"Music & Me & Me & Music"

(& Blacktop Mojo)

Music has been my passion for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories all start somewhere in the midst of Pink Floyd, The Alan Parsons Project, & Elton John - some of my Mom's favorites in the 70's - it was like I didn't really exist before that, or maybe I was just waiting for the right sound to reach my ears... 

That "right sound" is rock & roll, and it always has been. And the words... oh, God the words... I used to play records & cassette tapes over & over again, lifting that needle and backing up, pressing stop & rewinding, to make absolutely sure of the lyrics (pre-Internet, that's what we had) so I wouldn't sing a single part wrong - and I sang. Out loud, even when my Mom ridiculed me for it, in front of the mirror with my round hairbrush - getting ready for the day when my star would finally shine... The soundtrack of my life became larger & longer & LOUDER as I listened to albums in their entirety & found the songs that deserved airplay but never got it, songs that spoke what I was feeling & going through that most people never even heard - if I couldn't be the master of my own destiny, I would at least control the music that played in the background. 

Needless to say, my star never did shine in the music world, but I never once let go of that dream that someday it just might... 

 I sang in the Jazz Band in high school (South Sumter, Class of '85) - the Scorpions, Def Leppard, Stevie Nicks. Yep, that's right.

I sang to my kids - all the time. (the two most prominent songs being Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man", for my son - Boston's "Amanda" for my daughter who carries the name of that tune)

Guns & Roses, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Oasis, Matchbox 20, The Nixons, - just a little piece of a list as long as the years that marched on. And through it all, I sang. 

I sang with a band that never really got off it's feet, I sang Karaoke in bars where nobody was really listening, I sang in church choir, I sang & I sang & I sing to this day. 

I held on to the music of my memories, but I kept the door open for new bands & new songs to come on in. Always rock & roll, though. The exceptions to that rule are few & far between.

Seether came along & knocked me for a loop - & Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Staind, Daughtry, Theory of a Deadman all followed suit. So many songs to play, so many songs to sing & I sing them all.

The Internet opened up a window to bands I might never have heard of otherwise, and I plunged in, finding Plan Three, Starset, My Darkest Days, Like a Storm, Adelita's Way, Stealing Eden, etc... and etc... and etc... 

My husband learned to gauge my mood by the music - or tried. He once walked in as I sang one of my favorite sad songs, & listening, he assumed that I was upset or sad about something, & asked me what was wrong - I was puzzled when I told him nothing was wrong - then realized that he thought the song defined the mood. I let him in on the secret that day, that no matter what song I happen to be singing, no matter how sad, when I am singing, I am happy. And it should be said, as a testament to him and what we have been building for two decades now - just how much I love him, that I am almost always singing. I love you Joe. 

It's when I get quiet that folks should worry. And most of the time, I am singing. (Did I say I love you, Joe? Oh, well, I am gonna say it again)

Times where I can't listen to music are hard for me. I get anxious and irritable when I can't hear my life's soundtrack in the background. After all, I am not here for the movie, I'm here for the music. The movie is gonna go however it was meant to go - but I get to orchestrate the tune(s) & I fully intend to make sure THIS soundtrack is freaking awesome.

 I have mourned the loss of musicians like they were my best and closest friends. I remember the first one that REALLY hit me hard way back in high school- Randy Rhoads, guitarist for Ozzy. I heard the news and for a moment, the music stopped playing and time stood completely still. Later, Layne Staley (AIC), Scott Weiland (STP), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog), Chester Bennington (Lincoln Park), Tom Petty & Prince (to name a few) left holes that caused actual, physical pain - holes that can be patched over with the music they left behind, but will never be truly filled because of the songs of the future that will never be heard.

YouTube brought the chance to share lyric videos that one could create (thanks so much Microsoft for Power Point & my college prof, Christine Naylor for teaching me how powerful a slide show could be, especially when it's converted to video) and insert their own input through a choice of visuals, transitions, and animations.

Plan Three's "Be Still My Heart"  hit me at an extreme low point, as my life momentarily turned upside-down & I feared I would lose everything, most importantly myself, and the resulting lyric video (which was not released as it was originally created due to some technical issues) laid my state-of-mind (& state-of-heart) open for all to see. The final product still echoes of the turmoil I was feeling at the time, and still brings tears to my eyes even years later.

