An Easter Mass To Remember

Like many around the world today we got dressed in our Easter Sunday best. My wife and daughter were dressed to the hilt big time and my son and I who are similar in what “dressed up” means put on our best jeans and finest shirts, with collars even. Normally, when I walk into church I stay focused on the Crucifix and listen to the music and the homily. It’s the Crucifix that always draws me in. Each Easter our church covers our life size Crucifix with a pink or vibrant curtain. The church is decorated with pastels and “happy” colors. The rotunda of the church which shines a bright light onto the altar had ribbons and tassels that hanged down around the altar. It was beautiful. We got there early for Easter crowd. The first thing my daughter said was ” I’d love those tassels in my room Dad”

There were trumpets and brass instruments being played and music that was great in uplifting spirits.Father Chuck announced something special before Mass. He said that Morgan who’s grandmother died not quite a year ago was going to sing a song that she sang at the funeral and inspired so many that day and thought it perfect for this Easter day and he commented on her voice and piano playing. Morgan sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. We couldn’t see Morgan from where we were sitting but it was the voice of an angel and I got teared up as my wife did and my daughter, and my son was trying to hold it back as I looked at him. When the song was over Morgan’s father grabbed her hand and walked her back to the pew and right by us. She could not have been fore than fourteen years old. She was blind and as I looked around the church there was not a dry eye to be seen. I wish I could have recorded the beauty of this music and moment.

My favorite part of every Mass is the homily/sermon. Father Jim’s homily compared our regular lives to our front yard and backyards. In a nutshell he said that our front yard is for show with flowers and groomed lawn etc.and our backyard is where we really live our real lives. A privacy fence, eating and drinking and being merry not so manicured etc. Good times and bad times. He said. (We’ve all heard this) “How many times have you been told or been asked to not come through someone’s front door but come through the back?” He asked that when we pray to always ask Jesus to enter our backyard, that’s our real life where our real life is. Not to be ashamed and not to fear our real lives with Him. Open up.

My mind works at a rapid pace, through all this emotion and wise words I’m thinking about baseball starting this week and trying to stay focused and also trying to stay focused on Fr. Jim’s homily and I kept hearing the family next to mine sniffling and crying. I could understand I suppose because it’s an emotional day for Christians. As Mass ended I noticed the family next to us break down as memorials were being mentioned. The family was that of Marine Corporal Aaron Ripperda. He was killed in the mortar shell explosion last week in Nevada. a> It was so touching and I didn’t know what to say as I walked by them other than God Bless. http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/372671/3/Volunteers-plant-flags-to-honor-fallen-Marine

This Easter has been a blessing in so many ways, different than any other. I believe that the main thing in joy or pain is that He Is Risen. That’s really all that matters. Our country is so blessed to be blessed by God and the people that very blessing has awarded us.

Jimi

Thoughts On Newtown Tragedy

I’ve been mulling over and sifting through my feelings on this horrible tragedy. I’ve watched over social media and watched the news and thoughts roll through on my Twitter feed. I’ve read heartfelt and genuine posts and tweets. I’ve seen some of the most vile and horrific acts of humanity online as well and look no further than WestBoro Baptist Church for example. I’ve spoke to friends and family and felt the need to write on this just one time.

When I heard about the shooting like everyone else I thought of my kids. I thought of my wife as she’s a kindergarten teacher so throughout the day I thought of her and her tiny little people in her class. The tiny little people that each night I hear funny stories about when she comes home from work to talk. Little innocent babies that are just trying to learn the simple things to get their lives started in education. Little things like learning how to line up or coloring between the lines etc. This is what I thought of. I was listening to Dana Loesch’s show on the radio hearing the news as it rolled in. One thought that I can’t and probably never will get out of my head is wondering of the terror and helplessness that these babies must have felt in their final minutes on this Earth. I ran through every scenario in my head of what could have been done and of all things what I could have done. Like a child myself I wished in my head that I could had been Superman and flown to that school and rescued them. Silly I know but that’s what I wished. Then I thought of another vision that will never leave my head, a documentary I saw on the tragedy in Beslan. A school that was taken over by Muslim extremists. There was a small boy that climbed out of a window and landed on the ground and sat for a moment while onlookers and officials yelled for him to run toward them. Instead scared he climbed back into the window back into the carnage. I don’t know if the boy survived I just pray that he did.

