A Little Bit of Filler

I really want to update my blog right now . . . but I'm trying to decide what to write about. So, I think I will give you some filler for now. I have been reading a bit since I've gotten to Ukraine, and I came across the following two quotes which I feel very strongly about. Two quotes I think I can truly stand behind. One is from Teddy Roosevelt, and the other is from Lt. Thomas Meehan, a pilot killed during World War II.

First, from ol' TR: "We all look forward to the day when there shall be a nearer approxmation than there has ever been to the brotherhood of man and the peace of the world. More and more we are learning that to love one's country above all others is in no way incompatible with respecting and wishing well to all others, and that, as between man and man, so between nation and nation, there should live the great law of right. No ability, to strength and force, no power of intellect or power of wealth, shall avail us, if we have not the root of right living in us."

I'm just going to drop these here, I will not give a commentary, but let me know what you think. Lt. Meehan's was from a letter to his wife before he died:

"We're fortunate in being Americans. At least we don't step on the underdog. I wonder if that's because there are no 'Americans' - only a stew of immigrants - or it's because the earth from which we exist has been so kind to us and our forefathers; or if it's because the 'American' is the offspring of the logical European who hated oppression and loved freedom beyond life? Those great mountains the tall timber; the cool deep lakes and braod rivers; the green valleys and white farmhouses; the air, the sea and wind; the plains and great cities; the smell of living - all must be the cause of it.

"And yet, with all that, we can't get away from the rest. For every one of our millions who has that treasure in his hand ther's another million crying for that victory of life. And for each of us who wants to live in happiness and give happiness, ther's another different sort of person wanting to take it away.

"Those people always manage to have their say, and Mars is always close at hand. We know how to win wars. We must learn now to win peace. Make the world accept peace whether they damn well like it or not. Here is the dove, and here is the bayonet. If we ever have a son, I won't want him to go through this again, but I want him powerful enough that no one will be fool enough to touch him. He and America should be strong as hell and kind as Christ."

I enjoy, and agree with both of these greatly. I'll try to get something else interesting for you

Best,

Pete