Dear Megan Rapinoe....

Like other professional athletes you play a game for a living. You like to pretend that what you do is important but in the long run, if you look at it realistically, what you do doesn't really contribute anything to society rather than a little entertainment for a handful of people.

You say you won't go to the White House if invited. And? Do you think anyone but you is going to care? It won't affect the President or nearly 100% of Americans. Oh, sure... the media will be all over it. But at the end of the day no one is going to lose sleep over it.

You say you kneel and/or ignore the national anthem to protest against President Trump. Guess what? The national anthem isn't about President Trump. It's about the great nation that gave you the opportunity to be the international celebrity you are today. But still you are, when all is said and done, a woman who plays a game for a living. Granted, you play it well. But you contribute nothing to society.

As a veteran and someone who served his country (including you) for 30 years I'm offended by your selfish behavior. You dishonor the country that you play for even as you take a paycheck that is, at least partly, paid by me. You are the epitome of self righteousness. "Look at me - I'm important" is your attitude. This narrative, when finished, will be the only attention I give you. And I'm giving you this attention only to tell you I think you're acting like an arrogant and petulant child.

Apparently some of your teammates are inheriting your arrogance. I read yesterday that two of them stated publicly that employers should give their employees time off to watch the games. Really? That's just stupid. It's a game. It's not going to change world affairs. It's not going to fix hunger or poverty. It's not going to stop nuclear proliferation. It's not going to solve the homeless problem or stop illegal immigration. It's going to entertain some Americans for a short time. And I'm not one of them.

Do the country a favor and just shut up. Not going to the White House is your choice. And your childish attitude about it doesn't surprise me. But guess what? No one really cares. Play your game, win if you can, and stop dishonoring the country that pays your salary. Otherwise - quit.

Kirsten Gillibrand: Pro-Lifers Are The Same As Racists

I haven't written anything of substance recently for various reasons, but felt compelled to write about some recent comments by Senator, and Democrat Presidential candidate, Kirsten Gillibrand.

Yeah... there are some who would say I rarely write anything of substance but that's OK. My psyche doesn't bruise easily.

I'm writing this because it's difficult for me to believe or understand how a Senator and Presidential candidate can say such ignorant things.

In an interview with the Des Moines Register in Iowa on Monday, Gillibrand compared pro-life people, particularly judges, to racists, anti-Semites and homophobes.

“I think there’s some issues that have such moral clarity that we have as a society decided that the other side is not acceptable,” Gillibrand said, responding to a question about pro-life judges.

“Imagine saying that it’s okay to appoint a judge who is racist or anti-Semitic or homophobic.”

“Asking someone to appoint someone who takes away basic human rights of any group of people in America — I don’t think those are political issues anymore.”

With all due respect, Senator - when did abortion become a "human right?" It may be a right in this country but in most other countries it is not. Because most people in the world don't believe that it's OK to kill the unborn - or as in the case of the United States - even those who are born alive. It's not a human right. It's a selfish practice adopted by the American left.

And second - you do know the history of the abortion industry don't you? Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood and the "mother" of the abortion industry, opened Planned Parenthood in mostly black neighborhoods with the intent of keeping black people from successfully procreating. She was a known racist and wanted to minimize the growth of the black population.

So who are the racists - those who want to prevent abortions of all babies, regardless of color or ethnicity, or those who think it's OK to kill babies anytime?

Gillibrand went on to show how little she knows about the Constitution when it comes to "separation of church and state."

"We believe in this country in the separation of church and state. And I respect the rights of every American to hold their religious beliefs true to themselves, but our country and our Constitution has always demanded that we have a separation of church and state, and all these efforts by President Trump and other ultra-radical conservative judges and justices to impose their faith on Americans is contrary to our Constitution — and that’s what this is."

Senator - I'm just a high school graduate with a lot of life experience but I can tell you that the Constitution says nothing about separation of church and state. The First Amendment says that the government cannot mandate a particular religion on the people nor prevent people from worshipping as they choose. There is nothing that says anything about separation of church and state.

Contrary to popular belief - the Constitution doesn't even prevent government officials from praying while performing official duties, praying publicly, or referencing God in the performance of their duties. Judges often get it wrong because they rely on the "separation of church and state" clause that cannot be backed up by the Constitution - because it's simply not there.

And I'm not sure what planet you've been living on but no one in the Trump administration or in the courts is trying to "impose their faith on Americans." It's not about faith. It's about right and wrong and the rights of unborn human beings. Speaking publicly of one's faith does not impose it on anyone. Even politicians are entitled to their opinions, whether you agree with those opinions or not.

