Sugar Creek Publishing

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

#324

“What hath thou TAUGHT?”

August 21, 2026

I taught government at the high school level and then moved to the collegiate level. My generation had enough civics in the eighth grade to eclipse what most of the younger people have today. Sad to say, but you could see it coming forty years ago. I was in graduate school (as an adult) in the 1990s and I choked down blips of socialism from more than one professor. Had I known what was to come, I might have organized others my age to sound the alarm. Sadly, I did not know.

Teaching juniors and seniors in college, I tried to paint a clear picture of socialism. This aberrant form of government is one shallow step away from communism. Decades ago, 1956 in fact, four words uttered in Eastern Europe still should haunt Americans who love their country.

The words? “We will bury you.” Who said it? Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union – what you know today as Russia. While most believed that his words forecast the death of all Americans. This caused no end of grief for him, so in 1959 speaking in Yugoslavia, he repeated his own phrase and commented that he didn’t mean real grave digging with a shovel. “What I had in mind was the outlook for the development of human society. Socialism will inevitably succeed capitalism.

If this sounds familiar, you have only to listen to the words of the avowed socialist candidates running in the upcoming mid-term elections. What is sad is that those who have been taught the merits of socialism in our colleges and universities, have no idea of the real threat socialism poses to every facet of their lives.

The influence of communism is measured in dollars and cents when it comes to colleges and universities, especially the Ivy League Schools. No doubt, this influence is widespread across the nation. I saw it as an undergrad in the early 1960s — more and more professors expounding on the benefits of any economic system other than capitalism.

When considering schools such as Harvard with millions of dollars in endowments, one has to ask: “Who was running the universities? Couldn’t they see what was happening?” Sad….

I can tell you that finding a conservative instructor in higher education is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. That is not just sad, it borders on insanity. A captive audience within four walls with a grade depending on what the student spits back in his or her work – and the result? You see it! Egad!

Socialism, by design, is but a steppingstone to communism. And what has communism given the world? Let’s look at the facts. Estimates of deaths caused by Communist governments over the last century range from about 80 million to over 100 million, with the Soviet Union and China accounting for the largest shares.

The University of Hawaii cites these facts:
The death toll attributed to Communist governments over the last century is significant, with estimates ranging from approximately 80 million to over 100 million people. The following table summarizes the contributions of major Communist regimes to this total:
Country/Region Estimated Deaths

Soviet Union Up to 61 million
China Over 35 million
Cambodia (Khmer Rouge) About 2 million
Other Communist regimes Several million

Key Contributors
• Soviet Union: The largest share of deaths is attributed to the Soviet Union, with estimates suggesting around 61 million deaths due to purges, famines, and repressive policies.
• China: The Communist regime in China, particularly during events like the Great Leap Forward, is estimated to have caused over 35 million deaths.
• Cambodia: Under the Khmer Rouge, approximately 2 million people died from executions, forced labor, and starvation.

Overall, the total number of deaths caused by Communist governments is a stark reminder of the human cost associated with these regimes, with estimates indicating that the figure exceeds 100 million when considering all affected countries and periods.

Is this what you want for this country? The wild promises of “Medicare for All” and “Abolish Prisons” and “Defund the police” are but red flags (not a pun, either) for a system devoid of American values long held.

You will hear many promises. What you will NOT hear is just how Americans will pay for them. If Medicare is for all Americans the price tag looks like twice the national debt. Plausible? Hardly. Look at England. People wait months to years to see a doctor or receive care in a hospital. You want THAT?

On old saying from more than a century cries “There is no free lunch.” True. And the socialist promises? A price WILL be paid, but that price could be the capitalism and freedoms that built this wonderful nation – unique on the planet.

The pro-socialism seeds planted in our college graduates pose a serious threat. Ignorance is said to be bliss, but this kind of ignorance is lethal.

Take a stand. Be an advocate for capitalism and American freedoms. Do not miss any opportunity to explain socialism for what it is. Deadly.

Less than three months from now we can stand for America with our votes. Use any opportunity you have to defend our system of government. Encourage younger people to actually research socialism and its close link to communism. This is no idle threat. It is real.

There is NO place on the planet that socialism has ever worked. It starts with glowing promises for each and ends with desperate poverty for all. You have only to look at Venezuela. Once one of the most prosperous South American countries, after Maduro and thirty years, it is now an impoverished hell hole with its people in truly desperate circumstances.

