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Make America Good Again

Jim Cathcart by Hope and Pray wall on Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship

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Vultures eat the dead or dying.

It is a fact of nature. If you are too weak to resist them, they will finish you off as they dine. No amount of indoctrination or retraining will get a vulture to eat only approved food. Likewise with rats, they’ll gnaw on it even if it isn’t organic matter. Scavengers do not make good pets. Nor will they ever be your friend.

Ironically, a group of vultures when not in flight is called a Committee. I’ll resist the temptation to run with that idea for now. Vultures feeding are called a Wake. Vultures in flight are called a Kettle. Let’s just go with Committee.

Reports have shown very little separation between Al Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban. All are Islamic extremists. They are predators, scavengers and vultures. Among desert people they are the desert rats. It is their nature to destroy and devour. In fact, they revel in it. It is their idea of a good time. Really. Let that sink in. They seek subjugation of and dominance over all who would disagree with them. How do you negotiate with such a creature? You don’t. “Negotiation” implies two parties seeking to reach a conclusion that will be acceptable to both. They don’t do that. But we do.

Is America Good?

We have been good and, in fact, that is our main weakness. In war anything that reduces the threat from an adversary is an exploitable weakness. So, when ‘coyotes’ are herding immigrants across the Rio Grande they will often throw children into the water, knowing that Americans will rush to their rescue. Then in the confusion, the drug smugglers cross the border upstream uncontested. They don’t care about human life and we do, so they use it to distract us by creating an emergency we can’t resist.

Our adversaries are free from the limitations imposed by caring about honor, duty, friendship, compassion, or even personal integrity. The “god” they believe in is a scary dude that will take you out if you disobey. Their faith, if you can call it that, is in diminishing human life to the level of compliance and ritual. They believe in killing and they are not inhibited by morals. They treat women as cattle and don’t allow them to become educated or productive. They only want them subjugated and indoctrinated so that they will obey. They have no interest in the advancement of human life. They simply want to control it.

Meanwhile back at the ranch:

In America all of our laws, policies, cultural practices, religions, and societal norms are based upon the valuing of human life. We believe in caring about each other and being good stewards for future generations. Generations of good people. This is rooted in the belief in a good God, the God of the Bible, a loving Creator. We have Muslims, Hindus, Protestants, Catholics, and many variations on these faiths but the one dominant premise in America is: Human Life Matters! We are creations of a loving God and it is our blessing to help to advance life on Earth. We are the most joyful people on Earth, the most resilient, the most creative, and certainly the most influential in the history of the world.

Everything in Moderation.

When we are more compassionate than committed to victory then we are exploitable. When we go to the other extreme we become creatures like our enemies. There is a point along this continuum beyond which we are no longer being compassionate nor considerate. Beyond that point we are being stupid and weak. In a tornado it is not smart nor nice to hold open a door and say, “No, you first, I insist.” It is a crisis so just find shelter and help others do the same! Likewise in a war, know that your vulnerability will be exploited and plan against that tactic.

The same applies when raising children. Parents who shelter their children from difficulty tend to raise weaklings and cowards. It is as if they believe that a child’s muscles will grow if the parent lifts the weights for them. People who do not face difficulty do not learn to deal with challenges. A “safe space” on a school campus where you are shielded from those who disagree with you is a really dumb idea. It doesn’t keep the kids safe, it just deflects the difficulties temporarily. It is like finding a shelter that only protects you from the first few hours of a two day hurricane. Sooner or later all of us have to deal with bullies, political opponents, jealous coworkers, unfaithful partners, greedy vendors, unscrupulous business people, and the physical dangers of the world. If we don’t then we end up hiding in Mom’s basement long after we are adults. And we seek to blame others for our weakness. Protect your kids from harm but let them find their own way through difficulties.

Goodness is not something that is taught.

It comes from what we believe. Our natural state is animal; do what it takes to eat and survive. Our enlightened state is spiritual; seek to do good and to advance and grow. Mortimer Adler once said there are only two basic questions we need to answer: Is there a God? and What is his nature? If there is no God then we are just intelligent animals, so do what works and then die. If there is a God but he’s a mean S.O.B. then you’d better figure out what he wants and give it to him. Just obey and he won’t hurt you.

