The choice is yours

Inside Job Anyone that knows me knows how much I love Pearl Jam. I was 11 when they hit the scene. At that moment it was as if they were already a band for decades. They are so powerful, so emotional and so successful. As time went on I discovered what some of the lyrics meant and it only reinforced my love for their band. The song Inside Job just recently hit me as a song that describes how I've been living my life since long before the song was even written. It goes over how a person has the final say on whether or not they are happy. No one can make you angry without your permission. You decide whether to be happy or not. Eddie speaks about how he discovered this as a philosophy and wants to share it with their fans. The lyrics are great and the song's melody goes from a droning, melodic, contemplative acoustic tone and progresses into a powerful, chin-up-facing-the-world riff. Check out the lyrics: Underneath this smile lies everything All my hopes and anger, pride and shame Make myself a pact not to shut doors on the past Just for today I am free I will not lose my faith It's an inside job today I know this one thing, well I used to try and kill love. it was the highest sin Breathing insecurity out and in Searching hope, I'm shown the way to run straight Pursuing the greater way for all human light. How I choose to feel is how I am. How I choose to feel is how I am. I will not lose my faith It's an inside job today Holding on, the light of night On my knees to rise and fix my broken soul Again Let me run into the rain To be a human light again Let me run into the rain To shine a human light today Life comes from within your heart and desire Life comes from within my heart and desire Life comes from within your heart and desire Video of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfShR-wY8oQ

Purpose

Rarely does a human life come and go without questioning the purpose of life. We all yearn to have purpose. Sometimes it takes a long time to find it, even decades. And maybe it changes during the search.

My purpose is to help people. When I do it I feel fulfilled and inspired to do more. The million dollar question is; how do I do this? My full time job allows me to help people. But it's thankless. My desire to help runs deeper than fixing computer issues.

My first attempt at an elected office came up just short. If elected I could have been in a position to help people in a lot of areas. City Council is a broad enough office in a small enough geographic area that I could make progress while also finding my niche. But it was not to be. Not this time. I could try again in 2 years. Which, fortunately, I do not need to decide now.

I have a good Facebook group that I could flip into an official Our Revolution affiliate. That is a great start but I would want to make a firm commitment. I'm still debating this choice. But I believe that the true answer will find me on it's own.

In related news, government's purpose is to protect its people. Period. That can happen in a variety of different ways. But, as our country becomes more divided, its elected officials cling to their party and shift their loyalty from the USA and its citizens to either blue or red. So, I believe my purpose will be to be sure to never forget what our government's purpose is and to hold those accountable who pledge to serve our public.

Now... in what capacity do I do this?

Capital Punishment

I did a report on the death penalty in 10th grade. I don't exactly remember what my exact point was during the report. But I remember thinking that I thought it was wrong for a state to kill someone while simultaneously punishing people for killing people. I recall the great quote from Gandhi, "an eye for an eye only ends of making the whole world blind." Locally, a young man will face trial with our prosecutor's office seeking the death penalty. There is no denying the charges against Lambing are heinous and will leave you speechless. How could a person live with themselves knowing what they've done to an innocent child? How can that person expect anyone else to live with them too? Yet, I find it hard to support any case that results in the death penalty. Here are two references I'd like to share. The image below is The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was developed post WWII by Eleanor Roosevelt in the wake of the Holocaust.

This is a 21 minute podcast from Radiolab telling a story about a man who had his adopted daughter senselessly murdered. Grab a tissue. Radiolab Story

First Post

This is a new blog for where I will put my personal thoughts and ideas about local, state and national issues. It will include my opinions and feelings about things that I find important. I tend to talk my wife's ear off a lot about all of these things that do not have a direct impact on our family. So, this is my way of getting my feelings out while saving her some tolerance. Which will essentially maximize our time together. On some days, she's just had enough of me. She prefers a normal me not a world-saving, justice-fighting me.