Teaching the benefits of socialism is lethal to America. Beware of the Trojan Horse.

The slippery slope of promises is afoot. Heed it. To ignore it is perilous.
This mid-term election, vote as if your very life depends on it. Because it does.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 321

“Sacrifice – Not a New Concept”

March 11, 2026

In my dining room, tucked away safely in a drawer, is a small leather pouch. It bears heavily on the complaints heard today about paying a bit more per gallon for gas at the pump. What is that little item? It is a Ration Book from World War II.

My grandparents and parents ran their households with limits on certain goods. A ration book contained the elements of trade. I addition, citizens went through their homes and took metal items to the curb to load onto trucks that went through every neighborhood coast to coast. What fueled those donations was a fervor to help out our soldiers in the European and Pacific theaters of operation.

We can expect an undulating price structure for Brent crude and above. Above all the griping and political posturing that does nothing to help President Trump, we need to hear the call to arms. Our arms. Folded and holding steady to back the fight.

This fight is not new. From the 7th century to the present, the radical portions of the Koran have fueled the zeal of those who want nothing less than to take over the world. Of the three main world religions, only Islam has not experienced a reformation. Both Christianity and Judaism have done so. It is hard to imagine any other human 7th-century experience or practice being able to exist in the modern world.

My question is where are all the so-called “feminists” in all of this? To sit silently and say nothing exposes their true motives. As an octogenarian, I grew up among women who valued staying at home and rearing children. Those who worked in many professions never turned their backs on family. Those widowed in the war held the respect of their peers and their communities, often benefitting from the kindnesses of others for difficult chores around their homes. Today’s women pushing “women’s rights?” They say nothing. They espouse selective programs and adore the coverage of the mainstream media – all the time ignoring the honor killings, cruel punishment, and forced marriages of girls as young as twelve years. It is reported that after a young teenage Iranian girl put on a bit of eye makeup, authorities gouged out her eyes. That’s probably the tip of the iceberg. Do you hear that on the news? Not on mainstream channels

Speaking of the media. Those of us who have lived a long time remember when news was news and not opinion. Not all elements of any government are always pretty, but ignoring shortfalls is a disservice to everyone.

Ownership of the main networks tells a lot of the story. I remember when the name Walt Disney meant wholesome entertainment and love of children. Contrast that with the current state of affairs. Sad. It’s no accident that woke and broke rhyme. There is no defense for not telling the American people precisely what is happening at any given time. Yet save the newer channels and podcasts, mainstream viewers are left out in the cold. This lack of information is not only pitiful, but is also dangerous.

When teaching at the college level, I would tell my charges that their idea of sacrifice was not getting fries with the special. And so we find ourselves at the center of storm that is corporate creation.

When the negotiators heard the Iranian representative say that Iran had stores of 60% enriched uranium, our government knew that it only takes a week or two to enrich it to the 90% level of a weapon. In striking when he did, President Trump very possibly saved us from nuclear strike. Could another enemy donate the ICBM to launch a nuclear bomb? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the answer to that question.

It’s been three generations since the flame of liberty and patriotism fueled love of country and country and God in America. My grandparents came to America legally in 1895. They learned English. They had no assistance. They worked and saved. Those parents spawned Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation”– my parents’ generation. Those soldiers fought the Nazis and Imperial Japan and won. My father had one friend who helped liberate a concentration camp. Tell that man that The Holocaust never happened.

Many of those men went on to fight in Korea. My generation fought in Viet Nam and my children’s fellows fought in the Middle Eastern conflicts and some still serve today. The armed services is their career choice. Each – to a man – puts life on the line and defends this nation. Those servicemen fight today, but they lack the fervent support given through World War II. Today, may folks back at home take a dim view of love of country. At least, that is their message when they speak publicly. How sad….

We need a return trip, but in order to get there, we need to teach accurate history to our kids. Depriving them of it is a fatal exercise. Now there’s a challenge for you. I had more civics in the 5th grade than I hear cited from some in Congress today. People on the street might be able to name a mayor, but when interviewed by reporters, they cannot name the three branches of government, let alone their representatives in state legislatures and Congress. Add the wonderful world and American history I had in high school, and my classmates understand the world. It’s always been a dangerous place.

