Happy Independence Day - July 4th
Intro:
This issue of the Newsletter is a long one but giving it’s Independence Day it’s deserving of me sharing a lot more that I usually do and getting into topics I usually avoid, I hope you enjoy it. - John Duffy
Live Courageously Podcast Shows:
EP # 77
The hiatus from my Podcast Show ended. I’m back and excited to have conversations with many more of my Courageous friends. Check out this very special Podcast show that will challenge your beliefs and challenge you to be a Free Thinker. Perfect show for July 4th Independence Day
Watch this great conversation with the amazing Perez Sisters from Williamsburg, Brooklyn NYC. Just click below…
Special Podcast Replay - The Flag Independence Day
I Got Stories 1:
Life is a Great Adventure and the Adventure Continues… Some pics from Grand Canyon trip.
I Got Stories 2:
Shout out and congrats to friends, my Producer partner James Quattrochi and Neal McDonough two talented actors on their latest appearance in a TV series project. We all worked together on Kevin Sorbo’s film “Left Behind - Rise of the Antichrist” in Calgary, Alberta.
Patriotic Independence Day July 4th Music:
Films to Check out:
Something to Stand For - Mike Rowe
We watched "Something to Stand For" last night. A excellent July 4th film to go see with the family. I recommend it and here are a couple of recommendations that capture the spirit of the film.
"Mike Rowe is a great American, and in his new film Something to Stand For, in a totally surprising and entertaining way, he shares the stories of many great Americans whose lives have affected us all in profound and positive ways. I loved this film and encourage everyone to see it. Our country needs it. Thank you, Mike!"
- Gary Sinise, Actor and founder of Gary Sinise Foundation
“Something to Stand For is not just a film - it's a call to action, reminding us of the values that bind us together as a nation. Rowe's captivating storytelling takes us on an emotional journey filled with surprising twists. It challenges perceptions and makes for an unforgettable experience. Something to Stand For is a must watch for us all.”
- Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List series
Check it out if you can...
Message from Mike Rowe’s Facebook Page
First of all, I want to thank everyone for your enduring patience as I continue to relentlessly plug the release of Something to Stand For, my shamelessly patriotic love-letter to America that appears in theaters nationwide this Thursday. I wanted to do something special for Independence Day, and this is it. Unfortunately, I suspect that many of you will be wondering if there’s anything left to stand for after this Thursday’s debate, which just happens to coincide with the release of this film.
Like you, I’m exhausted by the whole Bread and Circus dynamic, and really wish our media would demand from the candidates a few concrete solutions to the problems vexing so many today. Alas, I doubt that will come to pass. Might I suggest, in the wake of all the angst and foreboding that will surely follow this bit of Kabuki, that you find a theater with the good sense to present my modest little film, and see for yourself the evidence that proves there are still a few things we can all agree are worth standing for?
Also, I’d like to thank the hundreds of Marines and Sailors who came out to see an advance screening of Something to Stand For at Camp Pendleton last Monday. I suppose I could have held the premiere in Hollywood or New York, but really – why would I do that? The movie was shot almost entirely in Oklahoma, and features over 300 actors from that great state, all of whom helped me pay an honest tribute to the people who built our country, and to those who defend it today. I can’t imagine a better venue, or a finer audience, than the one I encountered a few days ago. A special thanks to all those who waited in line afterwards to say hello and grab a pic. I’m flattered, and in your debt.
As for the rest of you, you know what’s coming next. Go watch the trailer if you haven’t seen it and get your tickets here. https://bit.ly/3xi9fFq
And don’t let the debate get you down. Our house might be feeling a bit wobbly at the moment, but we're built on a solid foundation. - Mike Rowe
Presidential Debate - Situation in Our Country
Something is Happening Here and You Don’t Know What it Is, Do You? Mr Jones
Politics is a topic I’ve avoided talking about on Social Media for a long time and for many reasons. The main reason is I’m a believer in only engaging in activities where there is a likely hood of a positive outcome. I’m someone who is results or objectives driven. So let me explain. Arguing or disagreeing with no chance of changing each others minds or learning from each other is in my opinion a waste of my time and the time of the person I’m engaging with. So why waste each others time? Sometimes it’s as simple as that.
Yet because I decided to create this Live Courageously Newsletter I feel obligated to comment on issues that affect us and yes that even includes the Presidential elections. This is an issue that divides us maybe more than any other other issue. I will continue to not post political material on any other of my other social media sites, well i will share posts on X from other people but I will not engage in useless arguments over politics on social media.
In the real world I have friends and acquaintances from every political point of view and I’m good with that. I have a few friends who have different politics than me and we can have great respectful conversations and debates where we roast each others positions and come out the other side loving each other the same before the conversations but I admit those friends are too few unfortunately. Most of the friends who have different political positions than me just choose not to talk politics and I’m ok with that too.
On this platform I am open to hearing your comments and alternative points of view and I’m willing to engage here only in respectful dialogue and disagreement.
As some of you may know I have a very ,very unique political background. I have voted Democrat, 3rd Party, Republican and I’ve not voted at times. I’ve been a Democrat, A Liberal, a Leftist Marxist, an Independent, a Republican, a Conservative and a Free Thinker. I guess I took that 60’s slogan of questioning authority to heart and I still question all authority in every field not just politics. I also regularly review and challenge my points of view and beliefs and change them as I change and the world changes.
So all that takes us to today and the Presidential Debate. Howbouthemcubs? I guess that’s what many people are saying after watching it.
I do have to be straight up and say if you really didn’t know or believe that something cognitively was wrong with President Biden before watching the debate then “Something is wrong with you” and in the words of an old rap song “You need to check yourself before you wreck yourself”.
