Lightfoot Letters

A Christmas Story

                                                 A Short Christmas Story - very short      Published Dec. 24 2010 - Newport Beach Independent
                  
                                          So This is Christmas,
                                         And, What Have you Done,
                                              Another Year Over,
                                          And a New One Begun
 
I think about 'What Have I Done'!? No other pop song makes me think about the philosophy 
  of Christmas Season and the religious implications.  I should listen to this song more.
              Like Valentines Day and Thanksgiving. Possibly a few other days.
 
                                   Merry, Merry Christmas
                                   And, a Happy New Year,
                                        Let's Hope It's a Good One,
                                           With Love and no Fear
 
 
              That is my wish for all those I know and all those I have failed to know.

              Lightfoot Letters

 

                                     The words may not be exactly as Lennon wrote them, but it is just a song...right?

Comments

grlittlewoth; Only a song but with some very, very meaningful words.

library expert; It's wonderful and so very appropriate.  At the end of my Xmas letter I wrote that "may 2011 learn from the past."  It's a start.

broadwayjane; Thanks...very well said...and Merry Christmas to you, too, and best wishes for a great new year!

futurewoman; Thanks.....yes I see your point, and once again it is profound.

newspap.editor; Thanks, that's one of my favorite songs. Happy Christmas.

The HONOR & The DISHONOR

Nov. 8, 2009                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                 
 
Lightfoot Letters, 
 
 
     As another Veteran’s Day approaches I am taking a break from writing about the challenges to our Constitution to offer a personal “Thank You” to those men and women who have defended our Constitution and continue to do so. I have the distinct honor to be a member of a family that has had someone serving in every war that our nation has fought from the Revolution until today. I am a veteran, as was my father who served in WW II, and all four of my sons are either veterans or are currently serving.
            I also have the honor of commanding an American Legion Post in Carrollton, Texas where there are men and women who are veterans of WW II and every war since then. The members of the Post come from many different backgrounds yet they share a bond that few others understand and some even scorn. They are American warriors who took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America and they did so despite all of the obstacles many of them faced both at home and abroad. They have asked for little in return and have often gotten even less. However, they are entitled to respect, if nothing else. 
 
           When I wore the U.S. Army uniform I was spit on and cursed by those who were exercising the very freedoms that I was sworn to defend. I demand more for my sons and all those who have served and are now laying their lives on the line every day. I demand it not only from the American people, but from those politicians who use the lives of our servicemen and women as political pawns to serve their own ambitions. You may “talk the talk” of service to America but the members of our armed services “walk the walk” and they prove it by offering their blood as a sacrifice for their country.
            During the last several months I have had the honor and privilege of attending an American Indian Powwow in Bandera, Texas and a performance by tribe members during Santa Fe Days in Carrollton, Texas. On both occasions I was invited to participate in the “Veteran’s Dance” conducted by the Tribe members. This is open to all American military veterans, regardless of their race or background. As the drums play the honor songs and we dance in the sacred circles of the gatherings I can’t help but be humbled by being considered one of the warriors who has served our nation.
            As I write this my oldest son is preparing to leave for a 12 to 18 month deployment in Afghanistan. He has already served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. My youngest son, who has served over two years of active duty as an MP, is preparing to receive training to fly Blackhawk helicopters for the Army.
            Yet, while we continue to send our bravest and finest to fight and die in foreign lands to protect our freedom we are also seeing them die on our own soil. It is time that we recognize that our brave warriors who died at Fort Hood were killed by one of the same people who has pledged to destroy our way of life. The time for political correctness has ended, we either unite and fight, or we surrender. I have no intention of surrendering. God Bless our men and women in uniform, God Bless our veterans, and God Bless America.
 

Michael Connelly

 
Author of "The Mortarmen" a book about my father's unit in WWII; "Riders in the Sky: The Ghosts and Legends of Philmont Scout Ranch" ; and my just released novel "Amayehli: A Story of America".
 
 
 
Post by lightfootletters
The experience of being despised by so many, just for being in the military, is hard to forget. The reason for this mail from Michael Connelly was posted.
                                                                                                                                                               

Cesar Chavez a fierce opponent of illegal immigration

May 10, 2010
 
Robert J. Birgeneau
Office of the Chancellor
200 California Hall # 1500
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1500
 
 
Robert J. Birgeneau
 
Dear Sir,
 
Questions and comments Regarding claims by CHANGE.org as to these statements.
"Students at UC Berkeley are outraged at the recent passage of Arizona's SB1070."
"We are guided by the spirit of past movements (from Cesar Chavez, to the American Indian Movement, to the Black Panthers and twLF). We are committed to do a hunger strike until our demands are met by Chancellor Birgeneau." 
 
