Okay, what is the most important thing in life? I know that’s a truly general question, so I will give you my one-word answer: Gratification. Not power, love, prestige, success, money or fame, although one can get gratification from those things. But gratification comes from the inner knowledge that the world is a somewhat better place because you have spent your span of years upon it. This can occur by living an honest life, setting up programs to help those less fortunate, being involved in Saving the Whales or the Redwoods, or seeing one’s children grow up to be happy, well-adjusted and successful, etc. And there is nothing better, particularly when that is combined with appreciation.
Why bring these issues up now? Because we are in the Season of Thanksgiving, which is truly one of the most important days of the year. Why is that? Because it is not a particularly commercialized occasion in which most of us get to spend time with family, enjoying each other’s company and being appreciative about what we have, where we live and who we are. And that expressly includes being appreciative for our ability to live in the United States of America! Just this past week I published my new book 2 Paragraphs 4 Liberty: Solutions that are Practical, Effective, Responsible, Libertarian, which is composed of 180 of the more substantive editions of this 2 Paragraphs series. And this country affords me the Liberty to spout off with my thoughts, which simply would not be true if I lived in places like China, North Korea, Cuba or Venezuela. I am thankful for that – and we all should be! So Happy Thanksgiving, and as you pass the day with your family and friends, be extra appreciative, because that too brings gratification.
Story of the week: Have you heard about Old Ben? He was a rooster on a chicken ranch which had about 100 hens, which they called pullets, and 10 roosters. But the roosters were monitored by the owner to make sure they were “assisting” the hens so that they would lay eggs regularly. (If they didn’t perform, they were soon placed in a frying pan and replaced by other roosters that would.) But one day the owner decided to place little bells around the necks of his roosters so that he could monitor their involvement based upon the distinctive tone of each of the bells instead of having to go down to the yard. For a few days he could tell that Old Ben was active, but soon Old Ben’s bell went silent. So when the owner investigated, he found that Old Ben was taking the bell in his mouth so that it would not ring. Then, particularly since the bells of the other roosters would warn the hens of their approach, he was able to have a field day with more of the hens. The media soon found out about this sly Old Ben, which brought so much fame to him that he eventually was awarded the Nobel Piece Prize – and then later the Pullet Surprise! Just thought you would want to know.
Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)
2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with
Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President
Please listen to our weekly radio show entitled “All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray” as we discuss timely issues, and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches. You can hear it every Friday morning at 7 Pacific/10 Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com, clicking on the Variety Channel and then upon the word “live.” You can also hear past shows on demand as well. And, by the way, these 2 Paragraph columns are now on Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com. Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty. In addition, my new book entitled “2 Paragraphs 4 Liberty: Solutions that are Practical, Effective, Responsible, Libertarian, is now available at Amazon.com. Please read and discuss it with friends, and send in a review.
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