My youngest brother, Jason, another musician who deserves far more recognition than he has received, wrote & recorded the song "Fragile" - and my decision to create the lyric video for that one made it possible for us to find each other, after years and years of not knowing. His entire CD, "Releasing Endorphins" is full of wonderful music, but "Fragile" was my ultimate favorite. He has the talent with instruments and mixing that I never acquired, my voice is all I have to offer other than interpreting other's songs into words and images on screen so EVERYONE has the chance to sing along & get the words right. 

 Not long ago, my best friend, Melody came at me in a state of extreme excitement (she and I share our passion for music, especially new music and bands) telling me I had to stop everything immediately & listen to this song... Song in question turned out to be "Underneath" by Blacktop Mojo - a band from Texas, who, just a few years into their own musical journey, has hit the ground running with an awesome metal feel to Southern Rock that outshines even Molly Hatchet & Blackfoot - 2 of the greatest Southern Rock bands ever created. And one song was all it took, I was hooked.

"Underneath" resonates with the pain and rawness of a shattered heart that rips you open & that is something I absolutely love in a song. But it was "I Will Ramble On" which transitions from that hurt to the anger that follows that spoke to me the loudest. And that was the lyric video I did first. It left me unsatisfied at the end, technical difficulties abounded in the transition from slide-show to video, and although I went ahead and did the upload, I feel it was rushed and not the great video it (and I) wanted. A few days later, in the wee hours of the morning, "Underneath" spoke to my heart and asked for it's turn, and in less than 3 hours, a video was uploaded that verges right on the edge of perfection. My videos are mere shadows of the songs that they are created for, the songs provide the light and substance that give my 'shadows' the chance to exist.

Nothing is worse than the tortured pain of an artist unheard or unseen, these videos serve to ease some of that pain in me, & at the same time, open a small window for other people to "discover" the songs & bands that have inspired me.

I don't do mine randomly, I listen for the voices that speak directly to my heart, so I don't produce near as many as a lot of others out there, but I have already realized that Blacktop Mojo is going to play a large part in the ones I do produce. They are speaking to my heart song after song after song. And make no mistake, these guys are gonna be HUGE in the music industry, and in the very near future. I guarantee it.

The high point of my day today, and the reason for this blog started last night - I have been rolling the ideas for my next video (for their song "Back Home") around in my head, and I had a slight but crucial issue with the lyrics in the very first line of the first verse, nothing big, relatively speaking, is there, or is there not an "a" between two of the other words? But the presence (or not) of that "a" had me stuck and spinning my wheels but not going anywhere... so, not really expecting a reply, I fired a shot in the dark to the band themselves, asking for clarification - shut down my computer and went off to bed... 

This morning, I woke to find that they had ACTUALLY ANSWERED ME - clarified the lyrics and responded to my fear that they might possibly be offended or upset about my turning their music in to the lyric videos (some artists do, you know, they see it as a poaching of a sort) with the response that they think my vids are COOL - so they actually know my videos exist, they have seen them, and were kind enough to provide me with the assistance I was seeking to be able to continue on to the next one. 

I am blown away that these guys (did I mention they are gonna be HUGE??) took the time to answer little ol' me - & offer me encouragement in the process.

I get to go see Blacktop Mojo on May 19th of this year (2018) for the first time live - with my husband who always encourages me (and tolerates the playing of a song over and over til I feel I've gotten it right), my BF Melody, who is responsible for bringing this awesome band to my attention (and her boyfriend), and Christy, (who's an acquaintance on the fast-track to becoming a true, real friend) & (possibly) her ex-not-ex Chad, who is a friend of my hubby's and a part of Christy's life that reminds me of mine & Joe's own story, back in it's earlier years - definitely unfinished business to say the least... 

This will be Christy's first concert EVER. Yeah, I can see already that Blacktop Mojo is gonna be a significant part of the soundtrack of this LONG movie that is my life. And damn, I am glad of THAT. Thanks guys, for your music, for keeping it real as you grow, for everything. 

And as the big day approaches, only 4 days til we get our Mojo on LIVE, I have added Prodigal - Shadows on the Wall - & just this morning, 8000 Miles let me say this one more time to make sure y'all hear me - THIS BAND IS GONNA BE HUGE! CHECK THEM OUT!!

Underneath- Lyrics - Blacktop Mojo

Now THIS one really turned out great!

