[shmih-GEH-gee]

The title of this essay is a word I’ve used in past commentaries. Schmegegge is a Yiddish word for baloney, hot air, nonsense, and by extension, bullshit.

Other cultures fascinate me. I’ve lived, traveled, conversed, listened, and absorbed a lot of erudition in my LXXII years on this rock. I embrace this increased awareness because I never know when this knowledge will be helpful.

America is a melting pot of people and languages. We’re an amalgamation of everyone that merges with – not storms – our community. Much of our language originated from other countries, as do some of our customs – like Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and Cinco de Mayo.

Sadly, we’ve lost our sense of community and regressed into tribal monikers and identifiers that challenge and expunge that unity. As if that’s not bad enough, we partitioned along partisan political paradigms. Continue reading →

…when you don’t hear from a friend for awhile.

Earlier today, I realized that I had not heard from a good friend and major contributor to the Kettle Moraine Publications family of websites – Justin O. Smith.

About a month ago his family experienced a death of his granddaughter’s fiance, and I have maintained  a great concern for how the family has been holding up.

Early today, I sent Justin a brief text which stated;

“Hey – are you OK?” – to which he responded; Continue reading →

George Mason, “the father of the Bill of Rights.”

Your 21st century American lifestyle may have led you to overlook “oversight.”

Perhaps you vaguely recall its mention during an American government class sometime in your educational past.

Thankfully, our founders did not overlook it, as they stated clearly in Article I, Section I, of our Constitution that “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.”

Virginia’s George Mason made a compelling case for oversight at the Constitutional Convention, where he stated that federal lawmakers “are not only legislators but they possess inquisitorial powers. They must meet frequently to inspect the conduct of the public offices.”

Sadly, the conduct of some federal legislators leads casual observers to mistake congressional oversight hearings as a venue for partisan playground palaver. Continue reading →

Menny Floot Cakes een thees Adminislashun!

“Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” ~ Hebrews 3:15

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So Jesus told those indignant listeners this parable:

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’

So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him

His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’

Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” ~ Luke 1-2,11-32
Continue reading →

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” ~ from The Wizard of Oz

In 1939 America marveled at Hollywood’s masterful adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s fantasy. The story is a metaphor for the twentieth century’s social and political times. While the movie is entertaining, the book is astonishing. Watch for the allegory as you read the story or watch the film.

Many words describe the tactic of distraction, a derivation of distract; another is obfuscation, a derivative of obscure; both deal with concealment and, in the context of this essay, hiding the truth.

As you read this essay, consider the following single-word question: WHY?
Continue reading →

“Big Guy,” J.D. Hayworth, Author

For the better part of four generations, Americans have grown into adulthood seemingly afloat upon an ocean of acronyms.

That’s especially true when it comes to our federal government.

News from Washington is filled with letters denoting governmental entities — DOJ, FBI, CIA… CDC, OMB — and the one agency that expects to hear directly from you every April 15 — the IRS.

What most of us find especially taxing is the explosion of acronyms that corresponds with the exponential growth of government. Continue reading →

“We fear no one:” Ukrainians raise flags to defy Russia invasion fear – Reuters

I’ve seen enough death and dying over the course of my lifetime to know that I’ll always try to find a peaceful path out of any situation, regardless of what it is. Violence is a double-edged sword that cuts both ways, and if I was a world leader, going to war would always be the last resort.

The victors of wars may reap some sort of reward in the aftermath, but the citizens of both countries always lose. Continue reading →