Use More Color:

I have watched with increasing dismay what I call the dumbing of America. To put a slightly different twist on this let me say it this way. American minds are being encouraged to think in fewer and fewer colors. I say encouraged rather than taught because teachers if they truly are teachers want their students to think in more colors not fewer colors. So here is an easy test for all Americans: If a commentator or pundit or elected official or someone running for office is encouraging you to think in fewer colors or cannot express themselves using a full palette of colors simply withdraw or withhold your support of such people.

America has always been a country founded on diversity. We were founded by 13 colonies that differed widely in not only their approach to god but in their approach to life. These differences led to problems but the differences led also to a society that was open to new ideas and new ways of thinking.

We have an American today who thinks coining new words is the same as coining new ideas. In fact she has compared herself to none other than the immortal bard William Shakespeare. A single act of one of Shakespeare’s plays contains more colors than all of the tweets this person has ever posted. Truly here we can see the dumbing of America in full bloom as it were. Sadly the flower is gray and will be hard put to attract any followers other than those that think in monochromatic terms.

I would encourage all of my countrymen to think in more colors not in fewer colors. Ockham’s razor always applies but not to the point of exclusion of concepts. Nor should Ockham’s razor be used to shave the corners and make a concept fit a narrow minded bigot.


William of Ockham

The 4th of July:

America’s birthday has been 234 years ago now yet to me it still seems new. I was struck by the message from our first black president’s wife. It was about the families of those serving America in the military. Peace loving people like me tend to forget that America’s military strength is in fact what made and what keeps us free.

To my grandson who was born many years after our country was born I say thank you Marine for defending my liberty. Thank you and those who served with you and before you.

To all that serve or have served or will serve in America’s military may I say thank you. Thank you for doing your job and doing it well. And to the rest of us I can only remind you that these young men and women stand watch over all that we hold dear. Treat each of them with the respect they have so rightly earned.