Blacktop Mojo - I Will Ramble On (Lyric Video)

Personally, I have a few issues with my timing in this one, it was a problem in the transition from slide show to video, which I am trying to work out, & I would like to re-do it soon with more effects, transitions, etc.. -- but the song is BEYOND fantastic, and I couldn't wait to get the lyric video out there... Check it out here

Finding Ben Stiller

It was a game we used to play- LONG story, but in short, one of us would hide a photo of Ben Stiller somewhere where the other one would unexpectedly find it. She grew up, moved out of state and has a family of her own now- but this year when I went to mail the Christmas package, I thought of our game & got so tickled at the thought of her reaction if I sent her Ben Stiller, so I got her BF and his brother in on it, and was able to capture this video- her reaction was all the Christmas present I could have wanted,Some things are worth sharing, even the silly ones. I Love You my beautiful daughter, I needed to laugh like that, thanks for being YOU

On Respect & Pride and the Despicable Actions of the Ravens, Jaguars. Their Owners & Supporters

Dammit, just what I didn't need - something political to get pissed off over and start me ranting -- The display by the NFL "kneelers" was absolutely intolerable & despicable.

When I am in the privacy of MY OWN HOME and the anthem plays - even if I am the ONLY PERSON HERE I stop what I am doing and 

STAND FOR THE PLAYING OF "OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM" 

It doesn't matter that no one can see me, it is because I am PROUD to be a small piece of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - because I respect the soldiers who fought and died for us, & I respect the flag that represents us. I do it to HONOR our nation. 

"America - Love it or Leave it"

does anyone else remember that phrase? I grew up with it, I agree with it wholeheartedly.
These players showed the entire WORLD that we are not a UNITED nation, but a DIVIDED one, tearing itself to pieces from the INSIDE - it says to the world - "Just sit back, watch & wait - they (the USA) are easy prey" - a potentially dangerous face to present to a world that would LOVE to see us fall - because they have for so long envied us our freedoms, our strength, our prosperity & our temerity.
Shame on you - every last one of you - the players and management who support them, the fans who are cheering them for their disrespectful display - "America - LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT" - can you say "Bye Felicia" & start packing?? I SINCERELY HOPE SO!

At this point, I had thought I was finished, but then proceeded to read a statement by the owner of the jagu-offs (oops) jaguars- excerpts and my reactions to his "statement".

I saw this:

And immediately thought...
One of the most moronic statements I have ever heard -- & that is saying a LOT
Scene: An event being televised WORLDWIDE - 
Some standing in Honor & Respect, others kneeling to protest the display of Honor & Respect - exactly how is this supposed to signify unity or even potential unity? Is this guy for REAL??

Sadly it got worse...

He also said...

 "Our team and the National Football League reflects our nation, with diversity coming in many forms – race, faith, our views and our goals" 

Do you see where he says they REFLECT OUR NATION?!!? If this is what he or they think is a proper reflection of our nation, I for one say:
 You know what, you jag-ass? Take your reflection and stick it where it can't reflect on anyone else!
 OUR GOALS? To disrespect "OUR NATION" to the whole world? I don't know who the hell the WE & OUR is he refers to, but I damn sure am not one of them. Screw you jaguars, ravens, and anybody else who sees this as the PROPER way to "REFLECT OUR NATION" PLEASE go reflect someone ELSE'S nation with that mess.

Empty Your Trash Can!

Gonna tell a little story, some may find relevance in it to apply to their own lives or to the larger world in general, some may not. Either way...

My husband and I have 4 grown kids between us - for the most part, we see them a couple of times a year, or less - they are busy living their lives, as grown children are generally expected to do.

All, that is, except for one-

The one, we can just about expect to see him show up on the doorstep every few months- out of options yet again...

And this one is the most bitter person I have ever met. He carries a chip on his shoulder so big it is a wonder the sun ever shines on him. He has a list of grievances dating back to his earliest memories, a finger to point in every direction imaginable for every single wrong (real or imagined) that he thinks was done to him, and a finger in every direction for why he is back "this time" (every time) & not one time has that finger ever pointed to himself.
Not...once...EVER.

He carries a sense of entitlement that has no business being there- we taught all of our kids from early on that what you want in life you have to earn - but this one thinks that it's all supposed to just fall in his lap without having to put forth the slightest effort- because, he thinks, of all those past wrongs & grievances done to him...