Take a deep breath and let the war play out. We cannot fathom what would happen if a regime such as the one in Iran since 1979 were to have a nuclear device in hand. Strike while the iron is hot is more than an old saying. If we have to pay a higher price for petroleum products, that sure beats radiation burns. Hiroshima should be a dark memory from the end of World War II, not the mirror image of a rogue fanatic regime with a vengeance to destroy the West. That is their aim. Listen. They tell you that in no uncertain terms. If you want a belief, then believe what they say: “Death to Israel. Wipe Israel off the map. Death to America.” Every president since 1979 did nothing. Kicking the can down the road brought us to a flash point. Finally we have a leader that nobody did just that: lead.

Every conflict involves loss, but to have so few in defeating Iran’s terrorism and nuclear threat, speaks volumes for President Trump. All talk and no action? Hardly.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I tire of listening to the leftists in this nation favor aliens over citizens, praise prosecutors who release violent felons back onto the streets only to vent in public as if they have the high moral ground.

Give them an “A” for effort but put that “a” before moral: amoral.

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 320

“The Power of Three”

February 21, 2026

No doubt, most of us are familiar with Jonathan Lawson and his commercial for Colonial Penn Life Insurance. He touts “The Three Ps” as the anchor of his message.

It’s about time Americans adopted their own version: “Patriotism, Persuasion and Persistence.” Over the last sixty years, people my age have witnessed the gradual decline of education, morals, and faith. With little threat to inspire national pride and patriotism, young people slid into a comfortable morass of entertainment and idle activity.

A century is not a long time in the overall scheme of things. Contrast the challenges and the responsibility of young people between 1865 and 1965. Mid 19th-century men often had to take over an entire family after the death of one or more parents. Civil War casualties spawned countless households without fathers. For the young men left to assume responsibility, work wasn’t a choice, it was a given.

Schools, although many of the one-room variety, prepared students to take on life head-on. Those who studied law and medicine often did it at the elbow of a lawyer or doctor. There were a few medical schools, but not the plethora available today. Farming remained a staple of the American workplace until mechanization and reliable equipment came on the scene. There were numbers of women who took on work as nurses and schoolteachers, but the vast number of women were stay-at-home wives and mothers.

The moral code of the 18th and 19th century was strict and any form of infidelity or promiscuity was found in the “red light” districts of urban areas or the brothels of the burgeoning cities, port areas and mining towns in the West. Marriage was sacred and divorce was extremely rare. Young people married at very young ages and families were far larger than we see today in terms of the number of children.

Church anchored rural areas, towns, and cities. Up until the time that my children were small, few businesses were open on Sunday. There were a few truck stops that offered fuel, but – for the most part – if you needed gas for your car, you had better fill up on a Saturday! I grew up with radio programs and books. The movies were popular, but as a treat – not accessible at the touch of a remote control.

School was important, and the familiar “summer off” came from the fact that families farmed and the children helped. When you hear someone refer to the summer break as “agrarian,” accept it as fact.

Combine solid education with a strong moral code and the importance of church in people’s lives, and you have the atmosphere that spawned the greatest nation on earth.

Minus a imminent threat to this nation, our people just slide along comfortably and take everyday life for granted. Such is the scene today. The threat is there, but not as clear as threats of the past.

Hand-in-hand with American history is patriotism. Love of country should be alive and well, yet what we witness today falls far short of that state of mind. The raucous street demonstrations we remember as newsreels from faraway places now disrupt commerce and everyday life from coast to coast. For decades, countless teachers and professors have painted a bleak portrait of America and her values. To this end, we have at least one – if not two – generations who do not have any respect for this country. To say this is sad dims the indictment. This is dangerous

Some societal practices are worth emulation. Not so the near-riots and damage we have seen as an ever-growing problem since 2020. These gatherings are reminiscent of those on newscasts from third world countries seen over the years on the news media here. Flash forward to today. We are in the midst of a crisis of conscience.

We need to push for patriotism, using patience and persistence. Patience is its own reward. You’ve heard that before. It is true. And persistence? Americans are not quitters. We owe it to the younger set to take on the challenge to instill patriotism in every possible way. To do less is to chance losing everything that we hold dear.

