Thursday, 1/27/11, Public Square

Those who listened to the State of the Union speeches (and those who didn’t) probably know that both sides promised that going forward would be different.  That’s correct!  The GOP remembers President Obama’s first two years in office, but he’s not going to do that anymore.  Everyone remembers bushco and the six full years the GOP controlled the presidency and both chambers of Congress, but they’re not going to do that anymore.  We all know discretionary spending freezes and / or cuts won’t be enough.  From there we are in the same boat — different ideas for what will fix the problems and how we tackle the challenges.

The biggest difference I see are those who say they’re Republican leaders.  The GOP I’m familiar with doesn’t put Palin, Bachmann, Beck, et al, in the role of spokespersons.  What are the differences you see?

Sunday, 1/2/11, Public Square

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” ~ Plato

Saturday, 1/1/11, Public Square

1/1/11 — a day that won’t repeat itself for another century.  The web is buzzing with potential meanings.  What do you think?

May each of us exhibit the same tolerance and concern for others we expect for ourselves.

So this is Christmas…………………

So this is Christmas
and what have you done
another year over
a new one just begun

and so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
the near and the dear ones
the old and the young

a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
let’s hope its a good one
without any fear

and so this is Christmas
for weak and for strong
the rich and the poor ones
the road is so long

So Happy Christmas
for black and for white
for the yellow and red ones
let’s all stop the fight

a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
lets hope its a good one
without any fear.

Happy X-Mas (War is Over) – John Lennon – 1971

Well, Merry Christmas, to one and all. Regardless of your religious preferences, it is almost impossible to ignore the fact that this is Christmas week. The stores have been jammed, so I hear, neighborhoods are decorated with Christmas lights, the newspaper weighs five pounds and Santa is rumored to be lurking in the shadows.

So what are you looking for from Santa under the Christmas Tree?

The other day, in a moment of reflection, I thought about what I would ask of God, should I be given one request. Well, maybe it was a moment of hallucination, but you get the idea.  Peace on Earth? Good will towards man?

I am still lusting after that 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia (Verde over Crema, please.) but I was thinking that a Ferrari wouldn’t exactly solve the problem of the world. Perhaps wishing for an end to discrimination would be more appropriate. Perhaps, with irony, an end to religion would be a better choice.  Maybe, asking that all people observe the “Golden Rule” might bring and end to much of the suffering in our nation and our world.

It is unlikely that God is going to grant me one wish or that Santa will bring anything other than lumps of coal for my stocking.  Such is reality, but I can still dream.

And you?

William Stephenson Clark

Friday, 12/17/10, Public Square

Thursday, 12/16/10, Public Square

“The owners of this country know the truth: It’s called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

~ George Carlin

Wednesday, 12/15/10 Public Square

Monday, 12/13/10, Public Square

Sunday, 12/12/10, Public Square

Sunset in Wichita, Kansas on Friday, 12/10/10. Hope you didn't miss it! It was spectacular!

Saturday, 12/11/10, Public Square

Friday, 12/10/10, Public Square

Thursday, 12/9/10, Public Square

Wednesday, 12/8/10, Public Square

Tuesday, 12/7/10, Public Square

Monday, 12/6/10, Public Square