Out of the Mouth of Babes by Chelle Stockman & Daniel Stockman

My eldest son, who just turned 18 in March, will be going off to bootcamp in July just two weeks after his highschool graduation. My well meaning friends and cohorts who are against the war have pelted me with comments about my mothering capabilities.  My reply has always been unwavering in support for my son's dreams and goals.  Since he was 11-yrs-old, he has known exactly what he was going to do in his life, what he was going to give up that we can all have a better life; he would join the Army.  People over the years tried to persuade him to join the Airforce or Navy and even then he had his reasons.  It would be the Marines or the Army for him and he was already set for the Army in his heart.  So for the past several years, I've visited with recruiters to ease my heart more than to help my son succeed.  I fired questions at them of my own and researched their responses whenever I felt neccessary, but nothing and I do mean nothing can take the place of my son's own words which appeared in today's Vallejo Times Herald on Page A13--the Opinion Page.  Here are his words.

April 20, 2006
Vallejo Times Herald This is my reason

I write this not to impress, not to make my name known, and not to gain recognition. I write this out of obligation. Some people look at me and see things I don't - "Oh, he could do so much more with his life, why is he going off to sign up in this man's Army?" Then someone else might claim I'm a brainwashed teen with a death wish and very little hope.

Now I know there are a lot of things I probably won't like about the military and a lot of things I have to learn about life. However, I know for a fact I don't have a death wish, nor am I brainwashed.

A lot of people say that those joining the military are desperate and just want the benefits; or that without the military, they would be out on the streets. In some cases, this may be correct, but it doesn't apply to everybody. I didn't sign up for the benefits. I didn't even necessarily sign up to serve this nation and its woefully ungrateful populace.

I signed up for those who won't, and those who never did return in past and present wars alike. Obligation. If I can somehow help even a single life, then it will have been worth it. If I lose my life or come home disabled while serving, the former won't matter, and I'll have to deal with the latter. Many are saying to me - directly and indirectly - that I shouldn't have chose this route, that I should have just gone to college. They obviously don't realize that I still plan to.

All I know is that where there is conflict, there is a difference that can be made. Will I be able to make a difference? I don't know - those outside the military don't know what it's like and my recruiters are just doing their job as good as any college representative would.

I simply don't know if I will find what I seek while serving, but I'll do whatever it takes to help those whoneed it. I'm sorry if you think I made a horrible choice, but if it weren't for people making these "horrible" choices, this nation would cease to exist.

A nation will always have an Army - either their own, or somebody else's.

Daniel E. Stockman, Vallejo

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Big Bang-Twinkling of an Eye by Chelle Stockman

Many Christians are bent on disproving what science is trying to prove--the truth.  For those Christians I say, relax or be excited about this.  Truth must prevail. 

 

They need to understand scientific method which can be so cumbersome in its quest for truth, leaving nothing undiscovered.  Are there such things as the undiscovered truths?  You bet there are. 

 

So why are people of religious faiths so at odds with the scientific world?  Perhaps it is because so much science turns out to be incorrect, that is until the scientific method uses the errors to hit upon and explain the truths.

 

One such truth is the Big Bang Theory.  I'm shocked that so many religious people are at odds with this theory but most shocked at my fellow Christians.  For Christians, all we have to do is to look at the blueprint written by humans inspired by God expressly for humans--the bible (old and new testaments).  For Christians, the Big Bang Theory is really the scientific explanation of what we know to be the Twinkling of an Eye promise.  1 Corinthians 15.50 to 58 lay out some pretty cool clues to what we are in reality and how we shall abort our existence in this world.  It is about the perishable and imperishable, the mortal and the immortal.  My favorite part in this passage is 51- 52 which states, "Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet." 

 

I am truly excited about science, my skeptical friends.  Be excited with me!  The method science uses is painfully slow but even so, they are one day going to prove what philosophers like Socrates supposed, that there is an absolute God. With our 3-dimensional existence putting a wedge between the truth and our understanding, the Super-String theory combined with the Super symmetry Theory shall prove of heavens beyond those we recognize such as Paul's 3rd heaven and John's 7th heaven.

