• 28Mar

  Boycott The Olympics

  Boycott The Olympics No Comments

  

  Boycott the Olympics? The opening of the Olympic games that China will host for the first time ever, the world’s biggest sporting event that is due to open - cough, cough, choke - in the polluted Chinese capital in early August. But there is a problem, namely the Chinese government and their suppression of anything they dislike, such as free speech.

  The conflicts began March 10, when Chinese authorities stormed Buddhist temples and arrested monks in an effort to suppress a string of peaceful demonstrations commemorating the 49th anniversary of the National Uprising.

  Since then, reports of mass arrests, beatings and the deaths of as many as 90 Tibetans have intensified international criticism of Chinese intervention in the region.

  Since March 10, all tourists and independent media have been ordered to leave the region, so unbiased news from Tibet has been scarce. I think the Olympic committee made a huge error in awarding the games to a country known for its human rights violations, what the heck where they thinking?

  

  Not surprisingly, many European leaders are going to boycott the opening ceremony in a show of support for the monks, like Havel above.

  They have
  spent
  over $40
  billion on the games…They have spent over $40 billion on the games…

  China has been a fool with its food and toy safety, athletes have complained about pollution and now they are facing global criticism over its crackdown against the Tibet uprising….but criticism alone is not enough. Lets make it a $40 billion mistake and show them that murdering monks and attacking the Dalai Lama is not acceptable.

  

   

• 21Mar

  Dad

  Dad 6 Comments

  Thanks to the efforts of a distant cousin, I have for the first time in my life seen a photograph of my father when he was young. I’ve got to admit, I was completely taken back by the photos. The file name indicated it was my brother, Charles Kielhurn jr., but when I opened it I knew immediately that it was my dad…the eyes, the hair, I don’t really know what it was, but I was sure it was my dad…

  

  Having never seen a photo of him as a boy, a few things popped out at me, like it was obvious where I got my good looks from! Fashion aside, it a snappy little pic, but that face; it is one that has been engraved in my soul forever, and I am proud of that. I can be, there aren’t many men out there that can say that they successfully raised 11 children, and never faltered in his love for his wife. People are quick to note ones flaws, and speak about them as if we were better for not having those flaws….we just have different ones. People are also quick to honor thy mother, and my mom was certainly a saint, but today is for dad…not because it is fathers day, but because I am just getting a chance to see how you looked as a boy.

  

  I find it ironic that it’s a sailors uniform, dad was a real WWII type, and be I damned if the American flag touch the ground during our raising ceremonies! He did instill good values in me, without even knowing that he was doing it; honor thy mother, country and God…he taught by modeling those behaviours.

  

  Dad, you were a farm boy! I had no idea! Do you think that you could pull those pants up any higher? Both my mother and father had fantastic senses of humor, they had to to tolerate myself and my siblings!

     I’ve gone to sleep over the past few days thinking about these photos. I guess I always presumed that my dad was born an adult…! I’m very thankful to my cousin and his father for sharing these with me and for all their efforts as genealogists…my dad may be gone, but he is remembered and still loved by many…

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