Texas

My father is originally from Texas. There are a lot of historical events in my short life that is directly/indirectly tied to the state of Texas. The historical ties makes Texas a significant place in my heart. A little part of home.

Texans would consider themselves a Texan first before they refer to themselves as American... or of being a citizen of the United States. A country in and of itself in the minds and hearts of those who were born, live and grew up in the state of Texas. Being and living in the state of Texas is like living in a parallel state of mind un-marginalized in the borders of the massive state lines. Texas, the lone star state.

I spent the past 11 days in Texas sleeping and catching up with extended family from my fathers' side of the tree [family tree].

It was nice to get away from the fast paced life in Seoul and relax in the small town of Willis, Texas North of Houston. The fresh air with vibrant blue skies radiated into my body and seemed to send the dark into retreat. Ten days of no obligation to wake up and work has refreshed my imagination and desire to do something creative in life.

In Washington for Two Days

Yesterday, a strange re-emergence back into American culture. Surrounded with an immense disproportion of space. From a concrete jungle to a sprawled out community surrounded with forests and blue skies.

It's Washington Summer. Life while on vacation is great. It's good to be home.

In conversation with my friends I keep referring to Korea as home. Usually, the place you live the longest is home. In some ways yes, Korea is my home. In another sense or another paradigm it's where I live. It's where I make my living.

American Politics and my 2 sents

This is a thread of conversation that occurred on Facebook concerning the following article.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg3-2009mar03,0,1748845.column

J.L.: The conservative commentator said he hopes Barack Obama fails. But what's so radical about disagreeing with an agenda he doesn't believe in?

Grey: I never wished failure upon our former president. Wishing failure upon Obama sounds just about anti-American as it can get. It's wishing that America fails. Who can agree to that and still consider themselves American?

K.L.: I like that article Josh! I agree AND consider myself very patriotic! What do you know?

J.L.: That's just the point .. nobody is wishing failure upon the country, only on an agenda with which they disagree. It's not a personal attack and I fail to see what's so preposterous about that... besides, it's nice to see that at least SOMEONE is getting job security out of this...

Grey: Not liking a party's agenda is one thing but wishing failure is overstepping that line. Imagine the consequences for America as a whole if Obama's agenda were to fail. Are you so opposed to success because failure is better than success? Moderates really want to know and this libertarian is inquiring.

J.L.: Hey...

What he said to clarify his remark - and yes, I feel he sometimes steps over the line, but you have to take him with a grain of salt because he stirs the pot as well as anyone - made perfect sense to me. He doesn't want the President to succeed IF these programs (particularly those involving runaway domestic spending by the federal government which as a libertarian you would surely understand) are how success is defined. The point being, he is of the opinion that if Obama's agenda succeeds, the problems this country faces will get worse. I don't condone wishing personal failure upon the President, but I don't think that's really what he was getting at.

The other reason I posted the editorial is because I thought it got the point across well that there is a media fascination with the remarks that really amounts to a whole lot of nothing. Keep in mind that Rush Limbaugh has been hosting talk radio for about two decades and probably about 5 years ago went through a very embarrassing public scandal involving prescription drugs. The fact that the White House chose to make him an issue instead of ignoring him, in my opinion, was unwise...

Grey: Still sounds like what I said earlier with a whole lot of sugar coating. I still don't see how failure equates something better than Obama's success.
My stance as a Libertarian is that the Federal Government has too much control. It doesn't matter which of the two parties are in control they take to much liberties upon themselves to speak for the entire nation. Sure, Democrats and their social reform may seem to be far from what a libertarian would want for our nation. On the flip side of the coin, so is the ridiculous auto bailout of our former president. To much of our money spent on programs that the government shouldn't meddle in.
I've got mixed feelings about social welfare and the sort. I believe there is a need but I don't stand for mandates by the government enforcing it. I believe that it's the responsibility of the people and religious or social organizations to carry the load.

* * *

Don't wish failure on America. If you want to wish anything upon America, wish that we make the right decisions for the greatest good of the people... the people. Not government, corporations or the World Bank... the greatest good for the people.

122. Potential Superhero

I found this cool picture of a superhero. Click on the picture to link to the artist, Michael Dougherty.

How many of us are fans of the T.V. series Heroes. In Korea it's impossible to catch the third season without downloading it via torrent downloads. Torrent downloads is a peer to peer sharing software that allows people like myself to view sought after T.V. series' that are impossible to find outside of the United States.

While waiting for my seventh episode to download I've been cruising the Multi-web looking for idea's to blog about. The idea came to me.

If you were a superhero what sort of super power would you have? I leave this question to you the reader.

As a superhero I would like the power of quick regeneration & healing.

A follow up question... What would be your cool superhero name?
Mr. Grey'ce pronounced Grace.

With that being said. I'd like to leave you with a doodle.

122. Potential Superhero:

Everybody wants to be a hero
Haven't met many people striving for zero
Although that could be humility
Or it could be the fear o...
Hmmm... The fear of?

Spotlights missing doesn't make us marginalized
It's a massive Multi-verse that's no surprise
The smaller things that are sometimes overlooked
Are more important than they appear in size
Oh... Do we still try

In our world of toys, gadgets to entertain
We lose our ability to imagine and use our brain
Not in all cases, don't mean to generalize
Just making a point, don't refrain
Everybody is born naked and given a name.

Visitors from the United States,

Saturday was long and lasted through the night, merging into Sunday afternoon.

Need rest. A lot of rest.

On a more exciting note concerning the Bloggers Block post:
One of my goals for 'grey image' is to attract visitors from all the states of the United States. I think that some of the territories should be included also, i.e. The Virgin Island Territories or Guam.

In order to accomplish Bloggers Block goal # four I've decided to do a roll call by state. If you are from the United States and would like to represent your state and it hasn't been announced in the comments area below please comment to this post with a reference of the state you are visiting 'grey image'. I thank you in advance for all your participation.