 

To be created in the image of our creator is simply that we are spirit, thinking, conscious spirits, just as our creator is.  I don't freak out when I hear things like, "man came from fish".  Remember the fish and fowl were here long before us.  They came on the 5th day of our creator's creation.  Note, I did not say, "on the human understanding of a day. " We didn't get here until the 6th day of our creator's creation.  

 

Don't get me started folks.  I love the word of God and I love science.   I find no problem in either as I come to understand more and more.  I'm shooting for wisdom and that can only come as truth is manifested; so, rock on you scientists out there!

 

Chelle Stockman

Letter to Lou Dobbs and John Kerry by Chelle Stockman

 

Dear Lou,

Enrichment of uranium is necessary for re-use  which is a cost-effective way to energize Iran's desalinization facilities which is crucial for the existence of their country. To accuse Iran as possible proliferators via public media, is a slap in their face.  Only one side of this story is being told and the language used to rouse passions against Iran is deadly familiar. So, I responded to a call from John Kerry and here is the quickie letter I sent.  I hope you can cover the two-sides of enrichment, sir.  Anyone who enriches uranium will be suspected as proliferators but we can't go down that road before we hear the truth and we won't hear the truth because we aren't known for speaking the truth.  Please cover both sides.

 

Dear Senator Kerry:

 

From Iraq to uranium enrichment in Iran, logistics isn't a good enough reason for our children to die.  My son heads out in July to boot camp upon his high school graduation.  I don't want him going to Iran anymore than I want him in Iraq, especially since the Chinese seem to be making huge moves in South America.  Wouldn't it be wiser for us to protect the water-bordered shores of Mexico?  Never mind, it's like butting my head against a brick wall trying to get others to think more prudently.  Just bring our families home to us.  No more casualties or deaths.

 

Chelle Stockman

Tricky Politics by Chelle Stockman

Tricky Politics

By Chelle Stockman

 (486 words)

It’s campaign time and our wannabe representatives are digging out the old issues from their trusty bags of symptoms.  Featured on the marquis for this election we shall see outsourcing of industry, in-sourcing of cheap labor (illegal immigrants), surging energy and fuel costs, the success rate of educational test scores under No Child Left Behind, and unaffordable healthcare.

 

We, the potential voter, will be courted with slick marketing slogans appealing to our emotions while good sense will be delegated to the rear to make room so the all-too-common sense can take its place in the forefront.

 

Change, the old liberal concept, will be the theme song during this campaign as politicians offer comfort under a weighty blanket of symptoms.  Both conservatives and liberals continue to adequately address my concerns but they scurry to patch holes on the aged and overburdened levee that can no longer contain the plethora of symptoms we are flooded with.  The tides of our demise are rising steadily and not one seems brave enough to address the causes.

 

Some would say the real problem is caused by taxation.  I’d say it is the way taxes are garnished.  In America, there are 86,764 government institutions that income taxes are paid to.  Of all the income tax collected, taxes paid by corporations fell from 33% in the 1940s to 15% in the 1990s while taxes paid by legal citizens rose from 44% in the 1940s to 73% in the 1990s.

 

In addition to the income taxes paid, the poorest to the wealthiest Americans may be paying up to 49 different taxes including sales and use taxes.  Note, this does not include the privatized taxation we call “insurance” or the fees and surcharges they tack on their invoices.

 

Until our political representatives address taxation and the mandates upon the people to carry insurance, this monster of a globalized playground might offer American taxpayers an opportunity to be outsourced to other lands. 

 

We need a bold reform, one that simplifies, such as eradicating all taxes but one—a consumer tax with all goods purchased being paid at the time of sales.  It doesn't have to be a high tax like the sales taxes in California, but instead could be a 2% consumer tax on foods and any goods.  Note, insurance isn't a “good”, it’s a privatized tax. Offer no tax breaks to corporations or people with a gazillion kids; no tax breaks will be necessary.  Everyone from the poorest to the wealthiest will be paying taxes, even those on welfare.  I spoke to Christine in the Texas Democrat Committee office and she said, “That would be an unfair burden on the poor.”  She obviously doesn’t understand that we pay over 7% sales tax here in California on everything but food plus use and fuel taxes.

 

It’s time for a change.  I just hope it isn’t too late to right the wrongs.

 

 

Chelle Stockman