I will visit this subject in a future column, but – for now – I will end with three of my 3 Cs: Conscience, Commitment and Christ. If one possesses a conscience, then caring, comfort, and clarity follow. Insert commitment and today’s acts of kindness only forecast those of tomorrow. Adding Christ is the proverbial “icing on the cake.” If we all follow His teachings, there would be no riots, no abject anger in the streets, no need for jails, or locks on doors. The only need would be to take more time to study His lessons, so succinctly put forth in the pages of the Bible and to bask in the Creation that the Lord created.

Basically, this is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs. Let’s work to keep it that way.

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 319 “Two Letters”

January 2, 2026

Well, one day into the year, and a few observations are in order. Wars still pepper the planet with greed over need and control over consideration holding sway mightily. Fraud and theft draw attention to those who use their positions and connections to funnel monies to those who want but do not work.

The incestuous behavior links both to private exploits and the twisted thinking of those in political circles who maneuver funds meant for the needy and/or infirm to benefit cronies or groups coddled to gain votes – not to mention to line their own pockets.

The greed over need argument is valid. Remove greed from any equation and the cream rises to the top. Consider the billions (yes, with a “b”) under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Those who progenitors invented paper, porcelain, gun powder live in a society devoid of freedom. Christianity struggles in a blatantly brutal atmosphere where there is no value to human life and winning at any cost is the bottom line. Control is the be all, end all.

Imagine what might happen if freedom reigned – not solely in China, but around the world. One wonders what inventions might rise to the surface to benefit all mankind. Yet, freedom in many countries is not only elusive, but also impossible. It is hard to fathom what could happen if all the money spent on war materiel worldwide were put to the betterment the of all peoples.

I remember very well standing before a class of my college students and explaining the stark differences among different forms of government. Ah, yes, the differences. Capitalism raised more people from poverty than any other form of government that ever existed. Yet, despite its history, it fails to fulfill the wretched dreams of those who govern simply for control. I asked the young people, to a person, to name one place that socialism had ever worked. The answer was short and sweet. I explained that there was no such place. The empty promises are clearly illustrated in the last 30+years of what was one of the most prosperous nations on earth. Venezuela. Once a powerhouse of South America, it fell victim to the wild promises of the socialist spiel. Broken and destitute with Maduro and the drug cartels in control, there is nothing but poverty and anguish for a people who overwhelmingly voted for change but lost. The woman who won the election was denied her victory. Maduro kept control, but recently the Nobel Prize went to her.
On October 10, 2025,Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado won the year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado rang in her Nobel Peace Prize victory Friday by dedicating the award to the people of Venezuela fighting for freedom — and President Donald Trump.
Her quote is instructive and meaty. It should be warning to anyone tempted by socialists who purport to have all the answers.
“We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy,” she wrote on X. “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause.”
One of my classmates had a direct link to Venezuela in the 1950s and 1960s. Her father lived in Venezuela where he worked for an American oil company . The country’s economy was booming and its people were prosperous and solidly solvent. He had a tremendous career. But, does opportunity still exist in Venezuela? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Consider Margaret Thatcher’s quote: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” We can see that in spades as we look around the world. Yet, despite a dismal track record, the specter and lure of something gained without effort still beckons.

I love it when so-called “progressives” tout the benefits of a socialist state. Their utopian view stems from ignorance of the facts. In fact, as stated for many years, “There is no free lunch.”

In 1975 Milton Friedman published the collection “There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: Essays on Public Policy” which printed the maxim on its back cover: 29 Professor Friedman’s famous aphorism, There’s no such thing as a free lunch, is a summary of his economic views, and is quoted endlessly by a plethora of personalities.

In fact, Friedman is correct. There is a trade-off for getting “something for nothing.” And that trade-off? Someone else gets something. You get nothing.

Today, we see the result of poor civics and history education showcased in the recent New York City Mayoral election. Who would have believed that 25 years after the horrific attacks of 9/11, New York would swear in a Muslim mayor on the Quran, not the Bible. Memories are too short. To me, those films of the planes hitting the World Trade Center should have been on television on a regular basis since 2001.

And, speaking Bible, it warns of the end times when right will be called wrong and wrong will be called right. Well, folks, you see it every day. How could we have fallen so far so fast? It all highlights the incessant permeation of our education with ideas far from those of our Founding Fathers.

