ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER

First Principles: The General Principles On Which the Fathers Achieved Independence Were the General Principles of Christianity

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God. … The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.” – John Adams

Thought For the Day: When Old Words Die Out On the Tongue, New Melodies Break Forth From the Heart

“When old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders.” – Rabindranath Tagore, poet, philosopher, author, songwriter, painter, educator, composer, Nobel laureate (1861-1941

First Principles: Religion and Virtue Are the Only Foundations, Not of Republicanism and All Free Government, But of Social Felicity Under All Government

“[R]eligion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in all the combinations of human society.” –-John Adams

Have A Blessed and Merry Christmas One and All!

Though it isn’t a white one

And it seems it’s all been done

Today is Christmas Day

May it be blessed in every way!

Let us never forget the holy reason

That stands behind the season

And keep our blessings in heart and mind

No matter how close are troubles chase behind

Remember this day and keep its grace

With our friends and relations we embrace

Though it’s familiarly as if felt before

Keep a Christmas welcome on every door

First Principles: May the Father of All Mercies Scatter Light, and Not Darkness, Upon Our Paths

“May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths.” –George Washington, 1790

Thought For the Day: Peace On Earth Will Come To Stay, When We Live Christmas Every Day

“Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.” – Helen Steiner Rice

Thoughts On “It’s A Wonderful Life”

Thoughts On "It's A Wonderful Life"
by Michael Doyle

"It's A Wonderful Life" is a different war
My kind of film and at times a lot more
The critics can snark their hatred of platitude
Or maybe learn a thing or two about gratitude

There is nothing to hating honest sentiment
Except for a guttural fear of things intimate
I, for one, think there's beauty in this tale
Where we occasionally live up to Norman Rockwell

Seen as an obscure release of Old Hollywood
"It's A Wonderful Life" was unafraid of being good
A cultural monument to the truest American value
While devoted to traditions of Christmas made anew

The jaded who are faded might not get the metaphor
But then again, it wasn't for them this was for
It's a telling of big city dreams and small town reality
Told very ably by Capra in portraying sentimentality

Toughing it out in the grind of a work-a-day peasant
Hustling the truth that goodness can be yet pleasant
The common man can be uncommon and somehow extraordinary
In how we live to prevail even in the angst of the ordinary

It's better to be on the side of angels and unshaken
Taking responsibility might be hard but it's not mistaken
Every "crummy little town" holds its share of good hearts
And has its magic in every nook, cranny and hidden parts

Deep rooted common sense is seated in moral certainty
This is the homage to the everyman's crux of dignity
In a world where America grappled with Depression
There is a loneliness forged in fear of failure's impression

That in a world where easy answers seem to disappear
Somehow, "It's A Wonderful Life" offers its good cheer
It's up to the people to make life the very best we can
And in this is the magic that is beautifully American

(c) December 24, 2021  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

Have A Happy and Blessed Christmas Eve 2021!!

We have all made it through another year of challenges and loss. Time to take a deep breath and rejoice in this! Also, this should be a time of contemplation and gratitude for the much that we have despite these challenges of the last two years! You are all in my thoughts and prayers! Wishing you all to have a happy and blessed Christmas Eve 2021!!

Thought For the Day: Goodness Is the Only Investment That Never Fails

“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

First Principles: The Virgin Will Be With Child and Will Give Birth To A Son, and They Will Call Him Immanuel – Which Means, “God With Us”

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.”– Matthew 1:23 (New International Version)