PATRICK KENNEDY.....

I am not going to say anything else.......except "Please go home ". There must be a "hero" in the family that can gain control of the situation.......The abuse of alcohol......is not a pretty scene....

ARIZONA ...BORDER DISPUTE

This issue is going "wild"".........I do not believe that the average citizen of Massachusetts appreciates the "day to day "living in the border States............Undocumented persons (illegal aliens ) are storming into States like Arizona.........and stretching the budgets beyond acceptable limits......name it......Schools are at capacity, hospitals are full.....everything that can go wrong is.....and their is not enough tax money to pay for all the services being demanded.....chaos is the order of the day.........Some answers have to be found.

It appears that the State of Arizona is acting out of survival......not bias or bigotry.......

I have continually stressed Social Justice for those in need, however if order is destroyed and anarchy rules, then no one will be safe and their will not be any justice.......The Federal Government in Washington must put politics "on hold"and figure out a comprehensive plan which will deal with the realities of this predicament......

I do not have the answers, however, I have a couple of thoughts to consider;

We need to secure the border.....You need to "stop the bleeding " before saving the" " patient"

and the millions of illegal aliens who have lived in the US for many years, and have been productive and been the "good fabric of society "are not going anywhere.

That's a starting point.....but the lack of action is and will continue to bring "desperation " and at some point will reach up into our "little corner of our relatively pristine universe"

LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS......THE GREAT AND GOOD..

It seems that many of the cities of the Commonwealth are always in the middle of bad stories concerning violence, gangs , tragedies......and the general public in the suburbs don't say it......but they wonder ........why does anyone who doesn't have to live there do so ...........and why ?

Let me give you a couple of reasons........Taso Nikolakopoulous and Kevin Harrington.........

If you get a chance read the article of Steve Krause in the Lynn Item Sport Pages..........Taso and Kevin are two Lynn businessmen who continually reach out and support the youth and schools without fanfare and show the greatness in the City.....

Any time you feel depressed.......look up at the greatness not down at the "human condition "....I admit being a personal friend and a "fan" of Taso's......... he is a "shining light"in the City and personifies all that is good in LYNN.....

USS ASHLAND LSD-48......BULLSEYE....

I have been around so long that some of the people who are good friends do not know that my life history includes being an "Officer and Gentleman " on the USS ASHLAND LSD- 1 during the time of the Vietnam Conflict.I spent almost three of my youthful years on that "bucket " and learned some of my most valuable lessons of life..........during that time.An Navy LSD is a Dock Landing Ship that carries an amphibious force that includes Marines and Navy Seals that land on beaches by boats (LCVP'S) dispatched from the Ashland.Need I tell you that this amphibious group is both deceptive and lethal to the "enemy"............

The present USS ASHLAND with it's modernized weapons was "attacked" last week by Somalian pirates......and upon being fired upon ....the Ashland.......following the rules of engagement......immediately "took aim" and blew the pirates "skiff " to pieces............The pirates are now being returned to the United States to face a trial.........This may slow down the "piracy business "........

The Officer in charge of the weapons on board is called the " Gunnery Officer in Charge ".......one of my titles in this life.......Kind of wish I had been along to see the skirmish......

You can learn more about the USS ASHLAND on its website..............

TED KENNEDY INSTITUTE.......$150M.........? A WASTE..

There are the average people and then the other people...............

The HERALD has a front page story that discusses the Ted Kennedy Institute that is to be built next to the Kennedy Library in Boston .............I have always thought that the Libraries of the past Presidents is bad enough in relation to the amount of money expended.....even though much of it is by private donations...........

However this is over the "top "........now we are reaching down to the US SENATE........and into the future why not John Kerry, Scott Brown.......It has no end........

The original projection for this Kennedy fiasco is $ 30m with another $38m being considered.The entire amount could end up spending $ 150m.This involves taxpayer funds........If the Kennedy family wants this legacy then they should pay for it by raising the funds from their supporters ..........

My thought for today is that a person's life is in the memory of the people who are effected by that life.......not in edifices.......especially when paid for with tax revenue money.......

BILL CLINTON....AGE..ING LIKE A GOOD WINE

I have to admit that I like Bill Clinton much more as an "Ex-President" than when he was in Office..........Below are a few reasons for that thought.........

