In the sea of life, some issues are black and white.
You also have the Waves of Gray.
News
Waves of Gray will be on the Jesse Peterson show Friday, January 27th, from 9 am to 11 am Eastern time (6 am to 8 am Pacific time).
You can listen to the broadcast here.
Newt's Plan to Rule the World
by Jamie Neben
There’s a dangerous man currently running for office now and his name is Newt Gingrich. Before December 18th, 2011, when he appeared on Face the Nation, I simply considered him to be a familiar but average candidate in the ever-changing republican popularity contest. However, the answers he provided during the course of the interview point to a politician who is far beyond average.
For all the talk about following the constitution, I’m amazed that Gingrich proposes to do just the opposite. While he agrees that the judiciary branch of government is on equal footing with the executive and legislative branches, he essentially sees it as the weakest link. He deems judges to be arrogant and radical if they decide a case differently than he would. So far, I have no trouble with that point of view. He’s certainly not the only one with those opinions.
But now the dangerous element enters the picture.
Who Is the Best Republican Candidate?
by AC Smith
Who do you want to win the Republican nomination after the CNN debate on November 22, 2011? Who is the best Republican candidate?
I always like Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, mainly because she is a TRUE conservative and it shows in all of her answers. Bachmann is also about following the law and not finding loopholes around it. I've never heard her flip-flop and that tells me that she stands on principles instead of rhetoric. She lives by what she preaches to others and she has no moral baggage. She stands for family values and knows that it is the key to our strength.
Having said that, I have to admit that Newt Gingrich is the best choice at this point when I consider the polls and likelihood of winning unless Bachmann's numbers come up quickly. Gingrich has intelligence about all of the issues and has good debate skills that can surely be used to beat President Obama.
Stay tuned and keep supporting the Republican candidacy.
What do you think about it? Who is your choice?
No Room for Doubt...Or Is There?
by Jamie Neben and AC Smith
Jamie says:
During our recent guest appearance on the Jesse Peterson radio program, a question arose as to whether having doubt in matters of faith is considered to be a sin. I replied in the negative because we are all certain to be tested at various times, and periods of doubt are not only quite normal, but they are healthy too since we ultimately become stronger believers once we overcome that doubt. AC Smith quickly found the following biblical passage in an effort to set me straight:
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”(Romans 14:23)
Marriage Counseling
by Jamie Neben
KISS guitarist Gene Simmons recently tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Shannon Tweed after being “happily unmarried” for 28 years. Anyone who has heard Simmons express his views on marriage over the years, whether in interviews or on his reality-television show, should know why this event comes as such a surprise. In his book Sex Money Kiss, in which he dispenses business advice, he even saw fit to write a whole chapter arguing why men should not get married. Some of his more colorful statements include:
“The worst thing a man can do, financially and biologically speaking, is to get married.”
“Dumb men will always get married. So will smart women.”
“The only thing wrong with marriage is that one of the two people getting married is a man.”
Simmons may portray a demon onstage, but the ones inside of him were causing him to lead a selfish, dishonest life. Although it’s likely that he would still be maintaining his misbehaving ways had he not been caught, Simmons should be applauded for ultimately confronting his issues and making the commitment to his family once and for all.
But does the act of getting married hold that much value anymore?
How Hard Are the Unemployed Working?
by AC Smith
A number of unemployed workers are claiming that they cannot get hired because they have been out of work for too long.
I believe that this is not common, and there must be other reasons why they are unemployed.
I used to hire people and consider what they did while they are out of work as well as what they did when they were working.
Morgan Freeman, Herman Cain, and a Whole Different Perspective
by AC Smith
First of all, I would agree that Morgan Freeman is a great actor. I will give him that.
I love how Herman Cain addresses the issue of Freeman's comment about the Tea Party being racist. Cain said it doesn't stop his momentum or his path. He addressed it in love and by doing that, he is not distracted like most candidates are by getting off track. I believe that we should consider people like Morgan Freeman as being racist, or at best, biased or brainwashed.
