Adapting to This Change

Alright everyone, I'm not gonna lie. My heart is being ripped out.

My son graduates on Sunday and will be going to the Marine Corps in July. Of all the things I am sure of, and of all the strength I have, I'm not sure how to handle this change and I had no idea how profoundly this event, which I've been preparing for throughout the last 18 years, would strike me to my core and break me down. Few things make me cry, but my eyes are welled up with tears while I write this.

I am proud of the man he has become, and of the things that he has, and he will, accomplish.

Now that our days together are numbered, I can't help but look back at all of the things that I wished I could have done. Little time, or little money, were usually the excuses. "We'll have time to do it tomorrow." Tomorrow has come and gone and now the tomorrow that we're facing will one day be the day we bring him to the recruiting station, say our farewells, and wait...

It is a grieving process similar to the loss of a loved one. 

It's a good thing that we only have one more child left at home, because my wife and I have discussed, and we don't know that we could handle this hurt, this heartache, over and over again. 

We also don't understand how parents can look forward to the day when their child(ren) move out.

It's not fair.

This child, who has had such a significant impact on our life, who has made me want to be a better version of myself for him, has given me the gift of being his father, is now leaving.

But, I am PROUD!

My wife and I raised him. Through all of our faults. Through all of our mistakes. Through all of those times where we wished we could do more. We raised him to be the amazing person that he is today.

And, despite our faults, ours mistakes, and our shortcomings, he loves us.

 

He is going after his dreams, just as we taught him to do. Just as he has learned from watching us.

 

I just wish it didn't hurt so damn bad.

But, I know you will change the world. Just like your mom always told you that you could do. Until then, we will carry on in your absence. We know that we would want you to carry on with the fulfillment of your dreams in our absence, so we will hold ourselves to that same standard.

I just wish it didn't hurt so damn bad.

Semper Fi, my son. You're going to be a great Marine.

Fearful of Trump and the Future

Another family member of mine has recently come out as a Trump supporter. I told them, "You're dead to me."

Seriously though, this is the first time that I am truly fearful of what will happen in November. I mean, in the past it usually wasn't a huge deal. To paraphrase Chris Rock, he said that if your guy doesn't win, it doesn't really affect you. If your guy loses, it doesn't mean that the L train stops running the next day.

I've seen memes that mention how, if you're thinking about going to Canada if Trump wins, you should just leave now because if you don't love your country, you're not going to help make it great again. You've got it all wrong. I do love my country, and America is still great.

That being said, I fear for the future should a fascist be elected to the White House. The system of Checks and Balances is supposed to limit the abuse of power...but how well did that work with George W. Bush and the Patriot Act? Trump has already proven that he doesn't understand the Constitution, and he's opened stated that he is willing to commit war crimes - and that those who he gives the orders to will do it because he said so. He's like a 3 year old who says whatever is on their mind. The only problem with that is, in the White House, there are consequences for such things and they won't just fall on his shoulders alone.

People spout off about how great Trump would be as a president because he's a successful business man. That being said, what ever happened to:

• Trump Airlines
• Trump University (aka Trump Entrepreneur Initiative)
• Trump Steaks
• GoTrump.com
• Trump Vodka
• Trump Mortgage
• Trump: The Game (and its reboot The Apprentice)
• Trump Magazine
• Trump Ice
• The New Jersey Generals (United States Football League)
• Tour de Trump
• The Trump Network
• Trumped! (Radio show)
• Trump New Media

If that's success in business, I'd hate to see failure. Furthermore, ask Michigan residents how electing a businessman into politics worked out for them. Ask Detroit. Ask Flint. Take a drive down Michigan roads. Governor Snyder is balls deep in shit and he has no idea what he's doing because he does not understand politics because he was never in politics. Picture this level of ineptitude at the federal level. Even if only 10% of the states were effected, that's still 5 states in America that would be impacted on some level.

Okay, failed business ventures aside, I am also fearful for threats from both within (KKK, domestic terrorists, and other such ignorant nonsense) and from abroad (China, N. Korea, and other areas Trump probably couldn't find on a map). I am fearful for the safety of me and my family being that I am one of those 'rapist' minorities that Trump hates. I consider fleeing the country for the safety of me and my family, because if white trash feels comfortable enough to sucker punch a minority being escorted out of a Trump rally, it only feeds fuel to the racist underbelly who are feeling more entitled to practice free speech, yet threaten anyone who speaks freely against Trump.

Politicians lie and it's something that Americans almost accept as a part of the landscape. But thanks to websites like Politifact you can check up on some of the statements your favorite candidate makes. For instance:

Statistics courtesy of Politifact - please don't sue me. I'm poor.

Statistics courtesy of Politifact - please don't sue me. I'm poor.

The top Republican candidate lies over 50% of the time. The second choice isn't much better either. As George Carlin said, "...that is what's known as being stunningly - and embarrassingly - full of shit."

But I don't want people to think that I'm only picking on Republicans either.

Statistics courtesy of Politifact - please don't sue me. I'm poor.

Statistics courtesy of Politifact - please don't sue me. I'm poor.

I don't know...like I said, I'm fearful of what the future holds. The GOP seems to be imploding and remains focused on maintaining their conservative agenda. I've held jobs before where, if I showed up and didn't do anything, I'd be out on my ass. The same doesn't hold true in American government.

Just ask this guy.