The 44th President of the United States of America: Barack H. Obama

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you
The President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama!

"Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States.

His story is the American story — values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others.

With a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton's army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank.

After working his way through college with the help of scholarships and student loans, President Obama moved to Chicago, where he worked with a group of churches to help rebuild communities devastated by the closure of local steel plants.

He went on to attend law school, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Upon graduation, he returned to Chicago to help lead a voter registration drive, teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and remain active in his community.

President Obama's years of public service are based around his unwavering belief in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose. In the Illinois State Senate, he passed the first major ethics reform in 25 years, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents. As a United States Senator, he reached across the aisle to pass groundbreaking lobbying reform, lock up the world's most dangerous weapons, and bring transparency to government by putting federal spending online.

He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009."

ref: White House official website on President Obama.

"HubPages is an open community of passionate people—writers, explorers, knowledge seekers, conversation starters. Interacting and informing. Sharing words, pictures and videos. Asking questions. Finding answers. Creating lifestyle content."

Click on over to "Barack Obama's Political Views" by ajherrma wherein you may read a hub page that "provides an unbiased look at the political views of current President, Barack Obama. It includes a summary of his positions on a number of key issues."

President Barack Obama. African-American. Birth Certificate.

I received an e-mail a few days ago from a conservative Republican cousin of mine. Actually, it was a "forward" e-mail of something my cousin had received. It was yet another one that YET AGAIN was BASHING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

AND, my cousin sent it to me even though I had previously asked politely and repeatedly that these type of messages BASHING PRESIDENT OBAMA not be sent to me.

Without going into detail about the entire message, let me just share part of it. Here is an excerpt from it:

"Won’t be on ABC< NBCPBS—or have not seen it on FOX either.  Probably afraid to report it. Like his fake birth certificate which lists him as African American,---that term wasn’t even used in 1963."

Now, please, if you will, take a look at these three things in the embedded links I have placed below in my response to that excerpt of the message above:

1. First Known Use of AFRICAN-AMERICAN - 1855
2. Where did the term African-American originate?
3. Birth Certificate - Claim: Barack Obama's birth certificate is a forgery.

Oh, as an aside, if you are interested - and even if you are not interested, I responded to my cousin with my own self-written, individualized personal e-mail that simply stated:

"I do not care for this BS that is just a bunch of political conservative HATE-MONGERING PROPAGANDA BESMIRCHING BARACK OBAMA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
If you wish, I can also send out crap like this blasting the heck out of  Republican political conservatives. Thus far, I have been patient and have respected individual political opinions including those with which I do not agree. However, my patience has reached the line of ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! 
One more Barack Obama Bash and I take off the kid gloves. Forewarned is forearmed."

The Life and Times of Dale Pertcheck. Bonus Bubbles: Dale Pertcheck in the Swamp.

Some year ago, my wife, Judy of Judy's Jewels and of Judy Hansen Commentary fame, put together a surprise party in honor of my 60th birthday that was to occur the following week. I wrote about it in my other blog, i.e. Roland's Ramblings, in which I mentioned Dale Pertcheck.

Below is an excerpt from that blog entry:

"My longest-time best friends, Dale Pertcheck (who is mentioned in the embedded link to an entry of Glass City Jungle) and his wife, Kathie (nee Rosenberg), of 45 years made darn sure I knew my place. All the roasts were good but I gotta tell ya, Dale’s roast made sure everyone knew exactly the type of guy I am. I’ll get even with him later. Dale should win an Emmy or an Oscar or whatever for his monologue!" 

ref:  Freddie, Posted on November 18, 2007

So, true to my word, this Roland Hansen Commentary is for my friend of 50 or so years, Dale Pertcheck.

When he was a young man, Dale worked in his father's jewelry store that had originally been in downtown Toledo, Ohio but was relocated in 1957 to the Swayne Field Shopping Center. He later went to college and became a public school teacher in Toledo City Schools. During his 35+ years of teaching, Dale was very active in the teachers' union, not just a member but actively involved by holding responsible positions in the local Toledo Federation of Teachers, in the statewide Ohio Federation of Teachers, and in the national American Federation of Teachers.

Dale has always been quite the creative, academic, well-spoken and well-written intellectual; and, he has written many letters to newspapers, such as the December 10, 1995 Toledo Blade "Letter to the Editor" entitled "Undeserving slam on teacher pact", and the July 25, 2011 Toledo Free Press "Letter To The Editor entitled "Letter: Deconstructing Flagg."

Dale retired from his teaching and union postions almost two years ago, but he has remained active in a variety of ways. One example, Dale still plays softball, something he has done every year for the past almost 60 years. Dale Pertcheck loves his softball times. Heck, Dale has even been recognized for being 59+ League & Tourney Champs Manager.

When not busy with softball, Dale is very much involved and active in the lives of his children and grandchildren.

