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Gettysburg National Park was an amazing visit. Although standing on hallow ground, we were incapable of understanding the carnage suffered by this Great Nation, let alone the suffering of the 51,000 American soldiers that were killed or injured in the three days of fighting. A brutal fight that dwarfs that of D-day and the beaches of Normandy.
Within the park are hundreds of statues and memorials, most of which God and Christian based scriptures are carved into massive granite statues that were designed to be eternal. But will they?
But as with our New York City tour, our visit to this battlefield was shadowed over by the reaction to the Trayvon Martin verdict. So much was accomplished during this brutal war only to be wasted by our current government, courts, activists, and radicals.
Well, we are off to Washington DC where we will likely see more of the same.
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Monday, July 22, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
P.S. 195
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Outside NYC is what once was a quiet community of Brooklyn. It was were I spent a few years of my youth. A time when President Kennedy was assinated, and the space program was just beginning. And a time when Roger Marris was closing in on the home run record.
Across from Sheephead's bay, and just around the corner from Coney Island, was a three story brick building, an Elementary School simply called P.S. 195. Today, like then, public schools in NYC merely had numbers, not names to identify them.
I'd get there early every morning and head to the playground to get in a game of four-square or tether ball before the bell rang. At that sound everyone would gather in the assembly room.
School would begin by first singing the Alma Mater. I remember it still today. "Hail to P.S. 195. We are the school that's really alive. Firm, united, loyal are we. We are the best Oh yes sir ree! Then before being released to our classroom we would stand in respect and recite the Pledge of Allegiance before bowing our heads while the Lord's Prayer was read by a hand picked student.
Although my school is still in use today, things are not so, any more. . .
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Outside NYC is what once was a quiet community of Brooklyn. It was were I spent a few years of my youth. A time when President Kennedy was assinated, and the space program was just beginning. And a time when Roger Marris was closing in on the home run record.
Across from Sheephead's bay, and just around the corner from Coney Island, was a three story brick building, an Elementary School simply called P.S. 195. Today, like then, public schools in NYC merely had numbers, not names to identify them.
I'd get there early every morning and head to the playground to get in a game of four-square or tether ball before the bell rang. At that sound everyone would gather in the assembly room.
School would begin by first singing the Alma Mater. I remember it still today. "Hail to P.S. 195. We are the school that's really alive. Firm, united, loyal are we. We are the best Oh yes sir ree! Then before being released to our classroom we would stand in respect and recite the Pledge of Allegiance before bowing our heads while the Lord's Prayer was read by a hand picked student.
Although my school is still in use today, things are not so, any more. . .
.
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Big Apple - A New World
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Our first stop, like my grandfather was Ellis Island. Although closed for repairs when damaged by Hurricane Sandy, it was viewable from the outside. How uncomfortable it must have been for the immigants to endure. But it worked for millions of mostly Europeans looking for a better way. Wish it were still open. Think about it - one central point where everyone could be processed. Perhaps we should build one right on the Mexican border.
Off then to the Statue. Very impressive. A gift from France. Makes me wonder why they didn't follow our lead instead of thier own. Look where they are now!
New York City, Southern Manhattan. Ground Zero, Wall Street, Little Italy, China Town, Broadway, long walks and the constant sounds of sirens and honking traffic. NYC is a mix of eveything you can't imagine. The Old of street markets and authentic cusine, But also with a twist of the New way. Skyscrapers, high prices, taxes and over regulated government limiting the size of sodas, and the amount of stairs one must climb prior to taking an elevator. The latest clothing trends endlessly attracted my attention.
We're headin' south!
.
Our first stop, like my grandfather was Ellis Island. Although closed for repairs when damaged by Hurricane Sandy, it was viewable from the outside. How uncomfortable it must have been for the immigants to endure. But it worked for millions of mostly Europeans looking for a better way. Wish it were still open. Think about it - one central point where everyone could be processed. Perhaps we should build one right on the Mexican border.
Off then to the Statue. Very impressive. A gift from France. Makes me wonder why they didn't follow our lead instead of thier own. Look where they are now!
New York City, Southern Manhattan. Ground Zero, Wall Street, Little Italy, China Town, Broadway, long walks and the constant sounds of sirens and honking traffic. NYC is a mix of eveything you can't imagine. The Old of street markets and authentic cusine, But also with a twist of the New way. Skyscrapers, high prices, taxes and over regulated government limiting the size of sodas, and the amount of stairs one must climb prior to taking an elevator. The latest clothing trends endlessly attracted my attention.
We're headin' south!
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Saturday, July 13, 2013
One if by Land
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Our trip has now taken us to the Atlantic Coast, and starting with Boston, our tour is set to follow the coast southward to Florida.
On our way east, we spent a few days in Niagara Falls. Pretty place but very commercial now days. And it is still in the tax laden New York State. A heavy consentration of Middle Eastern Muslims have (according to the natives) arrived during the past 10 years, and now seem to control much of the residential areas along the U.S. border. Obama would surely feel right at home there.
A 2-day drive took us just outside Boston. Really nice city for one it's size. And so rich with history. We stomped through Freedom Trail where the likes of Paul Revere and Ben Franklin once drank beer. Old Ironsides and Italian foods galore.
Then a bit south to the Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard communities. First stop was Plymouth Rock. Seemed odd to visit so many areas, some even dating to the 14th century. A far cry from cities of the west coast.