My 9/11 Experience: Then and Now
by Jamie Neben
Instead of a day that would never be forgotten, the beginning of 9/11 seemed like just another Tuesday. Living in Columbus, Ohio, I arrived at work bright and early, ready for another fun-filled day of taking customer service calls for a large corporation. Since my start time was 7:00 AM., there was usually enough time between calls, at least during the first hour, to allow an opportunity to peruse the day’s early news on the computer. Although, my internet access was restricted in the office, an internal site listed the major headlines. The top stories of that day centered on Congressman Gary Condit’s possible connection to the disappearance of Chandra Levy. I read the updates of that story and a few others. By the time more calls trickled in, I felt like I had a comfortable grasp on world events. That is, until a co-worker came in just before nine and asked if anyone had heard the news from New York.
A Question for Warren Buffett
by AC Smith
You invest in companies that are running good and have superior management. Why do you encourage the American government to mandate that the rich invest in this dysfunctional government? Why not treat them with the same consistent principles that you have made your fortune with? Why not tell the government to become that good-running machine before asking the rich to invest more into the government?
Donald Duck Lake
by Melissa Lake - Contributor
Our family experienced a recent health scare-- a hornet sting on the eye of our weiner dog, Donald. Our family pet was enjoying a catnap when the incident occurred. We had to rush him to the doggie doctor in Cleveland, who was the same one who nursed him back to health after being hit by a car last year. I’m happy to report that now his eyes are just like new again. Donald saves the day often and that’s why this chapter is dedicated to him.
No Reasonable Doubt She Didn't Do It
by AC Smith
Face it! If America voted in office a president who had evidence presented that connects him to professed communists, socialists, and reverends who spew out hate and the evidence is discounted... is it unreasonable to think 12 people could agree to turn a blind eye at the real doubt that Casey Anthony killed her child? I think not!
This is what the world has come to! Our kids act up at school and it is the teachers' faults. Our daughters come home pregnant and the boy doesn't hang around and we only seem to blame and concentrate on the boy. The fathers try to instill minimum standards for the children and the mothers’ instincts rise up to protect her child from any stress or feeling of criticism. We spend more time catering to our children than teaching them proper character.
When will we learn?
License
Happiness Begins at Home
By AC Smith
Arnold Schwarzenegger is just another public figure in a long list of them who found to be unfaithful to his wife. Like John Edwards, Bill Cosby, and countless others, his indiscretion has gone so far as to produce a “love child.”
Let’s be clear—cheating is wrong. But it’s important to look into why it happens.
A Mother's Account of Autism
Guest contributor Melissa Lake shares her personal perspective of raising a child with autism. Read the newest article in a series that is being featured exclusively on Waves of Gray. Comments are welcome.
Part Five: Logan Is A Fifth Grader (New!)
So I am looking back over the last few months. Logan has come so far! He is socially engaging in friendships, and enjoying a few guys from his class coming over for sleepovers. Yes, that is right. He is having sleepovers and slumber parties, hot tub parties etc. He is turning into a social butterfly right before our very eyes.
Read previous posts in the series:
Watch videos about autism here
Dosey-Doe Your Partner
by AC Smith
Find a good partner and Dosey-Doe!
Love and giving is ordained by God. In other words, love is encouraged, commanded by God, and even includes loving your enemies.
The highest form of love for humans is the love God ordained between a man and a woman. This is a spiritual law that the world cannot and has not realized.
Obama's Birth Certificate, Transcripts, and Basketball
by AC Smith
It seems some are (at best) falling into the trap or outright saying/promoting that so-called race played a part in Donald Trump's inquiry into Obama's school records, basketball playing, and birth certificate.
One Nation Rally
by AC Smith
I’d like to share some of my thoughts about the "One Nation Rally” that took place on October 2nd.
Some of the biggest problems in America is dealing with entitlements and spending. Listening to the comments of the crowd and speakers, they seem to be fighting for just that! Entitlements and spending.
Jamie's Do's and Don'ts
by Jamie Neben
Usually, when we see a list of “Do’s and Don’ts,” it’s a list of instructions to establish some set of boundaries. Well, I have no place or desire to tell you what you can and can’t do. Instead, I’d like to share my thoughts on a range of subjects that I hope will generate some discussion.
I do believe the United States needs to maintain its presence as a world leader, operating on the basis of strength and compassion.
I don’t believe that trying to resolve our differences before flexing our muscles is a sign of weakness. As recent history has shown, it’s much easier to avoid a fight than to end one. When military action is unavoidable, we must set clear objectives and act in a way that is consistent with our values.
