What I Said Was, "We Need to Stand Behind Them"

Cross-posted from my Google+ account.

Riiiiiight.  In other words, just pretend I didn't say, "[they] didn't build that" or ever so subtly imply they're not paying enough in taxes (their "fair share") or that their success came from Government infrastructure (oh, and let's ignore they paid for that infrastructure, anyway).

Here's the full and glorious context of how he's "always struck" at the egotism of people who take credit for their own, hard-earned success (again, this coming from the world's greatest orator and Nobel Peace Prize winner who won because he wasn't Bush):

"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back.  They know they didn’t -- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own.  You didn’t get there on your own.  I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart.  There are a lot of smart people out there.  It must be because I worked harder than everybody else.  Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.  (Applause.)

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help.  There was a great teacher somewhere in your life.  Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive.  Somebody invested in roads and bridges.  If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that.  Somebody else made that happen.  The Internet didn’t get invented on its own.  Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

"The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.  There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own.  I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service.  That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires."

Yep, there's the real ticket to American economic success:  Re-elect the One, have small business owners team up with government bureaucrats to help them put out any economic fires they have or may encounter and make sure these business owners pay their fair share (read: more) in taxes (because they're not paying enough for those roads, bureaucrats, or firefighters).

Oh yeah, what's another quote of President Obama recently "taken out of context" about American business/the economy?  "We tried our plan and it worked."  (Except for that whole promise about keeping unemployment under 8% and the country struggling through its worst economic recovery since the Great Depression.)  I want to hear him argue this quote was taken out of context and that his plan didn't work -- at least we'd be getting somewhere.

Today's Spiritual Message: In re Aurora Shootings - Laws and Shaping Behavior

In the aftermath of a terrible act of evil and a great tragedy in my native state, I feel inclined to share a few thoughts.  First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of this despicable atrocity.  I am inspired by the bravery displayed by a few and deeply saddened at the loss and suffering of so many.

Many years ago, Enoch the prophet witnessed God weeping over the earth and inquired,

How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?

The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;

Moses 7:29. 32-33.  I know Heavenly Father must weep over the great evils constantly manifest in the world, today.

For some, it took only hours or, perhaps, even minutes, after the Aurora chaos to shout it's time for the country and its elected officials to finally get tough with gun laws!  We heard a similar cry and laws were passed in the wake of the 2008 housing and financial meltdown, yet we still see dishonesty and corruption in those sectors.  I invite you to consider the following insights from Elder D. Todd Christofferson in October 2009 on the subject of using laws to shape and control behavior:

"'Policemen and laws can never replace customs, traditions and moral values as a means for regulating human behavior. At best, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Our increased reliance on laws to regulate behavior is a measure of how uncivilized we’ve become.'

". . . Reactions [to the financial meltdown] have focused on enacting more and stronger regulation. Perhaps that may dissuade some from unprincipled conduct, but others will simply get more creative in their circumvention.  There could never be enough rules so finely crafted as to anticipate and cover every situation, and even if there were, enforcement would be impossibly expensive and burdensome. This approach leads to diminished freedom for everyone. In the memorable phrase of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, 'We would not accept the yoke of Christ; so now we must tremble at the yoke of Caesar.'

"In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay. Societies will struggle in vain to establish the common good until sin is denounced as sin and moral discipline takes its place in the pantheon of civic virtues.

"Moral discipline is learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, the Latter-day Saints can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation."

Two final quotes, in parting:  “The gospel of Jesus Christ provides answers and solutions to all of the world’s problems," and, "The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/be-prepared-be-ye-strong-from-henceforth?lang=eng and http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/little-children?lang=eng

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Chrome OS Keyboard Shortcut: Select Screen Shot Region

Okay, I'm about one year late to the party on this one, apparently, as noted by the date from François' post from last August.

In case you missed it, I hope you enjoy the shortcut, via François Beaufort:

"<Ctrl> + <Shift> + <Maximize> [the key to the left of the dim screen key] = Take a screenshot of the selected region."

Selected range screenshot of my Apps/place usually known as the desktop.

I'm all in favor of cutting out extra steps, and selecting a particular range of a screen shot was certainly one of them.  Provecho.

Yesterday's Spiritual Message: If You're Reading This

Belated Happy Fourth of July!

On the Fourth, my family and I wanted to get into the patriotic feeling of the day, and we did, in part, by watching this video dedicated to soldiers who have fallen in war, fighting for our country.

As a husband and father, this really tugged and tugs at my heart strings.



I realize there's much more to America than simply those who have fought for it.  Yet, without the ultimate sacrifice given by so many, I doubt whether we would have the great land we have, today.


Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Today's Spiritual Message: Saving Your Marriage

Cross-posted from my Google+ account

If only our world had the opposite mentality of Hollywood about marriage.