Some Thoughts on Independence Day 2020

Some thoughts on this Independence Day. 

If you worship America, you'll be blind to its flaws. If you worship globalism, universalism, spiritualism, Eastern religion, or any other overarching belief system, such as the collectivist systems (communism, socialism, Marxism, or utopianism), you will only see America's flaws. Someone could recite the entirety of the founding documents, and you will yawn. If you only see America's flaws or believe that it is mostly a bad Nation the bad intentions and a bad future, then ask yourself what system your life teachers have taught you. I grew up in San Francisco in the 70s and 80s, and I am familiar with each of these systems. But the majority of Americans walking around have no idea that they're doing the bidding of some of these systems. 

Me too. I focus too much on defending America from other Americans. 

Even if you say, Kevin, I just believe in people, in goodness and not being a jerk, you probably embrace some combination of belief systems. It may be helpful to be conscious of it. 

God has one view of America, and that is it is a system of this world and nothing more nothing less. Many like to think of it as the best form of government we have, but the freedoms we enjoy as Americans are very rare in the history of the world. God is still the King.

Side note: when I am critical of movements and hashtags, it's because I'm seeing evidence of a belief system in action - some of which are antithetical to the very idea of freedom, liberty, and justice. 

Some of its participants have no idea  about it. But the leaders of some of these movements clearly understand what their intentions are. 

For these reasons, it is almost impossible to get people to understand when you say, "Naw, not for me. I'll continue to stand for what's right without confirming to pre-determined steps that 'prove you really care.' "

Many of us are "that guy." We will run the same race, standing for equity, excellence in equity, justice for all. We're in the marathon. We just refuse to wear the ribbon. 

Why? Because somebody told us that we have to. And that's not America. 

I'll meet you at the finish line, friends. When people will be judged by the content of their character.

Lost and Found

A MEDITATION ON ALL THAT'S LOST, SOME THAT'S FOUND.This is a staple remover. I was using it in my classroom a couple of weeks ago while I put up new student work. It disappeared and I gave up looking for it after about one minute. I knew it would show up at some point. Upon my first visit back to my classroom, after two-weeks, I was sitting down at my desk when I heard a sound from across the room. My staple remover had dropped from wherever it was hidden. Let things go. Let people go. If they're meant to be in your life, they will come back, just like the staple remover. People are like staple removers, but they are not staple removers. You may need to go looking for them, tell them you need them. Like a staple remover, they may never come back, but leave the door open anyway. It will make you happier and ready for when the new friend wants to enter your life. Sometimes we're talking about a job. Almost 10 years ago, I gave up on teaching after seeing how schools worked. I was okay with walking away from the profession, while not losing the passion of my calling. The staple remover dropped from across the room; I received the call and was offered a position which led to interviewing for a permanent position several months later. And so that staple remover has been in my hands for over five years.