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Veteran’s Day Words

Over at The Daily Post @ WordPress.com one of the Daily Prompts is Play Lexicographer.   

I thought I would try my hand at this game, using the theme of Veteran’s Day to invent new words to honor all the men and woman who have served our country.   Here are a few words I have created …

Uvetidid –  (you-vet-I-did)  n.  a person who served in the military or a soldier who has seen considerable active service .

Vetservedcountry  (Vet-serve-country) v. a civilian who has in the past served in the military.

Honorvetservice (honor-vets-service)  v.  1. the act of honoring.  2. Something all citizens should do on Veteran’s Day and every day.

Thankavet (thank-a-vet) v.  give gratitude for the unselfish service of a Veteran.

Givevetscredit  (give-vets-credit) v.  the act of giving credit to the men and woman who have served our country. 

I wonder what other words we can invent to express our gratitude to all those brave men and woman who have given their time and their lives for our freedom.   Share your words of thanks.

Related Articles

http://grandawn.com/2012/11/11/thank-you-dad-and-other-veterans/

http://microfilmblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/happy-veterans-day/

http://sweetsabelle.com/2012/11/11/remembrance/

http://ceschwilk.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/exposed-sunday-remembering/

http://theinboxjaunt.com/2012/11/11/silent-sunday-9/

 

©Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
 
 

Weekly Writing Challenge: Mind the Gap

As I sat in the backyard drinking my evening cup of coffee and listening to the neighbor kids play tag in their yard, I mused upon the topic of this week’s writing challenge. I do not usually write political statements. I stay away from controversial topics on purpose. For one, I am not very good at arguing my point in politics, and two, I am not very good at arguing. However, this challenge has made me think that maybe it is time for a little grandmother wisdom to be shared.

The Occupy Wall Street protestors seem to be a gnarly, mixed-up bunch at their best. They have received bad press from the moment their movement came on the scene. It seems to me that they are trying to force a change of the status quo, and I believe that is good.  The problem is that they have not gone about their protesting in a way that inspires most everyday working people.  I do not feel connected to their protests. They come off as a bunch of whinny, spoiled kids stomping their feet to get their way. They are not positively making people care about their goals.

This dilemma then causes the talking heads of the world to rally their constituents to come out against the “Occupy Movement” causing a push and pull effect.  Consequently, nothing is accomplished, and the people and corporations whose heads should be on the chopping block skirt free while we watch the bashing of “The Occupy Movement” once again.

Like a magician’s sleight of hand, the powers that be wave a hanky with one arm and allow the banking fiasco with the other arm.  The evening news inundates us with footage of protestors and forgets to show us that our rights are being slowly taken away, our country is fighting two wars, and people are losing their homes, jobs, and dignity.  Moreover, the information that is spewed daily only incites Americans to fight against Americans, because they do not know who the enemy is anymore.  Is it the 1%?  Is it a neighbor, a sister or brother, or the woman at the grocery store?  Wait, look over here, is it the butcher, the baker, or perhaps the candlestick maker!

In my opinion, the “Occupy Movement” has not occupied any of the things that our great country represents. It is just another magic trick provided to keep the masses looking the other way while the politicians and the corporations rape our resources and ruin our systems. Meanwhile, in an election year, we have the Republicans blaming the Democrats, the Democrats blaming the conservatives, and the liberals blaming the Tea Party.  Yet, not one thing but fighting and protesting are actually being done to solve the woes facing the country.

Therefore, after much musing and coffee drinking, I have decided that until I see something positive coming out of the “Occupy Movement” that will work to bring our country together on an issue, I will not support it. I also will not support the argumentative loud mouths who dream of creating an end to the movement.  I think that both sides are wrong, and that they are detrimental to America.  It is all just more noise in a world that really needs clarity.

President Abraham Lincoln said it best, “A house divided cannot stand.”  If Americans cannot open their eyes and find a middle ground, then the country will not continue to exist.  We need to put the UNITED back into the United States of America.  

