Happy 75th Birthday, Mom !
~ It's My Turn ~
“My first desire for knowledge and earliest passion for reading were awakened by my mother.”- Charles Dickens
The year that you (and DI's Mom) were born:
Two weeks before her 75th birthday, my mother - (a lifelong Democrat) - marked a genuine milestone in her life. She voted Republican for the very first time in a Presidential election. Yes indeed, rather than simply following some misguided form of party loyalty, (heavily propagated in guilt) - she chose to carefully weigh all of the most important election issues and she recognized that there was a real and present danger associated with the Democratic “selected” candidate.
Judging by the hundreds of email ‘forwards’ that I received from Mom during the latter days of the campaign, she not only chose to vote according to her newly formed (and well informed) opinions, she attempted to share those opinions with anyone who would listen.
Way to go, mom!
And so, on this her 75th birthday, I would like to reflect upon some things that were happening during the year of her birth. This brief moment of reflection serves as a timely reminder to me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. It is my belief that time is never given to us with absolute certainty. We merely borrow time as it continually pulsates in a cyclical pattern that we are destined to either learn from - or repeat.
Seventy-five years ago - the year was 1933.
FDR was inaugurated for the first of his unprecedented three terms. in response to a public outcry for change, he announced the implementation of a brand new, New Deal. And so began a deliberate effort to revamp our financial system and strengthen our government through numerous, veiled, Socialistic programs.
(Welcome, Change)
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself” ~ (FDR)
The year was 1933:
America was experiencing the worst year of the depression. A staggering 25.2% Americans were unemployed. The United States banking system was propped up by the United States government, (US Banking Act of 1933), in an effort to stop people from panicking and frantically withdrawing their money from banks. (Welcome, financial bailouts and government assistance programs.)
That same year, Congress agreed to the Home Owners Refinancing Act, as a part of the larger NEW DEAL. (Welcome to mortgage restructuring, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac)
The year was 1933:
Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and he subsequently proved that one rogue leader can indeed alter an entire nation. Immediately after being given power, Hitler promptly banned all other political parties, turning Germany into a One Party State. The year continued with a downward spiral. He opened the first concentration camp at Dachau and the Gestapo was established in Germany. Meanwhile, the Hitler Youth stormed Berlin offices of German Youth Associations, (nearly six million German children). Staff members were told to continue working but they were informed that all operations would be under the authority of the Hitler Youth. (Welcome to an armed, Citizen Militia)
In 1933, German President Von Hindenburg officially limited freedom of the press and totally abolished free expression of opinion.
Not possible in America? (Welcome, Fairness Doctrine)
Yes, it was seventy-five years ago -
A baby girl was born to two Italian immigrants in America. Her parents came to this country (legally) on a ship filled with hundreds of other immigrants, all searching for a better life and the American dream. Because they were of Italian decent, they were forced to overcome a latent (and sometimes blatant) prejudice. But they learned the English language (without the help of government programs), they built a business (without the help of government programs), they raised a family (without the help of government programs) and they happily became acclimated to our cultures and traditions, while never forgetting their own. As immigrants, their deep and abiding love for this nation was a result of an appreciation for all opportunities that America offered to them. They proudly became American citizens by every form of that definition. This country was strengthened by their pledge of allegiance and never weakened by selfish expectations or demands.
We have been blessed with seventy-five additional years of American pride and fortitude. May God continue to bless our future. It is my sincerest prayer that my grandchildren will still be able to recognize the glory of this nation, if ever they choose to reflect upon the year 2008, seventy-five years from now.
Where will America be in 2083 ?
“My first desire for knowledge and earliest passion for reading were awakened by my mother.”- Charles Dickens
The year that you (and DI's Mom) were born:
- The first drive in theatre opened in Camden, NJ
- Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge
- The Average Cost of a new house was $5,750.00
- Average annual wages were just $1,550.00
- A loaf of white bread was only 7 cents
- A pound of ground beef was 11 cents
- A gallon of gasoline was 10 cents
Two weeks before her 75th birthday, my mother - (a lifelong Democrat) - marked a genuine milestone in her life. She voted Republican for the very first time in a Presidential election. Yes indeed, rather than simply following some misguided form of party loyalty, (heavily propagated in guilt) - she chose to carefully weigh all of the most important election issues and she recognized that there was a real and present danger associated with the Democratic “selected” candidate.
Judging by the hundreds of email ‘forwards’ that I received from Mom during the latter days of the campaign, she not only chose to vote according to her newly formed (and well informed) opinions, she attempted to share those opinions with anyone who would listen.
Way to go, mom!
And so, on this her 75th birthday, I would like to reflect upon some things that were happening during the year of her birth. This brief moment of reflection serves as a timely reminder to me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. It is my belief that time is never given to us with absolute certainty. We merely borrow time as it continually pulsates in a cyclical pattern that we are destined to either learn from - or repeat.
Seventy-five years ago - the year was 1933.
FDR was inaugurated for the first of his unprecedented three terms. in response to a public outcry for change, he announced the implementation of a brand new, New Deal. And so began a deliberate effort to revamp our financial system and strengthen our government through numerous, veiled, Socialistic programs.
(Welcome, Change)
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself” ~ (FDR)
The year was 1933:
America was experiencing the worst year of the depression. A staggering 25.2% Americans were unemployed. The United States banking system was propped up by the United States government, (US Banking Act of 1933), in an effort to stop people from panicking and frantically withdrawing their money from banks. (Welcome, financial bailouts and government assistance programs.)
That same year, Congress agreed to the Home Owners Refinancing Act, as a part of the larger NEW DEAL. (Welcome to mortgage restructuring, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac)
The year was 1933:
Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and he subsequently proved that one rogue leader can indeed alter an entire nation. Immediately after being given power, Hitler promptly banned all other political parties, turning Germany into a One Party State. The year continued with a downward spiral. He opened the first concentration camp at Dachau and the Gestapo was established in Germany. Meanwhile, the Hitler Youth stormed Berlin offices of German Youth Associations, (nearly six million German children). Staff members were told to continue working but they were informed that all operations would be under the authority of the Hitler Youth. (Welcome to an armed, Citizen Militia)
In 1933, German President Von Hindenburg officially limited freedom of the press and totally abolished free expression of opinion.
Not possible in America? (Welcome, Fairness Doctrine)
Yes, it was seventy-five years ago -
A baby girl was born to two Italian immigrants in America. Her parents came to this country (legally) on a ship filled with hundreds of other immigrants, all searching for a better life and the American dream. Because they were of Italian decent, they were forced to overcome a latent (and sometimes blatant) prejudice. But they learned the English language (without the help of government programs), they built a business (without the help of government programs), they raised a family (without the help of government programs) and they happily became acclimated to our cultures and traditions, while never forgetting their own. As immigrants, their deep and abiding love for this nation was a result of an appreciation for all opportunities that America offered to them. They proudly became American citizens by every form of that definition. This country was strengthened by their pledge of allegiance and never weakened by selfish expectations or demands.
We have been blessed with seventy-five additional years of American pride and fortitude. May God continue to bless our future. It is my sincerest prayer that my grandchildren will still be able to recognize the glory of this nation, if ever they choose to reflect upon the year 2008, seventy-five years from now.
Where will America be in 2083 ?
posted by miradena at 11/23/2008 11:15:00 AM
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