Thoughts For Thursday...

Bit of a wet day staring at us out there this morning.
We actually needed some rain, in spite of the very moist spring and early summer we had.
I will say the air is humid enough to wring the hell out, however.
Our Hoosierland weather for today has for us  mostly cloudy skies, bit of sun, a few bouts of showers throughout the day, temps reaching to around 86 degrees, and of course, PLENTY of humidity. Take an umbrella along anyway, and modify your driving accordingly.

Now, with that dispensed with, let's get ourselves something to wet our insides, as we see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the cookie jar is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret."
This was spoken by none other than Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was an American general known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865.
(I thought this so apropos in lieu of recent events in his home state of Virginia)
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee
((A son of Revolutionary War officer Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, Lee was a top graduate of the United States Military Academy and an exceptional officer and military engineer in the United States Army for 32 years. During this time, he served throughout the United States, distinguished himself during the Mexican–American War, and served as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point))
Lee was someone who proved himself time and again, both as a student at West Point as well as an engineer for the U.S. Army and later on,  battlefield tactician,
As could be expected, the WIKI is a long read, and deservedly so, especially when you get down to Lee's legacy, the monuments and statues erected to commemorate the man, as well as his influence in pop culture.

It was not mentioned that the ONLY confederate statue of an individual at Gettysburg is Gen. Robert E. Lee (been there several times - impressive and humbling).
Here's a link to a story that mentions this:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/08/gettysburg_park_hasnt_received.html

Have we come to THIS in America?

Nice to know THOSE statues will be guarded and protected from vandalism.
Both links are good reads, and I hope you take the time to understand the truth.
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
AUGUST 17 -
---it's National I Love My Feet Day

(who the hell thinks stuff up like THIS anyway?)
---It's National Non-Profit Day

(I guess the average American family can claim THIS status by now?)
---It's National Thrift Shop Day

(good place to go when you're a "non-profit"...right?)
---It's National Massachusetts Day

(which means little to nothing in Indiana)
*** Next up, let's shift gears and stop over to "Kitten Corner"...

Our kids were not AS well-behaved as they could have been, but they were better than they HAVE been of late.
We get the ups and downs of feline frivolity, nestled in between bouts of napping and eating.

They do spend time with some toys (Lord knows they have enough for several cats), and Violet likes to carry one around with her and "talk to it" in the hallway.
Gallifrey just likes to toss a toy in the air and ":juggle" it around.
A video might be in store there, because all you get with a still picture is a very blurry cat.
*** Next, time to look in on "Midnight and Company"...

The twosome were right on time outside, waiting for food, and it was Midnight's turn to be M.I.A. for some of the day.
The afternoons have both of them back and staying until dusk.

I think I look forward to the "last feeding" of the evening as much as they do...nice way to end the day for all of us.
*** Last back to the bakery, this story got me to thinking..
(and that can be dangerous at times).

Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170817/citizens-unite-against-hate

Okay, so local people united against hate downtown...I get that.
But the sub-headline tells me much about the "real" meaning of this rally.
(Downtown vigil held in response to unrest, Trump)

Aha...so there IS another underlying "theme" to this get-together...
These people are playing the (pardon the pun) "Trump-Card", as in rail against the president (again).

You know, there IS a double-standard at work here.
No one seemed to decry Obummer when he was proven incorrect in his assessment of various actions taken by police when HE was in office...and those should have been called out, because he was dead wrong. He got a free pass (as usual).
Now, we have a president who denounced hate groups of ANY kind (and there are black ones as well as white ones...look them up), but that's not ENOUGH for these people...or he didn't "word it correctly", or some other bullshit excuse.
Thing is, I haven't heard ONE damn REASON as to why these (leftist) folks should be saying what they say about our commander-in-chief. I've only heard excuses, and we know that, like assholes, everyone's got one.

There is also a hypocrisy at work here, and one in which we ALL may be guilty.
Think on this...if there is a hate group, and people speak out AGAINST that group, and actually say they HATE that group, does that not make the ones against the group a "hate group" in their own right?
It would appear so.

I despise any divisive person, group, organization, cadre, cabal...you name it, that does nothing but pull our country apart, rather than bring it together.
Oh, I also hate the terminally and chronically STUPID among us.
I'm far from being alone on this, so that must (by default) make us our own hate group.
Well, there is hate and there is HATE, right?
I know I hate hating things (and people)....I can find much better use of my time.
There is also "righteous indignation". I could do a week of posts JUST on that.

But since many of the protesting people seem to have forgotten what morality is, as well as civility, there can be no discourse or debate as to why they do what they do...and to what end they wish to achieve, is there?
For some reason, people have become addicted to sensationalism, especially where it pertains to the media, and since many of these younger upstarts have never known a society without all these devices meant to divert their attention from what really goes on, they have no point of reference when it comes to how things used to be before all this.
Perhaps we need to open some addition centers for THIS kind or rhetoric?

This is indeed a culture war, and as in any war, the first casualty is usually the TRUTH.
In some ways, it's like having a planet full of spoiled little brats...in ADULT form.
And woe to us all if and when they "take over"; history will change according to their whims, and everything will be settled with violence, rather than discussion and reason.
And, like the saying goes..."If we don't learn from history, then we are destined to repeat it."
Maybe the change we sorely need will come before that happens (again). We can only hope.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.