I thought about a line in a song by the band Train “When children have to play inside so they don’t disappear” I thought of Clapton’s “Tears In Heaven”. This is how my mind works just trying to gather and reach out for some sort of sanity in an act of horrible insanity. Reaching out for anything to hold onto to gain some sort of mental footing. I am one I suppose who’s quick to emotion. I’m quick to anger, quick to sorrow, but also I’m one quick to reason and always try and get back to a joy that no one can steal away.

Late Friday night I reached out to a friend and mentor a well known and prominent Priest in New York City. A 9/11 hero and no stranger to tragedy. I sent a short message about the shooting and expressed my sorrow and asked for direction. He essentially told me to spare him the hysteria and to keep a stiff upper lip and to see the big picture. One thing he said was ” A lunatic has created lunacy” He told me that other countries on a daily basis go through these things and they mourn and they move on. He expressed his concern that neurotics and sentimentality are destroying this country and that stronger countries are watching us fall. He later told me that we must toughen up and pray and stay focused. In other words don’t be shaken and that we have too much at stake now. Hold onto what built us or we will be conquered.

Though initially I felt scolded in a way, I then realized that he was right. America has become soft in many senses of the word. We are the most powerful country militarily but little be little our strength within is being eroded and we are finding ourselves second guessing who we really are. There will always be patriots among us and we won’t always be popular in our views but with our Constitution under attack and our 1st Amendment being dragged through the mud and our 2nd Amendment now the focus of knee jerk politicians it’s now more than ever needed that we do keep a “stiff upper lip” as Father said and see the big picture. It’s important to look to our past and what we’ve overcame and lives lost so that we can enjoy freedom as it was meant to be.

This thought process does not mean that we cannot protect our children or are hindered there, but within the freedoms that God has given us and blessed this great country with we owe it to future generations to hold onto what built us and what we are indeed blessed with. Whatever one might think of the causes of this terrible tragedy or what you may deem a solution? Allowing the tearing down of the Constitution is not the answer. It is the life blood of our country and has also initiated valiant acts for freedom and protection of others around the world.

In this tragedy. Mourn. Think of those babies lost. Protect your own. Through God’s love let them hold onto their innocence as long as they can and we should take great joy in it. We all have innocent qualities and we find strength in our children’s innocence. We are essentially children ourselves… God’s children. Yet as parents as Americans we must stand strong and defend what built us and what made us great and make no mistake we are. God bless the tiny babies lost and those that held them dear.

Jimi

History In Our Backyards

Since I was a kid I’ve always been fascinated by history. Especially early American history. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live “back then”. I’ve always been amazed with the hard times and struggles that people throughout history have overcame and also I suppose it’s an escape for me into a search of simpler times
as well.
I’ll never forget when I was in sixth grade I got to go with a group of students to stay overnight at Ft. Massac in southern Illinois. We got to sleep in one of the bastions and were able to see Kentucky across the Ohio river. Looking back what a strategic location and picturesque as well. I’ll never forget the gentleman and ladies dressed in Colonial clothing and military uniforms or the smell of fire wood burning and the reenactments and the authentic Colonial foods (apple fritters) and hot chocolate in the morning. See their site here. http://dnr.state.il.us/Lands/landmgt/parks/R5/frmindex.htm

Fort De Chartres. Illinois

My wife and I used to take a monthly road trip to “wherever”. We would just get in the car and drive and stop and see anything and everything that was interesting. One of our favorite drives was down Illinois’ Great River Road where we found Fort De Chartres which is pictured above. Unlike Fort Massac (a wooden structure) this fort is an enormous stone structure. We made this trip several times and it’s reenactments and museum are really a must see in early American history.

Cahokia Mounds, Illinois.

Although at times I take it for granted I suppose and drive by it twice a day to and fro from work but another great part of American history is at Cahokia Mounds. Home of the largest ancient earthen structure in North America. Acres of amazing mounds. Mounds that are the only thing left of what was once a huge population of Mississippians or some times called Cahokian or Kahoka. I grew up in the town in which this legendary part of American history resides. Years ago it just had a small museum and now it has an elaborate interpretive center and it’s free to the public. I encourage visits and donations Here’s their site. It’s a good one. http://www.cahokiamounds.org/ .

A short distance away is St. Louis. St.Louis itself was once known as Mound City. St. Louis once had mounds on its riverfront. Settlers built homes and go figure, taverns on top of some of them. There are remnants of that age in a riverfront street named Mound street and also in its turn of the century advertising on it’s riverfront buildings.

