Each Day Is A New Day? - Hope-Love-Joy-Happiness-Sadness-News

INTRODUCTION:

Since the attack on Israel, I have received numerous emails requesting that I discuss my thoughts regarding this issue. One of the most important things I have learned in life is this. Each person, group, religion, and government has their own opinion. They all have one thing in common. They all think they are right. Think back to any argument you have ever had. Didn't you think you were right? Well, so did the person you were arguing with. Hence, the reason for the argument.

However, the problem does not lie in the fact that everyone thinks they are right. The problem is how they express their opinion to prove they are right. In a perfect world, people would sit at a table and intelligently discuss their differences and develop a constructive solution. WE DON'T LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD. WE LIVE IN A WORLD FILLED WITH THOSE WHO FEEL THEY ARE ENTITLED.

The danger comes to pass when the people who feel this way are unstable individuals and do not value human life highly. Every past and present war proves that. Everything I will discuss in this post applies to every aspect of life. The only difference is the intensity of one's actions.

HUMAN LIFE:

Does human life have value? Of course, it does. It's the only life we have and know. It is our present. Why do I say, "Each Day Is A New Day?" Because it is. Some consider a new day a new beginning. This allows them to right a wrong, change something in their life, or continue along their chosen path. On any given day, anything can happen. In addition, we can change what we do not like on any given day. Each day can bring hope, love, joy, happiness, sadness, and the news.

Like many, I watch the news. The news is a powerful source of information. Why? Because people believe what they hear or read in the news. Again, in a perfect world, if the news is reported correctly, meaning unbiasedly, we can probably believe it. Is that the case? I do not think so. For example, look at any sound bite the news shows from any speech. They choose the clip that represents their opinion and views. That is not unbiased reporting. I have said this many times. I watch more than one news network. I find it funny how every sound bite from the same speech someone made differs on each network. Again, they choose what fits their opinion and narrative. We need to hear all sides to make an informed decision.

From day to day, none of us know what life will send our way. Yes, we can plan things for the next day that we have control of. What we do not have control of is others and the unknown. You know, those little things that happen to us all. A flat tire, the car breaks, a forgotten bill, an unexpected bill, relationship problems. Get the idea? However, it is how we view these things that will determine whether they will spoil our day. Some say the glass is half full, while others say the glass is half empty. This depends on your particular way of thinking. Perception and how we perceive things is a matter of choice. You can choose to be a negative thinker or a positive thinker. How do you view the glass?

Regardless of the issue, each day is a new day and allows us to choose what that day will be like. I think the most common thing that bothers most people is saying to themselves, "I don't feel like going to work today." A pessimistic person, a negative thinker, will let that thought bother them until they get to work and, in most cases, ruin their day. How often have you said, "God, it's only Tuesday?" Why not say, "Thank God it's Tuesday; only three more days till payday or Friday." Now you look forward to going to work, or at least going doesn't feel that bad because you have placed a goal in your mind. FRIDAY! That is what an optimistic person, a positive thinker, would say.

Of course, there is always an exception to the rule. Life does happen. There will be times when you receive bad news or hear something that saddens you. It is okay to feel sadness. You are human, after all. It is also okay to feel anger. These are all human emotions. What we do and how we cope with these emotions matters. For example, it is not fair to take your anger of something out on someone else. No one is your punching bag. As with all emotions, we must find a way to cope. If you do not, the outcome can be much worse. We often create additional problems based on the actions we take or fail to take. It is a two-way street. Most people blame others for their actions. That is a defense mechanism we use to justify our choices. Not your best choice, and in most cases, it will come back to bite you. There is a saying I am pretty fond of. It goes like this:

Tell the truth. You never have to remember the truth, but a lie you must remember forever.

How do we put a value on human life? We certainly cannot put a dollar value on it. The value that most people place on human life is by comparing it to the alternative. The alternative is death. In death, we do not have a life. Not as we know it. When we compare it in that sense, human life holds the highest value. Yet, it is the one thing that people take for granted. People assume that tomorrow will come for them. Anyone who has lost a loved one suddenly, without warning, can attest to the fact that tomorrow may not come and is not guaranteed to anyone. However, we still take it for granted as a society and a nation.

