience, as they honor their devotion to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Thy have presented them selves at special events, at Baptist congregations, and even at the World- famous Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California.
You must hear and see the Heritage Singers as they sing the very wonderful hymn-song that is forever etched in my heart: The Lighthouse .

I invite you to take a sentimental trip back in time to see why I love this wonderful song and this group that pronounces our dear Heavenly Father's majesty in times of darkness and adversity.
Go to YouTube and type- in: Jesus Is the Lighthouse- Heritage Singers.
Press on the play button, and you will see and hear the unforgettable Max Mace doing the introduction to a timeless masterpiece, and you will witness a trip back in time, as Max and the Heritage Singers are featured in this time-traveling video. I know you will all come to love and appreciate this magnificent group of inspirational Christian singers.
The Heritage Singers inspire all of us.

I hope to see Max Mace and the Heritage Singers once again in person, before my journey through this life concludes. I hope to tell Max, "Thank you Max, for so many wonderful and inspirational songs by the Heritage Singers, and for all the hope, and compassion that those songs-hymns have inspired over the years for so many countless thousands."
Like all of you, I too dream of seeing Max and the Heritage Singers present themselves for a command performance at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah some day. Yes, I know I"m dreaming, but it would be a wonderful event to see the Heritage Singers perform an inspirational presentation at this important venue. Absolutely. Max Mace and the Heritage Singers transcend denominational considerations with their heaven sent voices and music of hope and inspiration.
Please look up their website at: www.heritage@heritagesingers.com
you can write to the Heritage Singers at : Heritage Singers, PO BOX 1358, Placerville, CA. 95667

I hope you will share your thoughts with me in regard to the Heritage Singers.
They are indeed wonderful.

Thank you all for reading this.

Seeing Heavenly Father , Through The Lens of Eddie McDougall

Eddie McDougall is to photography what Damon Runyon was to journalism. Eddie is a master photographer who captures the spirit and essence of moments and events as they occur naturally. He is an award winning master photo graphic lens-man who is as captivating to meet as he is in the melodramatic photos he takes. Ed and I have a friendship of over 10 years. He is the Elders' Quorum President at the Olm Ward 2 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, located at the corner of Olm Avenue.
Ed is my brother in the faith, and someone I look up to. He epitomizes the goodness that lives in all of us thanks to our dear Heavenly Father.
Simply put, no one captures a photo or a portrait like Eddie McDougall.
Ed is doing the runways of fashion shows and his special portrait sittings are the talk of the town, so you must talk with Eddie about this special feature of his. Few individuals are as devoted to the art of commercial and portrait photography like Eddie McDougall, and few hold the faith as near and dear as Ed does. He is a philanthropic marvel who relishes the effort to improve the lives of others. When you meet Ed McDougall his presence radiates a stature and class that is rarely seen these days. He's a true gentleman. Political figures can rely on his photographic expertise to capture every moment in a campaign whether it's for election or re-election. More than being a skilled professional photographer eminently gifted by Heavenly Father, Ed McDougall is a magnificent Human Being who places your friendship, your needs above all else.
Call on Ed for spiritual guidance, for your wedding, your event, or sitting, at the following numbers: Studio (718)-678-3019. Ed's Cell phone number is 914-588-8112. His Fax is 347-293-7880.
You can Email Ed at : thruthelensstudio@hotmail.com Visit Ed at his famed studio by appointment only.
See Ed's website: www.thruthelensstudio.com
It will enthrall you.
I want all of you who read this item to know that Ed McDougall is there for you, and if you need anything, need spiritual guidance, this is one humble Elder of the Church who cares about all of us. Thank you Ed, for your kindness to me and my family. You're a dear and treasured friend.
Send your comments or questions directly to Eddie McDougall. He's there for you.

Thank you all for reading this.

Congressman Charlie Rangel Is In The Hospital

This photo was taken by F. Strongbow on November 5, 2006.