There should be nothing more precious to Americans than freedom. Yet, that very freedom roots to a bitter fight for religious freedom. Founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and beliefs, this nation has stood for nearly 250 year as a beacon for the rest of the world. This is not to discount that any nation is without fault. Fault comes from people, not God. With 300+ million of Americans, there is certainly enough fault to go around!

Yet, when a nation turns its back on God, it bodes ill for the whole. From the lies of Madalyn Murray O’Hair and her founding of American Atheism and the banning of school prayer to the trans-gender idiocy we see now, a quote attributed to (but not proved to have been correct) showman P. T. Barnum may be more apt than not.

“There’s a sucker born every minute ” is a quotation often associated with P. T. Barnum, the famous American showman of the mid-19th century. Although there is no evidence that he actually said it, the credit continues to this day. Early instances of its use are found among salesmen, gamblers and confidence tricksters. Still, we see the empty promises of socialism and its close follower communism as the temptresses of the century.

There is dignity in work. There is pride in accomplishment, no matter how small. Take away dignity and the void is painful – not to mention dangerous. I had more civics education in elementary school than seen in colleges and universities today. The goals of communism are not unlike those of a beaver. Take one bite at a time, and the tree falls. Well, what we are seeing now is not mere bites, but chomps.

Consider the recent protests against Israel on campus after campus across the United States. Funded and supported by those who hate America, these demonstrations can be shortened to the first five letters. Demon. Ah, yes, Satan is alive and well — and busy! He thrives on hatred and incivility. He lives and breathes lies. You don’t need to look very far to see his work either. He licks his chops at the prospect that America will fail.

Once freedom dies, a society is lost – a tattered remnant of what once was. My hope is that the awakening of our young people in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, will light the spark to bring to life the bedrock beliefs of our Founding Fathers.

The first word of the Declaration of Independence says it all. “We…” Going to the text, we read: We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed…

Perhaps we need to also add one integral portion, assumed, but not stated.
The governed should be informed and reared to appreciate what they have been given. Every soldier who ever died in defense of freedom paid for that which we enjoy today.

Unless – and until – we educate our youngsters to embrace the actual history of this country, we doom them to accept the rhetoric so cavalierly put forth by those who could take this country down.

Who benefits from socialism and communism? Only the elitists and militarists. Everyone else suffers. Americans take freedom for granted. It is not given. It is earned. Beware of the carrot. There is a big stick behind it.

Push for solid teaching of American history. Push for books, not screens. Push for what built this nation – personal effort and the grit to push for better ideas and products. Forewarned is forearmed. But are we? Do we see the perils that lie beneath the “fairness” laced into empty promises?

Push for a concept that has fallen on bad times. Getting back to the Declaration of Independence, the first words of the second paragraph has another meaning – one once sacrosanct, but flailing badly.

Push for WE. Not just the noun, but for a critical component of any strong society – W E : WORK ETHIC. We need it now more than ever before.

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

#318 “Veterans Day”

November 11, 2025

A busy schedule moved writing this column to evening, but, in truth, it may have worked out for the best. Over more than 25 years, I have endeavored to write a column to honor all the men and women who, throughout our history, have stepped up to defend our freedom – often by defending that of others around the world.

Much can be said of any one conflict, yet they share a common bond and that bond is one to stand for what is just and fair. Today, as we gather to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, it is incumbent to mention that freedom is not always threatened from without. The most heinous of dangers can come from within.

Those of my generation were taught to revere the military. We learned the values of honor and that holds yet today. In 1956, the Soviet leader ranted from the dais of the United Nations, vowing to bury us from withing.

Lest we forget those who secured our freedom, it is time we recognized that the threat is among us today. Whether in the form of terrorist groups who malign law enforcement in our major cities or a warped media that skews news to their own slant, we must put forward a concerted effort to rescue our nation from those who seek to destroy it.

It is well, especially on this day, to remember that our military fought valiantly against governments and leaders who placed no value on their own people but sought only for power and control. It is no less true today.

Yet, there is a new twist. Now, the people allied to both socialism and communism are amongst us and gradually gaining positions of authority. Beware. They pose a threat to each of one of us. Honor our veterans by standing up to these disruptors. Use every opportunity to voice for freedom and what is right. There is no better way to honor every man and woman who have served. We need to stand for freedom.