Nearly ten years ago we moved out into “the sticks” built a home nestled in farmland. Far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the great city of St. Louis (which I love as my own) but close enough that I can make the trek into work every day. I’ve heard a couple people in town mention a place called Cox Monument. I never gave it much of a thought until my neighbor mentioned it again and in asking him about it he told me there was a massacre there. I looked into it and found it was just a very short distance from where I live.

I went online and found out where it was. After Church this morning I took my kids down a long gravel country road to show them the history in their “backyard” I told them the story about the Cox massacre along the way.

In 1808 the Jesse Cox family settled in what this area and worked to clear and cultivate the land. They built a log cabin and were in the process of building a mill to grind their corn meal. In 1811 while away from their cabin, some say working on their mill, others say at nearby Hill’s Fort to gather supplies. http://www.fortsofillinois.org/  While away a party of Pottawatomie Indians found 16 year old Rebecca Cox and her 20yr old brother Elijah Cox left alone.

They murdered Elijah, cut his heart out and placed it on his head. They put Rebecca on a horse and started heading North. Rebecca left strips of her apron along their path so she could be traced. Rangers from Hill’s Fort and surrounding areas tracked down the Indians near Litchfield, Il. Rebecca it is said in seeing the trailing Rangers jumped off the horse but not before receiving a blow from her captor’s tomahawk to her hip.

The Rangers caught up to them and rescued Rebecca and then killed the band Pottawatomie. Rebecca would recover and later marry her boyfriend William Gregg and then move to Arkansas where he was also killed by Indians. The tension was building at this time in the country and it was a time in history leading up to the War Of 1812. Many of these native tribes were encouraged and often paid to kill or rob American settlers. Which may have been the case in the Cox murder.

The kids and I pulled up to this tiny area deep in America’s heartland. I was disappointed to see the surrounding property junked up with old cars and farm equipment and well…junk. I was grateful at the same time however that the property owner allowed this easement in his property for people to see this forgotten place and place of American history. The grave of Elijah Cox was on the property of where the family cabin once stood and owned. I was also disappointed in that the local cemetery who is in charge of care of this monument has allowed it to be covered in leaves and debris. I’m going to offer to clean it up myself for free.

This is the original head stone for Elijah Cox, I wasn’t able to get close enough so that it’s legible here.

There is however a recent plaque placed last year in honor and in memorial of this young man’s death and local history. It doesn’t take much effort to see that we are surrounded by great history and can easily witness the struggles and triumphs of the American spirit anywhere. Stories like the Cox Family story. Stories like this are strewn across the country if you look around. Many say today that we are in need of a change in our culture. I’m convinced history is where to find it. The notion of getting back to our founding is talked about now more than ever. History is all around us. Take your kids.Take your grand kids there or just revisit it yourself. It’s everywhere. You don’t have to look very far or dig very deep because our history is really right in our back yards, no matter where you live.

Jimi

Missouri Senate Race. It’s Go Time

The Missouri Senate race is a race well known to those that follow politics. It’s been a roller coaster ride and the epitome of everything the political arena can  muster, good and bad. It’s been a race that has shined a light on the worst in media and the best in grassroots activism. The race has also been a story of establishment versus those that refuse to fall within it. It’s been a race fueled on biting ads and two stubborn candidates. Claire McCaskill a shrewd politician and Todd Akin a man strong in his beliefs.

It’s no mystery why an unpopular Senator like McCaskill is leading by a slim margin in the polls given the comment Todd Akin has made. One can also say it is no mystery that the race is as close given McCaskill’s essential lockstep in voting with Obama 98% of the time. Todd Akin is trailing because of the impact of his comment and McCaskill’s lead is slim because of her terrible record. A McCaskill record that flies in the face of the will of Missouri voters especially with ObamaCare. Some Missouri voters are struggling between Akin’s comment and McCaskill’s largely liberal voting record.

Since Akin’s comment Claire has ran a lazy campaign and chose to ride Akin’s comment to the end with ad after ad and painting Akin as extreme, and as part of a fringe element of the right. No different than she’s done in the past to the Tea Party and other Grass Roots groups. Like President Obama, she has no record to run on and has to resort to character assassination. In addition McCaskill has had the comfort of a lazy and bias Missouri media coddling her along the way. It’s not that any of this should come as a surprise in today’s political climate. It was a predictable path for McCaskill the day after Akin’s comment was made. We should expect this from a shrewd politician. Claire is known for running on half truths and has spent her entire political career on the defense and rightfully so since she hasn’t represented the will of the Missouri voter especially with ObamaCare. She goes to Washington D.C. and does Obama’s will and then comes back to Missouri and tells voters what they want to hear and plays the Missouri farm girl role.

