A Word About RON PAUL

A Word About Ron Paul

Let me start by saying I simply LOVE when people are politically engaged. I don't care if they agree with my personal politics or not - just so long as they are passionate, informed, and active. Now...to the point:

This note isn't about which candidate I directly support. Neither is it to sway readers into my way of thinking or to tell them who to support. Rather, this note is in response to several discussions lately (in person, social media, and one talk radio discussion that I chimed in on) regarding the foreign policy (& related) of Ron Paul....who seems to be a very polarizing figure, but one with incredibly enthusiastic support (and a large segment of the youth vote).

For the record, I do not speak for Ron Paul's campaign. I was engaged in a few of these discussions because several people were aware that I'd been following his career since the late 1980s and because they know my personal political leanings (which are more libertarian than Paul's, I should note). Others - like Marc's & Paul's - I just butted in on (hahaha!).

This is not an attempt to address any other issues one may have with Dr. Paul, so if you decide to comment, please stay on point.

The critiques are many, but probably summed up best by what Mr. Denny said. To wit: "...(I) find him profoundly deluded on certain international realities...". Or perhaps what one caller said on Kruser's show (WVLK): "He blames America (for 9-11)....(and) he doesn't support Israel...".

Fair enough. Let's take these 3 one at a time.

1) Foriegn policy: One thought. And I mean it - I'd like everyone to actually consider this fact carefully rather than just jumping in with a response:

Ron Paul is the only military veteran in the race in either of the 2 major parties - he was a pilot & flight surgeon during the early 1960s - and receives more money from active military than all other republican candidates combined AND well over the amount Obama receives. At one point, he was getting more than ALL republicans PLUS Obama combined.

So the question to consider, while we all sit here safely thousands of miles away from combat zones overseas, is this: Why do our fighting men & women overwhelmingly support Ron Paul?

If Ron Paul is deluded or weak or irresponsible (or, as Newt said at one debate, "profoundly stupid") on foreign policy, why do they guys who fight the wars overwhelmingly support his stance on disengagement, budget waste reduction, and non-intervention?

2) Israel: Dr. Paul is the most Israel-friendly candidate on the campaign trail. While some see his position of lifting support for them as a knife in the back, both he and the military realize that Israel only needs aid from us because for every dollar we give Israel, we give their enemies between $3 and $7 (figures vary). Moving further back, the Reagan administration condemned the attack on Iraq's bomb facilities by Israel way back in 1981. Only Ron Paul dissented from the official view. He supported Israel 100% when Reagan & the GOP (not to mention the democrats) did not.

Dr. Paul realizes that if we stop financing Israel's enemies, we no longer need to finance Israel's military. It is that simple. Then if Israel decides, for example, to bomb Iran's nuclear development plants (as they did Iraq's), they are free to do so. If they decide they need help, they can ask. There would be a clear mission with a clear plan and a clear objective and a clear measure of success and a clear time-line.

3) Blaming America: Ron Paul has never blamed America for 9-11. Ever. In fact, he has explicitly stated that flying planes into buildings was not an appropriate response no matter what they thought the US government was guilty of (even if they were found to be completely accurate).

What Paul did was acknowledge that there are actions and reactions, and that there are all too often unintended consequences when the US (or anyone) meddles into the affairs of others. He was discussing "blowback" (the term the CIA uses for "unintended consequences of our actions") and he simply acknowledges (as does the CIA and other experts on US activities abroad) that we have - regardless of our good intentions - been meddling.

This is not opinion, but fact....and a matter of public record. From the 1953 Iranian Coup D'etat to the Nicarague/Contra scandal of the mid-1980s to the arming & training of volunteers from the region to go into Afghanistan to fight the Soviets (these fighters became al-Qaeda), the US has been extremely active outside our own borders and into the affairs of others. Sometimes that activity has produced good results, but more often than not, our covert activities (the original usage of "blowback" stems from this) have unintended consequences that outweigh whatever good was done.

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So consider these points before you swallow the sound bite that Ron Paul is weak on defense or blames America or whatever other blurb you've heard from his detractors.

As an aside, I'm happy to provide links for all data contained herein if anyone reading isn't already aware of these facts.

