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Seniors helping Seniors an Integration of Generations

Targeting: The President of the United States, The U.S. Senate, and The U.S. House of Representatives

Started by: Rick Harris

Integration of Generations to Continue Our Advancement as a Global Leader

Greetings,

I ask simply that you read the short petition and understand the potential it has to assist our country in it's ongoing efforts to remain independent. I am not demanding the examples I used be instituted but have placed them there to generate potential ideas from others seeking solutions to the same issues. I was fortunate and have had a great life experience even though I never expected to be totally disabled by the age of 50 and I would love to see our communities' return to a more peaceful time when young and old respected and cherished each other.

Our First Lady has even recognized the need for better nutrition in our schools and the President has admitted to needing cuts in our Seniors Programs. We can make a difference working together and remembering our own childhood experiences. Our time and resources are better utilized by removing the walls that separate our children and our elders.

It is with great respect I submit this idea knowing it can be used without an increase in costs to our government. I will continue to do all I can though the political processes make my efforts difficult as the usual response is a robot email. I can only trust this reaches someone who can shape it into a more workable solution for our country

With the rising cost of food and the increasing need to cut budgets for both high schools and senior citizens, it is time we take advantage of all our resources, including each other.  Our First Lady is calling for better nutrition programs even now and we are allowing a generation of citizens to die without a chance of sharing their knowledge and influence.  Additionally, our high school drop out rates continue to rise and seem to match the rise in the communities rate of violence.

We have an opportunity never before presented in our history to create an integration of generations that can help alleviate some of these issues.  For instance, volunteers from our Senior Citizens can be called upon or even given an incentive with part-time jobs to help local area schools start a garden and learn how to grow the vegetables for their own cafeterias and Senior Citizen "Meals on Wheels" programs.  This type of "life experience" could be used in place of a science project for the student and give them something to look forward to instead of a book and a classroom.

With an ever increasing elderly population, we can take this time to avoid losing their knowledge of a time when rotary phones and washing machines were the latest "high tech" items to be found.  Only 52 years old, I have been fortunate enough to know 7 generations of my family, beginning with my maternal great-grandmother who helped me learn self sufficiency and sustainability.  What happens in just the next 10 years when that generation has died out and taken their experiences with them?

Another example could be the pairing of a student with a Senior Citizen in a Grandma/pa & Grandson/daughter program much like the Big Brothers & Sisters program we have now.  The student could be assigned to write the life story of his/her "Grandparent" as part of a Social Studies assignment, again getting them out of the classroom and learning about their own heritage.  In turn, the "Grandparent" could visit the student's class for an ask and answer session to help reduce their fear of the children in the community and their increasing isolation from our society.

Let's not make the mistake of letting one of the most valuable resources availabe to us, our Senior Citizens, die out taking all their knowledge and experience with them.  Let's not make the mistake of letting our future leaders, today's students, forget or never know the vast amount of advancement our society has made in the last century or half century.  Let's combine these elements to assist and continue advancing our country's "melting pot" so we can provide more for all with less expenditure..

Medicare & Medicaid Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

World AIDS Day December 1

USA.Gov

Between Now and Then

© October 26, 2010

Richard O Harris

When I think of all that has been since you left between now and then

My desire to carry on has waned like a darkening moon.

Yet each day when I wake, my belief makes me take

That next step after step leading to the next room.

You see though I have lost it all I still feel God’s great call

To just keep my faith for another day.

So, I do what is in front of me though it never sets me free

From my sorrow, loss, or dismay.

I guess I was naïve enough to make my self believe

Another’s word could be as good as God’s

Now I know it is not true though it will not bring me you

For I, too, have fallen short or that path to trod.

Still, I love you as much now and I know that somehow

My love will last for all eternity

For the God in whom I believe would not let me decieve

Him or my self no matter how free.

Many do not want to hear the truth I hold so dear

Though I say God cause I know not His name

Yet I have no fear for I have seen His works so clear

And to me a the word God holds no shame.

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Open Letter To All Military - Past, Present, and Future

Open Letter To All Military - Past, Present, and Future

© Richard O Harris

May 29, 2010

I would like to begin by expressing how grateful I am to each and everyone of you for your service to this great country of ours. Unfortunately, there are no words that can express the depth of the love, respect, and gratitude I feel for all of you and those you love who continue to put your selves in harms way each day so the rest of us can feel safer. There is only a deep swelling in my soul as I, too, have had and do have family members fighting and some dieing in all this country's battles since the Revolutionary War.

Though I feel our current President's decision to take a holiday instead of accept the distinct prestige of honoring you and all those who have served my reveal a hidden agenda, I want you to know he is only one man and in this case in the minority of our citizens. The majority of citizens in this country still maintain an awesome love and respect for those of you serving in the military. Not even the current Commander-in-Chief's actions can diminish our love and respect for you (no matter how many Fort Hood or other such incident's occur).

No, I do not believe Fort Hood was command oversight. Nor do I believe Hussein Obama's decision to slight the military this Memorial Day is anything less than an indication of a hidden agenda to cause as much disruption as possible from the highest office obtainable in our government. He also dishonors those who fought in the Civil War to give him the freedom of where he is now. What I do believe is he is showing great disrespect to himself, his forefathers, his country, the military, and every President since the Civil War when this tradition began.

