Respect--esteem, courteous, honor, regard highly.

When growing up my parents worked hard at instilling values that they
felt were important for me to carry into adult life. Some of the things that they worked extremely hard at teaching me were:
1. Respect for God.
2. Respect for my parents, grandparents, siblings, people in
general.
3. Respect for the aged.
4. Respect for teachers and those in authority.
5. Respect for country, for the laws of the land.

I remember when it was expected of me to respect my teachers. If they expected me to follow instructions, I knew I would do that, because if I did not, I knew that it was not only a reflection on me as a student, but a reflection on my parents that they had not done their duty by instilling that respect in me.

I remember how my parents taught me to respect the elderly, the ill,
the mentally ill, the handicapped. I was taught to listen to my elders, to be respectful of them, to help them, to follow their instructions. My parents took me to the nursing home to see my grandmother, and later to see many of their friends who had gone to the nursing home. I was taught to respect life, and also to respect death.

Recently a well-known figure in the political arena died. A comment was made by a writer that said something to the effect, well I guess he missed his deadline today. I did not think that was an appropriate thing to write about someone who had just died.
That it was just not respectful of that person.

Today, respect is thrown by the wayside because we are totally encapsulated by disrespect for God, for our parents, for our country, for the president, for those in authority, for mankind in general.

It grieves me to see our country going in this direction. When respect is no longer important to us, then any number of things enter in to our lives. If we do not respect mankind, we do not respect God, we do not respect authority or the laws of the land. We become a people most miserable.

When there is no respect, then mankind does what they feel is right in themselves. For example, if I see someone has a new coat, and I want one, but cannot afford it, perhaps I then would say, well I will just take it, or I will damage it so they cannot wear it. If I don't agree with the teacher, then I will tell a lie about that teacher causing them terrible harm. That is a lack of respect. If a friend is gaining honor in their profession or at school, and I become jealous and start talking about them in a way that is not right, that is a lack of respect. That is harmful.

Lack of respect causes breakdown in our country. We can look around and see how it has happened. It has become so bad that when you go out in the community, young children, teenagers, young adults and even some of our older people do not show respect for anyone. You can see this when you drive your car. People will nearly run you over to be first at the intersection, or first at the light. They will rush into a parking space that you were trying to pull into. The horn on their car becomes an extension of them, because they are laying on their horn and yelling out the window at you for no reason other than they want to be first. They will even rush into the store with a cart, and get mad if you are not moving fast enough for them. It is happening all around us. I hate to go out into the community anymore.

It is a sad commentary on mankind when we have no respect for anyone else, or any laws. When you do not respect anyone else, you do not respect yourself either. Respect is not important to so many today. They don't even know what it is because they have grown up in some cases just as wild animals, roaming the countryside, biting and devouring those that get in the way. They do what they want, when they want to, how they want to because they make the rules
for themselves. They have no respect for anyone or anything.

Is it any wonder that we see such chaos in our streets, our
communities, the country, the world. We can change this trend one person at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time.

Respect needs to be taught again. If we do not respect, we are
a nation of people doomed to repeat the past.

Respect yourself enough, respect God, respect your family enough, respect mankind enough that you will do what you can to change this cycle of disrespect to one of respect, honor, esteem, regarding others higher than myself.

It starts with me.

We had the political people in Cleveland debating each other, and trying to make us believe that all things will be so much better when/if they get the office that they are aspiring too.

I learned a very long time ago, you have to read and research things for yourself. I think it is a good thing to read up on all the issues. I am more of an independent person. I think for myself, and want to make up my own mind on things.

God did create us to be unique. We have our own mind, our own thoughts, our own identity. No one else is just like you or me.
When we look at things like our faith, our homes, husbands/wives, children, and the whole scheme of things, why would we want someone else decide what is best for our families and/or ourselves? We don't want anyone else having that important function in our lives.

With the election coming upon us, it is so important to remember the
news media is focused on their agenda, the politicians on theirs, and no one is focused on your life or mine.

This is a really an opportunity for each of us to remember what is most important in our life.

Yesterday I was a bit overwhelmed while I was working. I started out with my alarm clock buzzing me at 7:30 a.m. Of course, being the lump that I am in the morning, I had to lie there and moan a bit before I got up. Of course, I stayed in bed until the last second possible before making the mad dash to the necessary room to look in the mirror and scream at the vision before me. After trying to get myself organized for the day in about 8 minutes, I dashed to my office in the room next door, and as I sat down to clock in for the day, my computer decided to very slooooooowly let me do that. I was dreaming about my time in bed, and was longing to be there with the covers over my head. Just an ordinary day.
Then, when I finally got ready for work, I had to read my emails for any directives for the day; namely about 50 emails. It was becoming even more of a nightmare. Just an ordinary day. My supervisor has been out for surgery and recovery for a month, and she just got back yesterday, and her day was going about the same as mine I think. I had to call her on the phone, and she said, I am glad you did because I had so many emails they were dropping off! We had a good laugh over that, and we were then ready to take on the day. When I got into bed last night, I was all comfy and snugged in, I peered out of my blanket and saw that a light was on downstairs. Dragging myself out of bed, I then had to go all the way down the steps to turn off the lights. Of course, I decided milk and graham crackers sounded good, and there I was at the kitchen table not able to sleep. But by the time morning came around and the alarm clock was buzzing me, I was just a lump again because after all it is just an ordinary day!