Can You See the Real Me?
by Jamie Neben
For those of you who have heard us promote Waves of Gray during our appearances on the Rev. Jesse Peterson radio show, you’ll know that the program’s host identifies AC Smith as “the conservative,” while I am called the “far left liberal.” Reverend Peterson frequently refers to the political landscape in America as a battle between good and evil. Since he puts the conservative platform on the side of good, you can guess the category to which he figures I belong. Just so there’s no confusion, he’ll often remind us during each broadcast that democrats are of their father, the devil.
Word Up (and out)
by Jamie Neben and AC Smith
Jamie:
It seems like I’m in a constant struggle when it comes to using proper language these days. The trouble isn’t due to having a limited vocabulary. Instead, many words have changed over time, or they take on certain meanings that were not originally intended. And every so often, words are used in such a negative context that to even be associated with them becomes hurtful and/or offensive to somebody. We can add another entry to that category: retarded.
A Point of Clarification
by Cady Stanton - Guest Contributor
Apparently, my prior post, “Republicans are NOT ‘Conservative,’” got some knickers in a knot. I don’t fully understand why the post was perceived as a slam against people who call themselves “conservative” and the things that they believe in (although my hunch is that the perception is of the knee-jerk variety that is all too common in our modern politics among lefties and righties alike). But Rule #1 of writing is to make your point clearly and if I failed in that, it’s my job to lend clarification.
Why Republicans Are Conservative: A True View from a Non-Liberal!
by AC Smith
It’s funny how conservatives are always being told who they are and what they believe by liberals. For example, Cady Stanton wrote an article about why republicans are not conservative that was previously posted here on Waves of Gray.
We recently received an email that contained Ten Conservative Principles by Russell Kirk. I would like to provide my own views and definitions in response. You can consider what follows to be the truth from a real conservative.
On Messengers and Messages
by Cady Stanton - Guest Contributor
We’re living in a time when the messenger is more valued than the message. Nothing symbolizes this better than the moniker “Dittoheads” that Rush Limbaugh’s fans embraced a few years back. When we embrace the messenger, we too often uncritically embrace the message.
Thoughts on Atlas Shrugged
by Virgie Thibault - Guest Contributor
Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged is a masterpiece of economic fiction. I expected to read it for the sake of the scholarship offered by the Ayn Rand institute and walk away with my own ideas tweaked at most and intact at least. What I found instead was my views being drastically changed through the fictional case-study she presented.
When Will We Ever Learn?
by A.C. Smith
Something has to change. Our schools keep teaching children in the same ways. Too many kids are dropping out instead of getting a full education. We need teachers who really care about the students and who are doing things the right way. We need to further develop criteria and expect certain standards to be met.
What Are the Waves of Gray?
The founders of this website disagree with each other about many things. Instead of fighting, we put our energy into listening to one another. We believe that frank discussion is as imperative as ever in these challenging and uncertain times. We all have our own perspectives in life, but the world can benefit when we try to understand the perspectives of our fellow human beings.
We search for truth, but where does one find it anymore? The day's events, as reported by the media, are often slanted at best, and grossly inaccurate on too many occasions. We must do our own due diligence to find facts, and one such method is by engaging ourselves in spirited discourse where a variety of opinions and information can be shared.
To be sure, we don't intend to tell anyone what to think. Rather, we wish to provide ideas to think about. Whatever conclusions that are to be reached (or not), the facts and arguments will most assuredly be found in the Waves of Gray.
Please use the form at the bottom of the page to send us your questions, comments, or other feedback.
So, Who Are We?
A.C. Smith
Who me?
I am the contrarian!
I am a child at heart.
I am the question most avoided.
I am the remedy for the "Waves of Gray".
Mostly living in California, I grew up a military brat. I am child number five in a family with three sisters and three brothers.
Needless to say, we could not afford many of the things smaller families could. I thought of us as middle-class poor. Having just enough that we did not qualify for free lunches at school, my parents refused to take advantage (unlike many other families) by underestimating their income on paper to allow that perk for the poor. Little do my parents know how much an impact that decision made on my life even today.
Jamie Neben
About Me:
So what’s my story?
I want to help make the world a better place.
No matter our race, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation, we are all citizens of the world, and we need to respect each other, even if we don’t quite agree with one another. If human beings are to find long-lasting peace on a global scale, we must strive to promote tolerance rather than to fuel hatred. We must find common ground instead of drawing lines of division. We must inform ourselves by seeking different points of view before we reach our conclusions. I’ll do whatever I can to help make these things possible.
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