Gillibrand finished by saying "For all of these issues, they are not issues that there is a fair other side, there is no moral equivalency when you come to racism, and I do not believe there’s a moral equivalency when it comes to changing laws that deny women reproductive freedom."

"They are not issues that there is a fair other side." In other words - if you disagree with my views you have no valid point and are to be ignored.

Instead of calling it "reproductive freedom" why not call it what it really is - non-reproductive freedom? Admit the truth. "We want the right to have unprotected sex when we want to but we want a way out if we get pregnant through our own careless behavior." That's the truth about the entire thing. And that's pretty sad.

Gillibrand is polling at 0% right now. She's trying to boost her popularity in any way she can. But telling lies is probably not the way to do it. Perhaps I'm wrong.

"Enough With The Victimhood" by Sylvia Thompson

Millionaire Athletes and Their Lost Cause 

I must admit I have never in my life purchased a ticket to a sports event. I am not a sports enthusiast. But I am an American black citizen, and I have had it up to the gills with black people who embrace victimhood. I also highly resent my being expected to do the same in order to affirm my "blackness."

Black victims these days, for the most part, are the product of decades of Black Americans being used primarily by white progressive leftists to advance an anti-American agenda.

The current brouhaha surrounding the despicable behavior of NFL athletes toward the National Anthem and the American flag is a prime example of what the Left has done to my race.

One must assume these players and their guilt-conflicted white coaches and owners (and victimhood-inflicted black coaches) are being manipulated by the Left, because no intelligent, thinking people would deliberately cut themselves off at the knees. Essentially, what these young misguided mostly black men are doing is ensuring the demise of their lucrative paychecks.

Further, I would wager that if these teams consisted of all white athletes, none of this idiocy would be allowed. We are witnessing this travesty because the vast majority of players are black and can whine "oppression" if appropriate action is taken against them for their unconscionable behavior.

The twisted reasoning that claims these protests are to highlight "injustice" and "police brutality" is a laughable crock. What they do in fact is dishonor valued symbols of this nation's heritage and cover over truth about black crime.

Black males bear the brunt of police encounters because black males commit disproportionately more crimes. Police encounters with black men are so often confrontational because so many of these men, especially the young, don't think "compliance" applies to them. They foolishly assume they are above the law and disrespect for police officers is an act of honor.

These young blacks, sadly, took much of their direction from racists Obama and Eric Holder during Obama's destructive, eight-year regime and Holder's corruption of the Justice Department. These two men, abusing their federal powers, gave young blacks the impression they need not heed the law, because laws are somehow unjust when they are applied to black Americans. The NFL lot, and any other athletes taking a similar stance, are also influenced by Obama's and Holder's disdain for law and law enforcement.

I am not familiar with one case where a black suspect to a crime was not proven legally to have caused the behavior against him, particularly in cases where the police officer involved was exonerated by facts. Michael Brown of "hands up, don't shoot" infamy is one good example. Blatant lies were spread to cloud the truth about Brown's case.

Back in the day when I was growing up in the racially segregated South, the opposite prevailed in many cases. There was much injustice particularly toward black men, but not today. Today, too many blacks have been fed the notion that it is now "pay-back" time, and they can flaunt their lawlessness because some whites flaunted theirs during an earlier time in our nation's history.

Although Obama and Holder no longer wield power in this country, some of their minions continue on the pernicious path of "paying back" American whites for wrongs, real or imagined. But as the saying goes, there is a new Sheriff in town and he is not guilt-conflicted. He expects fair play under law and tolerating pay-back is not part of his agenda. Black Americans, when they break the law, can no longer claim victim status simply because they are black. Those days are over.

American laws and law enforcement personnel will be respected in America, again; our traditions and values will not be impugned in America without consequences, again. Anybody unsettled about this turn of events is welcome to leave this country. I suggest all the black players try a country in Africa, and see how successful they will be at making millions playing games. They will all soon learn what oppression really means.

Some self-directed, independent-thinking blacks (and there are many of us) have offered that if these millionaire protestors want to tackle some real problems, they might consider the thousands of black children killed in abortions annually (by the progressive Left), or perhaps the many, many young blacks murdered routinely on inner-city streets by other young blacks

(in cities run by progressive, leftist Democrats), or the downright criminal state of education of black inner-city children, orchestrated by the progressive leftist National Education Association (NEA). The NEA's aim is to produce unintelligent pawns to feed the cause of progressivism.