The comments herein expressed, are mine, and do not imply an editorial slant, and should be taken as the comments of someone who cares very deeply about a wonderful friend who is ill and feeling "below" the weather these days. If I express too much in the way of my feelings, please chalk it to my sentimentalism, okay? I do not claim to have all the facts in regard to dates, or how circumstances or events developed..

Of all the friends I have been blessed with having in this life, one of them is indeed a remarkable friend I care for deeply and who has all of my affection, loyalty, and gratitude.
That dear friend is Congressman Charlie Rangel of Harlem, New York.

Most of you know I have some ideals that are very American, even if some of you might describe them as "conservative". I consider my thoughts to be quite Human and quite American.

I share with my wonderful and dear friend, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, a profound love, and abiding respect for this Nation, and I honor Charlie's brave , yet unheralded service to our Country during the War in Korea (1950-1953), where he not only took the battlefield as a 20 year old from Harlem, New York, but was almost mortally wounded by mortar fire while valiantly protecting his unit from certain death. Charlie languished for many weeks with a deadly wound to his back, and he survived , I believe, because our Heavenly Father had a special calling for him beyond that tragic battlefield of ideological warfare.

Charlie went on to St. John's School of Law, and became a Deputy United States Attorney, went on be elected to the New York State Assembly, and in 1970, ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging a venerable incumbent in the person of the unforgettable Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who at that time (1970) was in his 26Th year of continuous service in the Congress. Charlie ran for the seat in a Primary where more than 8 candidates competed included the legendary Powell himself, and Charlie won the democratic primary which at that time of 1970, was held in June, not in September the way it is held these days in New York City.

I met Charlie and his family while he was still State Assemblyman representing a district in Harlem. My Mom, bless her, was a long time friend of the late Ms.Hattie Dodson, who worked for Congressman Powell as a Chief of Staff. Ms. Dodson had asked my Mom to "lend your lanky son (Me), to help Charlie over in his campaign. Charlie is a nice, good -hearted kid and, if my guy
(Powell) doesn't want the seat anymore, then I want Charlie to win the seat."

Hattie was not being disloyal, for she was an Elderly Lady who saw far beyond what the political pundits were saying of the Congressional race, and she probably felt that Congressman Powell, ailing, absent from Congress (He was mortally ill with cancer), was not likely to be up to this primary challenge. In fact, Ms. Dodson was right. Congressman Powell did some nominal campaigning, spending more time, and this was understandable, seeing his doctors. Powell was a venerated figure who commanded the fierce loyalty of his devotees. I was a new kid to the Harlem scene then, and I obeyed my Mother's call for me to volunteer, and I did.
I recall stepping out of the underground No. 6 train when it stopped at 116Th street in El Barrio and Lexington Avenue, I walked up the stairs that exited to the Street level, and there was Assemblyman Charlie Rangel shaking hands with subway riders as they entered the subway and as they exited it. Some of his supporters were giving out palm-cards describing his plan for the district if he got elected to Congress. I took a bunch of palm cards from one volunteer and I volunteered right there to help. Charlie has a store front campaign headquarters that was jumping with energy. He wore a beige trench coat when campaigned in the Fall of 1970, and some folks confused him with Powell because there was a striking similarity between the two, some observers noted in terms of style and substance.

Charlie Rangel was elected to Congress in November, 1970, and he was sworn in January 4, 1971. He is currently Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. He has been principled in his opposition to the War in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for calling for the draft to be reinstated.

I share Congressman Rangel's call for the Draft for reasons of knowing that I was drafted during the War in Vietnam (1967) and that coming from a working-class family, I had no say in whether I was going to be placed in the field of battle, and my Parents were not wealthy, politically connected, or influential so that they could send me to live in Canada to sit out the War ,and the Draft which was mandatory at the time. The War in Vietnam was ended by a resentful Congress. Many citizens at the time, questioned how young men and women who came from poor families were more often, not- so- coincidentally, drafted, while influential and affluent families always escaped "detection".

