Laws

Today I mentioned "Affinity Laws" (also called pump laws, and fan laws)

I ... I was asked if it was a "Marvel thing"......

I weep for the future.

Veterans

Some were handed rifles
Some were handed pens
Some were handed wrenches
Some were handed ends

We all did take one action
We all did raise our hand
We all are now connected
We all are now one band

Each of us swore the Oath
Each of us believed it
Each of us has quiet pride
Each of us enlisted

Rights

Is it the _right_ of a US citizen to burn, stomp upon, and otherwise denigrate the American flag?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the _right_ of a US citizen to openly refer to our Legislature, our President and our High Court as puppets, shills, whores, evil and unjust?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the right of a US citizen to venerate a socialist dictator and declare that they are by merit of race better than other citizens of this nation.

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Are Monuments to the CSA directly venerating the act of slavery and the supremacy of one man over another a right of a US citizen?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.

Is it a right of US citizens that there is a statue of Stalin in Seattle and a Statue of Pancho Villa in Tucson, or the brutal butcher Che Guevara is glorified on t-shirts and posters.

Yes, Yes it is. I find it distasteful and offensive but it is protected by the First Amendment.
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Now, that being said....

it is the right of a US citizen the protest these things, to want them changed, to alter the narrative with another point of view?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the right of US citizens to vote to change or remove past monuments?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it protected by the First Amendment.

Is it the right of US citizens to defend a heritage and point of view?

Yes, Yes it is. I find it protected by the First Amendment.

this is how we learn and grow as a Nation

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Is it the right of a US citizen to incite or act in violence to promote their view?

No, No that is not protected from either side. Conversations are not held with clubs and chains, they are held with open minds.

Trails

Some years ago I would meet up with Justin King and we would hit River Legacy trails here in Arlington. It is a seven mile hike out and back.

We pushed each other. We would hit the mile marker and check our watches. He'd say "huh, that was a 18 minute mile.. can't you keep up?" Did not matter what either of us had done the night or week before.

we would hit the next we would look and I would say "16? you think this is a game?"

We got down to a peak of a 14 minute mile, before he wen't to the next trail. We challenged each other, but our times were always the same because we were traveling together. If one was not up to the speed the other slowed down. If we thought we were going to slow we challenged each other.

I had not found any one who could challenge me like Justin until I started BJJ training. Each time I hit the mat I am challenged and made to work. Each time I work I learn.

Justin would have loved this!

When I say

When I say "I love you"

I do not mean that I can not live without you.

I can.

I can, but understand;

Without you, I would not look forward to the morning and having you beside me in the bed.

Without you, I would not look forward to coming home from work.

Without you, dinner would be just another meal.

Without you, Sunset would be just a revolution of the Earth, nothing more.

Without you, my dreams would be empty and without vibrance.

I can live without you...

However,

I would not be _Alive_.