If we do not, then all our veterans will have served in vain.

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 317

“From the Mouths of Babes”

October 10, 2025

One month ago today, we lost a voice of reason, a voice that heralded the importance of American history, the Founding Fathers and their founding documents, all packaged in a man who stood for the best of America and the value of free speech. We lost Charlie Kirk.

In the wake of his death has come a surge of interest that dwarfs any such movement in my lifetime – and I am over 80 years old.

The response to Turning Point USA’s call for new chapters has more than doubled the highest estimates. Interest in both freedom and faith has never been higher among the young people who will guide this nation in the future.

I hope the days where left-leaning professors spout out all manner of socialist and communist garbage will disappear faster than an ice cube on a hot sidewalk. I speak from experience. A graduate student in my 40s, mine was the single voice to question ridiculous positions put forth in liberal arts classes. My classmates – the ages of my children – sat there and soaked up the drivel as gospel.

Well, it’s about time “the real Gospel” is front and center. I was at a writer’s conference at an Indiana college a number of years ago, and there was a heated exchange on the display of the Ten Commandments on public grounds, whether court houses, city offices or school lawns. A particularly caustic individual ,who reminded me of one Bella Abzug, kept shouting down anyone who deemed such displays dovetailed with basic American values.

I let her scream for about ten minutes and then raised my hand. The chairman of the event recognized me. I said I had one question. A bit shocked, she gave me permission.

Rising to my feet, I said, “If you can name one person that any one of those rules has harmed, I will cede your point.” At this, she threw her briefcase to the floor and left the room with the grace of a storm trooper in Star Wars. I never saw her the rest of the day.

Needless to say, the room quieted down and the discussion went in another direction. It’s a funny thing about the leftists. When faced with facts, their “feelings” evaporate just like a melting ice cube. Feelings do not top facts. You can count on that.

Often young parents tell me that their son or daughter had a grounding in common sense and values before they went to college. Then things changed, and their returning student bore no resemblance to the high school graduate of a few years earlier. And what is the root cause of this metamorphosis? The current product of “higher education.”

I have an important question to parents of college students who graduated in the early 2000s. Did you ask to see your student’s books and study guides, syllabi, reading lists, or the list of speakers or convocations? In retrospect, perhaps you should have.

Most of you would not begin to make a major purchase without doing YOUR homework – checking comparison items, prices, warranties, reviews – yet you sign checks or cosign student loan applications without any idea of what the institution will instill in your son or daughter. Collegiate sports fans aside, college should prepare each student for life, armed with facts to face adult life. Given the state of affairs we see today, I think that the look at curricula should start in kindergarten. It’s your responsibility to oversee your child’s education. Demand to see the materials they use and the library books available.

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, it’s high time parents reconsider college. Unless progeny aspires to nursing, medicine, engineering, or a vocation specifically requiring a college degree, maybe a parent needs to look at the trades or jobs where upward mobility comes with experience and hands-on training instead of indoctrination. That’s what it is in many cases, and America will be the loser for it.

Might I suggest online classes at Hillsdale College That wonderful place in Michigan holds a special place in my heart, and it isn’t lost on me that Charlie Kirk took dozens of classes from Hillsdale. Moreover he read the classics and could quote the great writers and scores of men and women who span history. There are a number of lists of Great Books out there. Check them out.

My hope is that God’s plan for Charlie may have been for him to light the fire of faith and American exceptionalism in a generation yearning for true meaning in life. In his short 31 years, he showed that it isn’t the years in one’s life that counts, it is the life in the years. The roots are now planted for a religious and patriotic revival in America. God bless Charlie. Follow his example, one day at a time. Read. Learn.

We would all be better off if we turned off the television and turned on the reading lamp. There is no better use for one’s time than expanding the mind, one book at a time. College isn’t for everyone. Taking a look at the campus problems from coast to coast, it isn’t hard to recognize a lack of background in world history and the American experience. The saddest part for me is the utter waste time and brainpower.

In a world where laptops (Yes, I am using one now!), iPads, and cell phones can put literally any information at your fingertips, something is sorely lacking – the inspiring moments when you are not only reading a book but you are IN the book. You lose track of time. You experience people and places heretofore undiscovered. The more you read, the wider your vocabulary. I always have a dictionary handy. My boys know that I read one (and the encyclopedia) for fun. They laughed at me in their teens. I wonder if they still do….

