Steve Haarman

The cry spoken or implied 
by many politicians. 
They are believed by their 
fervent followers who all have
a notion that there is 
something in it for them
if their man can go on 
and win the race. 

We have these winners every 
two or four years and
all the promises floating 
out on the mist
are forgotten as 
circumstance prevails and
there is nothing one can do 
to turn the tide of
the ambitious who 
seemingly want control over
every aspect of 
the citizen’s lives. 

The rule of law is ignored 
and those in power
rule by fiat and the world 
looks on in disbelief at
this incredulous phenomenon 
taking place right 
before their eyes.
 
They are in wonder as 
to why the citizens 
allow themselves
to be herded like sheep 
to the slaughter. 

We were such a great nation, 
the greatest on record and
the main force that raised 
people out of poverty and
developed to the point 
where we fed the world.
 
Opportunity was prevalent, 
wherever you looked 
a person could work at 
anything he wanted in order 
to earn his keep. 

Families were solid and 
schools were a place where
you were educated, 
rather than indoctrinated. 
Drug use was for healing, 
not recreation. 

Discipline and honor 
were attributes that 
were praised and
the helping out of 
those on the dole was 
the work of the churches. 

Soldiers were treated 
with respect and looked after
while they were rehabilitated. 

Coal, wood and oil 
were good things and
green energy was used on farms 
to pump water for livestock. 

Then it was Woodstock, 
hippies and communes. 
Social experimentation 
and government programs
all failed with 
the ultimate cost being
a piece of our freedom here,
the selling of our souls there,
until ultimately we are faced 
with a bubble of debt 
that will never be paid. 

Crooks or no crooks, 
we need leaders now
who will take us back to 
yesterday as we move forward.
 
Stanski
June 16, 2020 ^ 

I heard that the Bishop was
Sitting with his upper class friends
I’m a different man he says
Ever since my psychoanalysis
And this mighty fine whiskey and
A Cuban cigar does not hurt either
His friends nodded and agreed
He was a different man
This made life easier for them
 
I thought about this for a while
The good life sounded nice
All I get is sermons and cheap wine
It hardly seems fair and
Who pays for all of this?
Not the rich friends for sure
Nor the Little Sisters of the Poor
It is us in the congregation
That foots the bill for privilege
 
Thinking more I looked at my taxes
Where does this money go?
To the State and to Washington
The fat cats then decide what to do
They are influenced by lobbyists, who
Line the politician’s pockets with
Large sums of money to vote on bills
That insure the welfare of the rich
And ignore the needs of constituents
 
I think about the poor and lower class
They are in the bottom ten percent
Still when I study it, they have a life style
That is better than the rich, including
Kings and Queens, had 200 years ago
They feel discontent, but have shelter,
Heat, running water, both hot and cold
Indoor plumbing, computers and TV
And usually a car or two
 
I think they feel downtrodden and
Cannot blame their feelings
They get overlooked for good jobs
And the schools where they live
Are not as nice or up to date as the
Ones in the wealthier districts, but
They have the opportunity to move up
It is not a zero sum situation and
Hard work will take you places
 
The biggest problem for them is
They get caught up in the safety nets
The entitlement programs that seem
To put a cap on their potential
They are comfortable without
The good whiskey and cigars
Do not need psychoanalysis
They have no lobbyists, but
Have the system under control
 
The bishop doesn’t speak of this
While entertaining his friends
He does not speak of starvation
Taking place in faraway lands or of
Genocide and the murdering of
People for their religious beliefs
The living without adequate
Food and water and insect infestation
I wonder why he is so quiet
 
All wars are over land and religion
The need for power is prevalent
We are a war torn world
I keep praying for a change, but
Change takes action and incentive
The United Nations is a joke
What could possibly work to unite us?
Love for God and neighbor
If only this would do
 
Stanski
June 15, 2020 ^
 
 
 

Should we not choose
Kindness and generosity
Over destruction and cynicism?
A question that will not die
A question that can breathe
Evoke guilt and regret over
Actions we have chose
In the near and distant past
And now faced with reality
Hold regrets at our immaturity
 
