Politics and Veterans Day | News, Sports, Jobs – Daily Herald

Two Things this week:

#1) Political Campaigns

It’s hard not to notice that political campaigning is going on for our local elections around Sanpete and other counties in the state. And, of course, on the national scene you can’t avoid politicking if you turn on the TV.

Buckle up. We’ve got another year before those elections happen. I think it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

I generally try not to go very heavy here with specific political opinions. We all have opinions.

A “great modern philosopher” named Taylor Swift (yes, that Taylor, haha) said: We don’t need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful.” I respect Taylor’s opinion as stated there.

I gave a talk in church back in September which was associated with the remembrance of Constitution Day being Sunday the seventeenth. The topic was the U.S. Constitution and the formation of our nation.

I told the congregation that I was going to break a rule and declare a political opinion from the pulpit. I took my jacket part way off and called attention to the fact that I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt.

I then solemnly and emphatically stated, “I believe in reserving my 2ndamendment rights to bare arms.” I will defend anyone’s right to wear short sleeved shirts. But I do draw the line at some tank-tops.

I feel like sharing some quotes that have to do with politics. Some have been shared here before, but they bear repeating. Some were sent to me by my sister a while back.

See what you think of these quotations.

“If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates.” Jay Leno

“The problem with political jokes is they get elected” Henry Cate, VII

“If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these State of the Union speeches, there wouldn’t be any inducement to go to heaven.” Will Rogers

“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.” Nikita Khrushchev

“When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it.” Clarence Darrow

“Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel.” John Quinton

“Why pay money to have your family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you.” Unknown

“Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.” Oscar Ameringer

“I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them. Adlai Stevenson, 1952

“A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country.” Tex Guinan

“Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.” Doug Larson

“There ought to be one day – just one – when there is open season on Congressmen.” Will Rogers

“We’d all like to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate.” Kin Hubbard

Now for the second thing.

#2) Veterans Day

It’s Veterans Day week. November 11th falls on a Saturday this year. Veterans Day is a federal holiday.

Veterans Day is the day that is set apart for special honors and remembrances of those who have served in the military for this country. Many paid for our freedom with their lives.

Veterans of all the wars and “conflicts” are to be remembered. It’s important that we remember all of them.

Some of you may remember that I occasionally check the numbers on surviving World War II veterans. (It may be kind of a morbid hobby)

World War II vets need to be remembered because they are disappearing quite rapidly. Of the 16,112,566 Americans who served, there are about 119,550 left (down from 167,284, last year), with approximately 131 dying each day on average.

According to my research, Utah has 858 surviving vets from World War II (1,230 last year). Florida has the largest number at 10,785 (14,823 last year). Alaska has the smallest number at 70 (99 last year).

Those in our family who served are gone now. We have a very few left in our Sanpete neighborhoods. They have an interesting perspective on life and the world.

You might know of veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm/Desert Shield, or some of the other conflicts. They should all be remembered as we have opportunities.

Enjoy the week. Don’t let the political world depress you too much.

Let this week of Veteran’s Day boost your spirits. And don’t forget. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. — Merrill

P.S. I used to read “Humor in Uniform” in the Reader’s Digest. People would send in funny moments from serving in the military. Here’s one I like that has a strategy you might use with kids (or adults) some time.

“Three weeks into training camp, I still hadn’t gotten used to Navy cooking and was surviving on milk and desserts. In one food line, I picked up the biggest piece of cake available and set it on my tray. The mess cook behind the counter saw the gleam in my eye and asked me if I’d like two pieces. When I eagerly answered that I would, the cook leaned over and cut my piece of cake in two.”

— Jack Leonard

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