However, I did not begin writing you to talk about Hussein but to tell you of the pride and love I have for each and everyone one of the military - past, present, and future. Plus, if I should continue my discourse on the President, I may be visited and/or detained by one of those three letter agencies of the government. This possibility is very real even though our constitution and you vow to defend it against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, guarantees me the right to freedom of speech.

So, back to the original intent of this letter. As you daily place your selves in harm's way for the rest of us know you are in our thoughts and prayers. I firmly believe there is no greater love than he who would give his life for another and that means all the men and women in the military. You are those I wish I could do so much more for to show my heartfelt appreciation.

While I can only empathize with a people who would teach their children the only true worth they had was to kill others by committing suicide, this is the absence of love. Those who oppose you oppose themselves by forfeiting their future children and grandchildren in a battle that has no winners. Once again, history will judge this as a time when men blamed their God because they wanted something they could not have.

Rest assured, in the meantime, I and I am sure others like me, continue with our efforts to assist you in any way we can. Though sometimes limited, there are approximately 5700 homeless veterans here in Jacksonville FL, my hometown to my great shame and personal dishonor. No matter the reason(s) for their plight, they too once stood in harm's way for the rest of us. I know I alone cannot assist each of these men and women but I do try to give as much as I can to help them with food and a little money once in a while and really do not care what they purchase.

I continue to raise awareness when and where I can regarding the plight of these men who also once stood where you stand today - in harm's way. I have had discussions (reasonably productive) with the VA Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, and various VA Volunteer groups regarding many issues. Among them the complete and utter failure of the VETS FIRST PROGRAM touted by the politicians as a triumph yet almost non-productive. Also the group known as Work Source and others that will not even return phone calls or conduct follow up interviews with Veterans. I know this for a certainty as my roommate, who I knew before he was shipped off to Vietnam, was downsized from his job in January 2009 and, even with a Veterans 5 point preference remains unemployed today. Rest assured, as long as I remain able, I will do any thing I can for any one of you at any time.

I am sure there are others who feel as I do and who are helping as much as they possibly can at this time. You are most of the best of us and you deserve more recognition than you have received thus far from your leaders. Have no fears, I will continue my advocacy for you and your injured or fallen brothers and sisters in arms. I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN because of the representation you provide in what it means to be one. I am not Euro-American or African-American or Indian-American, I am an AMERICAN top to bottom, inside and out because you have given me that privilege.

You are not, cannot, and will not be forgotten!!!

You are loved, wanted, needed and desired!!!

I salute each and every one of you!!!

Dream of Calvary

Dream of Calvary

Eternallly

Eternally

© April 17, 2010

Richard O Harris

Today has been a day for me filled with long reflection
On our times together of sweet and shared affection
But the time has been so long since last I heard your voice
I wonder if I will ever again experience such a choice.

I am sad about so many things that have happened
And I know I cannot find a way for them to mend
Still, I hope against all hope that before I die
I will hear your voice and look into your eyes.

You are still the greatest joy and love I have ever known
Though I knew it would end, I could not have grown
Without your love, your gentle voice, your touch and anger too
There could not be a man like me unless he had know you.

So, my friend, my partner, the only love of my entire life
Thanks for sharing what you could and bearing part of my strife
We said goodbye so many times yet knew we would soon say hello
This last goodbye is hard for me, you see I am not good at letting go.

I love you always and all ways, you are wanted, needed, and desired
But your world has no place for me or allowed you to become mired
It has been many years for us both but I can only speak for me
There is no one I will love more and you I now know I will love eternally.

The Parents’ Sins | Authspot

The Parents’ Sins | Authspot

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Triond - Richard O Harris's Profile

Triond - Richard O Harris's Profile

A Great Idea for Great Americans

Lest They Be Forgotten

http://www.military.com/military-report/benefits-for-wounded-warriors

Battles Within and Battles Without

© August 14, 2009

Richard O. Harris

Battles Within and Battles Without over things causing us fear.
Fear of loss, of being alone, or some fear we may not know.
These battles also rage alongside the needs we hold so dear.
Needs of food, of shelter too, or a love that may never grow.

Yet we continue each day in a somewhat normal pattern
We’re going here and there, or there to finish a preplanned course.
So the battles will not overtake us and we do not learn
What exactly is it we do fear and where is this fear’s source.

Battles Within, Battles Without will sometimes cause someone to do
Many things that person might not wish done to him or her.
I know this because, like you, I fight these battles daily too.
After all these years, when I fear instead I will show anger.

What’s the answer? I do not know. That’s why I am writing this.
Each of us must do our best on our own daily battleground.
I can only share with you, my battles are less hit than miss.
One thing, for me, I know for sure the battles go round and round.

To Live

© July 28, 2009

Richard O Harris

TO LIVE are the two words I claim as my personal credo
To Know as much as I can and knowing learn to grow

To be a better person than the one I was the day before
To feel I have done my best each day and just a little more.

All these abound every moment whether I breath in or out
For with every breath I take there is something to be about

Thoughts about this or actions on that does not seem to matter
As long as to live each day my best is the main thing I am after.

Regardless of what anyone believes will happen after death
All I have for now, is for me to live with every breath

I will do all I can each day to face and defeat my own demons
TO LIVE in such a way that life, for me at least, has some meaning.