The ignorance of your young wards is embarrassing to say the least. It would seem appropriate to inform them Cesar Chavez was against  illegal immigration and most likely would have been a strong supporter of SB 1070, which is the same as Federal Immigration law.
"Not only was Cesar Chavez against illegal immigration, not only did he speak out against the Mexican invasion before Congress, not only did United Farm Workers members monitor the United States-Mexico border à la the Minutemen, but Chavez even sicced la migra on the undocumented from time to time."  Gustavo Arellano - Houston Press/OC Weekly

Chavez was against illegal immigration in no uncertain terms. That is, because he new that a steady flow of illegal workers would depress and keep farm workers wages below a livable income.  "when the farm workers strike and their strike is successful, the employers go to Mexico and have unlimited, unrestricted use of illegal alien strikebreakers to break the strike. And, for over 30 years, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has looked the other way and assisted in the strikebreaking"  Cesar Chavez - United Farm Workers - Congressional Testimony.

"The sainted labor leader (Chavez) was unalterably opposed to legalizing undocumented workers. It is dishonest for immigration reform advocates to invoke his name in their cause. The historical record shows that Chavez was a fierce opponent of illegal immigration"  *Ruben Navarrette Jr.                      

"We native American Indians are offended and appalled by Hispanic Immigrants who attempt to erase the history of our indigenous native people and replace it with a pack of lies about some Mexican history that, in fact, never existed. Your blood is not your passport. You are not indigenous Tribal Indians of California.  And if you came to this country illegally you are a criminal, with no respect for the laws of this country."

Sequoia Patterson - Costa Mesa Ca.

 

It is difficult to believe or justify the billions of dollars we spend on public education. Supposedly the best in the world and turn out teachers, professors, school boards and students that can not comprehend, interpret or apply simple basic information.

 

It is my humble opinion that you let these students stay on a permanent hunger strike.  

 And, let the rest of us get on with the important aspects of keeping this nation state, we are so lucky call home, intact and all in one piece for as long as we can.

 

Yours truly,

 

Lightfoot Letters 

 

ps: The University of California is accountable to the tax paying citizens of California not    the students. And, if you feel there are errors in the content of this letter please reply with your corrections.  I will include your reply/corrections in all published commentary.

 

cc: Open Letter 

cc: San Diego Unified School District 

 

*Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a member of the editorial board of the San Diego Union Tribune, a nationally syndicated columnist, a frequent lecturer, and a regular contributor to CNN.com.

 

                              It should be noted there was no responce from The University Of California.

                            San Diego Unified School District

                                                              The LA Times Group declined publication               
                                      

 

 

The Pagan Religion That Keeps on Taking

 

Regarding the Feb. 5-18 issue’s story “Proposed Coastal Marinas Permit Could Hit Local Marinas Hard” (about a new State Water Resources Control Board proposal to require California marinas, yacht clubs and municipalities with 10 or more slips or moorings to obtain a new permit and begin industry-style pollution monitoring and control procedures):
There are several problems with the Water Resources Control Board (and, for that matter, the California Air Resources Board) going far beyond their mandates to raise money to fund themselves.
First, the stated purpose and cause of the rules, regulations and penalties to be imposed is not the same as the actual purpose and cause. (For instance, the board’s stated purpose is to reduce and monitor pollution of waterways; however, some would argue that the real goal of new regulations is to raise millions of dollars.)

Second, this board (and other similar boards) creates the law (regulations everyone must follow and fees everyone must pay), interprets the law, enforces the law and decides punishment, through administrative order. This is contrary to the way our government was designed to operate.

In fact, only the legislature can create law. Only the judiciary can interpret the law. Only the police authorities can enforce the law. These powers, collectively, may not be delegated to unelected boards.

The board’s actions violate the separation of powers doctrine, due process and equal protection. They amount to a taking of the authority of duly elected representatives, and they abridge the privilege and immunities of the citizens of California.

A system of selective rules and regulations has been established that, in fact, violates portions of the U.S. Constitution.

