Be A Hero

On Halloween night I became a superhero. 

I dressed up like Spiderman and went to a harvest festival at a Church that was opened to children in the community.My goal was to surprise my own kids and grand-kids...and I did. However, my own surprise came when all the kids at the festival flocked around me like ducks to bread. In other words, I was an instant celebrity.

 

Kids came running up to me and would hug me. Parents would take pictures of me with their kids. And some young adults would even want selfies with me. It was amazing. Amazing in a few ways. 

The first notable fact was that the children, even as young as three, knew Spiderman right-off.  It was curious that even young children had watched many Spiderman movies, and that he was considered a special and lovable character.

Another notable fact was that many of the children actually thought I was THE Spiderman. Some of the older kids (eight to ten) wanted to see me do a flip, or shoot a web. Only a couple of tough 12 year olds' doubted my authenticity. 

I was prepared to shoot some webbing (Silly string), but the authorities would not let me. Nor would they let me swing around the facility on a rope...sad. Therefore, I had to settle with many Spidey moves...except for a flip - which as the one kid asked for - but I got out of by saying it was too dangerous around the kids (and for me). I settled for crouching into the distinctive squatting position, execute a Spidey crawl, or jump onto some guardrails at the entrance and back down in the Spidey crouch position.I was told I "had those moves down." I would finish by popping up and cross the room with the swagger of an adolescent with attitude. 

The last notable fact was that I was considered trustworthy. Some unknown kids would run up to hug me and ask me to go with them to the next event; others would stand back and stare with reverence. But the greatest moment was when a child of four came up to me and said "Spiderman, I lost my mommy. Could you help me find her?" I took the boy's hand and found someone who could help him...and she said. "Thanks Spiderman, we'll take it from here." I saluted and sauntered back to my peeps...another job well done.

On the way home, I thought of Spiderman's motto: With great power comes great responsibility. Even at the festival I would give a thumbs up and say "Stay responsible." It is a good motto to live by. To children, we grown-ups are big and strong and know things. That is a position we shouldn't take lightly.

We either have children or have seen other people's children. They look up to us as a guide and model. So it's important for us to act becoming to them...guiding them into the ways of the world. We are their hero.

   “A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway.”

― Christopher Reeve 

Next time you get down on yourself, because you haven't any spectacular abilities. Remember, you can be a hero to a child, just by being kind and helpful - just as I learned, during my one night as Spiderman.

God vs Eclipse

Man God and the Total Eclipse

My son and I camped in the Painted Hills area of Oregon this weekend, where it allowed us to look at the sun for two minutes with the naked eye. The event was spectacular...yet a tiny masterpiece relative to God. I took a video and photo of the total eclipse, but it couldn't compare to the real thing.

Several months ago, I asked my son to go on a back-packing trip for my birthday gift. He is a 5th grade teacher, has a wife and three kids - so time is precious. He asked if we could camp on the eclipse weekend. I agreed...not knowing the complications that were in-store for us.

The news media hyped up the prelude to the total eclipse, predicting the traffic to be a "eclipse apocalypse," and expecting traffic to backed up at least 20 hours. Therefore, at the advice of my wife, on August 19th we left our house about 5:00 am and drove east on 84 and down 206 to the desert.  The traffic consisted of a few cars...I'm not here to discuss the accuracy of media predictions, so I won't go there. 

As usual, Aaron constructed his video by recording our travels. Here is a link for the excellent video he made:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gzfDRKUdGE 

He brought his camera, small video camera, smart phone, and drone to document the event. It was smooth sailing over to eastern Oregon, through majestic hills and small towns, to the Painted Hills area - the central most point of eclipse totality - and searched for a campsite.

The first campsite was on the John Day river, but filled with dozens of campers...the first site had a 10 ft high telescope. We wanted to be more secluded and decided to move on. 

The second campsite was several miles down a winding gravel road. Squirreling around rock cliffs, the road straightened out and a make-shift store appeared, with a sign that said Snow Cones and T-shirts. We passed by and continued to the second camp, where several cars were parked at the top of the entrance. Aaron and I continued down the steep (rough at times) gravel road. Two other parking spots were virtually filled. We opted to find another more secluded spot somewhere else. 

The drive back up the gravel road (Did I mention full of moguls?), was a harrowing event. Aaron tried to slowly climb up the loose rock, but to no avail. He handed me the wheel and I took off in 1st and 2nd gear like a bat out of hell - engine revved to the max. The car bounced around, stones pinging off the bottom, tires spinning, engine screaming, until I reached a flatter safer area (thankfully no damage). Aaron took over, gingerly driving away, as if to say he was sorry to the low riding Kia. 

