I really would’ve liked to delay the public introduction of
my “50 Caliber Sharpie Felt Tip Pen” prior to resolving
trademark infringement issues and government regulatory concerns. However, I’m compelled to bring it the
marketplace early, regardless of the consequences. After receiving a furlough notice earlier
this week, I checked out of my hotel and headed home. Frustration
over all the stupidity taking place in our great nation’s capital was initially
counterbalanced by a realization of how the current crisis played right into my
own selfish interests. Fortuitously, the
timing of the shutdown hit right at the end of a major phase of the project I’ve
been working and well before the start of the next. Besides, unlike my mission-essential
wife, I’m not still reporting to work without receiving a paycheck in return. I’m
fortunate to spend the baseball playoffs and NFL season at home. For all of you in the US to
fully understand my situation, Korea is on the other side of the planet where
these momentous events take place during the day and where the stateside Sunday is our
Monday.
Everything changed when I arrived home, sat down in my
recliner, and turned on the TV to find the following notice on every channel of
our Armed Forces Network (AFN) subscription except one (News):
“This AFN channel is
currently unavailable due to the government shutdown… We thank you for your
service and appreciate your patience.”
I count it a privilege to live alongside a community of
American heroes and I’m thankful our elected officials took action to ensure
those in uniform will continue receiving their pay, but it is clearly wrong
to deprive them (and me) with such an significant part of American life. I only wish every single one of our elected
representatives could feel the wrath they’d surely experience if all their constituents
were placed under a similar blackout.
Fortunately the same “CONSTITUTION”
(quoted, capitalized, and bolded) that permits our congressmen to carelessly
careen down a destructive path also provides us a powerful remedy to their
foolish behavior. Freedom of speech and
the power of the pen were instrumental forces in the establishment and progress
of our great nation. I’m convinced the “50 Caliber Sharpie Felt Tip Pen” will be a welcome addition
to the arsenal of freedom and if you act right
now, you can be one of the first in your local community to freely and
powerfully exercise your First Amendment rights without any registration requirement or intrusive
background investigation.
Already tired and disgusted of listening to the politically-biased
and self-serving diatribes of the pundits on MSN and FOX News, I’ve spent a good
deal of today mapping out how to productively use this unexpected gift of free
time. After making Hyesuk’s breakfast and
seeing her off at the door with a hug and a kiss, I’ll clean the kitchen and
spend some quality time with our dog Sam.
Afterwards, I’ll head up the mountain behind our house, remaining there
until restlessness, hunger, or inspiration directs me home.
#1 –Out from the Wild - Political Ambiguity, 20 Feb 2012
#2 – Political Ambiguity - The Divide Widens, 29 Dec 2012