The solution? The State Water Resources Control Board — and all like boards and commissions — must be dissolved, and all its decisions voided. If that is not currently possible, all such mandates (by the Water Resources Control Board, and other similar unelected boards) should be ignored by all California cities and counties.

“This year we are going to try to do government better,” Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry has said. My suggestion: Have the city attorney send a letter to these various boards, just say “No, thanks” to their edicts and let the battle for these boards’ survival begin.

That would be doing government better.

It is better to die fighting than to live under “the pagan religion of environmentalism.”

Lightfoot Letters

 

Published Mar. 19, 2010 - The Log - California Boating News                                               

 

Illegal alien admitted to a college - Legal resident turned away

Sept. 29, 2010

 
Governor of the State of California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

 
Dear Sir,
 
 
Illegal aliens should not pay less for California colleges than American students from other states or military families. This amounts to preferential treatment for individuals outside the law.
For every illegal alien admitted to a college, US citizen or legal resident is turned away. This can not be viewed in the best interests of the United States or the State of California.

                                  

Gov. Schwarzenegger joined Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin and Police Chief Jerry Dyer to honor Victor Perez, the Good Samaritan who chased down an alleged kidnapper and helped free a young girl.           (Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor).

 
The 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act allows a state to provide subsidized, lower in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens,  if the state also provides the same low rate to U.S. citizens who are residents of other states. SB 1460 and AB 1413 do not comply with this requirement and would violate federal law. We already have a 'selective system' of law enforcement in the State of California. We, as a people do not need to add more to the corrupt system we already have.
 
 
Please consider how this effects the very foundation of our legal and moral/ethical system.
 
 
Thank you,
 
Lightfoot Letters

The Last OutPost on Vox

DSC_0248

  Too old to Sail and to Young to Die

 

When I first tried blog sites it was just a place to post published comments, commentary, cartoons, photos and letters etc. Having any kind of interaction did not seem important. However, I will miss the comments, especially those that challenged by thoughts, beliefs and research. Hope you all post your new sites as ther seems no rush to typepad.
 
I still remember a post by Patricia Volonakis Davis. I must have read and looked at that post 50 times. I got tired of trying to find it...so I made a copy and stored it on my e-mail account. Libertine writes about everyday subjects  I can relate to. David Horton and jbuff at times seemed to be the opposite side of me and then not. Ken and Snowy were an enjoyable challenge in every way..being two sides of opposite worlds. Nor will I forget the back and forth with jbuff regarding the true and only important meaning of liberalism. 
Rainman quote. "No matter who we are , what we do , where we live. We all have the same dreams, same fears, same faults, same beginning and we all have the same ending. Yet we all pretend we are different but we are all the same." Rainman - United Kingdom, April 8, 2010.  I think about this quote often, when I am trying to make a serious point for what I believe to be my next great commentary or letter. This quote keeps my mind in check. 
 
I have received e-mails regarding my neighborhood as to it did not fit any group. It was not planned...it just worked out that way.
A neighborhood where there was an Emmi and Kimber who made me feel humble at times. A Dancing Bear, Flamingo Dancer and Can Can Girl that could read The Rosemead Herald while talking to Dr. Linda. The neighborhood would not be complete without a Delusional Angel or a Madonna or two.. 
And, we could not have a King without Alfred the Ordinary. We all could use a history lesson from  Kimberly about Heretics or anything else that comes to mind.  Life is Good in my neighborhood.
 
This quote of mine is not as good as Rainman...but it seems to fit...at least temporary. I wrote it for a friend of mine whose mom had died and he wanted something to end his words at her funeral. What I wrote was longer and more personal.  Boiled down was the quote that was left.
 
"Every ending is a new beginning. There is joy in both. You have to find it." Lightfoot 1996.

http://lightfootletters.typepad.com/blog

 

5 comments Tags: neighborhood, entertainment, culture, life, vox, news & politics

The FACE of PROTEST IV

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The John and Ken Show, KWIZ 640 AM event in Phoenix Arizona

                                                                                                     The setting in Downtown Phoenix

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                                       The famous and infamous, John and Ken

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Crowd Control is always difficult for tax protest and SB 1070 supporters.

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                                          California loves Arizona except for the Mexican Legislatures in Sacramento.

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Stop and Think.

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         Former member of the House, J.D. Hayworth, interviewed by the local stations and John and Ken.

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The nerve of this guy with a, union like, preprinted sign. It must have cost a fortune.

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Russell Pearce, author of Senate Bill 1070 being interviewed by John and Ken.

