Nowhere But Here

 

I was born in Raleigh, NC but shortly afterwards moved to just outside of Alexandria, VA, then high school in Cairo, Egypt and back to Elon College, NC for college and to live until 1989.  However, there was a brief stint of 2 years in Norfolk, VA when I served in the US Navy.  In 1990, I moved to East TN where I lived in Greeneville, Morristown, Chattanooga, Dandridge, and Jefferson City...  I have been in Jefferson City, TN since 2001 and will more than likely remain here for the rest of my life...

Every morning, I watch FOX NEWS and every morning I am not just thankful but grateful for having the motivation and the good sense to move to East TN and have no desire to live anywhere else.

FOX NEWS shares with me about all the violence and crime that is taking place in California, Oregon, and Washington including Chicago, New York City, Washington DC, Baltimore, and Atlanta just to name a few states and cities.

FOX NEWS shares with me about all the LOCKDOWNS that are going on around the country and the fact that many states and cities are mandating not just facemasks but requiring people to show PROOF of VACCINATION...  now, while I have had both my Moderna vaccinations including a Moderna booster, I resent and reject the idea that I should have to show PROOF of what I have done.

 FOX NEWS shares with me about all the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS that are coming across our southern borders, none of these immigrants are being tested for COVID nor are they being required to show proof of vaccination...  WHY NOT?  But...  I am still very much thankful that very few of these illegal immigrants  are being shipped to East TN.

As a Vietnam Veteran, I am embarrassed by the way we left Afghanistan, not just the lack of leadership that was on display but because all of our allies now question our ability and desire to protect them and stand with them against their enemies...

East TN State University

Not only is the weather in East TN very mild during the winter months, but there is no state income tax...  and, on average, East TN is 10-12% cheaper to live than anywhere else in the US...  for example, a couple can live very comfortable on $3,000 to $3,500 per month without debt, but this includes an apartment rent or mortgage of $1,200/month.

Why in the hell would I want to live somewhere else?

HOWEVER...  I do not have...

• the broadway plays of NYC
• the expensive restaurants of NYC
• the subways of NYC
• the expansive public transportation
• the volume of people of large cities
• the smog of large cities
• the crime and violence of large cities
• the cold winters of the north
• the high constant humidity of the south
• the problem that illegal immigrants bring with them

Of course...  I am retired...  so, there may not be the needs that I would have were I still working...  but, I worked here in East TN for 25 years, and while my salary was less that what I might have earned in other places, I still live a comfortable middle class existence and had very little in terms of wants and desires...

One of the key things that I encountered when I moved from NC to TN in 1990 was the fact that in NC my skills and abilities were a dime a dozen but in TN, I was in very high demand because of my skills and abilities...  that is a good feeling to have professionally.

I am glad that I want to live NOWHERE BUT HERE...

The Second Amendment

The amendment itself contains 27 words: 

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” 

This provision references both the collective right of a militia and an individual right.

As a Vietnam Era Veteran, I defended the US Constitution and the freedoms contained therein...  two of which I am particularly keen about:  The First and Second Amendments indicating our:

• Freedom of Speech
• Right to bear arms

While I will never hold another gun in my hand as long as I live, I am NOT OPPOSED to everyone in the United States owning a firearm and going through a weapons safety class followed by firing range practice...  and, if they want to, apply for a carry permit.

Not only should law enforcement and criminals like drug dealers be armed with weapons, so too should our general public be armed with weapons.

Not only should white supremacist groups and black lives matter groups and ANTIFA be armed with weapons, so too should the general public be armed with weapons as well.

As we continue to promote DEFUND THE POLICE movements, we should also promote ARM YOURSELF WITH WEAPONS movements because it is necessary to meet force with an equal (but never greater) than the force being applied against us.

The GREAT CONCEPT about the United States is that we have the First and Second Amendments and as long as we have both those amendments and a willing general public to take advantage of those amendments, we SHALL NEVER BE CONTROLLED by either a foreign or domestic threat.