But, if there is a Loving God, everything is different! That means that someone cares about us and we should care about each other. That means that Life has a purpose and we will become happier and more fulfilled when we help to advance life. Everyone who finds meaning in their life will tell you how good life is. Everyone who finds life meaningless will be angry because life is futile. Money, fun, food and bling are very poor satisfiers. They are the sugar of life: a big rush followed by an empty and guilty feeling. Love and goodness are the proteins and minerals, the nutrients of life that foster even more life.

Hope and Pray

If there is no God then what do you pray to? You don’t. Instead you beg, demand, rail against, gamble or blame whatever is outside of you: the weather, the country, the laws, the unfairness, the systemic-anything that disadvantages people like you. When you find others who have the same sour worldview then you organize to pass more laws, rules, policies and requirements so that others won’t have an edge over you. No God equals many many more laws, rules and regulations. Diminished life. An exercise in futility.

But when there is a loving God you can count on goodness as an asset. With good people contracts are kept. With good people consideration of others is given. With good people compassion is shown. With good people what we do in private is not a threat because good people don’t lie nor cheat nor steal. There’s nothing to hide. Good people do generous things with no expectation of reward. They thrive on being good. There is joy in generous living.

Hope comes in two forms. Weak hope is “I sure hope it doesn’t rain on our picnic.” Strong hope is “I see a pathway to safety! There is hope for us after all.” Weak hope is begging, it is a subject’s form of proactivity. But it is rooted in negative expectations. Pessimism is the worldview of weak hope. “There is no way! We tried that before and it didn’t work. What makes you think you are so special? You’ll never make it with all this traffic. Give up you are wasting your time.” Strong hope is expecting to succeed.

My own family’s motto, from long ago in Scotland, is “I Hope To Speed.” It used to perplex me so I looked up the ancient meanings of those words. Hundreds of years before automobiles “Speed” meant: to prosper or succeed. And hope, in this context, meant positive expectation. So, today’s translation of my family motto is: I Expect To Succeed. No wonder I  became a motivational speaker!

Now look at the dark side:

Closed Schools, Teachers Unions Blockades, Comprehensive Racism Training, Unconditional Surrender to the Taliban, Unfettered Government Spending, US Support to Rogue States,  Fighting COVID with Masks, Mandatory Vaccination, Micro-agressions, Pejorative Language, Systemic unfairness, Technological Threats from China/Russia/Iran, Social Media Censorship, White/Black/Brown/Yellow Supremacists, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Climate Change Deniers, Defund the Police, Make Landlords forgive Rental Debt, Make Banks forgive Student Loans, Low Respect among Nations, Stalemates in Congress, Lies from our Leaders, Communism, Socialism, Greed, Slavery, Banning Plastic Straws, Homeless multitudes, Nonstop Immigration, Voting Law fights, Atheism, Next!  

Surely there is something else to fear that I overlooked in this list. Name your poison. Which ones get your blood boiling? If there is no loving God, then folks, we are toast! This laundry list of evils is all rooted in conflict among those who are not good and cannot be trusted to do the right thing. Good people could resolve almost all of this, without being required to do so. Pick your devil and apply goodness to dealing with it, most problems  would dissolve quickly.

How many laws are enough?

Among bad people no amount of laws would ever be enough. Look at the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of laws on the books already in the USA. We have storehouses of documents across the country with policies, regulations, laws, requirements, codes, restrictions and other pronouncements that are not working. Passing a law against murder didn’t stop murders. So they passed more painful punishments. That’s not just a crime, it’s a “hate crime!” Excuse me, but all violent crimes are rooted in a hateful attitude. And penalties only restrict the good people who might consider doing the deed. Criminals just work harder to not get caught. What’s the difference between a 7 year prison sentence and a 50 year sentence when paroles and pardons can erase either of them?

Laws are not the answer. Goodness is the Answer!!!!

