Words to live by

An American Creed

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange
—————
*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later reprinted in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922. He attended Columbia University where he received his law degree and opened a practice in Manhattan. In 1942, Alfange was the American Labor Party candidate for governor of New York and a founder of the Liberal Party of New York. Dean Alfange was also Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst and a leading figure in various pro-Zionist organizations. Between other actions, in November 1943, he appeared before the House of representatives and addressed them on the rescue of the Jewish people of Europe. He died in Manhattan at the age of 91 on October 27, 1989.

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Sarahbee with the following rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. If you don’t have 7 blog friends, or if someone else already took dibs, then tag some unsuspecting strangers.

The facts:
1 - I've been married for 6 years (does that make me old?)
2 - I used to take steers to the fair for 4-H
3 - I've lived in 5 different states - Michigan, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and now Hawaii
4 - I'm getting back into running
5 - I love watching America's Next Top Model and Army Wives
6 - I just finished making my daughter a Pocahontas costume for Halloween - pictures coming soon
7 - I drive a stick-shift

7 Bloggers tagged:

1 - April Bryant
2 - Mindy Wilson
3 - Geigers
4 - Bonny
5 - Alvarez Family
6 - Marcelle
7 - Tonia

Um, yeah I'll get around to actually tagging them soon

Honolulu Zoo

For those of you who were wondering, Wil's squadron is the Ugly Angels so the Ugly family day was a family day for his squadron. Just in case there was any confusion.