I am annoyed by the expressions of "sincerity" gracing the faces of the NFL protestors-as if to convey the "hallowedness" of their cause. In actuality, they provide a picture of grown men allowing themselves to be made fools of by the progressive Left. I don't doubt, however, that some of these men have been coerced into compliance with this lost cause, either through threats of violence or shunning (from coaches and players). Alejandro Villanueva of the Pittsburgh Steelers and former Army ranger is very likely a victim of such threats. He was publicly castigated by his leftist coach for his patriotism. The coach demanded unity behind an ignorant cause.

And finally, this issue has nothing to do with First Amendment rights.  President Trump's speaking out against the clownish behavior of the athletes, on behalf of the majority of American citizens, does not mean he can or would stop any of these misguided people from making fools of themselves. To restrict them, as a government entity, would indeed be a violation of the First Amendment ... But their employers, if they were to develop even a modicum of testicular fortitude, could and should fire them for doing major damage to the bottom line of the business. The rest of us non-millionaire "Joes" would certainly be pink-slipped by an employer if we dared to be so clueless about the necessity of profits and so disdainful of the sensibilities of customers.

I will wait patiently for the true sports enthusiasts to vent their rage by simply boycotting the games. It will be sweet revenge to witness the slain goose cease producing its golden eggs.

Doing God's Work Without Even Knowing It

We just began 2nd Corinthians in our pastor's Bible study at our church. Yesterday evening we wen through the first eleven verses, of Chapter one.

When he got to verse 3 of Chapter 1, Dr. Marr began talking about how God often uses our experiences, both good and bad, to help others. God often says “You know what? I need to help this person out – and the best way to do that right now is to send you, because you know what they're feeling. You've been there.”

“3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Dr. Marr talked about how only people who have been divorced truly understand the devastation that divorce can cause. He spoke of how the experience of losing a loved one can only be understood by someone who has had the same experience.

Then he looked at me and said “I pick on Glen sometimes because of his experience. He lost a son and he wrote a book about it. The raw emotion he was able to express will definitely help someone who has had the same experience. For me it's a good book but I've never lost a child so it doesn't have the same meaning to me as it does to someone who has had that experience.”

Once again he drew an emotional response from me. He often catches me off guard when he tells people about my son and my book. But I don't mind. Because as he was discussing verse 3, I was already thinking of the same thing – how I have been able to comfort and encourage other members of “the club” because of the comfort and encouragement I received from God years ago.

When the class was over Dr. Marr walked over and said “Hey – I'm sorry I put you on the spot but it just fit.”

“It's OK,” I said. “I have actually lived that scripture – more times than I want to think about.”

And it's true. I have given dozens of copies of my book to fellow club members (all members get a free, signed copy) and I have a friend who lost her Marine son in 2010 and she buys copies to give to Gold Star families.

One of the women in the class asked how she can get a copy of the book. Dr. Marr told her that it should be in the book store but if it's not they have copies in the office. I supply the church with copies so they can give them to anyone whom they believe will benefit from it.

The Apostle Paul said a lot of important, meaningful things in his writings. But this one verse, 2 Corinthians 1: 3, may be his most meaningful for me. Because without realizing it I have been fulfilling scripture. I know God has used me to comfort those with whom I share a common and tragic experience. As I have said before - I believe I was supposed to write this book, even though it started out as simply a few pages of memories.

The very best compliment I have ever received about my book has been said to me more than once. Several people have said “Thank you for putting my feelings into print. I thought I was the only one who felt this way.”

Even though I never set out to put anyone else's feelings into print (I was working strictly for me - or so I thought), what a wonderful and heartwarming comment that is. And while I still wish I had never become a club member, I'm honored to be able to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Telling NATO The Truth - What A Concept

Yesterday, President Trump made history once again. He went to the NATO summit and actually told them the truth.

Trump told the other NATO countries he was tired of the majority of them refusing to pay their fair share, as they promised last year they would to. He very correctly told them that the United States was tired of bearing the financial burden for NATO, with 23 out of 28 nations still not giving 2% of their gross domestic product to the organization, as promised. He singled out Germany, which has the largest economy in Europe and had a large trade surplus last year and doesn't give 2%.

He also very correctly stated that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, while expecting the United States to protect them from Russian aggression, just made a deal with Vladimir Putin to purchase natural gas from Russia via a new pipeline. It is rumored that Merkel somehow makes money personally from the deal but I can't prove that.