Now my husband is not the most profound person in the world, at least not when it comes to practical advice - his approach is more along the lines of "Walk it off" or "Rub some dirt on it" (LOL) but a few months back when this (in his own eyes) poor, maligned soul was back for yet another pity party I walked in on a conversation that struck me because it was so unlike my husband and his usual gruff "get over it" manner. And because of that difference, the conversation has echoed in my head many times and I have started to see it as applicable to a LOT of issues & situations - so today I am going to share what he had to say.

In an attempt to get to the core of this young man's unhappiness my husband asked him to remember a time when he WAS happy - in response, he began his usual litany of what his co-workers, friends, brothers, strangers, & myself & my husband had done over the years to "ruin his life" & somewhere in the midst of all that blaming my husband said:
"Your problem is that you are carrying your past around in a trash can, son. You have been for years, & that trash can is filled to overflowing - has been for a long time. As long as you are carrying that can with you, you will never be happy. There is not any room to throw in one more scrap of bitterness or anger or blame, & at the same time there is no room around you for anything good. You are carrying the weight & the stench of all that garbage and people can see & smell it in the way you can smell an overflowing dumpster from down the street, and it turns them away. Sit that can down, dump it out, hell burn the damn thing & once all that garbage is gone, you will see your life get better."

To say my jaw hit the floor would be an understatement, I was awed by the simplicity of his words and how accurately those words summed up this young man's situation. So much so that I myself took a long hard look at my own trash can & gave it a good thorough dump-&-cleaning. So much so that I have begun applying it to the world around me, in just about everything from political differences, religious disputes, racial disputes, family disputes, you name it!
Genius emerges from simplicity!

Think of all the unhealed wounds that continue to fester is because of the echoes of the past. Get rid of it, I say! Yes, it is important to learn from history - but it is detrimental to continue to blame the past wrongs for a present situation - especially when those wrongs date so far back in time that there is not a living soul left who experienced them. Watch your life - your entire world - get better! What have you got to lose? After all, you only get one life, why waste it being bitter and angry about something that you have no control over, or that happened long ago?

Needless to say, this son of ours was too stubborn to follow this sound advice. In fact, in less than a year since the conversation took place, he has been back twice - I guess some people are determined to hold on to everything until the department of (mental) health comes in and condemns the area or until their walls cave in under the weight of all that garbage... hard for me to comprehend how anyone would rather be miserable and spend their precious time - and life is precious, as I said earlier, you only get one - trying to suck the happiness out of the lives of others to compensate for whatever they think was done to them, instead of finding some well-earned happiness all their own. I'm not saying that it will work for everyone. But those who sincerely try, I think will be well-rewarded. 

Karen Register
2017 - Sep - 12
https://spoiledrottenweilers.blogspot.com

From the Pit of Despair (just a piece of a work-in-progress)

When the walls around you are crashing down,
You're falling, but you don't want to;
So you claw till your fingers are blood and bone,
But there's nothing left to hold on to.
You realize that the world you thought that you knew
was nothing more than illusion,

And no matter how hard you try,
or how loudly you cry,
You can't wake from this nightmare delusion.

True becomes false, & light becomes dark,
You feel that you're losing your mind-

But it's too late to attack,
Once that knife's in your back-
And you realize you've always been blind.

My Husband - "Mr. (TOO) Nice Guy"

My Husband:

I love him, honestly, he's the greatest. We have been together almost 20 years now, and he is still just as amazing to me as he was in the early years of our relationship. We have known each other almost our whole lives, have a strong friendship base that goes long before "we" became an "us", & have stood firmly united through so many things I cannot even conceive a situation (other than the death of one of us) that could separate us... I'm lucky - & he is, too. We recognize this.

But...

There is one thing that drives me batty about him, & people who knew him in his younger days would never believe it -- 

he is TOO DAMN NICE! 

In his work, he has a lot of clients to deal with, & usually after a very short time of becoming acquainted, they start seeing him as a 'friend' - and some of them think that gives them an always-green light to intrude in to our private lives whenever they take a notion to do so...

The phone rings during dinner and someone is broke down on the side of the road, he's up out of his chair and halfway out the door to lend a hand, dinner half-eaten, evening blown to hell... 

