Watch. Look. Learn (maybe)

About Syria...

We can't change our past. But we can help save our future.

Big Brother - RIP

Robert Craig Wilson, 77, a resident of Amherst, NH, died on March 22, 2018 at his home. He was born January 16, 1941 in Wayne, New Jersey to Robert Baer Wilson and Katharine Ann Greiner. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a BA in Economics in 1964. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy, was commissioned in February 1965 and received his Naval Aviator wings in 1967. He married Nancy Howatt in 1972. 

Bob saw three tours of duty in Vietnam aboard the aircraft carriers USS Yorktown, Hornet and Kitty Hawk. In February 1974 he lost both legs below the knee in a flight deck accident on the deck of the Kitty Hawk. He retired from the U.S. Navy in August 1974 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. 

Bob became actively involved with the National Amputee Golf Association while living in California. After moving with his family to New Hampshire in 1986 he was elected to the position of Executive Director. During this time he founded the First Swing Learn to Golf program to teach golf to the physically challenged community. In addition to his work for NAGA, he became editor and publisher of Amputee Golfer, a magazine directed to an amputee golfing population around the globe. It should be noted that the National Amputee Golf Association is an all volunteer organization of amputees working to help other amputees. 

He was actively involved in conducting First Swing clinics for wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center and Ft. Carson, Colorado. These clinics involved teaching pros and rehab specialists how to teach their patients on the first day of a clinic and working one on one with the disabled on the second day. When he told his story to returning soldiers he said he was a relic of the Vietnam era. Bob was an amputee for 44 years. Broken soldiers who didn’t know how they can face another day found comfort in being around one who did face the day. And then the next one. 

In September 2005 he was featured in Golf Digest in a My Shot article by Guy Yocum. Other highlights included being awarded the DAV National Commander’s trophy in 1990 and the International Network of Golf Writers and Associates Dennis Walters Courage Award in 1995. 

Over the span of a lifetime Bob assisted in the formation of the British, South African, Australian and Canadian Amputee Golf Associations. For years he traveled to tournaments around the country and overseas. Bob was flown to South Africa twice over the years - once to help form the South African Amputee Golf Association and years later to be recognized for his work for the association. 

I don’t think there are words to adequately describe Bob’s contribution to the disabled community. He invited questions wherever he went. People would just walk up to him and begin sharing their own stories or those of relatives who have lost limbs. He shared his story with anyone who wanted to hear it. He taught by example.

Family members include his wife of 45 years, Nancy (Howatt) Wilson of Amherst; two sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Moray Wilson of Newburyport, MA and Alexander and Johanna Wilson of Amesbury, MA; four grandchildren, Audrey M. Wilson, Cole R. Wilson, Madeline O. Wilson and Georgia L. Wilson; a sister and brother-in-law Stephanie A. and Robert Lucas of FL; a brother and sister-in-law Brian M. and Cassandra Wilson of VA; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are private. Burial will be in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the National Amputee Golf Association Scholarship Fund (nagagolf.org) or Veterans Count New Hampshire (see Facebook).

Another FB Exchange

In response to posting this piece on the Libertas Media Project Facebook page, I received the following:

 Jeff A - Are there enough honorable government officials that will act on the oath they took to be able to hold them accountable?

LMP: Cynically - and historically honest - No. Because at its roots, Government isn't an "honorable" institution. Ideals and lofty goals notwithstanding, Government operates no differently than Organized Crime: a gang of thugs with guns who tell you how to live, then steal your property to fund the "protection and services" they allegedly provide. Just as with the Mafia, try telling them you don't need or want their "services". Aggressive Force - illegal and immoral - is the heart and soul of Government. How could such a fetid body attract anyone with honor? Even if it did, how effective could one or two be against the Leviathan that is Government?

