Howdy- *I'm trying with my son to "Increase Honor- decrease anger" as his life at 15 will begin to radically change through the process of maturity... On our long drive to Yakama for ROY testing... we got to talk about things and the subject came up about politics and the Bush/McCain race.. I told him about Sen.McCain and described him as an "honorable man" for his stand on the issues and for his service to the country- 5 1/2 years as a POW...ect. Josh replied back with some guff... and shortly we were going back and forth<G> Josh would give me a blast and I would return "fire"<G> *Doing that he started to get angry... *I didn't want that.. so I changed to trying to steer the conversation back to *Honor... Josh is apparently a G.W.Bush supporter- I am prone to support John McCain. He would say something.. and I would repeat back exactly what he said... so that he knew that *I got what he was saying..not altering his words-but just playing "fair..". Listening... When I would say a short thought.. *He would repeat back what he heard me say. This took some time<G> but it was still dark at 5 am...and we had 200 mi's to go<G> Josh went silent for a mile or so... "I'm concerned that you would put Honor above winning a flight- *Let's say you are right about Sen.McCain... That he isn't a normal politician, but a man of Honor." "How would you feel to be the chosen candidate for the republicans (G.W.Bush) and then to become embarrassed by loosing to a back of the pack contender.? That would make me pretty mad.. and I'd want to win. I'd want to use all my power to get back at McCain..." I listened.... Josh went on.. "Maybe what you say is true- that Bush won by playing rough and lose with the facts, and shoved hard when a slight push would have been more fair... *But I see it this way- Bush used his "powers" and unfortunately for you, he won over an honorable man... He HAD TOO! I respect him for that... *His honor... was on the line, he HAD TO WIN! Everyone in the republican party was behind him expecting victory... Only McCain stood in his way..*That's politics! Josh looked out across the Topinish ridge... as we crossed the Indian reservation at the foot of Mt.Adams... *But now that Bush has won.. He might regret the gulf in friendship that has been made between them... I think you are right that he needs the support of McCain to win in November, but doesn't know how to win it back.. *mayby he went too far in targeting McCain as the enemy- to win *just the latest battle, and will have trouble being humble enough to ask McCain to support him. It could seem that doing so would be a weak thing to do... mayby-mayby not... *The sun was rising as we descended to the flats, and ran along the Yakama river and through the Apple orchards... We had a great day- Josh stood for his GMA at a board of review, and I tested the skills of the Trailrangers for Ranger of the Year.. We didn't agree on politics! But I Love him... and trust his judgment! Each of us are unique individuals, have differing thoughts and feelings... when we disagree- we can go for a walk, and come back later<G> Winning isn't everything... It's how we play the game<G> -=A=- _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
