My parents were hawks during the VietNam War...brother # 2 was a dove. I was silent...hey! I wasn't stupid.

My parents would not allow a debate or discussion on anything that was against what they believed. I was a parents' wet dream....I kept silent. I offered nothing except parrot statements of their one-sided thinking..I was the obedient one.

*Bare with me. I feel a soapbox coming on, and it may sound fragmented, but I will try to keep things straight lined.*

Is it any wonder our teenagers are full of angst? The only way to find the truth is to search for it by whatever means possible. You define the truth by the knowledge you have learned. What if the truth you learn goes against what you were brought up to believe? Only to become defamed for even questioning things...let alone voice opposition.

.....the irony is...depending on where we are in our lives, determines alot of our belief system at the time....so what is real? Am I a moderate by nature, or nurture?...

My mother is ashamed of being a hawk, now..(however she remains steadfast with her intolerance of blacks, gays, jews, hispanics, etc.*sigh*) I can not see how my basic views would change, but the news comes fast and swift these days. What I thought was a politically sound choice 1 year ago is absurd today, given the circumstances. I interface with a cross section of people with extremely opposing views..and I sense an undercurrent of "I am right/you are wrong" mentality....do I just hang with *like mindedness*? Surely it would be easier...

Parents of children that hung out with my children were varied to be sure: extremists,fundamentalists,ex-military lifers, soccer moms, atheists, control freaks...you name it..but no one spoke the same language.

All I have is questions...no answers. *This may be as good as it gets.*

Blackwater is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what is real and what is not....maybe fear is the true motivator of all things....and it is only fear that determines reality. And those realities are as individual as the people that are subconciously ruled by them.

Realities are not and can not be one size fits all.....

I have core values, that by and large represent a political moderate...I lean slightly to the right.

This is who I am...I do not forsee myself changing...but as retirement closes in, my priorities change. What was a blip on my radar at 20 is a glaring sunspot now. What concerns I have now is not necessarily good or even an issue for our youngsters. How can anyone be on the same page with any issue?