Bill Clinton is THE MAN!
$20 says I am late to this party. Seems Chris Wallace of FOX News interviewed ex-President Bill Clinton. At one point, the interview devolved into a finger pointing session about bin Laden and 9/11.
Regardless, I have always enjoyed watching and listening to Bill Clinton. He is a very charismatic individual, and I honestly believe what he is saying. Based on body language, Bill Clinton comes across as defensive and angered while Chris Wallace comes across as a pompous jackass.
I consider myself conservative, yet I hate the para-Nazi propaganda spewed by FOX News on a daily basis. Since the Bush administration has already set fire to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, I see no reason why we cannot elect Bill Clinton to a 3rd term of President of the United States.
Thanks to YouTube, here is the interview broken into three clips. Enjoy!
The American Dream
During my daily news-read, I stumbled across this short video entitled Small Business Heroes. The meaning of this short 5-minute documentary struck me on two levels.
First, I am an aspiring small business owner. I can see parts of my current efforts in their words and actions. I have worked the long hours. I have built the personal relationships. And at the end of the day, the goal of a successful small business owner is to make his or her clients happy by delivering a quality product, service, or whatever at an appropriate price in a very close, very human way. Everyone has a name. Your clients are not nameless, faceless wallets to pick-pocket.
Second, immigrants came to this country to seek a better life. Why? Not only did they want better conditions for themselves, but they also wanted better conditions for their families. How have times changed! Sure, the vast number of immigrants still have this in mind, but the terrorists (really, they are not immigrants) have the singular goal of infecting nations and destroying them. This is somewhat new. After all, how many terrorists did you hear of 100 years ago? How about 50 years ago?
I take that back - there are several examples. A few hundred years ago, Native Americans conducted terrorist attacks against the European settlers. Of course, this was in response to the European settlers who could ne called terrorists themselves. A cursory examination of Cortez and his plundering of Mexico reveals such terrorist acts. I suppose colonization would be a better term for that period of time.
My point: I see the American Dream becoming more and more of just that - a dream. Granted, there are still opportunities at every turn; however, my children will not have the privelege of growing up ignorant and innocent as I did. Instead, my children will inherit the sins of this nation - ecological, political, and spiritual. If we continue down this path, I see no alternative other than rising up and reclaiming the American Dream.
Full Circle
I know that the United States is not popular in the court of world opinion. Honestly, I would venture that the United States is not popular even at home! Just think about how bloated our goverment is. But the result is the same: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." In the case of small business owner, you treat your clients with respect, and they will reward you with their trust and their business. In the case of our government and the world, it will require each of us to do our best each day in order to fulfill our American Dream.
