Well, this is the 100th post to my blog. I have reached the goal that I had set for myself in the spring of this year (2009). For this blog, I want to encourage everyone with something...that is discussing with respect.

As many of my readers and followers are probably aware, I have different political beliefs than most. In fact, I do not claim to be of a "political party." Why you may ask? Well the reason is simple. Both of the classic political parties are full of corruption, both Republican and Democratic. So, with that being said, I am an independent...a "free thinker" if you will.

Here recently, I was corresponding with a guy in whom I have never actually met via Twitter. The conversations started off okay...We both attend the same university and we were talking about that. Then...he sent me some very cold and harsh DM's (direct messages) about how "ignorant" and "close minded" I am...and even said that I have "a 6th grade understanding" of politics. I was in no way offended by this, because I am aware that most people can not have a civilized discussion about things. They do not know their facts, so the only thing they can do is viciously attack another person.

Let me encourage everyone on this...whether we believe the same things or not. This is a good thing to apply to any aspect of your life. A friend once told me "It is easier to attract bees with sugar than with vinegar." How true that statement is. It shows your immaturity if you just attack a person because they believe differently than you. I am all for discussing things...whether on a political, religious or personal basis, but I will not be attacked. When that happens, I will step away from the situation and move on to bigger and better things.

I welcome debates, but there also needs to be an understanding of professionalism and respect. I quite frankly do not care what a person thinks of me...I am not in high school anymore. I am not here to please anyone...So please, when you disagree, please agree to disagree agreeably.

-Ken

Labels: agree, disagree, goal, politics, professionalism, respect, twitter

"Gosh, it is so hot!"
"Ugh, this internet is SOO slow!"
"Man, these people can't drive!"

I will spare you from any more. But seriously, do people that complain irritate you? Why do people have to constantly state their discontentment with a specific situation?

I tend to think people that complain either are not aware that they are doing it or they are just miserable (or close too it) and would like to let everyone else know how miserable they are. Whichever the answer to the question may be, I believe complaints are very unnecessary. I welcome criticism any day (as long as it is in good taste); but there is a line between the two.

I will break it down into two "levels." A complaint is something a person states...that is not significant to any other human being, but it is a declaration of one's discontentment with a specific happening within their life. To be honest, complaints most of the time do nothing to help solve a problem.

Criticism is when a person makes an observation and offers helpful suggestions in order that one person become better at a specific task or situation. I am a big problem solver. I love brainstorming to find resolutions for a given scenario, but when someone comes over and is upset and starts rambling on about how discontent they are, that is unnecessary.

Come to me with a legitimate problem and your best solution for it, I will be more than happy to help you in solving that, come to me with an annoying complaint...I am sorry but that does not do anything for me.

You know yourself best. If you are forgetful, make reminders. If you are naturally cold, bring more clothes. For every problem there is a solution. People will respect you more if you are mature enough to learn from your own mistakes.

Complaints do not get you very far in this world. I am sure that what you find worthy of a complaint, does not compare to anything that someone within ten feet of you are going through. Thank you for reading. I tried to not "complain" too much. This is just an observation that I have made the last couple of weeks...and thought that someone could benefit from it.

Thanks for reading. I would like to hear your feedback on what you think!

-Ken

Labels: annoying, beliefs, Change in my Life, common sense, complaints, growth, immaturity, Jesus, maturity, observations, others, over reacting, politics, relationships, trends, tweet, twitter, YOU

As many of you all may know, I highly respect Glenn Beck. He is a knowledgeable guy, who nails political theories and concepts on the head. So, today...I picked up his book "Common Sense" and I began reading it tonight. I would recommend that you pick it up also, if you are confused about what is happening to what was a great country. We are quickly loosing everything that the founding father's established, and it is up to us to get a hold of it and stop it while we still can.

For those on Twitter, I will be using #gbcmnsense when posting about this book. Let's use that...unless you know of another.

Pick up the book...if you care for this country. Liberal, Conservative, Libertarian...Green party. Whatever. Go pick it up. You will be better for it.

Labels: #gbcmnsense #912dc, America, common sense, coutry, foxnews, Glenn Beck, politics, reading, tcot

I posted to Twitter the other day...Why are we as Americans still dealing with racial issues? Everywhere you go, you can see people smirking towards people of other races, other races appearing to be dominant over another, people being chosen over another because of their race...people disagreeing with one another because a conflict of race...and even the dreaded race card being pulled. Ex: "He said I was (insert race here.) I'm offended!" All of these and many others can commonly be found through websites, Twitter, blogs, media and any other form of communication that we as humans interact on.

I ask why?

In my opinion...generally speaking, think that we as humans are raised or programmed somehow to have out race or a specific race dominant over others. Why can we not just get over ourselves and realize that we are different, have one GOD and love others as Jesus would? Why do we have to place racial discrepancies on everything? Why are we still fighting something that should have been settled years ago? Let's forgive each other and move on. It is what God would desire us to do.