We look back on written word
Cain killed his brother Abel
This was an act out of jealousy
We look at ourselves and see
That we have repeated this
Time and time again, but
Maybe not to the extent of death
We have not held back
Examined ourselves first
And then gave way to others
 
How many times are we asked
To help out on a cause and have
A hundred and ten reasons why
We cannot participate at this time?
Thus frustration the volunteer
Who never-the-less continues on
The mission he has accepted
While we claim to be praying on
The decision we have already made
Which is to do nothing once more
 
We are not little children who
Can destruct because of curiosity
Cannot be cynical of those whose
Desire to do good is carried with
Great enthusiasm and vigor
It is time for us, the meek, to
Stand up and be counted and
To do the part we are asked to do
And remove ourselves from the fence
The fence which God abominates
 
Stanski
June 14, 2020 ^

The atmosphere depression has lifted
The inland sea is somewhat calm
I am surrounded by trees and dunes
The sun filters its golden light through the leaves
Dune grass waves in the breeze
My thoughts reach up to the Creator
The beauty I see is His manifestation
He has given us everything we need
Because of our free will we can accept
Or on the other hand walk away
 
I do not believe in walking away
He has empowered me to act
I act in positive ways on the fringes
That is where He said His work should be done
Everyone cannot congregate there
It would be chaos, so some must step back
Their help, my help will come in other ways
We will fund the front liners
Who persevere so admirably
While depending on our help in the background
 
The warmth of the sun is rejuvenating
It fills me with the certainty of His existence
I listen to the songs of nature
They come from birds, waves and the wind
They soothe me and inspire me
I am ready to meditate to the sounds
Other time ready to march to the upbeat sounds
There are no good reasons to be down
I have been blessed with the gifts of opportunity
I know what to do and pray for success
 
There is turmoil in the world today
We are all aware of the obvious
We do not hear much of the locust invasion
On the eastern countries in Africa and now
In some parts of India; the strife caused
By dictators in some African countries
Babies dying of starvation by the dozens each day
The horrible conditions in some of the Caribbean Islands
But they exist and so does our duty to help
After all He did say, “Follow Me”
 
Stanski
June 12, 2020 ^

It doesn’t surprise me
Because it is part of their game
 
The main stream media
Reports as truth an outright lie
Pretending they are sanctimonious
While spreading so much dirt
 
And why one might ask
Are they always on the wrong side?
The answer is obvious
They hate our President as much
As do the creatures of the swamp
 
So the reporters change the story
Trying to make the President inhumane
In dispersing “peaceful” protestors
Using tear gas and rubber bullets
Just to have a “Photo op at a noble church”
 
The facts reported were wrong but
Very effective in painting the man as evil,
Even after improving the lives of millions
The virus, Covid-19, devastated the country
Instructions were ambiguous and
Frequently changed and the numbers
Were suspect, but
   the media never questioned
 
Just blamed the President
Then the outrageous protests
All under false pretense
Encouraged and sanctioned by Antifa
Paid for by outside dark money
 
Billions in damage; much in black neighborhoods
Destruction, burning and looting, because
The perpetrators were entitled
Again the President is blamed
 
This will do; just ask the media
Where journalism does not exist
And our hopes for truth are greatly diminished
 
Stanski
June 12, 2020 ^

The young man pulls his ear phones
His music ends and he stands up
He offers his seat to an elder women
Little old white ladies lives matter
The man is not proud of his deed
It is just the way he does things
He is African-American
His life matters, too
One story of two people
Which life is more important?
The lady is happy to be seated
The man is happy to have accommodated
 
A Hollywood star is interviewed
He is a well know black man
What does he think about Black History Month?
I don’t like it at all; it is American History
He continues:  How would you like White History Month?
I’m Jewish says the interviewer
Then how about a Jewish History Month
No, not at all, says the man
There are not enough months to cover all the ethnic groups
Focus on one group usually takes things out of context or
Does not include important vibrations within the community
Usually a disappointment to all involved
 
