Family and Politics

First of all, to all the Spittles (esp. Cara, Jason, Jim), an apology. I will refrain from posting any additional political links. However, I would like to engage in some "friendly" philosophical debate.

First, I acknowledge that we are all VERY opinionated, and have no qualms about the expression of such opinions. My question is, at what point do we decide that we can no longer be quiet about a topic, in order to "keep the peace?" I don't have an answer. I don't think any of us do, as witness the fact that every Spittle Family Reunion experiences at least one argument, usually more, and often on the first day of the reunion (not counting the disagreements involved in even trying to organize the reunion).

As a point to this, I offer the following quote: "First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." (Martin Niemoller, as quoted by David Stafford in Endgame, 1945, p223) The point I'm trying to make is not whether to engage in boycotts, but the stifling of free speach, and the hypocrasy associated with that. Do I agree with what the Socialists, Trade Unionists, Communists, Gays/Lesbians, etc. say? Not ususally. Do I agree with their right to say it? Absolutely. The point I was trying to make is that this has to be reciprocated by both sides. If one doesn't like my opinion on a topic, that's OK, that's one's choice. However, don't try to deny me the right to voice that opinion just because somebody doesn't agree with it. If somebody wants to boycott me, go ahead, I don't care. I personally boycotted UHaul for a number of years because of a personal incident. I didn't force others to do the same.

As a final example, and then I'll shut up, let's look at how the press and liberals view Pres. Bush. Basically, one cannot open any kind of print media without finding scathing attacks against him. I am not necessarily defending him, as there were several policies of his that I absolutely detested. Regardless, the majority of the liberals was vehemently anti-Bush (Cindy Sheehan, anybody?). Fair enough. How did he react? He ignored them. Now compare that to the reaction of HIS HOLINESS, THE MESSIAH, Pres. Elect Obama. Here is a link:

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/wgnam_again_target_of_obama_ca.html

and another

http://www.discriminations.us/2008/08/obama_tries_to_censor_critical.html

Again, my point being is that if it's OK to denigrate one party's chief, then it's OK to denigrate the other. The fact that Obama, instead of just issuing a statement denying the allegations against him and moving on, went on the attack to try to censor the media from broadcasting this is, to me, an enormous amount of hypocrasy on the part of the liberals who so nobly espouse the virtues of "Free Speach." Free speach means receiving as well as giving (as long as violence is not encouraged, which I have not).

Back to the point of this little diatribe - I will call a truce to the postings of such links. That, however, will not lead to the demise of other, similar, postings by others (just do a facebook search for Obama, Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin and see how many results you get.) I see one of you joined the Nicole LeFavour for Idaho Senate group. Should I be offended by that? I'm not. That's your choice and I applaud it. I have to figure out whether to go for Romney or Palin in 2012! Just cut me some slack for voicing my choice. There, I'm done. I'm sorry.

Families, Pt 2

Well, in the space of two weeks, I became a new father (twice) and a new, first-time grandfather. The first one, I'm kind of used to. The second one still hasn't sunk in. As I was talking to Daniel, I asked him if the baby looked like an alien, and he said that he did, but he (baby) looked just like him (Daniel), so he (Daniel) must have looked like an alien also. I assured him that he did! I then told him that looking down at that little person in your arms, knowing that you helped create him and that you are responsible for him, is a pretty frightening thought. He agreed emphatically. Here's to new children, fathers and grandfathers.

BABY LONG

Rachel and the "Babe"

Families

So I was in Fast and Testimony meeting Sunday, blubbering about how I was already missing my family. I knew that I would enjoy the peace, quiet, order, and cleanliness of having just myself in the place, but 24 hours later, I was lonely. I realized as I was saying this that this must be what NOT being in the Celestial Kingdom must be like - remembering your family, missing them, but not being able to be with the. Family, I miss you and love you. Dad/Dan

"Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya..."