In an interview yesterday he left a few words to ponder ;

In talking about anti-government rhetoric......Words really matter in that they reach both the responsible and delirious minds.........He was alluding to the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995..

Concerning Conservatives........They have taught us that no law is greater than personal responsibility................

and concerning that..........The more power and influence you have the greater your personal

responsibility.........

Well said.....................................

TAX STATS....WOW

So did you see some of the statistics on who pays what.... when it comes to taxes ;

The top 20% earners pay 86% of the taxes..............

The taxpayers in the lower 50% of wage earners pay 3% of the total taxes.....

and 50% of households in the USA DO NOT PAY TAXES.........

My thought for the day is....If you are an adult....are not a Mother raising Children...and are not sick or disabled........and do not pay taxes..........What do you do with your 24 hour days.......

I hope it is helping somebody or some organization....in a worthwhile endeavor......

WANT TO BE A HERO ?............

My Brother's Table has two opportunities to volunteer coming up.The first is on early Sunday Morning May 2,2010 from 5:00 am until 11:00 am in which you are taken into Boston to set up the tables and water stands for the 20 mile "Walk for Hunger ".My Brother's Table receives $ 20,000 from the "Walk" for our efforts.......let me know.

The second opportunity is on May 8, 2010 between 11:00am---7:00 pm.It is the" can drive" in which Postal Eployees and other groups after much preparation bring "canned goods" and other items to Lynn Ladder and the goods are packed and prepared for shipping and distribution to "food pantry's" in the local area.The peak time is the afternoon and a couple of hours is great

Think about it..........and let me know or speak to Mary Magner at MBT.........781 595 3224

JAMES F. KEENAN....... JESUIT.......THOUGHTS.............

I had the opportunity to hear a talk Sunday night by James F. Keenan,S.J.He currently is a Professor in Theology at Boston College........and he left me with a couple of thoughts to ponder....

He said that "Works of Mercy "are really at the heart of " Catholic Identity".......and in doing so he defined what an act of mercy really is...........It is the WILLINGNESS TO ENTER INTO THE CHAOS OF OTHERS........It means entering into the problem of others and the chaos surrounding that person.........Hopefully your act will bring some order to the chaos........This takes fortitude and wisdom among other things............Looking for a purpose ?.........Mercy to the less fortunate is available to all.......Just look around.........

He was in a way confronted by some of the people listening to his remarks concerning the International aspects of the continuing " Sexual Scandal"........He was reflective and asked people to consider the following; All problems have at least two aspects and your outlook can look each way.............

You can look down at all the bad and judge how can this happen and be depressed and angered.......or you can look up at all the greatness and be thankful........During this entire scandal the bad have captured the headlines all the while others have risen to greatness in their everyday work as priest,nuns and lay people who carry on the mission......usually without fanfare.

LOOK ABOVE AND SEE THE "GREATNESS........Seeing the people above are the inspiration for all of us.........rather than trying to feel better by lamenting how bad everyone else is......in comparison to ourselves.

MICHAEL LYNCHE........IDOL

When Michael Lynche was voted off Idol last night my first reaction was "I can't believe it",and secondly said......This isn't going to be as much fun going forward.........

He is my favorite and after that Soibhan........She is so cute.

You don't think this is ""fixed " or anything like that........I mean the "save" was unreal reality TV......It worked......it got my interest.

TIGER.........HUB......BUB......

Remember the old "Barnum & Baily "Circus line......"A sucker is born every day "...............or something like that......I said from the very beginning of the "Tiger"affairs that his life is his life,however the entire episode has shown the commercial side of professional sports and "its all about the money"..........

and my feeling is........if I am not getting a "payday " out of it......then I have no interest.......That goes for all of "pro sports "...........

Don't get me wrong.....sports have been a part of my life, but I have come to love the pure joy and spirit of players who do it for the competitiveness and not the money......

CHRIST ..........EASTER.........FOLLOWERS

In a straight forward way.........If Jesus Christ did not resurrect from the dead on Easter the Catholic Church and Christianity have no credibility and reason for existence.............

If you believe.........then live your life of belief....The woman above from the Philippines allowed herself to be nailed to the cross........in a local ceremony that has prevailed for over a hundred years.......

some say "I believe when I see........others say......

"believe and you will see "...........

If you wish to discuss this with me you are welcome in an open forum such as "Thoughts" or with me personally......when ever you wish.........

Happy Easter ! !