Our rights are being taken away

Gallup has provided me with the results of recent polls in which I participated.  Most interesting was that 71 per cent of Gallup Panel members  say that individual rights and freedoms in the United States have gotten worse since the terrorist attack September 11, 2001.

The survey was completed before we learned the extent of the Obama administration gathering information on private citizens.  Any credibility Obama had he no longer has.

Victory at Battle of Coral Sea June 4-7, 1942

Several important World War II victories took place during June, although their anniversaries are given little attention now as members of the"Greatest Generation" pass away.  I called attention to D-Day Normandy June 6, a very important step toward victory over Germany.

As important as that event was, probably more important for the United States was our navy's defeat of the Japanese navy June 4-7, 1942, at the Battle of Coral Sea.  Japan hoped to lure the navy into battle and defeat the American navy to open the way to an invasion of the United States.  Who knows what direction the war would have taken if Japan had been victorious.  The American victory resulted in removing the Japanese navy from being a threat as the United States won island after island on the way towards Japan.

What a week and more to come

The misery of two days and two nights in a hotel reminded me why I hate traveling and visiting. It's over now; the floor has been installed and we just need to re-position furniture.

During those days Jessica needed transportation to various meetings of the Louisiana United Methodist Church.  River attended some of the sessions, also.  The conference has concluded; Jessica and River returned to Baton Rouge, and from there Jessica will fly to Birmingham, Mich. to assume her duties as summer intern with the United Methodist Church in that city.

Jen and I are looking forward to an exciting week beginning Saturday when Mark arrives with Lily and Oliver.  The grand kids will spend a week with us while Mark and Julie will be in the Bahamas.

June is a month of anniversaries of military action.  It was on this date, June 6, 1944, that we invaded Normandy, always thought of as D-Day, although we had many D days. For Pickens shipmates and families, in 1945 we were on our way to Noumea, New Caledonia.  Certainly, we were looking forward to visiting a place where that were friendly people.

Yes, it was political

'It was not political" we hear from Obama and his supporters.  The hell it wasn't political; that's the only way their lies and attempt to cover up the Benghazi  failures make sense.  Eventually we will get answers to questions  such as where was Obama during the attack, who ordered the stand down of relief  forces, who changed the talking points, what was Hillary doing.

Ask these questions  about the IRS treatment of conservative groups -- Who benefited politically, and conversely, who was injured by the conservatives hampered in their efforts to raise funds and give aid and support to  conservatives, including Tea Party groups.

Church members gift Jessica

Pastor Tom Howe presented Jessica with a check Sunday representing the offerings at communion Sunday in May.  He explained that Jessica is the first in many years from Christ United Methodist Church to enter the ministry and that while Jessica is blessed with scholarships they do not cover all expenses.  Jessica has completed one year at Duke Seminary.  As the Rev. Howe pointed out, Duke is expensive.

The offering this Communion Sunday is to aid those persons suffering from recent tornadoes, especially in Oklahoma.

Inconvenience of installing floor

If we knew forehand all of the problems in store we might never take on any project.  Such is our situation right now as we are getting a wood floor installed in our main living area.  Since it is the middle of the house we are forced to go to a hotel while the work is going forward.

We have re-located every small and light object, leaving the heavy furniture for the installers who must pull up the old carpet after clearing the room and then level, if necessary, the concrete floor before treating it with a sealant.  Next will come laying the wood flooring, which cannot be walked on for12 hours. Before all of this began, the flooring was stacked up in the room so it and the house could become acquainted.  Thanks for your sympathy.

Bullying must stop

School teachers and parents must do more to stop bullying, a terrible crime that flourishes locally and nationally.  A five-year-old kindergarten boy is suspended 10 days for bringing a cap pistol to school to show a classmate.  Punishment for bullies should be 10 times that.

Many people think of bullying as a bigger boy physically harming a smaller boy.  Certainly, that occurs but most bullying is less obvious because it is psychological and emotional.  Often, groups and gangs of girls will pick on one girl to harass.  Their victim sometimes begins to think living is not worthwhile and may even be driven to suicide.

Schools are aware of bullying but they seem powerless to stop it.  Parents should discuss this with their children, helping them if they are victims and punishing them if they are doing the bullying.

Earlier this week a girl completing the fourth grade said she enjoys school except for the bullying.  She didn't volunteer and I didn't ask what bullying she was subjected to.  I wish I had found out what she was enduring; everyone needs to become involved if he can.  This should be considered  a disease and treated to cure it.