Liberals, and even some Republicans, are going crazy because Trump is telling the truth. He's not making things up. But he's not being politically correct, either. He's telling the other NATO countries what they're doing wrong and that the United States doesn't want to carry them anymore. He expects them to live up to their promises. Why anyone in the United States would be upset over that is beyond me.

I heard one guy on TV last night say that what Trump is saying is necessary and should be said but the way he's saying it is wrong. And he basically said Trump should be saying these things behind closed doors and not on international television. 

Sorry. As the old saying goes... truth hurts. In my humble opinion, shaming the other nations on international television is exactly the way to go. Make them feel the heat for their lack of cooperation. He tried it their way last year and they failed to come through. 

Donald Trump was elected in part because of his bluntness. He calls them as he sees them. Sometimes that's uncomfortable for people but his fans appreciate his honestly and candor. And his actions so far as President are the reasons he will be re-elected in 2020.

Auto Repair... Replacing Light Bulbs. Simple Job, Right?

Yesterday I needed to replace a reverse light on my wife's 2005 Chrysler Town and Country and a brake light on my 2000 GMC Savana 1500 conversion van. Simple enough, right?

I determined that I didn't have either bulb I needed so I went to Auto Zone and purchased both. Went home and started on mine first. I discovered as I went (I hadn't done it before) that in order to remove the socket that holds the brake light in place you first must remove a part of the body (plastic trim above the light assembly) and then remove the light assembly completely because there is not enough room between the socket and the door frame to get the bulb out. Removing the body part involves removing two nuts and two Phillips screws. I didn't have the right size Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws. I used to have it – but it has disappeared.

As I was determining which way to proceed we suddenly got some much needed rain. But since I was working in the driveway the rain wasn't really welcome at that time. I put the moisture cover back on and closed up the van until the rain stopped.

Since I couldn't finish mine I decided to go into the garage and take care of the reverse light in my wife's van. The taillight assembly on that particular model is a one piece plastic unit that pops out with the removal of two rubber pins. The socket pulls out easily, as does the old bulb, and the new one goes in. Entire job finished in less than two minutes.

I drove her van back to Auto Zone to get the screwdriver and long nosed pliers that I needed. Couldn't find those either. While I was trying to get the socket out I discovered that the bulb had actually broken away from the base so I had to get the base out of the socket. I know I'm supposed to use a potato but the size of the socket and the plastic around it made that impossible.

I went back home (the rain had stopped) and pulled everything apart. I managed to get the socket out of the light assembly and get the base of the bulb out of the socket. The new bulb went in easily and I put everything back together. It wasn't a piece of cake. Things that haven't been taken apart for a long time tend to be difficult. But after an hour and a half, and two trips to Auto Zone, all of the lights on both of our vehicles are functional. Well, except for a reverse light on mine that corroded because of a bad seal on the taillight cover. Problem is, I can't find a new or used taillight cover to replace it. And until I can do that there is no use replacing the wiring harness.

Some people say we should buy new vehicles. But the ones we have are paid for, run and drive well, and we both like our vehicles. Sure, older vehicles can be a problem. But if you are pleased with it that's all that matters. And in seven more years mine will be an antique.

Sometimes I Wonder... Who You'd Be Today

Happy birthday Christopher William Dunham Clark.

You would be 34 today. I wish I could know who you would be today. With the heart you had I know you'd be someone special. A husband, a father, and a pilot, most likely. It's what you wanted to do. I'd be so proud of you. I'm proud of you anyway. But I didn't get the chance to watch you become a man.

I miss you every day. Even after 16 years there is still not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. You have two nieces now. Knowing the way you were with kids I know you'd love them as they would love you.

I think about the kids you might have had and I can't help but be saddened that it never happened.

For those who may not know, my son was killed in a car accident when he was 17. Please don't feel sorry for me – I've moved on, as difficult as it was. The reason I mention it every year is to draw attention to the importance of seat belts. Christopher died because he was not wearing one and he was ejected from the vehicle. The other two kids in the car walked away with minor injuries.

Kids think they're invincible. They're not. Those of us who have lost children understand that better than most.

Talk to your kids. Make sure they drive safely, wear their seatbelts and don't text and drive. Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 20. At least 12% of those accidents are caused by distracted driving. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as many as 39% of teenagers admit to texting and driving. They are accidents waiting to happen.

My other point for posting this is a reminder to all of you to tell your kids you love them as often as you can. Let them know how you feel – even if it embarrasses them. You just never know when you may not get another opportunity.