After the republican “stronghold” gave us all of the doom and gloom, pre-election detriment talk about NASA being on the economic chopping block if they ever elected Obama, I received this message from NASA Administration today.
“Today, President Obama announced an $18.69 billion budget for NASA for FY 2010 to advance Earth science, complete the International Space Station, explore the solar system and conduct aeronautics research. The budget request represents an increase of $903.6 million, about 5 percent, above the amount provided NASA in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. I appreciate the president's strong support for NASA as demonstrated by the additional $2 billion provided in our 2009 and 2010 budgets.”
The individuals who did all the nay saying, backbiting, and hating have been quieter than they were the day after election (can you hear the crickets chirping?).
Now with the housing market stabilizing, the jobless claims declining, the stock market rebounding, and our image around the world being restored….. I still can’t get an AMEN from all those disillusioned, bible thumping, Bama right wing conservatives, that wildly underestimated the integrity, intellect, tenacity and hubris of this dynamic new President.
When I was growing up I was told if you are wrong ….be “man” enough to admit you are wrong. Don’t just go off in a huff and in denial thinking everything you say and do is right.
The other day I was in a hurry to get to lunch. I was running late and I improperly tried to use my car to try to make up for lost time. In my haste I whipped in front of another car thinking the car in front of them would speed up…. And I could get into the turn lane and make up some major time by beating the light. Now as divine intervention would have it ….that’s not what happened @ all. As every great story begins “Uhh you see what happened was……” as soon as I whipped in front of the car.. the driver that I pulled behind decided out of the blue to step on the brakes because the large truck she was beside wavered in her lane, causing me to stab my brakes and consequently for the dude behind me to slam on his brakes too…(Chain reaction) This rapid slowing also caused me to miss the light and wind up side by side with the now furiously mad dude that was behind me. The pissed off look on his face as he looked at me through jet black raybans while simultaneously shaking his head from left to right while articulating words through a closed window that would have made a lip reader blush made realize something….
Risking at most gunshots and at a very minimum being flipped off and ignored I rolled down my passenger window to talk to the “angry guy”… To my surprise he let down his window and I guess I’m a pretty good lip reader because what he was saying were expletives and better yet they were exactly the words I thought they were. So I tried to explain why I stabbed my breaks, pointing at the other car and he shook his head harder and told me you were at fault for cutting me off like that. I looked him square in the eye and said “sir I sincerely apologize for any frustration I may have caused my actions. You are exactly right I am completely wrong and I truly apologize, will you please find it in your heart to forgive me” With that … the raybans came off a smile replaced the scowl he previously dawned and he told me that he really appreciated my admission, accepted my apology and told me that idiot that stamped her brakes for nothing had done the same thing to him a while back… he understood…. We philosophically shook hands and diverged on our separate paths we were both made larger by coming to an understanding.
I guess what I’m trying to demonstrate is that if you are wrong it’s never too late to admit it and it doesn’t make you less , it can actually foster the unity that will help our Nation not only rebound , but excel. The drought of partisan ideology has made many a republican hungry for something more than they have been receiving. Never fret, I’ve been cooking…. I cordially invite you to now take the foot out of your mouth and have a bite of this delightfully prepared “humble pie” you’ll grow big and strong and become the kind of men seeking non partisanship and new unity the nation really needs.
Please help us heal.