If you have any other specific questions (specifics like Iran or more general philosophical queries), I'd be happy top do my best to respond to those, though again, I in no way speak for Paul's official campaign.

January Lifestyle Challenge

Yes, I know I'm late. Crazy times here at Skinny Devil Music Lab. But....better late than never!

Here we are...January of 2011! Time for another challenge.

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

Holiday Cheer

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!!!

I usually do the annual wrap-up about this time, but so much is happening I think I'll wait until January to sum up 2011.But today....today I'll make a few announcements I've been promising. From a Christmas/Holiday present to web-related up-dates and more.

1) Locations: Private lessons still at Hurst Music (corner of Mt. Tabor & Richmond Rd), Thursday groups at the Beaumont YMCA (Beaumont Circle), and Tuesday groups...looks like we'll continue at the COC (corner of Man o' War & Beaver Creek) for now....BIG sigh of relief (hahaha!).



2) Holiday Gift: I wanted to do more for all my students, but I'm at least gonna manage the list below this year:


A) BEAUMONT students: I can't offer discounts due to my arrangement with the YMCA, but I can offer this to all Beaumont guitar students registered for the 8-week January-February session - you can also come to my COC location (Tuesdays, same schedule) for FREE for the 8-week January-February session so that you'll have 2 lessons per week.

B) COC students: I can't offer the same deal (going to Beaumont), so ALL students registering for the 8-week January-February session will get 50% off!

C) HURST students: All of you get both a 20% discount for January AND get to come to the GTR-4 class at COC (Tuesday at 8pm) for FREE during the January-February session.

My apologies I am unable to do more this year. Hoping next year I can do a bit better!

3) Student resources: As we speak, we're doing a massive web-site re-design. Included in that re-design is the splitting off of most "content" to the new Skinny Devil Magazine (which will feature music, articles, reviews, lessons, art, literature, and more....not just from me, but from a variety of creators) and the re-vamped SkinnyDevil.com (which will have info on performance, lessons, composition, Alien Blue, student resources, and more). The student resources will include an expanded student play-along set (formerly known as the student play-along CD), rhythm drills, classic & new song charts (some in "studio cheat-sheet" form , others in tab/notation), a gig guide, jam trax, and much more.

4) Student Recital: The next student recital will be in February. A date has not yet been selected, but likely late in the month.

I will be doing the 2011 wrap-up soon...so please remind me of all YOUR music accomplishments in 2011 (no way I can remember it all!) so I can include it in the newsletter.

I may also have a few private lessons slots opening, so please let me know if YOU are still in the market for private lessons....or you can also call Paul Felice, Chris Simpson, Luke Jackson, Michael Fogler, Dave Peterson, or Tim Fowler.

I'm always interested in creating opportunities for everyone....so if you are interested in gigs, becoming an SDML instructor, studio opps, or partnering with me in some way to work in the music biz, please don't hesitate to let me know!

That's all for now. See ya soon!!!!!!!

November Lifestyle Challenge

Here we are...NOVEMBER of 2011! Time for another challenge....which, as an aside, I'm now linking in more venues than just FB (feel free to share this link elsewhere if you'd like).

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

Recital Vids & moree!

Quick note....recital videos, new recital, new session, scholarships:

1) Guitar Lessons:

     a) Groups Classes - the new session begins NEXT WEEK at both Beaumont and the CoC. GTR-1, GTR-2, GTR-3, GTR-4, and Youth-GTR!

     b) Private Lessons - I may have a few early slots opening up. I'll keep you posted, but best to contact me now about possible openings.


2) Scholarships - Scholarships at ALL 3 locations are available. Contact me for information! Do NOT let financial stress stop you or anyone you know from taking guitar lessons.

Also....to help me keep the SDML scholarship alive, please lend a hand - SPREAD THE WORD about lessons!


3) Recital Videos - The videos from the last recital are up! Here's the playlist:

     http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCEFD779D80C7273


4) Recital - Reminder....the next recital is Sunday, November 6 at the Beaumont YMCA. First names A thru K at 1pm. First names L thru Z at 3pm.

That's all for now......

"So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too."
-- Stevie Ray Vaughan

“Together we can change the world, one good deed at a time.”
-- Anon

 

Backing up Nancy at a 2011 guitar student recital!