And... when some of those wealthy families happened to get a draft letter by a fluke, the reply was quick and curt from the family, although one can not blame any Parent, for doing what they can to keep a son or daughter out of harms' way in a time of War with a Draft underway. Most wealthy parents sent their children to live in Canada or in Europe.

In a surprising twist, the War in the Vietnam ended in early Summer, 1975 when then-President Gerald R. Ford declared the War was over as far as the United States was concerned. We pulled out of Vietnam then ...under a Republican Administration, quite interestingly, we are at War now, and there are few supporters of pulling out of Iraq or Afghanistan.

I honor, respect and I have reverence for the brave men and women who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their courageous efforts to fight terrorism, is indeed magnanimous and gratefully and deeply appreciated by me. I note with deep sadness, the death of the many brave young men and women who have sacrificed their lives upon the alter of freedom in defense of our Liberty. May our Heavenly Father comfort their loved ones, even as He cradles them in His loving arms.

Congressman Rangel Is In The Hospital As of This Writing:

I want to say that I just learned from viewing the web site of the New York Daily News today Sunday March 9, 2008, that my dear friend Congressman Charlie Rangel has been in the hospital for several days with the flu. I phoned the hospital switchboard to ascertain if I can go visit him, but not surprisingly, the person who answered the telephone call, was being protective of Congressman Rangel's privacy, so no information is being preferred on the telephone. I am a long time personal friend of Congressman Rangel, and I will do what I can for him in this time of illness, so I have reached out to two of his ablest staff members, Emile Milne and George Dalley, via Email, in the hope they can get me on the Guest List to visit Congressman Rangel at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Congressman Rangel's Visit to the New York Temple:

Congressman Rangel took the tour of the Manhattan LDS Temple during the period when it conducted the Open House in June, 2004. I was there with him when he took the tour, and I recall when the huge Dave Checketts, all six feet 6 inches of him, prodded me to introduce him, to Congressman Rangel after the tour ended, and Checketts observed Rangel leaving the Temple.
As Congressman Rangel exited, Dave Checketts turned to me and said, "Franck, I want to meet Congressman Charlie Rangel" and we both sprinted around the corner of Columbus Avenue to West 66Th Street, to catch up with Congressman Rangel who was walking toward the ABC News studio with my good friend Jim Capel, his Chief of Staff.

Checketts and Rangel talked right there on the sidewalk, and they agreed to meet again at a future date. As is customary with Charlie Rangel, he was affable, friendly, and receptive to Dave Checketts, regardless of any thought of ideology, beliefs, or labels. That's how Charlie is. Congressman Rangel is the most powerful Member of Congress as Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and that is where all the federal money is marked up for appropriations, but...he takes my phone calls himself. Charlie always says to me, and I am grateful to him for his long time friendship, "Anything I can do for you, you just let me know". These remarks are affectionate reassurance from a dear friend of many years, God bless him.

Several days after Congressman Rangel's visit to the New York Temple in Manhattan, he told me, "Franck, it was a beautiful and memorable experience. I hope you will tell me more about the Church ."

I have spoken with him of the Church and the Prophet Joseph Smith, many times, and I am happy to say Charlie Rangel is a member of Congress who venerates our Heavenly Father.

Congressman Rangel is not a narrow minded person. Congressman Rangel is friends with U.S. Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, who is Republican, U. S. Senators Orrin Hatch, and Robert Bennet of Utah, Republicans, and of U.S. Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat, who is Senate Majority Leader. This is in keeping with the protocols of being a Member of Congress, and I applaud Congressman Rangel's magnanimous ability to walk across the aisle without regard to party affiliation. Congressman Rangel is a friend of U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and of U.S. Senator Barack Obama.

I had the honor of speaking with senators Gordon Smith and Harry Reid during the Manhattan Temple Open House Tour in June, 2004, and they are outstanding public servants. I am grateful to have made their acquaintance.

