this is lengthy, but i hope you read it to the end.
i don't "do" labels. i think for myself after finding out as much information as i can, first-hand if possible.
i believe that the united states of america is the finest nation ever put on this earth. being 1/4 tsalagi (cherokee), yes, it sucks that the country was formed as it was. being 3/4 siclian and the grandchild of immigrants, i look forward to the possiblities more than look backwards at what i cannot reach.
i'm alive right now.
i believe that the government which governs best governs least.
i believe that parents are responsible for teaching their children core principles and morality -- not school, not the government, not the television, not harry potter, not even the church. PARENTS. teach. your. children. anything else is secondary, and those other relationships are transitory. a parent is a parent for life.
i believe that too many people too often refuse to take responsiblity for their own lives. MOST people have had it rough in one way or another. "there's a support group for you. it's called 'everybody.' they meet at the bar." -drew cary
you are responsible for your own life -- the good, the bad and the ugly. did daddy beat you? mama didn't love you enough? the kids at school called you fatso? you're not the only one, and others have found a way to cope; you can, too. there are a thousand reasons but not ONE excuse. YOU are responsible for your own life.
"face your fears or forever be their slave" -antonio beltrisi
i believe in supporting the people who serve in our armed forces wholeheartedly. they deserve our daily prayers and gratitude. by the way, homosexuals have ALWAYS served in our military. with honor. you do not know the sexual orientation of the man or woman next to you. your fear, your uneasiness, YOUR problem. learn to cope, and do your job.
on that note, i instantly dismiss the opinions on homosexuality of anyone who does not know personally and very well a good handful of homosexuals. i can spot ignorance at 500 yards, and most of those railing about the queers know only what they've heard about in jokes or on the jerry springer show, which is not too far off from the jerry faldwell show -- both of which are equally craptastic.
i believe that we spend more time looking for reasons to pick on each other and not nearly enough time trying to help our neighbors. one of the things i admore about most BOTLs is that they will drop what they're doing and be the first in line to help a brother (or sister) when s/he's down. we need much more of that kind of spirit in our country and much less ballyhoo and booger picking about who we should make fun of next.
it doesn't take a lot of energy to be a decent human being. give it a try sometime.
i believe that we are the most litigious nation on this earth, and as such we have forgot the meaning of "personal responsibility."
we need to bring back that concept, and we need to let bell bottom jeans die a natural death, already. priorities, people! priorities!
i believe that people opposed to abortion should not have them. and i believe that if you personally cannot become pregnant then you don't have a dog in that race. let it go. wear a condom. best advice my daddy ever gave me was "never f*** a woman you're not willing to marry. for life." amen.
my god is my god. it's none of your business. go worship cabbage on a pitchfork for all i care, but what i do with my spirituality is between my god and me.
there does not need to be "mandatory" ANYTHING religious in school. do you really want an atheist to teach your kids about jesus? your preacher doesn't teach your children iambic pentameter or trig; your math teacher doesn't need to re-deliver the sermon on the mount. if you want your kids to "have religion" then quit being lazy and give it to them YOURSELF.
there is no one single picture of what an american looks like. if there were, this would not be america. it would be england or swasiland or russia or costa rica. if you're a citizen, you're an american. and if we don't stop looking for more ways to hate each other, we're going to die in our little bitty separate cubbyholes of culture. try to find a reason to respect your fellow american, not berate him and belittle him.
opinions are like ****. everybody has one, and everyone thinks that his doesn't stink.
as much as is humanly possible, keep your nose out of other people's business. do you value your own privacy? good. protect theirs, too, and we'll all be peachy keen.
take care of people who are not as fortunate as you. if you are blessed with a healthy body, chop some wood for someone who isn't. if you have an extra $20 in your pocket today, how about buying a big mac for that mother and two kids in the car behind you? just do it. it'll make you feel good, and you have no idea just how IN NEED so many people are -- and not because of their own screw-ups. i have no pity for anyone who intentionally screws up his or her life. but i've got a whole lot of compassion for the guy who worked hard all his life and did right by his family and friends and one day finds that his legs don't work and he's out of a job. why? because hey -- yesterday i had compassion for that guy, but today i AM that guy. tomorrow it could be you.
be a mensch.
be a good human being.
do the right thing.
fight for what's important.
let go of petty differences.
believe in something so much you'd die for it.
read more.
smoke more cigars.
give one to a stranger or a buddy.
be kind to those in your circle.
be fair to those outside of it.
when you find someone to love, be it a lover or a brother or a child, be excellent to each other.
god bless,
antonio
