What every American should do, a list

cemab4y

Member
I believe that every American should do all of these things:

1.-Spend a night in jail
2. Attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. (or equivalent like Narcotics Anonymous)
3. Visit a psychiatric hospital
4. Visit a veterans hospital, and see the cost of freedom
5. Work one day in a soup kitchen or charity cannery .
6. Work one day as an election judge and see democracy up close
7. Visit our nation's capital.
8. visit a housing project, and see the results of 4 generations of welfare.
9. Visit the cities of New Orleans, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.
10. Visit at least 2 national parks (especially if you are an adopted [naturalized] American)
11. Read the US constitution in its entirety

What do you think? I would like to assemble a list with your input.
 

Windrider

Plus-sized tuxedo model
I've done all of these except the night in jail, election judge and visiting New Orleans.

I really don't want to go to jail and try my best to avoid it. I don't have to get stabbed or shot to know it will hurt (although come to think of it I was stabbed once. It hurt.) I don't need to go to jail to know I would not do well there :)

New Orleans is on my list of places to visit, especially during Mardi Gras (I work for a company based in France and recently found out that Mardi Gras actually means "Fat Tuesday").

I have relatives in housing projects. It isn't pretty.

The AA meeting was kind of an accident. They were meeting in my church and I stumbled upon the meeting. They told me to stay if I wanted so I did.

Visiting Washington DC I've done several times. I have actually participated in a special event as a performer in the National Air and Space Museum a few times. If you get the chance, visit the Anthropology exhibit in the Natural History Museum. It is just amazing.
 

cemab4y

Member
Interesting. The jail night, will give you an insight into the corrections system, that you will not get from the movies. I went to electronics school in suburban New Orleans. I fell in love with the city immediately. New Orleans is not only unique, it is uniquely unique. It is the largest US city that is below sea level. The cemeteries are all above ground. People come from all over the world just to see the beautiful architecture in the cemeteries. (Many films have been made in the cemeteries including "Easy Rider" and "Double Jeapordy"). New Orleans has jazz, incredible food, One of the most beautiful cathedrals in the USA, casinos, excellent horse racing,etc. There are shops in Algiers (the west bank of the Mississippi), that sell voodoo supplies. New Orleans has a spooky side, you can see real voodoo ceremonies. (See the film "Angel Heart").

I have never been to Mardi Gras (your translation is correct, but the official name of the celebration is "Shrove Tuesday") The celebration is Roman Catholic in origin, it is your chance to whoop it up, before the prayers and fasting of lent. There are clubs called "krewes" which spend the entire year, preparing their float for the parade.
 

Windrider

Plus-sized tuxedo model
A while ago, the US Navy had a commercial that had the line: "If somebody wrote a book about your life would anyone read it?" My wife laughed and turned to me and said, "With your life, they would." She was, of course, joking. I'm not that interesting but I have been around. I've been a radio disk jockey, professional photographer, worked in the systems programming group at MIT and designed and implemented the system that the Red Cross uses to find blood for you when you need it. I've climbed mountains and slept in the woods under a tarp. I've traveled and had adventures. I've had guns pointed at me and been in bar fights. I've had cancer twice. Every chapter in my life has been a gift and I've tried to learn what I could from each of them.

Now, I'm a Mason and firmly believe that this is a milestone in God's plan for me. At least I hope so. It seems too "right" for it to be anything else.
 

cemab4y

Member
Interesting! Do you keep a blog? I started one when I was Iraq in 2005. People in Australia and Cameroon (Central Africa) and Italy read my blog. I would definetly read your book!

The list is something I have been kicking around for some time. Of course, these are only things that I believe would be interesting for most Americans, and the answer is yes, I have done all the things on the list . Except one, I have never served on a jury. If called, I would jump at it.

I have been under enemy fire (mortar and small arms) in Iraq (I did not have my own weapon). I have stood in a gas chamber at Dachau concentration camp, and had the door closed behind me, that was an unforgettable experience. I walked out, Six million jews (not including Freemasons, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses,etc) did not .

I would like to share a beer with you, and fellowship in lodge. You are definetly an amazing man.

Tell us about your masonic career. Have you ever served as an officer? Do you belong to any of the appendant/concordant bodies?
 

Windrider

Plus-sized tuxedo model
I'm the presiding Master of my lodge. I started in line as Senior Steward but was asked to move up after a couple of months when the Junior Deacon stepped down. I spent a year in each of the next chairs and thanks to my mentor, was pretty good. I serve on the Grand Lodge Information Services and Technology committee and have been Secretary of Lodge of Instruction for the past four years.

I received the Master Mason Rookie Award after my first year in the Craft. I was the second in my lodge to receive it.

Originally, I intended to join Scottish Rite when I stepped down from the East but I ended up joining in January after seeing the brotherly love of that body in action. If the Grand Architect is willing, I will become a 32nd degree brother in a couple of weeks.

I passed a Masonic milestone on Thursday after conferring the Fellow Craft degree. My brothers and I have now conferred all three degrees. I can wear my ring however I like now
 
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