We stopped at the makeshift market and Aaron bought a snow cone and a eclipse t-shirt.  Gabe the owner, who was trying to make a killing on this event; stating "I'm going to see more people on this one day than I will for the rest of my life." While Gabe went inside the farmhouse to get ice, his 6 year old son held up the money box and said "We have over a hundred dollars." He proceeded to open the box and his 9 year old sister said "No no." I told the boy I was a stranger, and that he should not open it. The sister agreed, but did say, "Although you aren't really a stranger." It felt good to be trusted by the girl, but dubious about others driving by.

We eventually found a side road that lead to two small trees (the only shade in the area). We were alone and beheld a stupendous view of some desert hills across the valley. Later, Luke (rock climber from Reno) arrived. He and his friends, John, Mark, and Steve showed up.  I called them The Gospell Guys, with Steve the other guy the apostles liked. They camped so far down from us, we still felt secluded.

We enjoyed out little spot immensely...until the morning, when the owner showed up. We were on his property. For a small fee, we were able to stay on his land across the road and next to the John Day river. Needless to say, we took him up on the deal, and our new campsite rested between three shade trees, two of which held Aaron's hammock. 

It was noon and we needed to get some ice. We took a quick trip to Mitchell where dozens of the people from the Eastbay Astonomical Society set up their huge telescopes. After we picked up some ice and a growler of local micro brewed beer, we headed up to the painted hills.  

Arriving at the Painted Hills turnoff, we laughed at a sign that said, "Snow Cones and t-shirts 7 miles ahead." Good old Gabe; trying to lure unsuspecting and thirsty customers up a rough gravel road. We parked, along with hundreds of others, in the heat of the noon day sun and hiked our way to the viewpoint. 

After a quick view of the hills, and a short stop to harvest some soil samples for Aaron's rock and minerals unit, we drove back to our comfortable new campsite.

We relaxed in the shade for awhile and later went swimming a quarter mile away in the river. It was slow moving and perfect for Aaron's videography. He filmed us diving into the water and also used the drone for special effects.

Once the sweat and dirt were cleaned off, we drank our brew, ate, played games, and talked to the Germans about geopolitical events - past and present. We laid down in the late evening to view the Milky Way and other constellations...brilliant to the eyes - no city light pollution. Aaron stayed up to video the star movements while I nodded off to the sounds of crickets, hooting owls, and a pack of barking coyotes. 

The next morning was the big day - The Eclipse! 

Aaron set up two video cameras...one on us and one on the sun. He used the drone to rise up 200 feet and get a 360 degree panoramic shot of the horizon. Aaron's phone had a program that indicated the moon/sun stages. "60 seconds before 1st contact," it called out. Before 2nd contact the birds, frogs, and other animals made noise, and the temperature dropped from 80 to 70 degrees. "2nd contact in 10 seconds," it called out again. We looked up with our sunglasses (safe ISO 12312-2 rated) and the phone said "...3 - 2 - 1, remove glasses." 

It felt odd to look at the sun with the naked eye...It was - incredible. The detail was amazing; the temperature was now around 60 degrees, and a jacket would have been nice. We had two minutes of view time, plenty enough to look around at the environment take quick videos and pictures, and still have time to take in the experience. 

Just before the eclipse expired I saw some golden beads around the edge - then poof! Gone. We sat there and took in the experience for a moment, then realized we had to go.

On the way back Aaron commented on the event as really good, but an atheist mentioned how emotionally effected and spiritually elated he had become. We agreed that it was the closest thing they would get to knowing God. 

Man does great things: builds great monuments, creates inspiring vehicles that can leave our planet, and even overcome the ravages of nature. The eclipse was moving and spectacular, with many stating it was an emotional and or spiritual event. And yet, the experience of a lifetime where you can actually see the sun straight on with its corona glory, brightly spilling around the edge of blackened moon...is only a spec in the eye of God and his glory.

Meeting the eclipse face on is a glorious event, but as wonderful as it is, it pales in comparison with my camping trip and relationship with my son, and doesn't even come close to an encounter with God. 

Liberalism's Changing Portrait

For many years I went along with the idea that the political Left was equivalent to liberal, and the Right equivalent to conservative. But this is not necessarily so. American liberalism has evolved in some surprising ways. Let's take a look at the major shifts between then and now.

American Revolution and Classical Liberalism

John Locke developed the phrase consent of the governed, which refers to the idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised. 