OK, so other than it's a little warmer and more humid than I prefer, Jamaica is pretty darn fun! After two grueling days of travel, Cara, Rachel and I got here Sunday night (OK, Sunday was spent shopping in Miami, so it wasn't totally grueling, but it sure was long). As soon as we got here, Cara and Rachel were skinny dipping in the ocean (at midnight). I, as expected, was in bed.

In Miami Airport

Monday was spent playing on the beach and getting used to the area. Yes, they even got me in the water willingly. And yes, I had fun.

Rachel and Dan on a water trike

Tuesday morning, Cara and Rachel took Scuba lessons. I had to wait on my physical verification before I could go, so I relaxed (in my room). However, Tuesday afternoon, Rachel and I went on a tour of the jungle canopy, via zip line. Oh yeah, way cool. We were rained on, the humidity was probably 100%, and we were sweating, so I couldn't tell what had made me wetter.

Cue the "Indiana Jones" theme music

Rachel and Dan

Today, I was able to take my scuba lesson, then Cara, Rachel and I went on our first dive. Totally awesome. For those of you who are experienced scuba divers, you know what I mean. Cara tried to freak out when she first went in, but the instructor told her what she was doing wrong, and made her go right back under. She did fine. I did fine until I got back on the boat and ralphed all over. I'm blaming it on motion sickness, but I was fine in the water.

This afternoon, we went shopping, then went to Rick's Cafe in Negril, where Rachel went cliff diving off a 35 foot cliff. Then one of the locals climbed to the top of a tree and made that dive from 60 feet. Freaky.

To see Rachel's dive, click here 

The other guy's dive

Tomorrow, we do our second dive, then Friday we head back to reality.

Kotzebue & Metlakatla

Well, my family decided that since I won't update the web page any more, that maybe I would keep up on a blog. I'll give it a try.

For those of you who don't know all the details, the family is moving from Kotzebue. Cara decided that she needed to be closer to her mother, especially after her hip replacement. She and the kids are moving to Boise ID (back to civilization?). I had planned on staying in Kotzebue, and in fact, had turned in my retention letter. However, I was finally convinced to go to Metlakatla (SE Alaska, by Ketchikan) for an interview for the Dental Director position. I had no intention of taking the job, but once I got there and looked around, I felt the same way that I felt five years ago, when I came to Kotz for the site visit. I just felt that it was the right thing to do. I took the job on the spot. My last day with Maniilaq is 12 December, and I start my new job 5 January. The family leaves for Boise on 1 November. I'll be going down for Thanksgiving, and to help Daniel bless my new grandson. WAY EXCITED ABOUT THAT!

I do feel a little bad about leaving Maniilaq with only one dentist - I was in that position for 1 1/2 years - but if it's the right thing to do, I'm not going to fight it. As to the benefits, since the family will be in Boise, Ketchikan is only 1 1/2 hours from Seattle, which sure beats the 1 1/2 hours from Kotz to Anchorage, then 3 more hours from Anchorage to Seattle. Cara will still be working with the airlines. She'll be with Horizon Air, Alaska Air's sister company. She loses her one year of seniority with Alaska Air, but keeps her flying benefits, so it should be easy for me to visit them.

Metlakatla is similar to Kotzebue, yet significantly different. The population is about 1500, or half of Kotzebue. Kotzebue is Arctc desert with tundra everywhere, while Metlakatla is a temperate rainforest with trees and green everywhere. The town really reminds me of a sleepy little town in the Lower 48 with cute little houses with lawns, and cute little stores. Kotzebue serves 11 surrounding villages with a combined population of 8,000, while Metlakatla is alone with no outlying villages. Kotzebue's dental clinic has 8 chairs for the 8,000 while Metlakatla has 6 chairs for its 1500. It's clinic is two years old, and made me drool when I saw it!


Here is a picture of part of the staff of Maniilaq Dental Services. The women are all the Assistants and Receptionist. As a plug, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As things progress, I will update here, so keep watching and see how things go. Plus, since I leave for Jamaica in less than two days, I might have to post some photos from there.