The separation of classes was rather apparent in the area. There was little evidence of poverty and most of the middle class fought traffic as they went into the City daily to work. But for the elite, things were very different. Most lived in the Hamptons near the Kennedy clan, or in the Vineyard and either used their private speed boat, or their small airplane, or used a water taxi at $75 each way to get into the City's financial district. The rest of the people seemed to be just tourists from all over the world.
Well, soon we will be through with this Left Wing way of life.
.
Our trip has now taken us to the Atlantic Coast, and starting with Boston, our tour is set to follow the coast southward to Florida.
On our way east, we spent a few days in Niagara Falls. Pretty place but very commercial now days. And it is still in the tax laden New York State. A heavy consentration of Middle Eastern Muslims have (according to the natives) arrived during the past 10 years, and now seem to control much of the residential areas along the U.S. border. Obama would surely feel right at home there.
A 2-day drive took us just outside Boston. Really nice city for one it's size. And so rich with history. We stomped through Freedom Trail where the likes of Paul Revere and Ben Franklin once drank beer. Old Ironsides and Italian foods galore.
Then a bit south to the Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard communities. First stop was Plymouth Rock. Seemed odd to visit so many areas, some even dating to the 14th century. A far cry from cities of the west coast.
The separation of classes was rather apparent in the area. There was little evidence of poverty and most of the middle class fought traffic as they went into the City daily to work. But for the elite, things were very different. Most lived in the Hamptons near the Kennedy clan, or in the Vineyard and either used their private speed boat, or their small airplane, or used a water taxi at $75 each way to get into the City's financial district. The rest of the people seemed to be just tourists from all over the world.
Well, soon we will be through with this Left Wing way of life.
.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
In the Buggy
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Ohio is beautiful. At least outside of their union politics.
Except in Berlin. There, the Amish ride in their buggies wherever they need to go, seemingly to not have a care in the world.
We travelled the back roads there to catch a glance a glance of their lifestyle. Men, dressed mostly in black trousers, and a kind of top hat, with their wives clad in ankle length dresses buttoned to their neck, and finished off with a white cloth cap. Children were abundant in the school playgrounds, and were separated by gender.
We watched as men gathered together in the fields to harvest corn and grain, cutting everything by hand and loading it onto a horse drawn wagon. In comparison, a few farms away, huge machines did the job much quicker and better. No phone, electricity or power tools of any kind could be seen in the possession of the conservative Amish.
But back in towns away from the Amish, things were quite different. Union halls lined the streets of Cleveland where worker waited in lines outside. Not much of the heavy industry is left following decades of strikes forcing them to close.
As we explored deeper into Democrat controlled areas, in particular upstate New York, the left wing liberalism became more apparent. New York has considerably higher fuel prices than any state we have travelled since leaving the west coast. Even higher than Chicago! Highway toll roads are necessary to use because the other highways are filled with pot holes. One toll exceeded 48 Dollars!
Cigarettes cost a whopping $8.95 a pack. Now that's up from the aver Five Bucks anywhere else. Now, I'm not a smoker, but that is crazy. And it is because New York has a state law placing a minimum price a retailer can sell the sticks. Now that's not capitalism is it?
New York also has a state law mandating that two adults be present whenever a swimming pool is in use (even in your own back yard). How's that? No midnight swims alone. No kids swimming with only a single parent present. Wonder what all the single moms do?
Over taxed, over regulated, causing over priced goods. Count your blessings for those stuck in California. But you are only a Pelosi click away!!
.
Ohio is beautiful. At least outside of their union politics.
Except in Berlin. There, the Amish ride in their buggies wherever they need to go, seemingly to not have a care in the world.
We travelled the back roads there to catch a glance a glance of their lifestyle. Men, dressed mostly in black trousers, and a kind of top hat, with their wives clad in ankle length dresses buttoned to their neck, and finished off with a white cloth cap. Children were abundant in the school playgrounds, and were separated by gender.
We watched as men gathered together in the fields to harvest corn and grain, cutting everything by hand and loading it onto a horse drawn wagon. In comparison, a few farms away, huge machines did the job much quicker and better. No phone, electricity or power tools of any kind could be seen in the possession of the conservative Amish.
But back in towns away from the Amish, things were quite different. Union halls lined the streets of Cleveland where worker waited in lines outside. Not much of the heavy industry is left following decades of strikes forcing them to close.
As we explored deeper into Democrat controlled areas, in particular upstate New York, the left wing liberalism became more apparent. New York has considerably higher fuel prices than any state we have travelled since leaving the west coast. Even higher than Chicago! Highway toll roads are necessary to use because the other highways are filled with pot holes. One toll exceeded 48 Dollars!
Cigarettes cost a whopping $8.95 a pack. Now that's up from the aver Five Bucks anywhere else. Now, I'm not a smoker, but that is crazy. And it is because New York has a state law placing a minimum price a retailer can sell the sticks. Now that's not capitalism is it?
New York also has a state law mandating that two adults be present whenever a swimming pool is in use (even in your own back yard). How's that? No midnight swims alone. No kids swimming with only a single parent present. Wonder what all the single moms do?
Over taxed, over regulated, causing over priced goods. Count your blessings for those stuck in California. But you are only a Pelosi click away!!
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