Living in a world filled with different cultures, religious beliefs, and stable and unstable individuals, we never know what will occur. Every government knows this and prepares for it by having weapons that can cause devastation and kill many people. This is a double-edged sword. With them, you can be part of the problem. Without them, you will be consumed by those that do. The statement, "Peace is a result of balance of power," is true. In most cases, no one in their right mind would inflict harm on another, knowing the same damage can be imposed on them—that's a balance of power. For the most part, this works.

Those countries who cannot afford or do not have the technology to achieve this partnership with other countries. They are called allies. When many countries want to rely on the power of a combined united front, they align themselves together. We call this unity NATO. Attacking one is like attacking all. Therefore, the aggressor is no longer fighting one nation; they are fighting many—a strong deterrent.

In a sense, this is an effective deterrent and can protect the value of human life. Remember I said we don't live in a perfect world? There are those in power that do not care. Their beliefs differ from what the rest of the world sees as conventional thinking. They thrive on causing fear and destruction. Society has labeled these groups as terrorists.

By definition, a terrorist is a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to pursue political aims.

These groups give themselves names. "Hamas" is only one example. Hamas has a military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades that has conducted many anti-Israel attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories. This has been a known fact for years. No citations are required. Like the free world, these terrorist groups also support each other. They have their form of alliance. The IRGC-QF is one of the Iranian regime's primary organizations responsible for conducting covert lethal activities outside Iran, including asymmetric and terrorist operations. Hezbollah is another. Almost all of these groups are funded by a nation. A nation that claims they have no ties to those groups. Our intelligence tells us this is not true. Iran is one such nation. Most terrorist groups do NOT hold a high value for human life. This is because, in their religious beliefs, to die for their beliefs is an honor. Therefore, if they hold such little value in their lives, how can we expect them to hold any weight in human life? This makes them so dangerous and explains why they have no remorse for killing innocent civilians in their quest for terror and honoring what they believe in. You see, everyone's value of human life is different. As people, we cannot assume that others place the value of human life on the same level. They do not.

OCTOBER 7th., 2023:

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas initiated an unprecedented attack on Israel. Each day is a new day. We never know what it will bring. Does that sound familiar? On that day, the people of Israel probably planned on having their typical day, just like those who lost their lives during 9/11. In this section of my post, we need to look at things from a logical perspective. I stated earlier that both sides believe they are right in any conflict—the actions they take to prove their position are what causes problems.

On that day, thousands were killed. In this attack, inhumane acts were taken against innocent people. These are all documented facts. I have seen the pictures, which I WILL NOT share here, on the many posts I have seen. I have witnessed the unthinkable in my over 30 years as a paramedic. These acts of barbarism and violence far outweigh anything I have seen—acts of violence against innocent people. This far outweighs the definition of inhumane treatment or acts. Is it a logical assumption to assume that Israel would respond? Of course, it is. No nation is going to allow itself to become victims of these types of actions and face extinction.

The one thing about human nature is everyone favors the underdog. Everyone cheers for the underdog. Therefore, everyone sympathized with Israel until the tides turned. There is no comparison when we compare the power and might of Israel and Hamas. Now that Israel, and rightfully so, is defending itself, Hamas is now viewed by many as the underdog. Hence, the reason for so many protests throughout the world. People have forgotten who started this war.

It makes me think back to history when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and Japan's military leaders were celebrating their perceived victory. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor, reportedly wrote in his diary, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” Although the validity of whether this was actually said and written in his diary is in question, it may have just been placed in the 1970 movie. However, we all know the outcome of that attack, and maybe it should have been said—indeed, there is a lesson here to be learned.

That is precisely what Hamas did on Oct. 7th., 2023. For every action, there is a reaction. If you do not want the reaction, do not take the action—simple concept. This is simple logic: no bias, no opinions, just facts. Now that the response from Israel has begun, the tides have shifted for many, and Hamas is being looked upon as the underdog by many. Like it or not, agree with it or not. That is human nature. Hence, the protests began.

PROTESTS:

Before I begin this section, I wish to clarify student protests. I fully support peaceful protest and our 1st—1stAmendment rights. However, after viewing clips of the numerous demonstrations on our college campuses, I take exception to one thing.

Regardless of their side, many of the students interviewed at these protests are from other countries on a student visa or a grant, or their government is paying for their education. My point is that the students are NOT paying for their education. I get offended when any student not from the United States mocks or denounces this nation.