 

 

Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

 

America is Singing

I Hear America Singing

By Walt Whitman

 

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each singing his as it

     should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his

     plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for

       work or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his

      boat, the deck hand singing on the steam-

      boat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench,

     the hatter singing as he stands,

The woodcutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his

     way in the morning, or at noon intermission

      or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or the

     young wife at work, or the girl sewing or

     washing,

Each sings what belongs to him or her and to

     none else,

The day what belongs to the day—at night the

      party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious

      songs.

 

Walt Whitman’s poem explores the unique contribution of each person to America. Today, there are not many shoemakers or woodcutters around, however we still sing America’s songs.  The stuff that makes this country live, breathe, and prosper.  In honor of Labor Day, we should all be proud of our role in making this country great.  It does not matter what work we do because each job is as important to the whole as another. It only matters that combined–we are one.  It is proper, therefore, that we as a nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the architects of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American  worker.

 

Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
 

Are You Qualified to Be an American?

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If you were not born in the U.S., it is required for you to pass an American Civics class and pass a history test to become an American Citizen.  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has a 100-question test. Applicants for Citizenship are given ten random questions from the 100, and must answer at least six questions in order to pass the test to become a Citizen.

Do you  think you can pass the test?  Click on the words “Citizenship Test”, and see if you would pass the Citizenship Test.  Then come back to Grandmother Musings and tell us how you did, if you dare!!

RELATED ARTICLES:

US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Detroit Free Press

 

 

Copyright © Jamie Nowinski and Grandmother Wisdom/ Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

Ode to the Truck Driver

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We take for granted all the truck drivers who travel America’s intricate web of pick-up and delivery every day, seven days a week, supplying us with our integral needs. They make it possible for us to buy broccoli from California in the middle of winter, Angus beef from Iowa for our grilled hamburgers, and French fries from Idaho potatoes. Our medicines, hospital equipment, building supplies, and the sheets on our beds all come to us because of a truck driver.

The impact on the day-to-day living of the average American would be severely felt if the trucking system were interrupted.  The possibility of a catastrophe such as a terrorist attack, a pandemic, or a natural disaster could put people who depend on the delivery of even the most simplistic items in a crisis. According to a report put out by the American Trucking Association, a shutdown of the trucking system would result in “a swift and devastating impact on the food, healthcare, transportation, waste removal, retail, manufacturing, and financial sectors.

It is time for us to recognize the importance of the trucking industry and the truck drivers in our nation.  We need to devise ways to keep their roadways open and secure.  We need to encourage those men and woman who choose to drive a truck for a living by giving them a decent wage and decent work environment.  Not only is this fair, it is imperative in keeping the flow of goods coming to every town, parish, store, hospital, and gas station in our country.

So, the next time you are behind a semi-truck cursing them for going too slow, take a moment and thank them for all the things they deliver for you every day. Say a prayer that their jobs will not be eliminated, and that they will continue to service all Americans, come what may.

Copyright © Jamie Nowinski and Grandmother Wisdom/ Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
 

Facebook Manners

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     The lessons of life never stop educating.  It does not matter how old or young you are, everyday there is something new to learn.  Let us take the Facebook phenomenon for instance… people are learning how to socialize in a revolutionary way.  In some cases, they are learning the hard way that good old fashion manners are necessary even when using new fangled devices. Here are some manners and etiquette rules that any Face book user should try to abide:

1.      Never say anything on Face book that you would not say around the table at a family dinner.

That means…if you would not discuss politics at Thanksgiving with Uncle Matthew, then do not discuss it with him on Facebook.

2.      Swearing is rude and should not be used in a social context. 

3.    You do not have to be friends with every person who requests a friendship.  Just like in real life, we have true friends and then acquaintances.  We do not invite every acquaintance over every day for a chat.

4.  Some things are personal and should not be shared with everyone.  Discussing your bedroom antics, personal body issues, and foot fungus is not only disgusting and offensive; it is downright stupid.

5.  Remember:  What you speak can be denied, but what you write is written in stone.  Things you write can be copied and possibly used against you.  Be careful what you engrave in the stone of eternity.

Copyright © Jamie Nowinski and Grandmother Wisdom/ Grandmother Musings 2012-2013.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
 
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