From The Pearl of The Orient Seas…

How does someone who wasn’t born, didn’t grow up in The United States, learn to love and appreciate everything she’s about?

Born in the Islands of The Philippines, to a lawyer and a businesswoman, I grew up in a middle class family with modest means. My family was not necessarily religious, but we were Catholics, and like 90% of the country at the time, we observed all the traditions of the country.

My parents were open to us reasoning out (answering back for some) but always made sure we knew who was in charge. I don’t really remember a sit-down father and son talk in my early years. Neither did my mother share words of wisdom. What I remember, and now realize, is that they taught us by example. I believe most families establish their family culture this way.

I attended a Catholic School right from the get go until I graduated from High School. I could say, that’s where I spent my formative years. I pretty much had the same set of friends which I have to this day.

In school, our Catholic Faith was strengthened. There is no other way to describe it but beneficial. In no way did my learning teach me to be judgmental, as it is popularly portrayed, but it taught me that there was a clear right and wrong. (Well, you might say, there you go.)

I was not, in any way, a model student. Far from it. I’m sure I was a headache for many a teacher. I can remember one year during High School, I was asked, more like ordered, to sit right next to the teacher so that I can be better “handled.” These days, that would have been considered some kind of mental torture or some kind of infringement on my rights to be a royal pain in the a$$.

Now, I’m not going overboard, to say that I was a terror. I’ll just say, that I would not give myself as an example of a good student.

Uncle Sam

In 1987, when my maternal aunt’s petition was approved by the United States, my parents made the decision to migrate.

I wasn’t really enthusiastic about the move. All of my friends were in Manila. In my studies, and paying attention to current events at the time as well as popular culture, most of what I knew about America was good. Still, I wasn’t thrilled about leaving everything I knew and starting anew.

Young, wide eyed and adventurous, I was completely fine with being left in Manila, but it was not a decision I could make for myself at the time. I didn’t have the benefit of knowing what I know now.

Arriving in Minnesota in October, was a climate shock for someone who felt that 70 degrees Fahrenheit was cold. After 33 years, a few blizzards, one that broke records for the state, I’ve acclimated to Minnesota weather. (Somewhat)

My Minnesota friends will remind me that 1987 was the first World Series win for the Minnesota Twins – simply referred to as Twins. (Professional Baseball Team for the sports challenged 😜)

Choices

Right from the start, I’ve been providing for myself in various jobs I’ve held. At one point I even hit a personal high, in terms of income, and a personal low in the same year. I won’t bother you with the details.

Another aspect of my life, is when I spent time on the other side of the law. It wasn’t long, but I did pay for my crime.

What I’d like to pass on, and is certainly not unique to me, is that as the song says, I picked myself up, I dusted myself off, (many times – just like others) and I started all over again.

Summary

I narrated all that for context, because I didn’t want to be simplistic in saying, that it’s all about upbringing and choices, that gets you moving forward and ahead in life. However, it is!

More importantly, it’s choices. It’s learning from and asking others, who’ve done it before you, and then cherishing it. All of it! The good the bad and the ugly.

Structure – Foundation – Constitution (They are all synonymous)

Those traits will move anyone ahead in life in almost any place on earth, but those traits and a system that fosters it, is even better. A system where freedom is King! Where individual rights are vigorously protected. How? By enshrining it, so that others wishing to do it harm can be checked, even punished, if they act on the wish.

As James Madison said in Federalist No. 51

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

It would be beneficial to read the whole passage. The link is found on the right side of this page. Click on The Federalist Papers and go to No. 51. It’s a free download on iBooks.

I’m a modest man with modest means, but I know my situation is far better here, than any other place on earth. I know that because I’ve lived it and continue to do so. Here, I continue to be beneficial to others in turn it’s beneficial to me and my family.

Today is July 4, 2020 and I’m not going to make it an Independence Day narration. I just thought and felt, that sharing a grateful immigrants’ perspective, can, in a little way, explain why millions try to move to the United States and why Millions more want to keep, cherish and protect the unique American way of life.

As I have said in a previous post, yes, America is imperfect, with imperfect beginnings, but it is the Greatest imperfect nation with its brave, kind imperfect people on earth – Americans.

So…

Stand beside her, and guide her … God bless America, my home sweet home!

Happy, Proud 4th of July to all!

We have much more in common than what is portrayed. There is a growing movement that seeks to destroys us. They do this by poking and burying a stick at our disagreements. They say they’ve been silent for a long time. Bullsh1+!

They’re leftist agitators! They are the same everywhere history has seen them. They pretend to oppose violence but are the most violent and controlling ideology man has ever known. Their ideology has killed millions! Much more than any heinous war man has ever waged.

They’re using our common outrage at injustice and are trying drive a wedge between us to start a revolution. Don’t take my word for it, they’ve said it themselves. Plainly, at a TV interview, one of their leaders said that “if we don’t get what we want, we’re burning the system down.” Then he said it’s up to us to interpret what he meant.

Sorry, it’s not up to me whose been peaceful, working my tail off and spending time with my fellow Americans that needs to figure it out. You sir, need to check yourself and your group, or you’ll unleash the silent majority that will put a stop to your childish tantrums.

We’ve been at the so called table. We’ve participated in the larger society. It’s time for you to put on your grown up clothes, take the nipple out of your mouth and be productive. If it’s dirty cops or politicians, I’m with you, we’ll change them. But I mean you better be serious about changing them. If you’re going to vote for the same people that has been in charge of those cities for 50 years, then you’re not serious.