The best and cheapest law enforcement comes about in the home. When Mom and Dad require good behavior then the community doesn’t have to worry about it. When families go to church, pray together, bless their meals, say the Pledge of Allegiance at public events, then goodness ensues. When children are required by their parents to behave respectfully, responsibly, and with good intentions then society becomes safe again. When police officers are treated with respect and friendship they respond in kind.

There is no adversary so great that good people working together cannot resolve it. There is hope as long as there is goodness. There is goodness when we pray in gratitude rather than as a form of begging. Let’s be a grateful, generous, self-disciplined Good Nation Again!

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Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE is an Executive MBA Professor, Author of 21 books, Hall of Fame Professional Speaker, Top 1% TEDx video (2.4 million views), US Army veteran, Singer/Songwriter, and Lifelong Motorcyclist. He is known as "Your Virtual VP" for his Advisory/Mentor work with organizations worldwide. Based in Texas...and proud of it!



 
 
 

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Elections

Let’s Reclaim America’s Optimism Advantage

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On this New Year’s Day, America needs more than a parade and great football games; our people need renewed optimism in living our American Dream. Instead of looking for government fixes or some magical new president who will make things right, we need a kick in the pants to get busy making America work no matter what obstacles we face.

At the 1992 Republican Convention, Ronald Reagan shared what he considered the secret of his success as our President: “I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence, rather than your doubts.”

Oh, how we need leadership like that in America today. As we start this year, too many people feel powerless. Inflation may be coming down, but high fuel and food prices have taken their toll on far too many Americans. Watching the invasion on our Southern border means too many of our cities are being overwhelmed with no end in sight. We wonder if there is anything we can do but watch. The sense of despair and helplessness is contagious, but so is optimism. What attitude do you spread?

There is more than you think within your control. Every day, you make choices to make your situation better or worse. Studies of optimism find that optimism comes from a track record of overcoming obstacles. If you have had obstacles the last few years and are still making it work, pat yourself on the back. Be a proud survivor, not a victim so many seem to take pride in claiming to be.

Make each day count by starting your day doing one thing to make your situation better. Find one way to cut expenses. Find a way to increase your resources. Make a call or visit to nurture your network of colleagues and friends. Learn from your mistakes and celebrate your successes, both big and small. Nurture your faith realizing that God gave you gifts and give thanks every day for the blessings you have. Lest you forget, you’re blessed to live in America. People risk everything to come here, and few want to leave.

Yes, this is an election year, and it would sure be a gift to have a leader who would nurture the hope and optimism of all our citizens. So as the campaigns progresses and you listen to potential leaders vying for your support, ask yourself a few key questions:

Do they want to control your choices or ensure your freedoms?

Do they want to make you more or less dependent on government?

Do they want to increase the size of government and entitlements and the taxes needed to fund them or decrease them?

Do they want to force your children to go to public schools that don’t’ get the results your children deserve, or are they willing to give you the freedom to pick the schools your children need?

Do they disagree with their opponents and state why, or do they demean them and call them names?

Do they want to grow the size of government and its debt, or do they want to decrease both?

Do they believe in the citizens they represent, or do they convey that they are the answer to America’s future?

Do they take responsibility for their mistakes and actions or quickly deny responsibility and blame others?

No President is perfect. It’s easy to promise and a lot harder to deliver. Reagan focused on three things: an optimism based on free-enterprise innovation, smaller government, and lower taxes. He delivered on all but smaller government. As Reagan advisor Arnold Laffer confessed, “When it came to cutting welfare payments and school lunch,…it was very hard. Someone would come over and say, ‘How can you cut school lunches?’ Reagan would reply, ‘I guess you’re right; I’ll tell them not to cut that one.’”

The pressure to keep growing government is tempting and easy to understand, but it is not what America was created for. America’s form of government was designed to protect citizens from an over-controlling, over-taxing government. We need to reclaim that passion for freedom and self-reliance. Our founding citizens wanted the opportunity to pursue happiness, not happiness given to them at the expense of other taxpayers.