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                                                                Part of the riotous crowd just like the New York Times said.

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More of the unruly crowd.

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                                                                                    Gov. Brewer has at least one fan in the crowd.

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First the State troopers, then they had to call in the local Police Dept for the unruly protesters.

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The Face of Protest

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All photos by Lightfoot Letters. All rights reserved.

Mr. Beck Goes to Washington....

.....Beck may not be important, but the message was!

 

August 30, 2010
Letter to the Editor
New York Times
 
 
I was doing nothing of importance except listing to Tim Conway Jr., KWIZ 640 AM,  on a lazy Saturday. He caught my attention when he said something to the effect of one thing  we did not know and something that would not be in the New York Times or the Los Angeles Times or like print or network news. Be right back after the news break with Eric Bender.
 
First, what we did not know.  Tim played a tape of Dr. Aveda King niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "My Uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., during his lifetime was a Republican."  I was not surprised knowing a little about history. Larry Elder, another popular talk show host, film maker and commentator's dad was a lifelong Republican. His mom a Democrat. Booker T. Washington thought that Negroes should give up the Republican Party which befriended them during Reconstruction and which he regarded as their emancipator. That was a polite way of saying if you don't vote Democrat you will not be allowed to vote in Democrat controlled elections. There could be a lot of closet conservatives, classical liberals and libertarians in the Democrat Party in certain areas of the country.
 

BRUCE MCKIM / THE SEATTLE TIMES

 

Monday, January 11, 201  Martin Luther King Jr. | 1966-68

Black, white, young and old sang "We Shall Overcome" as they marched down Denny Way to the Seattle Center on April 7, 1968 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been felled by an assassin's bullet. The crowd was estimated at 10,000

 

 

Second, the speech by Dr. Aveda King  at the Lincoln Memorial would not be acknowledged by the main print News or the network news.  
"If Martin Luther King Jr., were here today. He would surely commend us for giving honor where honor is due.“Our nation is not yet past racism because our nation has not yet understood that there is one race: human. We are of one human family." "We must not oppress each other and help those being oppressed."   "God bless you Glenn Beck."  Dr. Avenda King.
 
One piece especially caught my attention in the Huff Post. 'Glenn Beck's Attempt to Bastardize Dr. King's Dream' - by Hasan Kwame Jeffries - Author of Bloody Lowndes, Race-Talk contributor.  I was not at the event and can not speak from first had knowledge. But, from the live feed that I was listening to, I did not get the idea or feeling that Dr, Aveda King was trying to 'bastardize' her Uncle or his speech. 
 
Many Democrats in the media condemn talk-news stations as the next worse organization since the Devil and the Fallen Angels formed a monopoly on Hell.. However, I think Tim Conway Jr., Timmy to some of his friends, Mr. Conway to me, has brought a subject to light that is way more important than even he thinks it is. Tim is either a mind reader or the *social engineers in the media have become so predictable, so much, to be not relevant. If you are the New York Times, LA Times, NBC, ABC and CBS news to be no longer relevant is to be on your way to  extinction.
 
Job well done Mr. Conway Jr. along with KWIZ 640 AM., which most of the time is 'more stimulating talk radio.' and for being right, more informative and accurate than the so-called main stream media.
 
 
Lightfoot Letters

 
 
cc: Tim Conway Jr.
      LA Times
      KWIZ 640 AM Radio

 
 
Source
 
KWIZ 640 AM

No Beck-Palin ticket in 2012, talk show host says - By Michael A. Memoli, August 30. LA Times

At Lincoln Memorial, a Call for Religious Rebirth - By Kate Zernike, Carl Hulse and Brian Knowlton - August 28. New York Times
 
Mr. Beck Goes to Washington - By Ross  Douthat, Published: August 29, 2010. New York Times.

Glenn Beck's Attempt to Bastardize Dr. King's Dream' - by Hasan Kwame - Huffington Post - August 29.
 
Articles and news stories considered..picked at random.

 

*authoritarian philosophy
 
 

Excerpts, Huffington Post, New York Times, Alaska Daily News

..

Exceprts from Commentary, Comments and Letters from Lightfoot Letters

 

 

02/15/2009 : On: Stimulus money.

It's just like Christmas. Except you had to be bad, Really Bad, to receive a gift.