Recently, McCaskill has relentlessly been bombarded mostly online, by a number of scandals that Missouri media refused to cover. Scandals that only an establishment Democrat could shrug off and bask within the comfort of a fawning Missouri and National media. Last week a local St. Louis reporter did an interview with McCaskill and was one of the few that asked her about these scandals. I’m thankful that these questions were asked but frustrated in the lack of follow up questions needed. Some may view this interview and see Claire’s “Granny charm” I see something very different.

Watch interview here.

http://www.kmov.com/video/raw/Larry-Connors-interviews-Senator-Claire-McCaskill-176676101.html
 In this interview McCaskill abruptly and in her “aw shucks” charm and she brushes off the mentioned scandals as not having any evidence or merit and she says that is why the media has not covered it. I would take that comment one step further and say that had Missouri covered the scandals and had done their job that the scandals woud would have great merit. Claire knows good an well that local media like the St.Louis Post Dispatch and Kansas City Star are in her pocket and killed or quelled the story for her. She rests in her media comfort zone.

Todd Akin made a six second comment that he apologized for over and over (too much so in my opinion). A comment that may have offended some so greatly that they feel they can’t vote for him. To each his/her own I suppose. Apologies are a popular thing in today’s politically correct society. Often apologies are demanded and often given in the “gotcha” game of political media. Some apologies go farther than others apparently.

I find it offensive that at the end of the interview with Larry Conners, in regard to Akin’s “negative ads” that McCaskill in a condescending tone and smirk says ” I hope he prays about that” There’s your real Claire. A woman that just lost her mother just a few days before this interview. She mocks prayer and Todd’s faith. That’s what I saw. That’s what I heard.

Just last year one of Claire’s big mistakes came into play. A mistake in not paying taxes on her $2.1 Million dollar private plane and suspicion on her husband’s shady tax dollar fueled low income housing business. Her apology was widely and quickly accepted by the local media. Just last year Claire’s wealth came into focus.

Read Here

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/claire-mccaskill-s-wealth-comes-into-focus/article_0e8be6a2-99ad-59c0-9240-54767ef29f5a.html
   Claire’s not paying taxes is a direct affront on all of us that do pay our taxes. That “mistake” was made by a two term auditor. An oversight? You be the judge. I find it interesting that one apology carries more weight than another depending on party and media ties. I find Claire’s behavior to extreme and fringe. Fringe in that she is a Senator willing to take our tax dollars and put them toward unpopular and unwanted programs, like ObamaCare. However Claire fails to pay taxes herself. That to me is extreme and fringe.

Extreme and fringe is telling the press “I hate coal” when 83% of Missouri’s energy comes from coal. That is extreme and unpopular to Missouri workers, union and non-union alike. Yet just like in the interview above when Claire is asked about her unpopular decisions, she doesn’t answer with fact. Rather she invoked Harry Truman. I guess because Claire has a read a few books about Harry Truman that it makes her job killing decisions okay? Good grief.

The sexual harassment suit being filed against Claire’s husband’s business Claire says is not directly connected to she and her husband? Really Claire? Who owns the business? If this allegation is found to be true guess who this woman is coming at next? The owners. If there is an out of court settlement guess who’s paying up?
Claire knows better and I would hope that voters do too. A lot of baggage surrounds Claire McCaskill and the baggage is only made lighter because of the media protecting her. If it walks like a duck it’s a duck.

Claire is in classic political form trying to convince Missouri voters that she is a “moderate” She’s said “I’m in the middle” We’ve seen it all before. We saw it with Hillary Clinton in her bid for President in 2008 against Obama. Now Hillary is Obama’s Secretary of State and just took the fall for him in the Benghazi scandal. That’s moderate right? Claire McCaskill said if re-elected she would vote to keep Harry Reid as Senate Majority leader. A Harry Reid who just recently scoffed at the idea of working with Romney should he be elected President. Is that moderate? In the middle? How can you say you’re going to vote a partisan like Reid in as Senate Majority leader and yet claim yourself to be one that reaches across the aisle? It’s just the same ol’ same Claire McCaskill politics and the hometown farm girl BS we’ve always heard. A Farm girl at home, Barack Obama’s Senator in D.C. That to me is extreme and fringe and not Missouri logic. It’s a D.C. tap dance.

