Jerry Church:  

Life Kurt Vonnegut said "life is no way to treat a human being". I expose myself not to evoke sentiments but to provide points of reference for those who have not experienced the "incomprehensiable demoralization" that life can provide. I can best describe it as awakening in your life and looking back at some point of aspiration unattained and thinking, what in the f--- happened out there on that avenue. whosearatyahoodotcom In my hometown, avenues run east and west and streets run north and south. I never really built an adequate compass for reasons I still pursue and thus was always wandering off the path and into jungles without trees and torrents without water. Lack of skill was never a problem. I often felt pressed to guide others when I had no desire to lead. Many assumed ability implied liability, when in fact it is quite simply a matter molecules in the time/space theater. You have no choice in the matter of when and with what props you enter that stage. We in the U.S. regularly assume the lead role is our's by self righteous acclimation. You delude yourself if you do not realize you could be in the Sudan withering to dust or perhaps at the right hand of Osama Bin Laden huddling against the cold of winter. I know, you wouldn't be you then or would you. This is the kind of exercise that will help alleviate our plundering of the less fortunate and our assertion of a divine ordination to claim such booty. Perhaps it is easier to follow the observation of Bob Dylan that " you don't count the bodies when God's on your side ". Bob talks alot about matters of space and time. My oldest son is named Dylan, he didn't choose the name or me as a father. Those are things I imposed on his stage presence. Maybe he would have preferrred Osama, probably less burden. Next up, pleasure and pain, P's that run down your leg and through your brain. Pain and pleasure are on a slide bar adjustment that we tweak and are tweaked by through out life. Ouch, ooh, aah, oh yeah! I was married at age 28, we had three sons within four years. That is one every two years, new math, no, you figure it out. We divorced after nine years, my choice. I lived with her another seven years as I thought it best for my sons. Recent studies show this to be a good decision as chidren, especially boys, of bad marriages still seem to fair better than those in which the parents separate. While my sons may not sparkle on the parental bio sheet, they provide the much needed moral fiber that I find most pleasing. Through much pain I now encounter much pleasure. Thank you Dylan, Mason and Jameson. Military Ain't gonna study war no more. I drew 126 in the first lottery draft ( remember that ), I was 1A, they took everyone up to 125 that year. Luck, fate - no just life. I didn't have to decide. No, actually I had decided but was not forced to implement that decision. We need a draft again. When middle class white boys start dying, Americans pay attention. For awhile. Pay less attention to what your children are learning in school and more to what you teach them at home. "Imagine there's no heaven etc. " I sent the Pentagon the following combat rules. So far no response. I read that I am probably already on a list for my subscription to " The New Republic " back in the sixties. Only you can prevent forest fires ( and wars ). Starting points. All combatants must stand face to face for fifteen minutes before employing weapons. Conversations are allowed and exchange of family photos is encouraged. Each combatant may then kill only that person. The survivor is then required to personally notify the opponents next of kin. Use of the phase " I was just following orders " is forbidden. If it is determined that God is on your side, you may fire at will as he will protect all life. Any fatalities incurred during said free fire are assumed to be proof that he really wasn't on your side or that he was on a smoke break. That's right, God smokes ( Marlboro, unless he has coupons for free packs ). Each Wednesday the surviving forces will hold " free and peaceful " elections to determine if the conflict should continue. Any t...Expand for more