I am going to invite Congressman Rangel to Olmstead Ward-2, but I will check with Stake President Bench and Bishop Brignoni first, to see if they will join me in inviting Chairman Rangel to visit us for Sacrament Meeting one of these Sundays soon.

To all my friends who see this column, please join me in sending get well greetings to Congressman Charlie Rangel, in care of his Congressional Address:
163 West 125 Street, Suite 737
New York, NY 10027
Tel. 212-663-3900
or
2354 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel (202) 225-4365

To all my Church friends, please call his office, and send your good wishes to him, and tell the staff you are also a friend of Franck Strongbow, who is a good friend of Congressman Rangel.

Congressman Rangel is a truly great American patriot and a National treasure.

Thank you for reading this. Please give me your comments.

LDS NEWS: I Reached Out To Fred and Beth Clawson.

Dear Friends:
I was quite melancholy for a number of years, having neglected to keep track of the addresses of my wonderful friends Fred and Beth Clawson of Royal Oak, Michigan. Well lo and behold, I was reorganizing my papers on Saturday, when there it was! Looking right at me from a box that read "Memorabilia", The first thing that greeted me as I opened the box was an envelope sent to me by none other than the great Fred and Beth Clawson!!
I was besides myself. I had been praying for weeks, with that feeling of lament that one feels when you know you have been neglectful of the duty to keep loved ones close-by, a phone call, a letter in the traditional mail box, an Email.
So? i am happy to report here that Fred and Beth are well, and they are home in Royal Oak, Michigan living the life they have devoted to the service of others and I can say this because when I phoned them up, I looked up their phone by calling Directory Assistance and reading Fred and Beth's home address from the return-address corner of the envelope of the letter sent to me by Fred and Beth in 2004 (Try it...it works), and sure enough, there they were.

When the telephone rang, it rang three times, then that inimitable voice that rings happiness to the friend...sang out, "Good morning, what can I do to improve your life today?"
Fred Clawson himself!!!
Hallelujah!
Fred and I talked for about 30 minutes, and I told him I was sending him and Beth a long Email along with photos of me, the family, and what has transpired in the years Fred and I had not spoken.
I told him of the trip made to visit with Farrs of Arizona, and how wonderful that experience was largely because Milton and Marilyn are so magnanimous in the way they treat you when you are a guest in their home. You never have an idle moment because there is so much to see in Arizona, so many friends the Farrs have, and family too, you can see why Milton and Marilyn are so loved. We were treated to a special visit with at the Ellsworths' home while we stayed at the Farrs in Fort Thomas, Arizona. The Ellsworths did a Mission in the Spanish Ward-1 at Olmstead during 2002-2004, so I recall, and they are a darling couple, they even did a 2 year mission in New Zealand, and had just returned from there when Milton and Marilyn took us to visit with the Ellsworths at their home in Arizona. We enojyed meeting up with the Ellsworths, and were thrilled to see them at Olmstead Ward-2 this past January, 2008. I enjoyed very much, my visit with the Farrs in Arizona. It was a breathtaking adventure and I shared this with Fred in our phone conversation. I described our friendship with Carville and Bonnie Shaffer, a lovely couple from Bountiful , Utah, and what a great duo they are. They are loving people who radiate a caring that comes from deep on the inside. I hold them dear in my heart. I'd love nothing better than to have a lunch some where, where Fred, Beth, Milton, Marilyn, Carville, Bonnie and the Ellsworths could be present. Perhaps we can swing it in Utah somewhere. It would be fun to have lunch in Salt Lake City and then go see the This Is The Place Heritage Park where our Pioneers left a marker that illuminates the place where those unforgettable wagon trains and hand carts landed on July 24, 1847 to open the West to the World, and to bring our faith to the American Frontier, and into posterity for all of us to partake of the blessings that come from being an LDS.