The Evolution of Devolution

Judging from the cornucopia of commentary abroad in the land since the Parkland, FL shooting, there is a sudden and urgent concern for the status of our "society"; specifically "how the hell did we get here?" Responses have ranged from Woodstock to CNN, marijuana to internet porn, public schools to the NRA, NFL Instant Replay to Harvey Weinstein. While one might contend the above are inextricably connected in ways that could only thrill reclusive sociologists and myopic data miners, the answer and cure may have a common point of origin. Put another way: "chicken" or the "egg" is immaterial; the two may be synonymous!

The Evolution...

Toward the end of the Baby Boomer generation and beginning of Gen X (1965-1985 approx), new consumer toys began hitting the market. "Pong" appeared in 1972. The new shooter game "Space Invaders" invaded circa 1978. With its overwhelming success, the floodgates were opened. Arcades with similar but more graphically sophisticated war-like games appeared in shopping malls around the country. In-home "play stations" followed by more interactive games and uglier themes. Today, hand-held Smart Phones and Tablets provide everything now-extinct Mall Arcades did while home "gaming" has reached professional proportions. Following in the innovative footsteps of Radio and then TV, the Techno-Monster was born! Its first tentacle wrapped around otherwise imaginative, physically active, family immersed children. Initially, parents were just happy with a new rainy-day distraction.

Another FB Encounter

Commenting on the "national discussion" on guns...


Poster: There is a lack of civility between Left and Right participants. The Right thinks we're "evil" with bad motives…

LMP: The question of extending "civility" is antecedent to real or proposed actions of aggression and, ultimately, the violation of rights and subjugation of Freedom. Summarizing the Right's position: You can't hit people and you can't take their stuff. All other freely entered transactions are negotiable. Summarizing the Left's position: We will use whatever Force necessary to accomplish our goals because we know better what is best for the "common good". Initiating Force against another is immoral and illegal whenever done, especially by Government. One could logically conclude that any proclaimed Leftist, by definition supports Leftist policies and goals, including the use of Government Force to violate my rights. there is no reason or history arguing the Left is open to a conversion of principle in support of Individual Freedom, but only in the ultimate subjection of the Right. Most often, that attitude seethes into public discourse, smothering serious consideration of extending "civility" to some movement, philosophy or individual whose goal is to destroy your Freedom.Only practicing Christians may be comfortable taking exception to this with their "other cheek". Politically, that rarely ends well.

Poster: We don’t necessarily have to agree but we should be talking and listening a bit more to each other

LMP: "Talking/Listening to a bit more to each other"…to what end? If the point isn't to reach an agreement, why waste the time? The basic paradigm is: The Right wants to pursue Life, Liberty, Happiness and honestly acquired property without coercion. The Left wants a gang of men with guns to run everyone's life, steal their stuff to fund the effort and severely punish anyone who resists. At bottom, that is the essence of every government program, no matter how beneficent or benign it may be "discussed" when presented. Because the only way Govt programs are implemented is thru Force. "Voluntary cooperation" is a sham, accomplished by instilling fear penalties via government force. Voluntary mutual cooperation is the only peaceful means of accomplishing altruistic goals - which the Left allegedly supports. Disagree with them and uncivil conversation becomes men with guns to enforce such altruism – which, by use of Force, morphs into immoral coercion, the exact antithesis of Freedom. 

Deep Swamp

These daze, if ya really wanna see the Big Picture, you gotta change your perspective. It's not gonna leap out your flat screen and smack you up 'longside your punkin' haid!

Put another way: it's all out there. You just have to go find it. Here's an excellent example you probably didn't see but should have....

"Gotta hand it to Special Counsel Robert Mueller: He knows how to set off a stick of dynamite. I refer, of course, to his office’s recent indictment of thirteen Russians in Russia, which we are now to chase after, yelling “Pearl Harbor!” on the Left and “No collusion!” on the Right, forgetting all about the coalescing revelations of corruption and conspiracy and, yes, Russian influence, to elect Hillary Clinton in 2016, and, failing that, to destroy the Trump presidency."

The key is still in the “dossier” spying scandal.