This was the catalyst for the American Revolution. 
Thomas Jefferson used that concept when he wrote "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in the declaration of independence. Included, was Adam Smith's classical economics and free trade, and laissez-faire government with minimal intervention and taxation, and a balanced budget.

The rebels eventually rejected British domination for this classical liberalism. Classical liberals were committed to individualism, liberty and equal rights, along with a vibrant free business community. And while the founders were liberal in their rebellion, they bore more of the social attributes of a social conservative.

Social Liberalism

By the end of the nineteenth century, there grew a perception of the evils of poverty, unemployment, and relative deprivation present within modern industrial cities. Some Victorian writers – including Charles Dickens, Thomas Carlyle and Matthew Arnold – became early influential critics of social injustice and concerned about social balance.

Classical Liberalism was defeated in Russia when the Communists came to power under Vladimir Lenin in October 1917.

The worldwide Great Depression, starting in 1929, hastened the discrediting of classical liberal economics and strengthened calls for state control over economic affairs. 
The English economist John Maynard Keynes, who had been taught classical liberalism, became increasingly a welfare or social liberal. He came to believe that where the market failed to properly allocate resources, the government was required to stimulate the economy until private funds could start flowing again – a "prime the pump" strategy designed to boost industrial production.

Economic woes prompted widespread unrest in the European political world, leading to the strengthening of fascism and communism. Their rise in 1939 culminated in the Second World War. The Allies, who won World War II, included most of the liberal nations as well as communist Russia. They defeated Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and militarist Japan. 

President Roosevelt experimented with Social Liberalism by initiating government programs to help the American people overcome the effects of the Great Depression of 1929. This had limited success, but it was World War II that was the greatest determining factor which pulled the United States out of the economic ma-laze. The gross domestic product increased 17 percent, and unemployment fell below 10 percent for the first time since 1929.

After the war, there was a falling out between Russia and the West, and the Cold War opened in 1947 between the Communist Eastern Bloc and the liberal Western Alliance.

Up until the 1970's, socialist and communist countries continued to grow. In America, an economic crisis was crushing society and could not be resolved by Keynesian tactics. Ronald Reagan redirected policies toward a more market driven strategy - more in-line with Milton Friedman. This included and emphasis in privatization, fiscal austerity, deregulation, free trade, and reductions in government spending in order to increase the role of the private sector and economic growth. 
The U.S. regained a thriving economy and its domination as an economic powerhouse. Eventually communist countries like Russia (through government change) and China (through market change), had to introduce more capitalistic programs to compete. 

Modern  Liberalism Today

By 2008, a major world wide economic crisis caused countries to react in a variety of ways. Austerity was popular in Europe (pay off debt), while the U.S. approach was to use Quantitative easing (borrow more debt). 
Additionally, social changes in the U.S. complicated economic factors. A division between the two major political parties had been growing for decades and came to a severe divide during the 2016 presidential election. 

With a stagnating economy, uncertainty of security, revolutionary social mores, and other worries, Trump was unexpectedly elected into office to the dismay of many.
Much of the expectation for the voters was to let an outsider with business knowledge overcome the ineffective log jam at Capitol Hill. 

Many hidden U.S. voters propelled Trump into office. Another example of this was in the UK. Hidden voters called Shy Tories also broke from the EU, primarily due to immigration and a domineering control from Brussels. It can be said that American Republicans may have garnished some political momentum from their actions.

At present, the social dynamics of Left and Right are at a critical mass. The social divergence between Democrats and Republicans is at an all time high - and could be argued to be a full fledged social/political civil war. Anger and resentment from both sides are currently battling for survival of their ideas. With disagreement on social policies, both sides agree that good economic results should be the goal...however, the means to that end vary greatly. 

I believe that the social ideology of Americans is key to defining political policy. At this time, president Trump follows a populist pragmatic governing style. He wishes to relax the political Left's concepts, while standing firm on some moderate and many of the Right's views. 

What will Liberalism look like in the future?

It's hard to say. 

If Trump can overcome the political backlash from the angry Left, to implement his programs, the U.S. will adapt to the results of his policies. If the policies are successful, the U.S. will evolve into a new system of governing. Social programs will remain, but with a more cost effective strategy. Economics and rule of law will be strictly enforced. 

As a result, Conservatives will take on some of the Left's social characteristics, while the Independents and the Left will shift to the economic right. This would be a major shake-up in politics, and fling the U.S. into an unknown territory, ultimately requiring a redefinition of Modern Liberalism.