Fred and I promised to stay in touch, and he sounds terrific. I sent my love to his lovely wife Beth, and we will visit again by the venues we have, via telephone and Email, Letters, and in the near future, I will drive out there or fly out to visit with the Clawsons.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints And I

(Alert- Advisory: To ensure the protection of privacy, and at the request of my adult children, I have made minor alteration to their names, and adjusted certain details of events pertaining to them , my own family from childhood. I value the freedom of choice rights of my adult children who want to maintain anonymity. I respect this wish and have complied herewith.)


In the summer of 1997, as I walked up West Avenue , a few blocks away from the Zere Avenue train station , I approached the centuries old grave yard of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church located at West Avenue, and there, in front of the beautiful huge red door that marks the Church's entrance, as I walked northward, two young ladies, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , made an indelible impression on me, by the nature of their genuine warmth, as Sister Gardner stuck out her diminutive right hand to say "Hello, we're sister missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints and we would like to offer you the Holy Scriptures." I introduced myself, and Sister (Kellie) Gardner followed by saying , "And this is my companion Sister (Christie) Cox".
We talked for about ten minutes right there, on West Avenue, and the young missionaries which I surmised to be around 21 or 22 years old, were kind enough to invite me to a meeting at the Church, to which I agreed, and attended a few nights later. I arrived at Church building located on the corner of Olms Avenue , that Friday night, at the appointed time of 7PM. The structure had a dark brown dull texture brick, two stories tall, and had the look of a small 1950s school building. The entrance was then on Olms Avenue in those now long gone days from the past. Sisters Gardner and Cox showed me to a set of stairs that greeted visitors in the center of the entrance, about 100 feet back. To the left of the stairs was a large meeting room which I speculated at the time as being the place where Sunday church services were conducted. When we got to the top of the stairs, the sisters gestured to turn right, and we walked down a long passageway, to the far end of the building, turning right at end, and going into a class room. Once we were all seated facing each other, we talked openly about the Holy Scriptures. I was moved by the account of the appearance of Christ in the Americas. Sister Gardner gave a brief description of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and how he came upon the golden plates revealed to him by our Heavenly Father in an Upstate (New York) grove, deep in the wilderness. I listened intently and was moved by the detailed account as told to me by Sister Gardner. Sister Cox was upon observation, quiet, exuberant about my presence, sized me up (so I observed) and was very engaging in her remarks. her enthusiasm to teach me, was infectious and wonderful.
I was taken by the "fuss" being made about me, and this played well with my loquacious nature. We agreed after the talk that lasted well over an hour, to meet again in a few days. Several nights later, I went back to the Olms numerous times over the next 6 weeks. I eventually went to Sunday Church and was taken by the simplicity of the services. The Male missionaries sort of resembled FBI G-men with hankie -card style black name plates tucked into their breast shirt-pockets, an eager smile, and well manicured hair, to say nothing of their good manners. I learned quickly in my initial visits to Sunday Church that missionaries do not disclose their first names as a custom of commanding respect in the discharge of their duties, and to radiate trust in the visitors to the Church who are called "investigators", a term I have never liked. The Church was to me a natural lure, for I have always been enthralled by the Scriptural account of Creation, most especially since I was raised in a home where church was not a word in the family vocabulary. My parents were not associated with any church. Most Native Americans take a pass on Christianity for many reasons I will not go into in this space. I accepted Christ into my heart that August, of 1997, and the teachings of the Church have become like the breaths I take to live. In the time after I was baptized in the Church, Sisters Gardner and Cox were eventually transferred out of the area, with Sister Cox departing first, early in October, 1997 so I recall. Sister Cook came in to take Sister Cox' place in the Ward Mission work. Like Sisters Cox and Gardner, Sister Merrill Cook was also from Utah. She told me she was from Bountiful. Gardner was from St. George which is at Utah's southern border with Arizona. I do not recall where Sister Cox was from. I will always remember when Sister Gardner was transferred to Connecticut. It was around December 11, 1997 and needless to say, I was melancholy by her departure. We had become endeared to one another. She reminded me of the vibrant youthfulness of my own daughter Melody who was about the same age as Sister Gardner. I moved on with life as does everyone, and in the ensuing years I became more involved in church work. The Church has sustained me in times of adversity and in the good times as well. I became a tithe payer and I feel good about giving back to Heavenly Father, one tenth of my earnings on a weekly basis. I have received blessings for this. I eventually went on to the Temple and received many blessings as a result of going to the Temple, and Temple work for others as for my family is underway.

