Man in the Arena -- A Timeless Lesson for Society

Good evening,

Just wanted to write a short piece on passion in the face of challenge and adversity in this day in age. We see the news, fake or not, and it paints a rather bleak impression of the world that we currently inhabit. Lots of issues that run the gamut. Far and wide, some to the depths of low, and yet we see instances of greatness. We see heroes in our mists.

I think often times these days, we give the wrong doers the benefit of watching their "look at me" videos as they reach for a piece of the only fame they will ever have; prior to most of them ending up dead or in jail, or on drugs, or living in the gutter, or on welfare for most of their lives. And instead of watching their videos and commenting we should be taking action to see that they sort of behavior is hands down not tolerated. First off, we can just flat out not watch their videos or comment. If their actions are not given any sort of credit, do we stand to continue to support them in their question for fame for their friends, cliques, or gangs?

I'd like to focus on more positive actions that men and women are taking to help those in need. We saw lots of heroes in the wake of the Harvey disaster. For example, those guys that worked together to free the baby and two year old from the flipped over truck before they drowned. Those of the true acts of heroism that we should be focusing on as a society.

For the others, I say we don't turn our backs on the environments that are creating these instances of hatred. The beating of kids by other kids, the looting, the rape, the bigotry. We need to bring these folks into the fold and try to understand the cause of the issue and not the symptoms. Similarly, big medicine would like to focus on symptoms without solving for the cause in many cases. There is too much money in it to fix the problems overall, too many jobs. Too many rich pharmaceutical companies to support as well side that completes the trifecta which is the corporate, if you will, university system. Similar in these cases that we see on the news as of late. We think we need this sort of turmoil to fuel the jobs that keep it under wraps. I say we solve for the real solutions and the symptoms will go away. We need to fix the foundations of society and realize that this is the one and only world we will have. We have to take care of each other, in the good times and the bad. We need the super rich to start giving back to society. They have so much to give but don't choose to give it. Greed and loathe for the common man overwhelms them. It's a flat out shame.

My goal will be to continue to make the world a better place. To help those that cannot help themselves. And even if it is just one person that I help and make a different for then I am good to go. For if each person that can help does, the number gets multiplied by millions, and then we are already on the way to making a difference for the greater good.

Stand by for future posts. I have seen enough death recently with the Sailors that have died from the collisions and a team of us are going to come up with some solutions for these issues; and see if the politicians, the military industrial complex, and the money hungry can spare a bit to see our Navy Sailors have a fighting chance for survival when these severe shipboard casualties occur. For if we are losing this many Sailors from these collisions, then wait till we go to war. These ships are going to break in half and we stand to lose hundreds if not thousands of our Sailors.

I leave you with the words of TR Roosevelt that are now over 100 years old. They ring true to striving for achievement in the face of great challenge even in the shadow of possible of failure. These are words that have driven me to try.....no matter the outcome. And try I will. I'll continue to step into the ring of life and take face shots as they come, and continue to fight, round after round, until the final bell of life is rung.

As Yoda would say.....Cold and timid souls, company with, I will not make.