I know all my reading certainly added to my tools as a writer. Take it from an old girl, even YOU can learn new tricks. Go for it. Grab a book with substance. Check out Hillsdale. Expand your horizon. Read. Like Charlie, you will be better off for it.

Would that the resurgence of real education would come “from the mouths of babes.”

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 314

June 30, 2025

“The 4th – Creeping Danger”

Perhaps no day is more seminal to this discussion as “The 4th of July.” The fireworks, parades and allegiant celebrations aside, nothing is more tentative than the freedom that Americans take for granted every day. Every day, you ask? Yes.

Daily plans vary among us, but no entity places unreasonable limits on our activities. We work, take care of our homes and children, travel for leisure, and save for retirement. Nothing out of the ordinary for us.

Yet, if you contrast today’s atmosphere with that of my generation, the stark differences defy logic. This did not happen by accident. This happened by design. The ugly truth is that it was forecasted the same year that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The date was November 23rd. The year was 1963.

Yet the groundwork was shouted out in public barely three weeks before Kennedy’s election in the fall of 1960 — before an international audience. This is how it went down.

On 12 October 1960, head of the United Nations Filipino Delegation to the Lorenzo Sumulong spoke in defense of “the peoples of Eastern Europe and elsewhere which have been deprived of the free exercise of their civil and political rights and which have been swallowed up, so to speak, by the Soviet Union.”

Research affirms that, upon hearing this, Nikita Khrushchev (First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union) quickly came to the rostrum, being recognized on a point of order.

There he demonstratively, in a theatrical manner, brushed Sumulong aside, with an upward motion of his right arm—without physically touching him—and began a lengthy denunciation of Sumulong, branding him (among other things) as “a jerk, a stooge, and a lackey”, and a “toady of American imperialism” and demanded Assembly President Frederick Boland (Ireland) call Sumulong to order. Boland did caution Sumulong to “avoid wandering out into an argument which is certain to provoke further interventions,” but permitted him to continue speaking and sent Khrushchev back to his seat.

According to some sources, Khrushchev pounded his fists on his desk in protest as Sumulong continued to speak, and at one point picked up his shoe and banged the desk with it. Some other sources report a different order of events: Khrushchev first banged the shoe then went to the rostrum to protest.
In any event, the scene brings to mind a quote from Shakespeare. “Me thinks thou dost protest too much.” Actually a misquote from Hamlet, this statement is widely used to criticize someone whose words defend an indefensible position.

Why take this up in anticipation of July 4th? I do so due highlight the dangers that began to infest this nation more than 60 years ago. Oh, I can hear the flippant comments from many. They will brush off my statements, yet a glaring danger is among us. Consider the facts below.

In 1963, the Communist Party set goals for the USA.

Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

Get control of the schools and teachers’ associations. Soften the curriculum.

Gain control of all student newspapers

Infiltrate the press.

Gain control of key positions in radio, TV and pictures (movies).

Eliminate al laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and press.

Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography, degeneracy, and promiscuity as “normal, natural and healthy.

Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion.

Eliminate prayer or any phrase of religious expression in the schools on the grounds that it violates the principal of “separation of church and state.”

Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate and old-fashioned.

Discredit the American founding fathers as selfish aristocrats (and racists).

Belittle American culture and discourage the teaching of American history.

Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

Infiltrate and gain control of big business and unions.

Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as mental health or social problems.

Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents.

Repeal the Connally Reservation, allowing the World Court jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.

Take in sum, these goals are not only sobering, but they also invoke a visceral reaction in those of us old enough to remember life before the 1960s. If many of them sound familiar, it is because —- day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year — they are recognized as current conditions today.

From experience, I can tell you that accurate American history has not been taught in American high schools for decades. If you doubt me, dig up a history book used post-World War II and see for yourself.

President John F. Kennedy was a patriot, a veteran, a war hero in World War II, and a staunch defender of American liberty. Sympathetic to the underprivileged and underserved, he voiced an interest to remedy the shortcomings of government. Once feared because of his faith, he stepped forth to stand for America, not the Catholic Pope, as many had feared. Sadly, his hopes were not to be.