In the years that have passed since that wonderful chance meeting with Sister Gardner and Cox,
I have been ordained an Elder in my Church Ward, and I relish being in the service to others. The original church building I first visited in 1997, has since been demolished and in its' place stands a magnificent Church with a 19Th century spire on the top of the new building which opened in 2004.
The LDS church has also constructed, dedicated, and opened a Temple on Columbus Avenue at the corner of 66Th street, in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York.

For as long as I live, I will always think of those two sister missionaries (Kellie Gardner and Christie Cox), who tenderly spoke with me one summer day in 1997, and whose kindness and warmth, drew me to the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. Since that time, I have been blessed by friendships I have made with missionary couples who are endeared to me. They are like family to me, and I live on every word of caring, love, nurturing, advice, they give me and for every time we get to talk on the phone or on the Web through Emails, I come to love them even more. For a fellow who was once a little boy who lived for a long, long time, in an institutional home for children gathered up from broken families, and who cried himself to sleep out of heartache,loneliness and despondency, borne from missing a Mother's tender hugs and a Dad's nurturing affection, it is not lost on me how a tender word, a caring gesture can make a person's life a little easier to bear, on the way to healing from the scrapes and bumps on the road in our journey through this life.

I am grateful to our Heavenly Father for the opportunity I had many years ago, to make the peace with my own Father after a long estrangement that wrought heartache on both of us. My Dad's journey through life ended several years ago, but toward the end of his life, we were connected like we had never been before and I will always keep my Father's memory engraved in my heart along with my beloved Mother Mari Minnehaha, along with my brother, the late and great Chief Jayszen C. Strongbow Red Cloud, and my late, beloved sister Judy- Marizmaha Strongbow. There will always be an eternal flame for a beautiful little girl who was also the joy of my life, who left this World far too soon when she was still a child, and not a day goes by that I do not think of my darling little girl, the Little Flower. As a Father, I will keep her smiling little face in the deepest part of my heart where she radiates and illuminates my memories of the time she graced the landscape of my life. My family will live in my memories forever, and I will continue my journey through this life, until the.day when the Sun sets on my life, and I cross the veil from this life into the realm on the other side of Heavenly Father's Rainbow, ....to rejoin them all, and this is the hope of all LDS members when we do the sealings, Amen. I know all of you temple- experienced LDS, understand what I mean.

