If you are familiar with the "Serenity Prayer"; then this is one of those situations that fit's exactly.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom always to tell the difference".
Well, this is one of those things that we can not change. So, ask for serenity. There are plenty of things in our country and world that I wish I and others could change. I think our economics, poverty, values, morals, crime, disrespect, and so much more is a result of 2 major categories. "Family Values and Political Correctness". I'd love to change both of these areas. I think both areas are responsible for many of the problems we have today. I was fortunate. Because of the military, I was able to live a modest but successful and happy life with my wife where one of us could afford to stay at home and raise our children. Not a man vs woman thing. We are both college graduates. We looked at both our careers and determined who really wanted which one the most and which one was best for the family. We BOTH agreed that one of us needed to raise the kids. At least until they were in Junior High. So, we were fortunate enough to be able to afford it. As such; both kids grew up fantastic. We both believe that this was the way it's suppose to be. Later on, when the children were old enough, my wife went back to work. Her law firm is doing quite well and she is happy. But our early decision was the right thing to do. If we didn't want to have one of us stay home with the kids, then we shouldn't have had children. It's not a baby sitter, day care, or school's job to raise our kids.
My daughter received an almost full ride scholarship to college. Is a Senior this year at said college. Has a great GPA and already has an impressive job offer with a major corporation starting when she graduates. My son graduated high school #1 in his class; football champion; accepted to the academy; and is currently very happy as a freshman at the academy. I "TRULY BELIEVE" that neither kid would be where they are now; with the opportunities that they have; had it not been for the family values we lived by and raising our children in a home and NOT with day care, baby sitters, and/or latch key when they went to school. Same with political correctness. It is the WORST THING that ever happened to our country. Some may point to one or two good things coming from it, but I can name 10 bad things for every 1. It is a big part of our country's problems.
Anyway, the point is; I can not for the life of me change any of this. All I can do is hopefully affect change in attitude and direction with it in the future. The same goes with the "Core Values Ramp". I do not believe that in any way, that the re-wording of the ramp changes the actual core values that the academy or our military represents. I believe that it was changed to simply appease the politically correct and those who have been brain washed by political correctness into knowing that the academy is not sexist. Our military and culture continually evolves based on our society and their acceptance and tolerance. We don't need political correctness for men to become more tolerant or respectful of women or Whites to become more tolerant or respectful of blacks or other minorities. Our country and culture will evolve naturally. Why; because that's EXACTLY WHAT OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON. Anyway, figure out what you can affect change with and become passionate about it. But for the sake of argument; the "Core Values Ramp" is not one you can affect change over. later... mike.....