 

02/16/2009 11:05:07 AM: On Education and wealth

We're arguably one of the richest states in the country." And your argument is that college education created one of the richest states in the country or we need more college education to make good use of our wealth like California. Do you realize all those college educated politicians have put California in a 40 billion plus black hole that has no bottom. And, those college educated politicians in Alaska want to take us to California. Education does not create wealth. Wealth creates education.

 

 03/20/2009 10:32:14 AM: Governor Palin should reject all ill-gotten gains from the Federal Government. Any short term gain is not worth creating another long term depression.

 

 03/02/2009 On; True meaning of liberalism. 

"The court's most liberal members sounded *sympathetic to expanded testing." *Sympathetic is the wrong word that means nothing. A true liberal would be looking for justice, nothing more, nothing less. And, for all those that think Democrats are liberals need not apply.

 

03/14/2009  Editoral - scholarship fund ok.BOTTOM LINE: The state should not be involved in funding individual education. Because, that gives the state the power to decide which individual receives benefits and how much each individual receives. The state by interjecting 'social egineering' concepts into public education has turned one of the best in the world to one of dubious quality at best with authoritarian socialist failing concepts of the past. Not to disregard the fact the state has caused the cost of education to rise almost out of reach for the middle class. The state could do well by stop trying to help us...before they destroy us.

 

04/17/2009 10:07:09 AM: On: "Obama's priorities, Stanislaw said;  place the environment and climate change ahead of (the people) energy security and domestic oil and gas supplies."
This is the equivalent of The President giving you the middle finger. Thank you Mr. President.

 

03/04/2009 

Again, this can not be said enough. Public employees across the nation do not have to share the cut hours, reduced pay and lay-offs that the private sector is suffering. The public sector should be the first, not the last, or NEVER, to suffer during an economic contraction. This is not sound economics, nor is it just!

Published: January 21st, 2009 07:39 PM
Last Modified: January 21st, 2009 07:54 PM

 

06/09/2009 03:04:12 PM: On: Gay marriage.                                                                                                        As a liberal, one core value must be "it is never acceptable to enhance the rights and privilege of one citizen (concept of marriage) by restricting the rights and privilege of another citizen (moral values). I think most thought California had found the happy middle ground by giving legal benefits and privilege to all living together as a couple. Except, roomate couples who also should have all the same benefits and privilege as any other permanent living arrangement. That would be a more just equality.

Also, I can not get over the feeling that the organized attacks, threats on people of faith and vandalism on the physical church has a very familiar ring. The Jews in Germany and the Black Churches in the United States. Something I never thought could happen again; Not to Jews, Christians, Humanists, Mormons, Atheists or Muslims in the United States. But, sadly it is, it has and it probably will continue.!

 

 06/10/2009 02:51:33 PM: "Letterman joked in his monologue Monday night that during the seventh inning of a Yankees game "her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."
I only thought Letterman had a problem with women in positions of power. Guess he just has a problem with females in general. But, the biggest problem Letterman has is he is not funny. His attempt at humor is just a way to attack those he does not like personally for political reason. CBS your ratings are down for a reason. One way you spell reason is l e t t e r m a n.

 

July 17, 2009 regarding on GS Bailout

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.
Bailout fo Goldman Sachs, more for the rich. No bailout for CIT, nothing for poor to middle class. When you interject social engineering concepts into the business model, the poor always lose, from small business loans to a 300% tobaco tax increase, to the lottery.

 

October 6th, 2009 - 9:41 am

The problem is pretty simple: The Federal Government is creating more government sector jobs and fewer private sector jobs needed to support the public sector jobs. The Federal Government spending and the private sector saving is a planned disaster. Business contraction into a depression in one easy lesson.

The Face of Protest III

Photographers unknown unless noted.

 

                                           Los Angeles - Blocked traffic for 5-7 hours.

 

...

 

 Phoenix Arizona

 

                                                   Los Angeles - Photo by Steve Gregory - July 2010

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Texas - KTRH 790 AM
 
 
   
Klein Collins High School - Texas
832 - 484-5500
 

Klein Collins High School - Texas
832 - 484-5500

 Phoenix, Az. 
 

 Phoenix, Az.

Photos from the May 29, 2010 Phoenix protest against the Arizona immigration enforcement law…

 
The racism and sheer ignorance on display is simply staggering. (Hint: the Western Hemisphere is not a continent.)
And someone should tell Mrs. Pelosi that there is a lot of Nazi talk and swastikaas [sic] being bandied about.