Dale has also been extremely active in writing on a variety of internet blogs, forums, bulletin boards, etc. His longest running and most extensive foray in the writing cyberworld is over at SwampBubbles. If you click over this-a-way, you can see the SwampBubbles Track of Dale Pertcheck. And, if you click over this-a-way, you may explore the search results on SwampBubbles itself in regards to Dale.

An internet search of Dale Pertcheck via Bing renders these results. And you can also check out search results for Dale Pertcheck on hakia, Dogpile, and Google.

Mandatory Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients

I have stated it before and I will state it again! I consider drug testing or screening as a prerequisite to receiving welfare benefits to be an unreasonable search by the government which is protected against in the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution and therefore unconstitutional.

That opening statement is my lead-in to that which follows.

• Conservative Patriots of America assert, "Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!" ref: Conservative Patriots of America: Kish mir en toches!, Roland Hansen Commentary, July 4, 2012.

• "Most Americans, even my fellow fiscal conservatives, see the legitimate need for benefit programs for those who are struggling and need to get back on their feet. However, it is fiscally irresponsible for public monies to subsidize the use of illegal drugs. Taxpayers should not be in the business of funding the lifestyles of those who are addicted to drugs, thereby condoning illegal behavior." ref: Opposing view: No drug test, no welfare, Kimberly Yee, USA TODAY, Updated 3/18/2012 7:33 PM.

• "Conservatives who say welfare recipients should have to pass a drug test to receive government assistance ... Nearly two dozen states are considering measures that would make drug testing mandatory for welfare recipients ... Recent federal statistics indicate that welfare recipients are no more likely than the general population to abuse drugs. ..." ref: Growing Support for Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients, by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, The New York Times, Published: February 25, 2012.

NOW! Go to the following embedded links for some reading that reinforces and substantiates my perspectiv that I stated in my opening, specifically, "I consider drug testing or screening as a prerequisite to receiving welfare benefits to be an unreasonable search by the government which is protected against in the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution and therefore unconstitutional."

• Judge strikes down Florida law mandating drug tests for welfare, Reuters, Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:42pm EST.
• Judge: No drug tests for Fla. welfare applicants, Politico, By ASSOCIATED PRESS, 1/1/14 10:16 AM EST Updated: 1/2/14 6:19 AM EST.
• Judge Strikes Down Florida's Drug Tests for Welfare Law, By Mark Joseph Stern, The Slatest, JAN. 1 2014 12:55 PM.
• Drug-test policies end in failure, By Steve Benen, MSNBC, 01/02/14 09:00 AM—UPDATED 01/02/14 09:53 AM.
• Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients, Claim: Various states have passed laws requiring that public assistance recipients pass a drug testing program., Snopes.com.

When Charity Is Not Charity.

It is the end of the year and many organizations classified as "charities" according to the tax code of the United States are suggesting that people of good financial means (i.e. wealthy people) make a donation or two or three in order to get a tax write-off for the year under the tax code that will allow them to pay less taxes. This is a common practice targeted at wealthy people that will allow those wealthy people to position themselves into a lower percentage tax bracket and consequently increase their personal net income.

Are these wealthy people really being charitable? Would they make the same "charitable" contribution if they could not take that tax write-off? I think not. To me, when an individual makes a "charitable" contribution in order to get a tax deduction, that is not charity; it is a financial decision intended to increase the person's monetary wealth.

IMHO, another charity practice that is really not charity involves the business world.

I am constantly amazed that people express appreciation to corporate entities, such as financial institutions, petroleum companies, grocery chain stores, retail chain stores, computer and other technology businesses, public utility companies, hospitals, etc., etc., etc. for charitable contributions.

These business interests participate in what is known as corporate giving. When business entities participate in corporate giving, they really are not being charitable as many people mistakenly believe. Reality check: these so-called charitable contributions are actually sound business decisions. Simply put, the practice is a business manuveur intended to increase profits and/or enhance a positive public image via public relations.

I mean come on, people: WAKE UP!!

Do you really think the corporate world would donate money out of the business coffers if it could not take a tax write-off and/or pass on the cost of the "charitable" contribution to the unsuspecting, gullible public who is the customer or the consumer that has no say in the matter. I think not!

It is you and I who really pay for all these charitable contributions.

We pay for them in at least two different ways.
One: Our individual tax rates are what they are because of the tax loopholes involving the above-referenced donations to "charity" by the wealthy individuals and by corporations. If those tax breaks were not allowed, those who I have mentioned would pay their fair share of taxes and the rest of us would actually pay less in taxes. Take away those tax credits, deductions, and write-offs; and, we would not be in the tax bracket we are in. The reason we are paying the amount of taxes that we are paying is because the government needs to make up the difference in what would otherwise be lost revenues from the tax breaks given the wealthy and the corporations.
Did you follow that? Think about it.
Government at all levels expects a certain level of revenue. That revenue must come from somewhere. If the governmental entity does not receive the "required" revenue from one sector of taxpayers, it will get that revenue from other sectors of the taxpaying public, i.e. middle class Americans who are on the wrong side of the income gap, those of us who are not wealthy.
Two: Whatever amounts of "charitable donations" cannot be written off on corporate business tax returns are passed on to the consumer/customer in the form of increased prices and fees.

