About Us
Waves of Gray is brought to you by Jamie Neben and A.C. Smith.
Jamie Neben
I want to make the world a better place, even if it's through one interaction at a time.
I strongly believe we need to find ways to get along even when we disagree with one another. If we're to achieve peace on any scale, we must build bridges instead of drawing lines of division. Honest dialogue may cause us to consider different points of views and adjust our thinking when we're wrong. It might help us lead others to the truth as well. At the very least, the outcome could produce a level of respect that didn’t exist before.
As far as I'm concerned, we are all citizens of the world, and regardless of what we look like, where we're from, and whom we love, we deserve to be treated with dignity. Our society is better when we embrace diversity and see it reflected in our communities, culture, and government.
Speaking of government, and since politics is usually a major "wave of gray," I will simply say that I believe those in power have a moral obligation to ensure all people have access to their most basic needs (which includes affordable health care and education). There is also a duty to keep each person safe to the greatest exent possible. Beyond that, our leaders need not intrude into our rights to privacy, whether they be reproductive choices, end-of-life planning, or other extremely personal decisions.
Finally, I have a passion for movies and Cubs baseball. If you want to talk about either subject on this site or via social media, that's quite alright with me!
Thank you for being here!
Contact Jamie Neben at jamie@wavesofgray.com
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.
I never want to take advantage or depend on someone else without reasonable reciprocation. Even today, my immediate family laughs at the fact that I ask permission before bringing candy or refreshment into our local theater. I figure, if I am entering someone's property, I should follow their rules.
The standards I learned from my parents’ examples now carries into the areas of taxes, marriage, employment, and many other aspects of my life. No! I am far from perfect, but I’ll never be ashamed to say I am trying to be perfect. The core of our problems today is the lowering of our standards for our kids and citizens. We must set the examples and demand correct behavior from the next generation. With this attitude, I tend to make people uncomfortable because it reminds them of boundaries.
But one thing people also fail to notice is that it is harder to disappoint me than to disappoint others. All I ask for is an honest effort.
Yes! "To know me is to love me," and to those few, there is usually that kind of love that gets me to a point of feeling a little uncomfortable.
Often I wonder what it would be like if American families could experience each other’s love without modern distractions. Would there be less real estate and stock market crashes, collapsing companies and banks, sex scandals, drug issues, over-crowded jails, and the like?
One of the most important goals I will try to catapult through this website deals with starting one of the largest family-type communities in the United States, by encouraging love through adoptive, foster, and family support.
Please send your comments or questions relevant to this website. I know you can help us to grow our supportive community.
Thank you,
A C SMITH
Contact A.C. Smith at acsmith@wavesofgray.com