The Native Iowan

Saturday here. Been raining. The place was starting to drying out, the 60mm/ 2.5inches has made things muddy again. But that is ok. I can’t get much done anyway so it might as well rain…

I turned my ankle the other day. Was coming down off the tractor, out in a paddock, stepped down from the machine and my foot hit a tyre rut. My ankle turned and I saw stars. A 5-7day recovery. Add a couple days for olfarts….so have been hobbling around. This will take way too long to mend. It’ll be sore and weak and at risk. I’ll need to be very careful.

The trick is to not re-injure.

So I sit quiet. Do the minimal of what I must do. Sit and read and catch up on the “world as we know it”…

And I find this:

I know its suppose to be funny. I find it rather sad because there is a lot of truth in it all.

Remember this…

And this…

Sure don’t look like the “Summer of Love” I remember.

I am wondering if the values and mores of society are changing so drastically, that some of the most basic things known, proven, factual are being reversed? Point in case…

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57549653

Is female the same as male? Hubbard competed as a man, now competes as a female. Is he a female? Should he be allowed to compete against “biological” females? What does it mean to be male or female? What about The Female Athlete that he took a spot from. I bet she was disappointed. Whilst we applaud Hubbard we fail to think of the damage done to others. Its strange that we fail to admit….

Even the terms male and female, man and woman are not interchangeable. What it means to be male or female originates from physical characteristics derived from sex chromosomes and genes that lead to certain gonads, internal and external genitalia, and physiological hormones.

Modern group think does not approve of us saying a Man is not a Woman. And a Woman is not a Man.

In the 1990s I coached the Solomon Islands Olympic Team. I had a dream of participating in “The Olympics” in Sydney. We worked hard, dominated a couple weight classes in the Oceanic Olympic scene. But did not qualify for The Olympics. Very disappointing.

I feel for the young gal that has been training for years to get to The Olympics. Only to have her ticket taken by a guy. Oopps, A guy claiming to be a gal.

So, I am wondering if the values and mores of society are changing so drastically that some of the most basic things known, proven, factual are being reversed.

Gracie and I recently became Australian Citizens…

Now, it may sound corny, but I feel pretty damn good about gaining my Aussie ticket. Its a hot ticket to have. This is a good country. Noting well that I have, to-date, acquired three legit and operational passports: USA by birth. Solomon Islands by choice. Australia by very good fortune.

If you do not value your citizenship, your Nationality, then I believe there is something very wrong with you.

Another sad trend that is occurring: It has become fashionable to damn one’s homeland. I am confused by the words I hear that disparage and belittle the land of one’s birth.

Being patriotic is positive. Being Nationalistic does not make you evil, racist, dumb, stupid, pathetic or deplorable. Being both patriotic and nationalistic is positive. To be a proud American, or Solomon Islander, or Australian is good. Even great.

To teach your children to be patriotic is positive. To show pride in your homeland, your life, your family, your world… well DAMN! Did I say “DAMN!” loud enough… Its very very sad if you cannot be proud of your Homeland. Your life. Your family. Your self.

It has sadly become fashionable, in the USA (and elsewhere), to not be proud of your homeland. And to verbally proclaim such. Its been coming for quite some time. I think this slipped by most people but… in 2008 I was shocked when I heard Michelle Obama say she had never been Proud to be an American… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYY73RO_egw

I am and shall always and all ways remain proud of my USofA Nationality. I grew up in the USA. Was educated, trained, conditioned, taught within the USofA system to be proud, patriotic. My father and uncles were all vets. My brothers, my peers all served in uniform. We were proud of them. I said the Pledge of Allegiance daily in my school life. And we said prayers a couple times a day too. I was a Boy Scout and proud of it. I found my home in Solomon Islands when I was still quite young… landed on Guadalcanal the 11th of January, 1981. I was 23yrs, 4 months and 20days old. I built my life and matured in the Solos. And, all of us that have been infected by the Solos know, its as bad as heroin. The Solomons is a very easy place to fall in love with. And I am very proud of my Solomon Island Nationality. And now I boast Aussie citizenship. Man, what a stroke of luck! How can anyone not be Proud of their Aussie Nationality?

So, with my track record as a serial emigrant, I wonder what the folks that have so much to say on the matter know? What is their experience with emigration?

Twice I have emigrated. Each time I followed the rules, legally and transparently and honourably, obtained the rights and privileges of a citizen. Each time there was a not-so-insignificant cost associated.

When I see the burning of flags in Tehran I am not surprised. When I see the burning of flags in New York I am confused.

Did I say I am quite confused by it all…

The speeches we hear, in the USA and in other countries, touch less on tangible daily items of importance, and more on ethereal “ifs” and “maybes”… If the temps rise 2c we all die. If the seas rise 2mm we all drown. If the sky falls Chicken Little shall be crushed.

And… If we spend trillions and trillions, subsidies elite ideals and peruse confused pathways we shall survive. If we don’t change our ways NOW we shall all die. If we don’t admit we are sinners we shall curse the future of all.

If “HE” get reelected all hope is lost.

As near as I can tell, facts are no longer facts…

and I really dig the ol Skool, dark n sinister themes underlying here…

and the beat goez on…

more later