I remember when I was a child growing up in the 60s, how people used to stop by and visit each other. If someone was ill or in the hospital, I can remember my parents going to see them. I remember well the many, many times my mother would make someone their supper, or make a homemade cake or pie. She would then follow-up with a phone call, and tell them not to be concerned about the dishes, that they would pick the dishes up, and see if there was anything else that she could do. I grew up in a very giving family.

My middle sister is recovering from a total knee replacement she underwent 3 weeks ago. You would hardly know that (other than the fact she is on a walker, and pretty much confined to home right now). When I go see her, she usually has made a complete meal for me to take back home. Last night when I got there to (take care of her), she was baking rolls, potatoes, green beans and ham in the oven. She also does this for many other people. It is not unusual
for her to have something in the crock pot or in the oven that she has made for someone at church, or someone in the community. My sister is a very giving person. What she has, she shares.

With her confinement now, she has not let this stop her from doing for others as she loves to do. Just last week, she had her husband box up several pairs of good shoes and boots that she collected from family and friends. She had boxes of new socks, and blankets and coats which were readied for delivery to the homeless shelter in our community. She also had a box ready to take to the domestic violence shelter. My sister has not forgotten that what she has was given to her to share. She is only the caretaker of her earthly possessions. She said to me, you know I have really been blessed in my life. I have a beautiful home, a wonderful family, and I want to share what I have with others. She does not say that to brag. She lives what she really believes.

My sister recently retired from the hospital where she has been an RN
for 35+ years. She said that since she has just retired, she can really do more than she has in the past years. Right now, she has several boxes being collected for the domestic violence shelter. People are donating personal items such as soaps, kleenex, toiletries, etc. Keeping in mind that she is still recovering from a total knee replacement, and she is orchestrating this all from her home, with the help of her husband, the family and her friends.

My parents are still very much alive in our hearts, and they have left a legacy to us that is continued to be carried on so richly in my sister.

I remember a quote I read from a soldier in the Civil War, and it goes something like this; and this is not exact, but the thought is this, to those you love you will not be forgotten--you will live on through them in the life that you have led.

Most of us have been watching the political arena, some because of concern, some because they are trying to decide who to vote for; and others for reasons known only to them.

Ohio has become a state that the candidates are focusing on, because of what Ohio has been in history, and what they need for support to win the nomination. Ohio is one of the unfortunate states, especially in certain spots in Ohio we know as the "rust belt."
It is amazing to me that Ms. Rodham and Mr. Obama will go to cities in Ohio such as Youngstown, Toledo to name a couple that are some of the most economically depressed cities in Ohio. Ohio like so many states in the union, have been victims of poor leadership who did not see beyond today; blinded by success that they had in the booming years with auto and steel. Through their mismanagement, and unwillingness to look to the future, they did not see beyond today and restructure companies for the future. Consequently, Ohio has become a state that I do not recognize at all. There are jobs here, but so many people don't take them because the parties of Ms. Rodham and Mr. Obama want to win votes by "handing out" programs to give people a free ride. There are jobs on-line that anyone could do, as well as educating yourself with a courses on-line, technical schools and so forth. Ohio does not have to be in this situation.

However, if you listen to Ms. Rodham and Mr. Obama, they are going to "fix" it all. They are going to bring "change"! People in Ohio do not need people like this to tell us what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. People must start educating themselves, preparing themselves, and they need to quit standing there crying the blues! We all have situations in our life that are most difficult, and some people who have the most difficulties are right in there keeping their heads above water, educating, preparing and thinking for themselves.

We live in a state that has had a very wonderful history. We have several presidents who have come from Ohio. We have so many good people in this state who have worked hard and have become great contributors to this state, and to this country. We have nurses, office workers, plant workers, doctors, small business people, housekeepers, electricians, preachers, teachers, students, health care workers, on-line workers just to name a few. Ohioans cannot afford this election to vote in people such as Ms. Rodham or Mr. Obama. They do not represent an America of free enterprise, an America where we are a strong nation of people who believe in the values and principles that this country was founded on.

Lives were given and are given for our freedom. Ms. Rodham and Mr. Obama have views that are not what this country is based on. Unfortunately many people do not read what these candidates believe in and speak on. They want them in only because they say they are here for "change." Ohioans need to keep in mind where our state has gone, and where it is headed. We don't need politicians to tell us what we need to do. We know what to do. If we give in and vote for someone like Ms. Rodham or Mr. Obama we are in essence saying, we believe in nothing. These candidates say nothing and do nothing. They talk in circles, and the first real indication you have of people who have nothing to say is when they say something like: "This country needs change and I want change and this country is changing, and we need change because change is something this country needs." If it is something that runs in a circle, and leaves you wondering what they said, believe me that is a person you do not want. Sometimes people what change only for change sake. I know personally people who want Ms. Rodham and Mr. Obama only because they are a woman and a black man. That is no reason to vote for them. If you think there are problems and difficulties now, voting for Ms. Rodham and Mr. Obama will only give you a country that is based on socialism and not democracy.

I hope that Ohioans we are too smart to vote in Ms. Rodham or Mr. Obama.

I know first-hand about Ms. Rodham. I lived in Arkansas for 25 years; most of the time when they were "governor and first lady of the state." They had one of the most corrupt leaderships in that state. I remember well that Ms. Rodham did not even carry Mr. Clinton's last name until they decided to run for the presidency. I well know what I am speaking of. This country does not need another clinton white house.

When Ohioans decide to think for themselves, then we can make our state and this country something to be even more proud of.