Musings of the Great Gonzo

I am not a hugger, I never have been very comfortable with hugging and I really don’t see the big deal about doing it. But, I also have never really considered it an inappropriate action except in the work place between male and female co-workers or between unrelated adults and children of the opposite sex. Apparently several school districts disagree with me and find hugging of any kind inappropriate and have forbidden it as an inappropriate public display of affection on school grounds. According to Alabama’s Autauga County School System's code of conduct, "inappropriate public displays of affection, including but not limited to embracing and kissing" are not allowed. And a girl who attends school in that system received two days detention for consoling a male friend who had just lost a parent with a hug at school. Congratulations Alabama, you have just perpetuated the country’s opinion of your state as an uptight, bible-thumping backwater state that would rather stu...

I have said it before and I will say it again; I am proud of my son, a United States Army Soldier. On Wednesday of last week my beautiful bride and I drove to Columbia, SC to attend Family Day and Basic Combat Training graduation at Ft. Jackson for my son who successfully completed his training. As we drove I could feel my pride swell the closer we got to our destination. My feelings were very close to the surface and I began to reminisce about the past, the struggles and joys we traversed as my son grew to the man he most certainly is now. I thought about the fights, the rebellions and the heartaches we endured with him as a bitter teenager. My mind traveled back to the days when he was just a small boy so full of energy and wonder; his eyes so wide-open at the littlest things. I remembered the day he was born and the pride I felt at having a son to carry on my name and family. And I was moved to tears several times – my wife just drove and smiled, she knew what I was thinking a...