America Is Imperfect! So f’in what?! It’s the greatest imperfect nation the world has ever known. You disagree? Then you are the problem! This country doesn’t stop you from leaving for your utopia. When you find it, STAY THERE! Oh, send for the ingrates too! We may even pay for them to join you in your paradise on earth.

(Featured Photo from notsalmon.com)

"Notably, we detected SCoV2 cross-reactive T cells in 81% of unexposed individuals…"https://t.co/SUGQ7WtxM3

— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) June 28, 2020

I’m still clumsy at embedding Tweets. The above tweet with its link, was re-tweeted by someone I follow, Justin Hart. The link takes you to a study that has not been peer reviewed. However, when it does get reviewed, it should change the way we, and by that I mean the entire species, deal with COVID-19 in the immediate sense as well as moving forward.

Again, if reviewed to be true, exposure to the common cold may have given people immunity, or at least a better recovery path, from this “current culprit.” This also means, according to the virologists in the study, vaccines, therapies or simply – “ways,’” to deal with COVID-19, can possibly be achieved, by harnessing our body’s current fighters, from having had the common cold, instead of just the specific fighters, (antibodies) from recovering from COVID-19. (Clumsily explained, I know)

Here’s an article that narrates the above study in more layman’s terms.
(Featured Photo from sciencemag.org)

By now, most have seen the reporting on this couple in St. Louis, who decided to go out with their guns, to protect their property from “peaceful protestors,” who opened a gate to enter the neighborhood this couple lived in.

According to reports, the protestors were on their way to the Mayor’s house, which was in this gated neighborhood. Clearly, you can hear verbal exchanges between the couple and the protestors.

Should the couple have done what they did? Do they have any reason to believe their lives, their family or property could be in danger? Should they have called the police? If so, when? Should the police respond? Why? If this was your situation, what would you have done?

Here’s a short video of the couple courtesy of 850wftl.com

(Featured Photo from dailymail.co.uk)

I thought and felt that Justin Hart’s article on March 18th of this year was so straightforward and eye opening, that I decided to link to it as a separate post. While you read and look at the graphs he created, you will give yourself a chance at those moments when you say – Ah! I get it!

(Featured Photo From Justin Hart’s article on Medium.com)

Recently, Justin Hart, a data expert, tweeted a simple graph that puts the reported numbers of new COVID-19 cases into context. You can follow him at @justin_hart on your tweeter account. You will be able to read through all his work on analyzing the raw numbers about this particular virus.

With just aggregate numbers being reported by the media, having your own data expert to parse the information, makes you a contextually informed individual.

In his latest tweet, Mr. Hart showed a chart using the June cases in Florida. He discussed his new findings and how he got there in his latest interview with Daniel Horowitz on Mr. Horowitz’s podcast.

Context or Truth is always good. What we do with it, or how it makes us feel, is up to us. But, it’s good to juxtapose it with our own biases. Here’s another helpful article from Justin Hart that he wrote on March 18 of this year, just when this particular coronavirus was starting to engulf the world. Mr. Hart dove into the numbers to explain to us what was ahead of us then. His article also showed past panic driven narratives that we’ve been exposed to.

The image below shows deaths per 100K population. The US is a BIG country and you can see the virus has had a heterogenous effect. Ask yourself why we have a homogenous approach to it.

(Featured Photo From CBS Philadelphia)

Walter E. Williams writes about his friend, Thomas Sowell. In it, he tells Mr. Sowell’s all too familiar American story, but one in which Marxism was the first driving ideology. In one interview, Thomas Sowell explains why he was first a Marxist and then how he later changed his mind. He has been writing and teaching the opposite of Marxism since that conversion decades ago.

The Numbers

US census numbers show that in a country of roughly 330 million, Whites (Non-Hispanic) account for around 76% of the population. This means that all the other colors/races account for about a little under a quarter of the population. Roughly 40 million people are foreign born.

11% live at or below the poverty line – around 33 million. That means that 89% or 307 million have more than adequate resources. How adequate? Enough that around 1 million immigrants apply to enter and live in the United States. Far higher than any other country in the world. This doesn’t even count the ones who applied but did not get approved. Also missing are the illegals crossing the border for no other reason but for a better life overall.

The GDP of the United States prior to the pandemic was $19 Trillion – number 1 in the world. The per capita income is then roughly $57,600 per year. As of 2019, there were 614 Billionaires living in The United States.

Of any country in the world, the United States is where minorities of all walks fare the best! There are more minority millionaires and billionaires in The United States as a percentage of the population.

88% of people 25 years and older have a High School Diploma or higher, 32% have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

Life expectancy is 79 yrs of age, slightly higher for females than males. Currently, Hong Kong at 85 years of age is ranked 1. Keep in mind that the United States is a more heterogeneous population than Hong Kong. Hong Kong is 93% ethnic Chinese.

That’s a snapshot of the overall picture of life in The United States. IT’S SO BAD……

EVERYBODY OUT!

For the enlightened, tolerant see no color or race class, is Mr. West not what he is?

Read Here

Another brilliant article by Walter E. Williams. In the article, he first shares his wisdom in reciting the facts that blacks of African Ancestry had the biggest hurdles to overcome and yet had the most gains by any standard of measurement. Wisdom, because he lived it. Then, he had the courage to articulate what ails a segment of the black community. Courage, because in today’s mainstream media and “woke” culture, he’s considered a sellout. In the end, he gives his strong opinion on how, we as a nation, can move forward.