-Ken

Labels: arguments, error, forgiveness, growth, human, Jesus, love, maturity, politics, race, racism, relationships

**This blog is written after Letterman's apology to Sarah Palin and her daughters. Read the original blog here.**

David,

I heard on Greta van Susteren's show this evening that you apologized for your comments to the Palin family for your jokes that were made last week. I must applaud you for fessing up to your mistake, and I hope that it is a learning experience for you, if not more.

Any man can make a mistake, but when that same man fesses up to his mistake it shows that he sincerely cares. I hope that you have learned that in your comedy to watch what you say. A joke may look sufficient on paper, when in reality is can hurt the reputation of those people in which the joke is based around. It is one thing to joke about a political leader, but taking that joke to an extreme level and bring in a family member is completely uncalled for.

I thought that it was necessary to submit another letter to you because you apologized for your joke. I sincerely hope that you have learned something valuable from this encounter. I know for a fact that I have. I have learned to watch what I say. The littlest joke can impact the lives of many.

Good luck with everything.

-Ken Miller, Jr.
Orlando, FL

Labels: America, comedian, conservative, David Letterman, double standard, future, haters, inappripriate, late night shows, liberal, mistakes, Obama, politics, right wing extremist, Sarah Palin, sexist

David,

Occasionally I happen to catch your show, but I would not be classified as your number one viewer each night. You tend to have some funny things to say that crack me up. One of your shows this last week, in one of your jokes ridiculed one of Sarah Palin's daughters. In the joke, you referenced Palin's daughters getting "knocked up" by one of the Yankees. This comment was completely obscene and inappropriate.

I realize that you are a comedian, and you and your writers choose somewhat popular people to vocalize about in your comedy, but your choice of jokes for this skit was completely inappropriate. The comedian card only goes so far. Answer this for me, since when is it okay to ridicule the family member of someone who ran for office? Would you do the same to Chelsea Clinton? What about using the same type of comment for the daughters of Barack Obama, Malia Ann or Natasha? How about using a joke of the same league and caliber about Michelle Obama? I tend to believe no. Why? You would be completely ridiculed by the liberal media, probably loose your job from CBS and have to answer to Barack.

You would also choose not to ridicule them because they are of your same liberal party. How dare you say stuff like that about fellow Democrats. I am writing this letter to you to bring this to your attention. Palin has herself said that she does not want a formal apology from you to her, but to the women to America. I urge you to do both. Apologize to both of them as well as to make the same type of crack toward Michelle Obama.

Let me ask you another set questions. Who gives you the right to sit there and ridicule a Republican? What if you had said that about a fellow Democrat? What is your deal with Palin anyway? Is it because she is a respectable Republican leader and you are scared that one day you will have to show her some sort of respect if she gets into office? What if a Republican said some immature comment as you did to lets say...Michelle Obama? They would be ridiculed for that remark. Why is there a double standard for liberals? Liberals can get away with murder, but if a Conservative does the same . . . hell will freeze over. That is very unfair.

David, I said before that I sometimes catch your show, but after your choice remarks and inappropriate comments, I choose to NEVER watch your show again and I will encourage others to do the same. I ask you to make this right. I hope that you will loose all support from any Conservative who watches your show.

Ken Miller, Jr.
Orlando, FL

Labels: America, comedian, conservative, David Letterman, double standard, future, haters, inappripriate, late night shows, liberal, mistakes, Obama, politics, right wing extremist, Sarah Palin, sexist

As I grow older, the only thing that I regret is not doing something when the time is right. I am sure that many of you can relate.

I received an e-mail from my Grandfather earlier in the week. It was one of his forwards that he blesses me and many others with daily. It was a very interesting story. In a nutshell, it is an elderly lady who begins taking college classes. When asked by one of the younger students why she was going to college, she responded with something to the extent of she had always dreamed of coming to college, so now she is finally doing it. She also said that the one thing that older people regret is dreams they did not follow through with during their life, making it to late to do anything about it now.

It took a couple of days for that to sit in, but this morning that line really spoke to me. I thought on my way to lecture this morning, how many opportunities have I passed up that may be to late to do anything with? How many dreams have I passed up because I was not totally dedicated?

Monday evening I was chatting with a friend of mine. I mentioned to him a dream that I had, that had been developing recently. He was very encouraging with the idea and thought it was great. I have also mentioned this "dream" or vision to other people and they have been very encouraging as well. Sometimes you need that type of support in order for a dream to become a reality.

Through the years, I would like to think that I have not let too many dreams slip away. My move to Orlando was probably the biggest dream that I have had in a very long time, and that was tough, but it has been great since I have been down here studying. Another major dream I had was to serve at a church again. It had been a couple of years since I had done that, but I was able to work through some stuff I was battling with and had lunch with the Media and Communications Pastor at First Baptist Orlando. Every since that day back in early 2008, I have been serving in the broadcast ministry at First Orlando.

Let me encourage you to read this post, and take it to heart. Please, do not let you most cherish dreams of today become a big regret later on in your life, because you were too scared or afraid to pursue them.

-Ken

Labels: application, Buckhead Church, dreams, First Baptist Church Orlando, ministry, no regreats, Orlando, politics, serve

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Thanks again,

Ken

Labels: capital punishment, eye for an eye, politics, poll, religion