Now, back to the main topic - Charity.
Charity is freely given by an individual to those in need out of an act of caring, kindness, and love.

So --- When is charity not charity?
Simply put, charity is not charity when it is given with the expectation of something in return.

Hate Speech. Freedom of Speech. Free Speech.

PREFACE: You will really need to open the embedded links to take a look-see and read in order to truly get the gist of this Roland Hansen Commentary.

First an excerpt from an article on the internet:

"Hate speech is speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits. Should hate speech be discouraged?"

Now, go read the entire article:

Debating the “Mighty Constitutional Opposites” - Debating Hate Speech.

Next up; for a good visual, click onto this link to some really interesting images and take a good hard look. I dare you!

Continuing on, read and explore the web page of Regulation of Fighting Words and Hate Speech - The Issue:  Does the First Amendment limit the government's ability to regulate fighting words or hateful speech?

Okay, another excerpt, another source:

"The United States is almost alone among Western liberal democracies in not punishing what is called hate speech"

Read the entire article from which it was taken:

McConnell, Michael W., You Can't Say That, 'The Harm in Hate Speech,' by Jeramy Waldron, The New York Times Sunday Book Review, June 22, 2012.

One last excerpt from yet one more source:

"... we have overprotected speech that not only causes significant harm to the dignity of minority groups but also, more importantly, diminishes the public good of inclusiveness that is an essential attribute of our society."

And now, read the entire article:

Stevens, John Paul, Should Hate Speech Be Outlawed?, 'The Harm in Hate Speech,' by Jeramy Waldron, The New York Review of Books

I sure hope you took the necessary time to read all that to which I linked. If you did, what do you think of it all as a whole?

Is 2014 the Year of Denmark for Me, Roland Louis Hansen?

For a long time now, I have had this yearning to visit Denmark. Heck, I have even considered the possibility of moving to Denmark, as you may read by clicking over to Moving to Denmark. Maybe yes, maybe no.

Often and from a variety of sources, Denmark has been reported as the happiest place in the world, Below are embedded links that will take to just two of the articles concerning the claim:
Why Denmark is Ranked the Happiest Country in the World from The JD Journal;
Bill Weir and Sylvia Johnson, Denmark: The Happiest Place on Earth, abcNews,go, January 8, 2007.

How about a visual? Yes?
Okay. Watch the following video, Happy Moments - Denmark, courtesy of VisitDenmark.com.


Uff da!
What am I waiting for?
Is 2014 the Year of Denmark for Me, Roland Louis Hansen?

UFO? Flying Saucer? Alien Spacecraft? The Truth Is Out There.

UFO? Flying Saucer? Alien Spacecraft?


FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder worked tirelessly in his investigations of The X Files. He was determined to uncover some the "cover ups" and to expose them for what they were.

As in many of the televised episodes of The X-Files, Mulder would say:
"The Truth Is Out There."

Below is a video containing a compilation of UFO sightings.


Anyone out there?
Open Minds, a research-based organization with a mission to investigate and report evidence of extra-terrestrial, UFO, and other phenomena to a global audience, wants to know.

What do you think?
Is there something "out there" or what?

December 7, 1941; A Date Which Will Live In Infamy

Today, the date is December 7; and, it is the year 2013.
Let's turn back the clock 72 years ago to this date in 1941.

The following is the first sentence that I have excerpted from an article that I found on the website of History.com in its web pages of This Date In History.

"On this day, in an early-morning sneak attack, Japanese warplanes bomb the U.S. naval base at Oahu Island's Pearl Harbor—and the United States enters World War II."

Read the article in its entirety by clicking on over to Dec 7, 1941: "A date which will live in infamy" as it appears on History.com.

Here is another excerpt from another article concerning that dark day in the history of the United States of America:

"At 7:55 a.m. on December 7, 1941 in Hawaii, a Japanese dive bomber displaying the Rising Sun of Japan appeared above the island of Oahu. 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a brutal assault. The surprise attack served as a critical setback against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States into the Second World War."

Read the rest of that article which appears in The Maritime Executive by clicking on its headline, as follows, Remembering Maritime History: A Date Which Will Live In Infamy.

On December 8th, 1941 at 12:30 p.m., President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered the speech to a Joint Session of Congress that has become known as the Infamy Speech or Day of Infamy Speech.

Watch, Listen, Never Forget!

You may click on over to read the text of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech courtesy of The University of Oklahoma College of Law.
If you wish to learn more about December 7, 1941 and Pearl Harbor, you may watch and listen to the following documentary History Channel video that is 1 hour 22 minutes in length.  

Life Goes By. Say, "I Love You."

Please take a few minutes to read Say “I Love You” as if there were no tomorrow that I posted December 9, 2010 on my other blog, i.e. Roland's Ramblings.