Living in the Land Where Thinking It Makes It So

     Somehow we have lost our way.  During the space of time that God has allowed me to live upon the face of His earth we have turned many things completely around.  We do not live in a perfect world.  There are situations every day in which there is no perfect solution for everyone a concerned.  We must remember that my rights end where your rights begin.  But we have forgotten that most important concept.
     I am not questioning the rights or the wrongs of any of the sexual preferences of those involved, but I am questioning the handling of many of the decisions that the government is forcing upon society.  Because of space allotted I will only deal with the transgender topic at this time. 
     I understand that there are some born as a female who wish to be a mail and the expression is they identify as a male and then there are those who are born with the sexual attributes of a male and they desire to be a female.  The much worn phrase is they identify as a male or female.
     Enter a problem, what do they do now?  For thousands of years these individuals, assuming that this condition has always existed, have coped with the situation and were able to live productive lives as others who have conditions in their life to which they had difficulty adjusting.  Obviously that would be one solution.  The opposite end of the spectrum they have the option of having very expensive, radical body changing surgery.  (Is this now a civil right that a person has for the government  to pay for any change in their life in which they find themselves uncomfortable.)  There are many who have in the past and obviously will in the future who will proceed with the surgery.  The liberal group would say it is not right for them to have emotional struggles with the identity problem.  It is very doubtful that the emotional struggle will be over when the surgery is finished.  It may just be starting.  Some statistics show that the suicide rate among those who have had the transformation take place is twenty per cent higher than the normal population.
     In the meantime we have another problem.  Let us look at what might be a typical classroom setting in which we have five boys, five girls and two transgender persons--one a male who identifies as a female and the other a female who identifies as a male.  They are now all sixteen years old and for all of their school life they five boys and the male who identifies as a female have all used the same bathroom and shared the same dressing room/shower facilities.  The situation being the same for the five girls and the female who identifies as a male.  Each group has seen each other in the nude all of these years.  Now the male identifying as a female wishes to go into the girls dressing room, restroom and shower.  He is uncomfortable after all of these years being with the boys and wants to be with the girls.  Our great leader says to the school, if you don't let him do this we will cut off your money.  He would echo what many liberals are saying, you must consider his situation and not treat him any differently.  May I ask a simple question, What about the rights and feelings of the five girls and the one girl who identifies as a male, do they not have any rights?
     Do you imagine there might be a little different situation with the other group.  These five male and the male identifying as a female have shared the same dressing room and shower for years and here comes a girl to dress and shower with them.  You would have to be a fool to not see that acceptance and/or rejection is going to be different in the two different dressing rooms.
     Up until now we have always acknowledged two groups, male and female, and have provided, accordingly, facilities for two groups, male and female.  So, since we now have a third group, what could possibly be discriminating about having three facilities, male, female, transgender.  What's that?  It would make the transgender stand out if he/she had to use a separate bathroom.  Not as much as the nude body would stand out in a group of nude girls.
     Outside of the three bathrooms, the only other logical situation is one unisex facility; go in, lock the door and have your own preferential privacy.
     As an afterthought, if you can't beat them join them.  I have always wished that I could sing.  So, hereafter I shall let it be known that I identify as a musician.  I need a little funds to get me to Nashville, Tennessee.  I am sure that the government will force any of those recording companies to give me a lucrative contract.  I have in mind about the same amount that a sex-change operation would cost.  It obviously does not make any difference that I do not know one note from another, all that matters is that is the way I wish to be perceived.  Better times are just on down the road.

The Election Everyone Dreads

     I do not know of anyone in my circle that is looking forward to the presidential election of 2016.  It is a sad time as we consider the process of choosing between two candidates that many wish would just go away.  But they are not going to go away and we will either vote for one of them, waste a vote on a third party candidate, or stay at home and not vote.
     Russell Moore, who heads up the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, would like to simplify your choice for you.  He says if a person stands up to Donald Trump, he will "be on the right side of Jesus."  That makes about as much sense as when the mother of James and John wanted one of her sons to be on the either side of Jesus.  I would hope that everyone has a better reason to cast a vote than just standing up to Donald Trump.
     Let me make it perfectly clear, I don't like Donald Trump and I dislike Hillary Clinton even more, but  I will cast my vote based upon the following issues.  Whichever candidate supports things that I hold dear to my heart will receive my vote.  I am opposed to killing infants in the womb.  If there were no other issues, this one alone would secure my vote.  A nation that will kill infants in the womb will also eventually allow the old people to die.
     Secondly, I believe I have a right to own a gun.  I want to know where these candidates stand on taking away the right of Americans to bear arms.
     I think our borders, north and south, must be protected.  I have many dear friends who arrived here from Mexico.  I never asked how they crossed the border.  Some of them became naturalized citizens, some married American citizens, some were born here but I still say close the border.  If children can walk across the border, you would be stupid to think that a terrorist would not do so also.
     We must be extremely cautious in admitting the war refugees and make certain that no terrorists have infiltrated the group.
     Any individual wishing to come to America should be willing to come desiring to assimilate into the mainstream life.  Do not expect us to give you a handout.  Leave your flag behind, we have enough flag problems.  There is only one set of laws in America.  If you love your set of laws stay where you are.  Over a period of 300+ years we have developed a culture and for some of you our eating habits may be different than yours.  You know that when you come.  Don't even claim that seeing an advertisement for a pork chop offends you.  You don't have to eat it and we will not be offended when you don't.  You did not like the country you left, so don't try to make this country like the one you left, obviously you didn't like it.
     I could go on for some time, and probably will later; but these are a few of the things that will shape the final decision for who I will vote for, not whether it is Democrat or Republican, not whether it is male or female, certainly not whether it is Trump  or Clinton.