I've read recently where there has been an outpouring of racism and hatred toward Obama and toward blacks in numerous places around the U.S.-- things like one small store having a gambling pool for picking the date when Obama gets killed, with the wording "Let's hope we have a winner soon", nooses hanging from trees, hate words painted on houses, school children chanting "kill Obama", and the like. There reportedly has been more threats against Obama than ever before for a president-elect. The FBI and Secret Service are supposedly busy investigating numerous threats made against Obama. I had hoped the U.S. was better than this, had somehow outgrown our racist past, maybe had grown up more as a nation. But, instead, racism is making an open comeback. As a nation, we should all be ashamed of such behavior and speak out against such hatred whenever & wherever we hear or see it displayed. Won't we ever learn to just how truly ignorant racism is?

I wrote an acrostic poem back in 2002 entitled "A Lingering Disease":

Rarely occurring in humans younger than age five,
Adults carry the disease, communicating it to each kid.
Constantly a threat to harm almost anyone alive,
It remains a malady from which Man needs be rid.
Sorry to say, even today, it continues to thrive,
Mind after mind learning to hate as their parents did.


Wouldn't it be great if a successful Obama presidency was the cure for America's chronic disease of racism? One can only hope...





Published 2008: "Poetic Musings of an Old, Fat Man". A collection of my poetry. Lulu Press.
See: http://www.gillelands.com/poetry/
 

I think Obama is trying to be Lincoln-like in putting his past opponents in his Cabinet. He has talked with McCain about some role in his administration and now has talked to Hillary about being his Sec. of State. Obama is being extremely smart in doing this. It heals the country, makes bipartisan deals more likely to come about, and he would get some opposing arguments to his ideas and make him think them through better. That was one thing (of about a hundred or more) wrong with Bush's administration. He was surrounded by "yes men" so that any lamebrained idea he had was praised instead of picked apart. It worked for Lincoln. It should work for Obama. Smart man!

Read my other blog: http://harrygillelandwrites.blogspot.com/ I am hosting a most interesting author at present, Kenny Kahn. Mr. Kahn is a famous lawyer, noted public speaker, a standup comic (for real!), as well as being an author. Come check him out.

Published 2008: "Poetic Musings of an Old, Fat Man". A collection of my poetry. Lulu Press.
Check out my website to see all my book covers & links: http://www.gillelands.com/poetry/




 

I'm still on a high from Obama winning. The Republicans are already sending doom and gloom emails about how bad a president Obama will be. Why don't you folks, and you know who you are, knock it off and wait and see how Obama does? He just might surprise you. It will be quite a change having a president with a brain after eight years of Bush.

It is raining this morning, after raining all night. We needed this rain, but I'm ready for it to stop now. Those fall days of sunshine and high temperatures in only the 70s are to my liking.

Cheers!

Harry
 

I recently got to read Vivian Zabel's (who is well known around Writing.com as a poet, author, moderator, newsletters editor, publisher, among other things) new YA book entitled Prairie Dog Cowboy. Here is the review I have written for it:

Prairie Dog Cowboy by V. Gilbert Zabel is targeted for readers aged 9 to 12, but many adults will enjoy this book as well. I know I did. The story is well told by the author and illustrated beautifully by Jordan M. Vinyard. The book tells the story of a boy, Buddy Roberts, growing up in the harsh environment of Oklahoma in the early 1900s. Buddy has a mother who, for some reason he cannot understand, dotes upon his older brother while mistreating him. No matter how hard he tries, Buddy simply cannot win her love. Fortunately for Buddy, Calem Hyman, a neighboring rancher, takes a liking to him and aids him whenever he can. Buddy wants to grow up to be a cowboy, and Calem promises him a job cowboying on his ranch if he masters the necessary skills. To learn roping, Buddy tries lassoing prairie dogs, hence the nickname given to him by his older brother’s mean friends of being a prairie dog cowboy. The story follows Buddy through childhood into his late teens as he grows into a cowboy and a good man who finds a new, loving family.

The book is filled with entertaining action, such as roping, herding cows, breaking in wild horses, winter blizzards, coyote attacks, and learning how to deal with harshness in life. Along the way, Buddy (and the reader) learns much about enduring unfairness gracefully, working hard, honesty, meeting your obligations, and about love and family. The story held my interest as the reader becomes emotionally invested in Buddy and pulls for him to succeed. Zabel has done an admirable job of creating characters and situations that reflected life in 1900s Oklahoma realistically.

In summary, Prairie Dog Cowboy is a great book to buy for, and to recommend to, young adult (YA) readers. Not only will they be highly entertained reading about life as a cowboy, but they will gain valuable insight into how to deal with various life issues involving bullying, mistreatment, love, family, and what’s important in life. I highly recommend this book!

Any of you having children in the 9 to 13 age should buy this book for them for Christmas. I highly recommend doing so.

Cheers!

Harry
 

Too busy doing a happy dance to type anything much tonight. Happy Dance! Happy Dance!

A new America arrived tonight...





Published 2008: "Poetic Musings of an Old, Fat Man". A collection of my poetry. Lulu Press.



 

Everybody needs to vote tomorrow, even you Republicans! I hope Obama wins by such a large majority that even the Republican Party cannot steal the election like in recent past elections.

I will be glad to have the election over. I am saturated with politics. This morning we received four phone calls wanting us to vote for their candidtate. I can just imagine what tonight will be like. So, I'm going to the casino to get away from it all. Besides, in these troubled economic times, one should support their local economy...which I almost always end up doing whenever I visit a casino. LOL

Vote, y'all!

Cheers!

Harry
 

We live with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Rusty. Those of you who have followed my poetry for years have read about Rusty several times in my poems. Rusty will be 15 this December 9th, and he is on his last legs literally. His hind legs collapse now when he walks so that his walking consists of a series of falls sideways at the back end. It breaks me heart to see him so old and incapacitated. I know what I will have to do all too soon now... Rusty was always so active, running and jumping so high. Time has trteated him cruelly. He acts like an old man in his 60s. Say, I turned 64 yesterday.
 

Everyone else seems to be blogging, so I decided to give it a try.

I hope the 'Dawgs kick some Gator butts this Saturday! Go "Dawgs.

I hope Obama kicks some Republican butts next Tuesday. Maybe then Rove, Cheney, Bush, and associated scoundrels can be prosecuted and put in jail for all their illegal acts they've engaged in over the past eight years while ruining America and enriching themselves and their buddies. Time to throw out the garbage!