Frankly, if they do not like the United States, get your education in a country you support. Maybe your own, and allow that grant money to go to a United States citizen who cannot afford to attend the University you are attending for free. You can protest and denounce the United States from your own country. Freedom of speech is a right in this country. Any student who is NOT a citizen of the United States of America and is here on a free ride should get their visa revoked and deported. You may or may not agree, and I respect that. However, everything has its limits.

In our country, people have the right to peaceful protest. I support that. However, that does mean everyone has to agree with what is being protested. What concerns me is this. And I think Tomi Lahren put it perfectly in an interview on FOX News with Sean Hannity. The people protesting the attack by Israel are supporting Hamas. It has not been said to FREE the Palestine people from Hamas rule. Again, logically, how could people help any group that has committed the atrocities on innocent people that Hamas has committed or use them as human shields to protect themselves?

Are the people protesting not presenting their opinions properly, or are they that ignorant? Are our institutes of higher learning doing the right thing for their students by allowing this on their campuses? We must honor freedom of speech. However, shouldn't these Ivy League schools be focusing on education more? We live in a different world—a world of technology. A world where most of what we say and do publicly is easy to find out about somewhere. Are these students hurting their future job opportunities? What about the alumni who donate heavily to these schools? Are they pulling out? Check out this article.

Remember, for every action, there is a reaction. To understand this section, you must know I am not against protests. However, our institutions of higher learning need to be careful about the sides they take and what they allow on their campus, especially if this form of protest from two different sides results in any form of violence. Is that what parents are paying for, or what they set their children to college for? We have all seen the unrest at many universities and the testaments from other students fearing for their safety.

Is that necessary, or shouldn't they be able to protest on campus peacefully? I believe they should. However, remember, this is NOT a perfect world. You cannot afford to offend those who contribute financially to these institutions. Money is often stronger than principle. There is such a thing as "the real world." Many of these students are there on grants from these donors. Lose those grants, and you lose those students. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the real world. The world that we all live in.

Hope, love, joy, happiness, and sadness. all part of

the real world we live in.

It is said we live in a society of entitlement. Everyone feels entitled. They think the world owes them something. They shouldn't have to work for it. Wouldn't that be nice? Wouldn't it be nice to go to your boss and say, "I want a raise?" Your boss replies, "Of course, you are entitled to one. I'll take care of it." Let me know how that works for you. When that happens, I'll return to work full-time. Ok, probably not.

Like it or not, the world and people owe you nothing. All we are entitled to is what we earn and work for. Can we rise above all this foolishness? Yes. I believe we can. The world is still filled with more sensible, decent, and humane people than the alternatives. It boils down to what the majority is willing to accept from others.

The actions that we will condone and the actions we will not condone. The issues we will support and the ones we will not. The majority always sets the pace for others to follow. Those who choose not to follow what is decent, humane, and what is accepted by society must be willing to face the ramifications of their actions. When those ramifications occur, should they be supported? That is a personal choice you all need to make. However, keep all the facts in mind while deciding. Each day is a new day. You never know what tomorrow will bring for you.

I ask you to reconsider your rage as you watched the Twin Towers in New York collapse. You felt rage and anger as you learned how many innocent people and first responders died. You wanted revenge. You demanded it from our government. Don't you think the people of Israel have the same feelings now that you did then? Not to mention, during this attack, American Citizens were killed and taken hostage.

Any nation has the right to defend and protect its citizens. That region of the world is very complicated. It is not my intent to try to explain it. I cannot. However, I can comment on the emotions and reactions and what may be considered justified or not justified actions. Protests are a way of getting our viewpoints and opinions out in the open for others to hear. Look at it as a tool. If you look at the history of Israel's conflicts, they have always warned people who are not part of the conflict to leave. They cannot force them to do so, but if they choose to stay, their fate becomes their choice. Most nations do not do that. The terrorists did not warn us of their attack on our country on 9/11. No one warned those working in the Twin Towers to stay home that day. No one warned anyone in Pearl Harbor to keep off their ships that day.

Israel tried to do the humane thing. However, we must remember they have the right to defend themselves and not live with the daily threat of terrorism. Their retaliation is justified. It is that simple. You don't have to like it, but our country has done the same when it was attacked. Any country would. Is it fair to condemn Israel for doing the same?