Or,

He's finished for the day & in the shower and someone needs to see him 'just for a minute' - hours later, they leave - if we're lucky, I'm still awake and we get to spend a little time together before the next intrusion.

Drama seems to be inevitable with people he has business dealings with, seriously. And we are talking about grown-ups here, not teenagers, yet it is unbelievable the constant inflow of scenes like this:

Someone has heard that someone else said something about them.
(No, I'm not making this up!)

One of them finds out they have a common connection through my husband, who has had business dealings with both parties, and he is suddenly called upon to referee or moderate a dispute which has nothing to do with him or his business at all. He is pushed to 'take sides' or help the parties find a middle ground in areas outside of his business just to find a little peace. And I just shake my head in wonder at the immaturity and lack of boundaries...

Some other all-to-frequent aggravations are when 'Client X' is having some issue and can't afford to make a payment on time, so they just don't pay, without any prior notice or communication, & expect that he will work with them, never considering what the shortage might do to US & our own situation. So we are sometimes forced to stick it out and hope they eventually get back on track - and also hope they don't conveniently 'forget' about their obligations when they do.

And I have to say, sadly, women are the WORST. They apparently don't understand that he truly is that nice to EVERYONE, male or female- and that his willingness to lend a hand is not to be seen as a special interest, flirtation, invitation to a relationship, or anything of that nature, and that he (my husband) is not expecting OR seeking any offer of sexual favors from them. Seriously, he isn't... got that covered right here at home- thanks but no thanks.

In my desperation to find a solid, impenetrable line between work & home,I have honestly thought about contacting every client on his list and setting some boundaries about when it is NOT okay to call, what they should or should NOT expect to contact him about, & so forth, but it's really not my place. He runs his business, and I run mine. We help one another if needed, provide advice & support to each other, step in as 'boss' in the event of an emergency, etc... but our businesses are very different, & as far as clients go, we each do things our own way. And frankly, his way - which is so different from my way, sometimes has me ready to blow a gasket! 

My way is structured to where my clients know from the beginning that my family is my top priority, and the line between family and worked is not to be crossed. My way is restricted to set days & times that, in theory, leave ample time for family without causing anyone on the business side of my life to be inconvenienced. But I run a product-based business, while his is more service-oriented & the differences are worlds apart. And that factor alone creates plenty of chaos when my system collides with his. And it does collide, on a regular basis.

I have told my husband that one rule he needs to follow and be consistent with is this:
"Friends are friends, clients are clients; sometimes a friend may become a client, but usually it is NOT wise to turn a client into a friend".
And although he sees the wisdom, he has a hard time implementing this in to our everyday lives. Because he really has become this nice guy, and remembers times when he needed something and had all these 'friends' but NO one there to help, as well as the times when someone totally unexpected stepped up and saved the day. He remembers how it felt on both sides, especially when no one was there - so he tries way too hard to spare others from that feeling...

And maybe that would be okay if there weren't so many people out there who see niceness and empathy as a weakness that can be exploited to their advantage. I know there have been many times when a payment was not made because of some sad, sad story - only to eventually learn that said story was no more than a big, fat lie. When important things in the family side of our lives had to be postponed or even canceled altogether because of service calls that were supposed to be 'urgent' but really  weren't, tools and equipment that were loaned out but never returned, the list goes on and on and on.

I love this man, but sometimes I wish I could shake about half the 'nice' out of him - after all when 'nice guy' was a term no one would have dreamed of using to describe him, I was here. I'm in for the long haul & that is a fact. What I do get fed up with is the strain on a marriage when business gets put first. The times that are spent alone that we should be spending together, the hours, days, years that pass by without doing something we want to do together, whether it be big or small - because tools can be re-bought, clients can be replaced, loss of income can be eventually made up, but time - once it is gone you can never get that back.  When it is all said and done, I don't want the summary of our life together to be dominated by our careers, I want our relationship to be where the memories are plentiful and revisited with a smile, not with a sigh of regret for the could-have-been's and never-after's. And I know he wants the same, but somehow I have got to put a dent in his dedication before it can become a reality.

Now I just have to figure out HOW!

Theory of a Deadman - Say I'm Sorry (Lyric Video)

Tonight Americans Played Our "Trump Card" & WON!