How about all the safety nets offered
Entitlements to cover promises not kept
Entitlements to insure reelection
What have they done for the community?
Certainly they are a form of racism
Leaders who know say no to the nets
They are not the answer
They create dependence
Take away incentives
Are seldom given the way promised
Children stuck in failed schools
Often with teachers who do not care
 
All Elders and Ministers want Jesus in
The hearts of all congregations, black and white
They want His teachings to be the word
And the family unit to be returned to as it once was
Children need a father who loves and teaches them
Reads to them and encourages them to excel
Learning can become exciting and challenging
They want accountability and good schools
They want safe water to drink; job opportunities
And wish success to be a commonplace thing
It is all possible and will take time
We, with the help of God will get there
 
Stanski
June 10, 2020 ^
 

I am tired of writing
About all the problems
And the attempted solutions
By unqualified people
Who miss the mark
At other people’s expense
 
But the stories keep coming
Governors using fiats
Then violating their own rules
Setting a great example
For those in lockdown,
So anxious to have this end
 
Then the murder of a black man
By a policeman in Minneapolis
A final straw for the confined
A valid reason to escape and protest
Forgetting all the Covid-19 guidelines
While being spurred on to destruct
 
Outside groups provided the tools
To cause damage and begin fires
Anxious people become violent
Involved themselves in looting
As if that accomplishes good
Some resorted to murder
 
All the facts are ignored
By the main stream media
Enough to make you sick
What are they stand for?
The transformation of America
It is hard to believe
 
We know what works
Employment opportunities for all
Restoring the family unit
Reforming entitlements
Reforming education
A return to God Almighty
 
Stanski
June 9, 2020 ^

We think we know pain
Have our hands on suffering
We witness violence
As well as intolerance
This is all surface
Superficial reality
Brought about by politicians
With their man made rules
 
People know how to survive
Get rid of antiquated regulations
One of the reasons why
We are energy independent
Jobs are created
Individuals rise up
Become billionaires
 
The economy is not zero sum
Everyone is lifted
Or should be
There are failures
And reasons for them
 
Government creates safety nets
Expanded as the need arises
Creating dependency
This is the real pain
No longer incentivizing
Human industry
Family units break up
Feeling of belonging vanishes
 
Then a resorting to deviousness:
Alcohol, abuse, drugs and crime
This is the real suffering
The authentic violence
We cringe at pain
Detest injustice
Still witness it
With no action
 
What could be the answer?
The restoration of
The family unit
Where real caring exists
Not empty promises
Given by politicians

Real caring leads to growth
Energy suddenly exists
Aspiration for reaching goals
Then the accomplishment
We come together collectively
The need for violence
Is greatly diminished
 
Nothing human is perfect
But this would be a start
A major step
 
Stanski
June 8, 2020 ^
 
 
 

There is a herd to feed
It is just another day
Ignoring the task
   is not optional
Negligence would be defeat
The life of a rancher
 
Cows are milked
Twice a day
The animals graze, but
Are fed again at
The second milking
The life of a dairy farmer
 
Crops are planted
Different methods employed
Must be tended
Watered and fertilized
Contention with nature
The life of crop farmers
 
Commonality:  They show up
Face up to the elements
And the unknown
Keep taking the steps
Never stop
They are my heroes
 
Stanski
June 7, 2020 ^

We want equality; scorn racism
Still attempt to solve using failed methods
Making promises; providing safety nets
Assuming we can administer change
But there is a truth we must not overlook
 
The black family must be restored
Seventy percent of their births are
Out of wedlock; no father means no family
No reading to the children; no encouragement
No incentives to do well
 
Unintended consequences
The antithesis of what should be real
Only when the family concept
Is accepted and practiced
Will empowerment take place
It is this and not government
Ministers; not politicians
Fathers; not social workers
 
Observation of our failures
Realization that we cannot help
Through artificial methods
Do not provide fish dinners
But teach how to fish
No one can do for others
What they must do for themselves
 
Remove the barriers
Stop the handouts
Allow the oppressed
To grow and prosper on their own
Their culture will improve
Family units will become important
Society will have been rewarded
 
Stanski
June 7, 2020 ^