War is a terrible thing. The fact is. No one wins. Innocent people and collateral damage are part of any war. That will never change. Innocent people die. I can support the protests for the Palestinian people if these protesters were protesting to free the Palestinians from Hamas. I cannot support these protestors supporting Hamas. The Gaza Strip is densely populated and 25 miles long by 7 miles wide. It is ruled by the Hamas, not the Palestinian people. These people need to be freed from Hamas. That is what these protests should emphasize.

I have great empathy for these people. We take for granted that we live in a democracy and have freedom. So much so that, at times, we lose sight of that. We have the ability in this country for one hand to touch another. Get the help we need if we need it. Practice our different religious beliefs without fear of persecution. With all of this, we also are not perfect. There is always room for improvement.

However, what we have lost is strength. We no longer portray ourselves as a strong nation. We are looked upon only as a nation that anyone can come to and get things for free at the cost of others working for it.

IN CLOSING:

I appreciate your patience; this has been my longest blog post. However, the information provided needs to be correctly stated. As of this writing, Israel has not initiated a ground attack, which may have changed by now. However, some American hostages have been released. Hopefully, there will be many more. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all and the innocent Palestinian people. If a ground attack has not occurred, I am sure it is imminent.

Any war and needless loss of life for any reason is a tragedy. However, we live in a volatile world where many take extreme measures based on their beliefs. Hatred and antisemitism exist on many fronts and have for decades. Hopefully, one day, we can evolve to a place in time when these thoughts no longer exist. In the meantime, we must remember that every nation, regardless of its beliefs, has the right to defend itself. In war, there will always be collateral damage. Innocent people will be killed. Some say that is the price of war. For some countries, the cost of freedom is.

So far, I have talked about facts. Now it's my turn for my opinion. We talk so much about our open borders. Borders that we have let millions through. We do not know their background or who or what they are. Now, with this conflict in Israel,

We fear what terrorists may have slipped by and how many terrorist cells may have formed. Our Jewish population can be at risk in our country. Thank you, Joe Biden. People in our country should NOT have to live in fear. As this turmoil unfolds, the Jewish people in this nation live in fear. Is this any way to protect a country such as ours?

Yes, I stand with Israel, just as I stood with America when the Twin Towers were attacked. I believe that when Hamas attacked Israel without warning and without giving Americans the opportunity to evacuate, they knowingly killed American citizens and took Americans as hostages. That is no different than declaring war against the United States. We are respecting Israel's right to fight their own battle, and we are and should provide them with whatever they need. However, should any other terrorist group or nation, such as Iran, Hezbollah, or any other, become involved, we should destroy the infrastructure that allows them to function—military installations, oil refineries, etc. Sending two Carrier Strike Force (CSF) groups to the Mediterranean Sea is an appropriate deterrent and sign of intent and support. However, it only works if it is acted upon if a situation requires intervention.

This can become a slippery slope and tricky at best to navigate. However, making statements and not acting on them if required is far worse and causes more harm than doing nothing at all. Warnings are only taken seriously when followed through with actions if needed. That sends a definitive message. Whether you liked Trump, Raegan, Kennedy, or any other Presidents who followed through with their warnings when the situation merited., or not, those were times when the United States was taken seriously in the global community.

The United States can NOT continue to sit by nor show our strength and determination to protect our citizens, interests, and country when required. A bully will always strike at those they know will not strike back. Giving someone a black eye may be fun, but getting one in return is not. We live in a world filled with turmoil. Depending on your political beliefs, some blame the weakness of our present administration. That's for a different post. All we can do is compare to our history. History has shown us that when the United States had a strong administration and solid foreign policies, these events did not occur. Once again, like Trump or not, no nation ran the risk of pushing him for fear of how he would respond. Former President Trump was probably one of the best negotiators as a President. When he spoke to other leaders, his firmness and demeanor spoke volumes.

People do not have to agree on every issue. I am sure some will disagree with some or all of the facts and opinions stated here. However, there are many basic principles of life. We must never forget that each day is a new day. On any given day, we can institute change. Not only in our own lives but in the world we live in. Picking and choosing our battles is not easy; they are often chosen for us and are highly complicated. However, we all must do what we need for the greater good, what we believe and stand for, and whatever it takes to protect the citizens of our great nation. We cannot help others until we help ourselves. We can't take care of others until we take care of ourselves. We still live in the greatest nation on the planet. We have our faults and problems, but we can fix them. We call that voting. The 2024 Presidential election will be a pivotal turning point for people and our nation.