I am enormously grateful for the children I have, Louis-Azeronimo Strongbow, age 22 years, Otter H. Strongbow, age 28 years, and Sweet Melody Minnnehaha Strongbow, age 33 years.
I inherited from a previous marriage, two wonderful daughters, Margie and Marisol whose Mom is the salt of the Earth, a devoted LDS . I hope that in the time I have left on this Earth, that I will be able to show Marisol and her older sister, how much I love them , and how much they truly mean to me, and that in spite of any feelings of "resentment" that may have been directed at me, I want them to know that I do understand the heart of every Mother, and that I know how much their Mom means to them, and I will never stand in between that love that radiates from a Mom to her daughters.
I know what Moms represent. They are all precious. Perhaps I have wanted to be liked by these two marvelous inherited daughters, because I too was a son who had a Mother who loved me immensely, and I am quite resigned to knowing and living with the fact that no matter what I do, no matter what redemptive elements I may bring to some people's lives, I accepted long ago that I was not welcome in one family, and I am okay with this, and I am serene in accepting what I can not change in others or how they feel about me. I never did anything to warrant any hostility from them or any member of that family. I know this deep within my heart. I have never tolerated bigotry of any kind, so I do not take well to bigotry directed at me. One family has shown cruelty and bigotry toward me. That is on them, and I will not show them the cruelty or arrogance they show to me, nor will I ever mimic their insolent and dismissive manners in regard to my person. I am very endeared to my inherited daughter Marisol because she embodies all that is the present and the future, and because she is radiantly beautiful, and she loves others without precondition, and she is warm, caring, sweet, humorous in a marvelous way. I wish that she will one day see the redemption that comes from baptism in the church, and being involved in church work. Many people will come to know Christ and this church, thanks to Marisol's testimony. Marisol lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I have never treated any Human Being with any degree of cruelty or marginalization, so I never want to be treated this way by anyone. I have even offered to make the peace with my Brother in Law, in spite of some very harsh, offensive, and cruel remarks he directed at my Mother in a confrontation he provoked with me some years ago. I have put it all behind me. Perhaps I hold a hurt for the words he directed at my Mother because I know who my Mother was, what she represented for me and my siblings, and she had all of our love, respect, admiration, devotion, and deep gratitude, and he never knew her, so I take offense to the slander he directed at my Mother who rests in peace. As her loving and grateful Son, I must hold this person who offended my Mother's honor, to the standard that he first apologize for the cruel words he directed at her, before any conversation ensues in my willingness to make the peace with him. I am sure those who read this would also make this a pre-requisite of any peace offering, if someone offended your Mother too. I am always open to peace overtures. But for the honor of my Mother and Father, I will shun anyone who offends their memory. In doing this, I honor every Father and Mother who ever lived, who lives today, and those in posterity.

I make no apologies for standing up for the honor of my parents, siblings my children, and the great legacy of my ancestors. I choose to live free and clear of any meddling or interference from any quarter, and I do not take well to any family member who attempts to "govern" my life, or who attempts to make choices or decisions for me that I alone must make. It runs quite strong in the Native American spirit and even in the folklore that we dance to the beat of our own drums, and we do not welcome interference in our sovereign lives as Human Beings from interlopers. This is part of my personality, good, bad or indifferent. I am not beyond good advice, a helpful tip, a loving word of caring, and I can be corrected yes indeed.

I will always be humble and grateful for the love and caring shown to me by those wonderful missionaries who brought the Good News of the Restored Gospel to me.

When I think of the missionary couples I feel privileged to know brother Carville Shaffer, like Milton Farr, are to me like my blood brothers. Sisters Bonnie Shaffer and Marilyn Farr are the dearest Ladies on this Earth who do honor to their families, friends, and to Heavenly Father. I have admittedly lost contact with that wonderful character, Elder Fred Clawson and his lovely bride Beth. If some one among you see or hear from the Clawsons, please send me a blog right here. Please let me know if you hear from the Ellsworths of Arizona too.

Greetings to Sister Marisol who lives in New York City by E 15th Street, and who is a dear friend of the Farrs, the Clawsons, and whose acquaintance I made this January, 2008 when she came visiting at the Olms Church with the Farrs. Marisol is a magnificent Lady and devout LDS. And what a cheerful disposition she has.

To understand why being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a magnanimous calling into a magnificent way of life regardless of where you reside in this World, please log on to www.lds.org on the Web.

Those of you who also share my faith, and those of you who belong to other faiths, are welcome to share your comments with me. Please do not comment in my blog if you are going to attempt to "convince" me that you have a better "deal" at your church, or that I should move into your Church.
Please do not make incendiary, surly remarks designed with the intent to be disrespectful. And please, let's keep this site CLEAN. I do not welcome "cussing"! Cursing is out!!

I am very happy as a member of the Church of LDS. I feel fulfilled, and I am here to help others in their journey through life. Thank you for visiting this blog.