Missouri voters have two choices in a race that in many ways mirrors the Presidential election. A choice between saving this country and the direction Obama and his rubber stamp Senator McCaskill or a man with principle and proven leadership skills.  A six second mistake versus a six year set back in McCaskill’s leadership. A Senator who votes against Missourians and with Obama. There is no viable third option here. Leaving this portion of the ballot blank is a vote for Claire McCaskill. Voting for an obscure 3rd party option is a vote for Claire McCaskill. Time to win this race and turn Missouri bright red and show the establishment and Obama minions that they are unwanted and that they are done.

This is what Tea Party groups and Grass Roots have been waiting for. This is THE race. A win in Missouri is a win for real and true change and a monumental win for Grass Roots and for principled values. It’s a vote for our future. It’s go time.

Jimi

We Want You. #War

Since I’ve gotten online whether in blogging or on Twitter etc I’ve noticed an extraordinary surge in a coming together in like thinking. A thinking that is not always lock step in the conservative movement but for the most part our ideals and values eventually help us all to flow together. The funnel affect you might say. We all want to end up in the same place. The energy is refreshing and uplifting. To have seen this surge in thinking and sharing of ideas then and certainly now is remarkable. Actually it’s probably the only thing that keeps me online at all. Period.

Over the course of time a man named Andrew Breitbart came along and invoked the “phrase” “term” a Twitter hashtag #War. A term I believe will be around online for a long long time. Andrew saw very early on the importance and promise of the internet and that’s all apparent and the net has morphed into a virtual locomotive. Many online in their frustration or patriotic fervor use the #War hashtag to express one’s dedication to the conservative movement. However, I believe there comes a time that we need to take this #War talk and act on it.

There are two weeks until the election and it’s ever apparent in talk online, talk at work, and talk at home, we’re ramping up. It’s also blatantly apparent in the way the media nationally and locally is “behaving” in regard to the election and I think you know as well as I do who and what party and candidates favor from this behavior, action, or lack there of by our illustrious media.

So what’s the next step in #War? Sure it’s necessary to speak your mind, change minds, blog and to express yourself. Yet in the term #War and what Andrew Breitbart was expressing is with the problem and #War is with media. We see it every single day. It’s frustrates you and infuriates you and you lash out online. I think it’s time we take this #War to the source in a different way.

There is trouble in the Missouri Senate race. Sure, you’re all familiar with Todd Akin’s comments and many of you are familiar with the latest Sen. McCaskill scandals right? Two major scandals completely ignored or at the very most, watered down in an online blurb. Here they are.  
http://bit.ly/T3YbPD 
 
http://bit.ly/RR3DSA
 .

Members of GatewayGrassRoots.com for days has been repeatedly reaching out to Missouri media on FaceBook, Twitter, and the airwaves only to be ignored. Instead, media that apparently is in the pocket of Claire McCaskill ignore and prefer tweeting and writing about Todd Akin’s comments. “Akin compares’ McCaskill to a dog” Repeated mentions of “legitimate rape” comments he has explained and apologized for over and over again for. Yet Missouri media dodges are simple plea to report on such scandals of McCaskill’s linked above.

*We know for a fact McCaskill campaign tried to kill this story with media.*

Apparently pocket media finds tabloid rag daily and persistent “gaffes” more important than your tax dollars and evident corruption just a fleeting matter? Media is not just NOT DOING THEIR JOB it’s more than obvious they are a helping hand in said corruption. Our local media is not even willing to reply in why they won’t publish, mention, or even a little tweet of real issues! It’s telling. Telling as Hell. This is what Breitbart meant by #War. This is a serious problem and the lockstep liberal media seems to show an uncaring need to display even the slightest balance in truth. The Missouri Media would rather talk about Akin “comparing McCaskill as a dog” than millions of dollars being funneled her way and her husband making deals in Senate dining room. Does this enrage you? It should.

I personally don’t care if they report on any of Akin’s comments or even report that Akin ate Claire McCaskill’s dog as long as they report on the other side as well….and they don’t. They avoid. The stories above are being ignored or made into just little media part of the cycle. The media here in Missouri is trying to steal this election.

I got a message today that the very same thing is going on in Ohio with media. What about your state? Your race. Want to change that and make a difference and make #War count? Contact us at Gatewaygrassroots.com Tell us about it. Contact your media, question them on everything. Make phone calls. Email them. It’s zero hour now and action is needed. Will you join us?

Gatewaygrassroots.com. #War

Jimi