Walking School buses – used in fighting childhood obesity – Taking 50 steps back to go forward again.

When one is of a certain age, one recalls walking to school, in all types of weather, regardless of the cold, rain, sleet or hail, it was a privilege to be able to learn, play and grow. This privilege extended and still extends to all students. Of course, one hears the stories regarding walking 8 miles backward up a hill, and 20 miles back to get back and forth to the schoolhouse across town – and so it was. Now, however, as our lives continue to grow increasingly sedentary, the children today have little in the way of exercise that is not “virtual”. They might play at recess, although most games are banned now due to the hazards of what once was considered childhood play. Few rush to practice sports, but the percentage of “jocks” continues to be miniscule compared to the rest of the student body.

What is a growingly poor, heavy, and left of center school systems to do? Enter the concept of walking to school! – CBS St. Louis reports on a Providence RI school system, which is one of many, that employs “walking school buses”. The concept is an adult, acts as a chaperone for children on a walking tour, complete with a bit of interventional mothering, to and from the home. The upshot, the children get exercise, and the attendance goes up.. Novel concept, is it not?

History is relative. Fifty years ago, children walked to and fro school, played at recess, played at sports after recess, played in the woods if living in the country, or played pickup on the sidewalks of the city. A generation of lean and happy little tykes who were the best and the brightest in the world. Much as occurred in the intervening years, and so, with an eye toward progressively blending all, and insuring that no student felt “left out” either academically or athletically, the homogenization of the entire nation began – and the effect, less knowledgeable and certainly less athletic. One must understand that by walking these students, the salary of one guide over the costs of a bus and drive should be taken into consideration. Also to consider is the benefit to those students fortunate enough to go back in time so to speak. The sad part is that now, with the real danger of city streets, or country streets for that matter, students and parents might hesitate to let their child go it alone. Of course, were the prison system similar to that long ago age referred to, this would not be an issue.

Where so much was wrong regarding the institutions of the eelier period (from juvenile detention facilities to the asylums where those with anger issues stemming from mental illness were isolated from the general society – another cause and effect story), but now, with the improvements that have been made to such a compassionate and knowledgeable progressive society, one might think those old institutions might be employed once again, careful not to infringe on the comforts of those whose stay might either benefit the individual or the society. Memory serves, and those students who may have acted out fifty years ago, refrained from doing so, in order to avoid the “goal”, and continue to play hard at recess and walk to and fro school.

Looks like a step in the right direction.

Cruz & Paul - The Original Intent – Non-intervention in times where growth is required – Self-Defense only

One may say what they like about “political parties” and ideology, either Democrat or Republican, right or left, however, to break ranks on occasion, in the vein of George Washington seems proper. Referring to the brouhaha surrounding certain Libertarian and/or Tea Party Senators preferring to stay out of foreign frays, running against the grain of the commonly held belief of what has become known as either Republican aggression or Democrat aversion to intervention, both Ted Cruz and Rand Paul have come under fire for their views on foreign policy issues. It is the wrong approach to pigeon hole either as self-serving and or off the holy grail of current events and political party lines – they are merely asserting the original and very smart foreign policy recalling the first President, George Washington.

The founders put little stock in political parties, as they felt that the focal point would be taken away from the business of a limited government and put upon a bureaucracy of the few. In this point of view, taking away of the common United States allegiance and placing it squarely in one political camp or the other, doing the good of the Party before doing the good of the nation.

Politicospeaks to Cruz walking a Reaganesque line when it comes to the Ukraine – strength through peace, and he comes under not a little criticism (view the political party comments). One might recall that peace through strength was also one of the tenants of Washington. Build up the defense, when the treasury was on the low side.

As to the piece by the Washington Post’s , Rubin, on Rand Paul being the “odd man out” in the GOP on foreign policy, she may have a point, as far as the body politic is concerned, however, again, in the vein of what is proper, Paul is doing what is right for the nation, not the GOP in all instances.

Or perhaps both articles are reflecting a concern by those who like the status quo, and the rising appeal of both Senators to a fairly wide range of independent minded individuals. There comes a time when one should look back at the history of the nation, rather than hold fast to the popular stance, and should one agree with a member of another political party, for the good of the nation, then so be it. The fact that there is much mud-slinging and finger pointing as to which Party is correct is somewhat bothersome, when the individual who is standing alone makes more common sense. The nation is buried in debt, cutting the armed forces, and investing (or attempting to invest) in major social programs, which may make this the perfect time to sit back, build a nest egg and enhance the military while using diplomacy. This allows for time to build back the treasury and the military and further prosperity the outcome of which would, indeed be one similar to Reagan’s. Which, recalling, a nation building from within both financially and militarily, is one which enjoys a bit of peace and prosperity, and the ability (which is key) of protecting itself should the need arise.

The Use of Dating by CE – Confuses – Comments on Jerusalem Gold Find at the Temple Mount Spur Debate!

Apparently the modern use of the abbreviation for dating are somewhat confusing to some – the more modern use of the CE/BCE (Common Era – Before Common Era) are dates aligned with the abbreviations AD/BC – or more commonly After Divinity and Before Christ – A discussion (Comments) regarding this date format came up in an interesting article at Ynet news – “Rare golden treasure found in Jerusalem” – discussing a find of gold coins, a gold menorah and such found at the Temple Mount and dated at approximately 600 CE – (or 600 AD).(Read entire article here

The Ynet article goes on to discuss a period where the Jews, Christians and Persians were living in Jerusalem and the Persians and Christians then ousted the Jews. (A period that was well before the crusades – therefore a more local disagreement.) As the finds suggests the Jewish people had been in Jerusalem consistently throughout history and solidifying their claim of ownership in the City/State.

There is more under and at the Temple Mount – the “holy site” where the Jews will build a third Temple, however – it is currently a Muslim Holy site – when the Muslims conquered Jerusalem several years after the death of the profit. There ensued a bit of a war between the Meccan’s and those from Medina who were fighting with the Syrian Muslims. A Caliph (ruler) from Syria, suggested that they make Jerusalem a substitute place of pilgrimage and built the Mosque of Omar in 691, followed in 715 by a mosque built on the Temple Mount. History of Jerusalem

The comments are not about the fabulous find, rather they are more religious and educational in context, as some are not sure that Christian’s expelled Jews from Israel, and suggested that the Romans were feeding both to the Lion’s – History suggests otherwise – and the CE confuses. What has been declared by many educators as the dummying down of America is perhaps, a worldwide phenomenon as History and basic civics are no longer subject matter in lower grade levels, and sometimes merely glossed over as an overview course in secondary schools and college. There are, sadly, many that do not know where we (globally) came from, or for that matter do they care, as History is a boring subject – so one might think.

However, those who are vested in the subject, find that more often than not, patterns develop over periods of time, and that the repetitive nature of man to make the same mistakes over and over again, is deeply rooted in historical repetition. A case in point for introducing the subject at an earlier age and more in depth for those students who wish to avoid the downfall of a nation, for example.