So before I share my opinions and some other opinions let me share some facts:
Facts:
America is a Constitutional Republic
There are 2 main Political Parties Democrat and Republican
In my lifetime the elected President has swung back and forth between the a Democrat President and a Republican President
In 2024 at the moment the race is between Democrat President Biden and Republican President Trump
There are third parties running and the most significant independent candidate this cycle is Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Over 47 million people watched the Debate out of 161 million registered voters.
Ok time to shift to opinions mine and others.
Opinions:
Come November one candidate will win and one will lose. The winning candidate and party will celebrate and the losing candidate and party will complain and protest and life will go on.
Now if you are someone who believes we should live in a world that only your party should win all the time and that there should in essence be a one party country then you are SOS or stuck on stupid.
We see one party countries in the past and in the present in the USSR, East Germany and today in Communist China, Cuba, North Korea and in many other countries and to put it diplomatically those countries and societies suck.
Many people are in bubbles and don’t have any friends who are from the other party or even from a third party. Many of those people are scared to watch media from different points of view and never really watch the other candidates speeches be they President Biden, President Trump or Robert F Kennedy Jr. I challenge everyone to Live Courageously and watch and read all sides. I can promise you it won’t kill you. Honestly it won’t. If you are really scared you can watch it with a Covid mask. Only kidding. Am I?
Ok now let’s get to the Debate. Howbouthemcubs?
It wasn’t a debate it was more like Mike Tyson fighting me. Wait you think I can’t win? I’m in perfect shape, yeah right.
1/2 of the viewers including myself knew that President Biden was and is cognitively unfit for a very long time and declining daily but for maybe 1/2 of the viewers or less it was a wakeup call or a shock. They believed everything the Administration and the media told them about President Biden. The next day Democrats and some independents had a total freakout and meltdown. it was a good day and maybe a good month for therapists.
But that’s just one issue and while a big one and time will tell if the Democrat Party decides to stick with Biden or find a way to remove him. Just on July 2nd “A group of 25 House Democrats is reportedly getting ready to ask President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential election if he does not convince them otherwise in the coming days. A House Democratic aide said the group is preparing to ask Biden to exit the race “if he seems shaky in the coming days,” according to Reuters. They would be joining Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), who has publicly called on Biden to step down.”
Beyond that the big picture are the key issues that will determine who will win on Nov 5 and at the moment those key issues are: the economy and inflation, immigration and a world at war. There are also many secondary issues both cultural, lawfare, abortion and others but I believe it will be the big issues that determines the outcome of the election.
At the moment the polls show President Trump ahead and increasing his lead post debate and if the election was held today he would win in a very big way.
I just read a column by a Democrat Congressmen from Maine that I will share a little here and I challenge you to read his full statement and consider what he is saying.
“In an op-ed Tuesday in the Bangor Daily News, Golden writes that despite widespread Democrat panic after his horrendous debate performance, “Biden’s poor performance in the debate was not a surprise.”
He insists Biden’s metaphorical faceplant “didn’t rattle me as it has others, because the outcome of this election has been clear to me for months: While I don’t plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I’m OK with that.”
“There are winners and losers in every election,” he wrote. “Democrats’ post-debate hand-wringing is based on the idea that a Trump victory is not just a political loss, but a unique threat to our democracy. I reject the premise. Unlike Biden and many others, I refuse to participate in a campaign to scare voters with the idea that Trump will end our democratic system.”
Golden, a Marine Corps veteran, said in its 248 years “American democracy has withstood civil war, world wars, acts of terrorism and technological and societal changes that would make the Founders’ head spin. Pearl-clutching about a Trump victory ignores the strength of our democracy.”
“This election is about the economy, not democracy,” he writes. “And when it comes to our economy, our Congress matters far more than who occupies the White House.”
“Some of Congress’ best work in recent years has happened in spite of the president, not because of him,” he writes.
“Congress will need to stand up to economic elites and so-called experts in both parties who are already working overtime to stop Trump’s proposed trade policies that would reverse the harms of globalization and protect American businesses from unfair foreign competition.”
“Perhaps more importantly, members must stand up to the GOP old-guard who will use a Trump presidency as cover for handouts to the wealthy and powerful at the cost of America’s working families and communities.”
The Maine congressman closed by “urging everyone — voters, elected officials, the media, and all citizens — to ignore the chattering class’s scare tactics and political pipedreams. We don’t need party insiders in smoke-filled back rooms to save us, he said.We can defend our democracy without them.
“This Independence Day, we should reflect on the history and strength of our great democracy, safe in the knowledge that no one man is strong enough to take it away from us.”
So in closing I don’t agree with everything he says but I agree with a lot of what he says. In the coming months I will have a regular Political Column to share my opinions and to challenge people to vote for whoever they believe in and I will continue to treat people with respect no matter party they vote for and I challenge everyone to commit to maing this the greatest country in the world and in the words of President Reagan the Shining City on the Hill.
The Flag Film:
Shout out to my good Brother Army Veteran Dave Alspach at an event for The Flag film in New Orleans. Dave was the creator of The Flag project and one of the short films is based on experience in his life after returning from Vietnam war.
Get a copy of the two short films “The Flag” that I directed for Army Veteran Dave Alspach and Produced by Army Veteran George Ohan.
Purchase on Live-Courageously.com Website
Faith Over Fear - Live Courageously Journals:
You can order yours or get a few as gifts for friends at my Live Courageously Website.
Website Live-Courageously.com
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See You Next Week…
… as I continue to explore what the purpose of this newsletter is and how best to use it to contribute to making a positive impact in life and on the readers. It’s a very eclectic work in progress kind of like life. It deals with Podcasting, Entertainment, Politics, Music, Fitness, Motivation, Inspiration and Free Thinking and more…
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