Sitting here surfing the Web, FB, etc... reading rants and cries of outrage and threats to "leave the country" from people after tonight's election and shaking my head at some of the comments and the ugliness they expose -- I had decided to just celebrate quietly and smile but guess what? I CHANGED MY MIND! If your little feelings get hurt or you take offense in anything I am about to say, well, I think you know how to hit that little little "X" button on this tab, right? But I do hope you at least hear me out first, actually, no I don't, If you even think you are gonna get your panties in a wad, GTF OFF my page already... Now.. 

I am 49 years old, raised with my 3 siblings by a single parent in a small Florida town - and dirt poor does not even come close to what we were, ok? When I was 12 years old, I worked in the fields all summer long picking peppers, cukes, etc.. so that I could have new clothes for school and go to cheerleading camp because that was the only way it was gonna happen. I learned early that you work for the things you want in life, and at that young age I got to experience what it was like to feel pride in what I had because I earned it with my own sweat and effort. It was a good feeling. To me, hard work and the rewards from that work were the foundation of "The American Dream"

 No one ever gave me anything - as soon as I could get a "real" job after school, I went to work and was able to help my Mom cover the rent and buy my own car and to be able to help the woman who spent her life in a struggle to keep us fed and sheltered and clothed - and that was a wonderful feeling too. I tried to instill that same work ethic in my kids- as soon as they were old enough to hold a dust cloth, they had chore charts and allowances paid based on the completion and the quality of their work, and this continued throughout their teen years. That is how life is supposed to be, & I wanted my children to have that foundation so they could succeed in life and be able to stand proud for achieving that success. I also wanted them to know that the good things in life don't come easy and are not free for the taking.

It seems like so many people out there today find this notion ridiculous, acting like the world owes you something (or in some cases EVERYTHING) just because you exist... and when you don't get the free ride you wrongly think you deserve you get nasty and start name-calling, race and gender-bashing and having temper tantrums like obnoxious children spoiled by wealthy parents - YOU are what is wrong with our country today, those of you sitting there thinking the world owes you a free ride, and refusing to step up and take responsibility for yourselves.

You out there who fit this description have received encouragement from our so-called leaders the past 8 years to keep exhibiting this kind of behavior and have passed it on to others in your sphere of influence, YOU are the weak link in what used to be an unbreakable chain that held our country in a place of pride. I have watched while our so-called "leaders" made the US a laughingstock around the world as they kissed the asses of others who hate everything America stands for & stood patiently while those same countries, groups, factions, etc... spit on them for their efforts.

I have watched veterans of OUR armed forces and children of OUR citizens go hungry while people who hate us and will not even pretend they want to be Americans (or even LIKE Americans) waltz in and get handed free food, free housing, exemption from taxation, free medical care - fully encouraged by the so-called leaders who were protected and defended by that hungry homeless veteran who sits and waits for appreciation that was never gonna be given. It has angered me, disillusioned me, and more times than not physically sickened me to see such a blatant attempt at our country's destruction coming from within - not just inside our country but inside our government... and whenever people showed a sign of discontentment, that same government pointed fingers within our ranks and told you the blame fell on "them" - a broad term which has meant "law enforcement officers" and "the white people" or "the black people" or "the Christians" or the "heteros" or the "conservatives" - when it was not any of these or any other race, gender, sexual or religious group - actually it was a deliberate effort intended to turn us against one another and try to make us ignore the fact that it was those same leaders who were tearing apart the fabric of our nation. Vague insinuations, outright lies, and encouraging people to remain ignorant and divided have gone on long enough and tonight I see proof that we, the AMERICANS have had enough. FINALLY!

So if you are so angry and full of hate I encourage you to do what a lot of others like you are blustering about, pack up your stuff and leave this country - go to Canada, or Mexico or anywhere else - and see how that works for you. No other country in the ENTIRE WORLD allows foreigners to just waltz in and start reaping benefits that their citizens don't even get. No other country in the ENTIRE WORLD allows you to come in without following the procedures required to become a citizen of their country, spit on their rules and traditions and spew hatred and allow you to endlessly reap the benefits to be had.

We need to have a country we can be proud of again, and that means we need people here who LOVE AMERICA and WANT TO BE AMERICANS. People who desire the betterment not just of themselves, but those around them and are willing to work - together - to reach that goal. Tonight was a victory, no doubt about it. If you can't see this maybe you should wipe that layer of bullsh*t out of your eyes and look again. Of course you could also start packing...