Open Thread – June 19, 2012

Just another representative of the other people, certainly not the citizen subject serfdummies.

Rand Paul Confronted on Mitt Romney Endorsement

http://youtu.be/WtO5INu-VY4

“SYNTHIA,” “Big Dog” and Other Beasts
http://suebradleyarchives.com/synthia/

June 19, 2012
Richard Chellis Buchanan

Respect. It’s a word that’s been bandied about from time to time but
really, no… really, just what is respect?

First off, respect is a wage. A wage that is earned by those possessing
integrity. Thousands of years ago a man of integrity was described as one
“having clean hands, (without violence, or bloodshed) and a pure heart”.
One who “does not lift up their heart to what is false”. “One who swears
to their own hurt, (loss, or lack of benefit) and does not repent” (change
their mind, or take back their word). Today we just call it, “Doing the
right thing, even when no one is looking”. Sooner or later, someone will
be looking, and a man of integrity will be caught doing what just comes
natural… “The right thing”. A man without integrity, sooner or later will
also be caught doing what just comes natural… to them.

Secondly, respect is a currency that is traded by men (and women) of
integrity. Our founding fathers so eloquently put this axiom to paper when
they penned the Constitution of “These United States of America” by vowing
to each other their lives, duty, and sacred honor. These men held each
other in high regard whom as by life-long example proved they were men of
deep integrity, and as men of integrity they were each able to pledge,
without reservation, their own lives, as well as the lives of their
families, and even more importantly, the task laid on them to frame a code
of ethics for a populous to live by, and then their most valuable
possession, their honor, or what we call today, “a good name”. Indeed
these men entrusted to each other without reservation, the task of starting
a new country, and that, not a country, but something only once seen
before; a republic. This was a daunting task, one not to be undertaken by
lower men. These men had steeled their will to uphold true values for the
duration of their lives, and not turn back, even once, from those values.
These were men of deep integrity, and as such had amassed great wealth,
some in lands, and houses, cattle, and vineyards, some, not so fruitful in
earthly possessions, but all nonetheless possessing a great wealth of
respect, and a respect that has left each of them with a lasting legacy.

As a wage respect can be earned, but never lost. Respect remember, is a
currency. It can be diminished (among men without integrity) by slander (a
false report), or as a currency exchanged for lesser currencies, such as
disgrace, scorn, cowardice, and disdain. Those without integrity can earn
respect, but that respect is only a façade… the appearance of wealth, but,
as men without integrity they sooner or later exchange their respect for a
lesser currency. A little more than three thousand years ago King
Solomon, a man reported to be the wisest man who ever lived, said; “A good
name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than
silver and gold.” How sad to trade a good name for a commodity as low as
silver or gold. How much more to one’s loss to trade their respect, or “A
good name” for currencies of a value even lower than gold, or silver.

For as long as man has been on the earth there has been envy, and
covetousness. There are those who desire to have the riches of others
without having to earn them. Though it might be called “painting with a
broad brush” the saying is true, “Lazy are those who take goods and wages
of others by force” and that saying applies equally to tangible, and
intangible assets. We are all aware of people who stoop to break in and
steal, but what about those who descend to the lowest form of humanity and
tear down the words, and good name of those with integrity. Those who
attempt to steal respect by stifling, and covering the words and deeds of
good men. What about those who would “take a pen knife and cast the
(written) words into a fire?” Those who would remove a theses from the
church door in Wittenburg? What of the Torries who wanted the neck of
“Poor Richard”, and hated the words pressed into the pages of his almanac?
As it has been in the past, so it is now. Stifle the words! Remove the
text from public view! Have the words outlawed, and deny these men of
integrity a platform, but among men, the whispers of the deeds of men of
integrity cannot help but be shouted from the rooftops. Men of integrity,
without platform, text, or venue, will still have deeds and hearts that
will cry out their integrity, and as such, these men of great respect will
have an enduring legacy, and honor.

All that having been said, what of you?