The election is months away. So I’m going to borrow on the optimism of Ronald Reagan to inspire us all on this first day of 2024: “I’m not taking your time…to ask you to trust me. Instead, I ask you to trust yourself. That is what America is all about… It’s the power of millions of people like you who will determine what will make America great again.”

Reagan wouldn’t want us to wait for the next election. We’ve had enough of eloquent politicians who think they have all the answers. We need to believe in ourselves and get busy living our own dreams. Then, in November, let’s elect a leader who will stay out of our way and give “We the People” freedom again—freedom to fail, succeed, and thrive in our own American Dream!
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Faith

Three Cheers for Christian America

Thank you for safeguarding the public and private expressions of others

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Considering all the nations in the world and the dominating religions within those nations, Christianity is the most beneficial. When Christians are in the majority, it is good for everyone who resides there.

Christians during the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, and up to the mid-20th century contributed to much of the world’s turmoil. In recent decades, however, they have been the most accommodating, accepting, and peaceful group. I’m glad I live in a Christian nation and, given the options globally, would not have it any other way.

Best of the Best

Particularly in America, Christians today are tolerant, acknowledging the rights of others. They recognize the right of Israel to exist. They fully embrace Israel’s strategic role in the Middle East.

Too many people on the left who regard themselves as the arbiters of what is right and true, in minor and major ways have been persecuting Christians for decades. They do not want public displays of Christianity anywhere in America. Their agenda is to remove all vestiges of religion in America. They contend that America would be a better, more egalitarian nation.

Just the opposite is true. Those who want to stamp out religion in America don’t understand that our origins and 250-year history is based on Judeo-Christian principles. The cancel culture left seek to reject the U.S. Constitution out-of-hand.

We have encountered leftist groups who shatter statues and historic symbols they deem to be oppressive and part of an old regime that was illegitimate from the outset. Many of these perpetrators hide behind ski masks while regarding themselves as heroes. In reality, they are fascists, seeking to control us.

Leftist enforcers have no idea how intolerant they are and that they are no better than those they seek to diminish. In the U.S., people of all faiths are free to celebrate their faith. If one particular faith, Christianity, was predominant from inception, to today, that does not preclude other religious groups from celebrating.

Congress: Hands Off

Leftists make erroneous statements about the “separation of church and state.” The phrase simply is not contained in the Constitution or any founding document. It appeared in a letter that President Thomas Jefferson sent to a Baptist congregation in Danbury, Connecticut. His note to them was designed to reaffirm that the government would not make dictates related to the church.

The First Amendment to the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” So, when it comes to religion, Congress must keep its hand off.

As a nonreligious person, I have nothing against seeing a religious display on public or private property. Indeed, America shorn of religious symbology would be a dismal place. The Ten Commandments on a public plaque? Fine. Christmas trees in the town square? Flip on the lights! A mosque being built in America? Why not?

As long as everyone is tolerant of other religions, such developments represent no threat to anyone. It is those who operate in secret who represent a threat, as are those who wish to vanquish the rights of others to publicly exhibit symbology.

The Option to Sing Along

When I attended grammar school, I was exposed to the annual Christmas pageant. I had the choice to skip the assembly. In each case, however, I chose to enjoy the merriment of the festivities, but not sing along. My young classmates did not require me to capitulate. Nor did I expect them to modify their festival to accommodate me. Would any aware American who moved to another country expect that country to diminish their celebrations to accommodate the newbie?

I’ve had the opportunity to visit 46 of the 50 states, and 73 countries. I have walked through hallowed halls of shrines, mosques, churches, and ashrams. While Christians are being persecuted in many countries around the world, I don’t know of a single instance today where people feel unsafe in a Christian majority country.

So, I say to you, if you are a Christian, in America, please know that large numbers of us support your right to practice your religion.

For All You Do

Thank you for safeguarding the public and private expressions of others. Thank you for helping to establish a climate where non-Christians and others can feel welcome. Thank you for becoming a peaceful, tolerant religion that rightfully serves as a model for others around the globe.

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