When President Lyndon Johnson ushered in his “Great Society,” women were financially compensated for having children without a husband. At that point, what had always been a strong family unit in the black community began to slide into what we see today – the majority of black homes without a father. There is no way to sufficiently describe the damage wrought by the absence of a father in the home. The goal of dismantling the family unit? We are seeing it witness the results today.

This is just one example of how the Communist Party continues to chip away at America. Like a beaver, it takes a bit over time. Akin to Frank Sinatra’s song, “High Hopes ‘Just what makes that little old ant think he’ll move that rubber tree plant…’” Unlike the ant, the Communists embrace Low Hopes.

Will we, as individuals, recognize what is happening and thwart this ominous plan? To negate decades of teaching lies and bring truth to Americans is a tall task. Sadly, as much as I want this to happen, it will take more than one person to begin to counter the damage already done.

This list gives voice to the dangers posed by today’s left. No matter the arguments from the apologists and the leftists, it is what it is. I encourage you to read the list again. Share it.

As you prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, remember that freedom – while precious – is not free. A view of Arlington National Cemetery or the Normandy American Cemetery only gives a glimpse of the numbers who died defending freedom. Truthfully, it is impossible to fully appreciate the losses.
Recently, a veteran made a statement that said it all. “If we let Communism take over this country, then every soldier died in vain.”

Pay attention. Fight back against the have systematic brainwashing of our young people to hate their country. A daunting task? Yes But, in sum, there are more of us than them. Defend your country. Defend your schools. Defend your places of worship. Defend your family. Complacency is our dangerous mindset.

Do more than think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

June 1, 2025

# 314 “It figures…”

This is a column written about 20 years ago, but — reflecting on a sermon heard Memorial Day — it bears repeating! Here goes!

Her name was Edith Wiley. Some of you may remember her. She taught mathematics at Shelbyville Jr. High School for many years. As for me, I had her in the late 1950s. She was a little bit of a thing, but she ruled her classroom with the control of a seasoned military officer. To picture her, simply visualize Irene Ryan, Granny on “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Miss Wiley as what my Grandmother called a spinster. She never married, but she took a keen interest in every child that walked into her third-floor room. She worked hard to explain the responsibilities of handling money. Although she followed the textbook, she also gave us lessons designed to prepare us to be “grown ups.” In short, she wanted us to have good lives.

Consider the extras that we learned from her. She taught us how to budget our money. We were assigned a set amount of “money” and then had to figure out how to make it last until the next payday. There was a jar on her desk and we each drew out a piece of paper on which was written an unexpected expense. It was up to us to adjust the money in order to cover it. It might be a medical bill or just a repair bill that was not foreseen.

She taught us how to use a checkbook and to balance it properly. Consider how she explained interest rates. She drilled it into our heads that most people pay interest. A strange statement? Not according to Miss Wiley. To her, if you were an apartment dweller, you paid rent to a landlord, and if you held a mortgage, you paid rent to the lender for the money borrowed to purchase a house. When I went home and told my Father, he agreed, but said that he had never heard it put in such simple terms. Edith Wiley was a “nuts and bolts” teacher, and she knew how to separate the important from the trivial —or, as a farmer would say, “the wheat from the chaff.”

Miss Wiley preached the value of savings. She claimed that every dollar saved would double in about ten years. We should save, even if we could put away only a little at a time. She told us that money was a touchy subject with parents, because no two families were equal in terms of dollars and cents. Nevertheless, the core facts held true. With that in mind, she encouraged each of us to be frugal and recognize that money “didn’t grow on trees.”

Do today’s young people understand the difference between a 15-year and a 30-year mortgage? Often, the slightly higher monthly payment of the shorter-term loan, when figured over the term of the loan, saves a lot of money – in the tens of thousands of dollars. (Bear in mind, this was in the 1950s.)

Do high school students know the facts about health coverage? College loans? Teens realize that they need car insurance, but do they understand the difference between whole life and term life insurance? Do they know which policy holds cash value? Do current teens understand the complete cost of car ownership?

Miss Wiley had a penchant for the automobile. I can still hear her! She loved to drive her “machine,” but she complained that passengers offered to pay only for gasoline. “Don’t they know that my machine uses oil and tires? Oil needs to be changed. Tires wear out. Gas money is just a part of it.”

When she admonished us about good driving habits, she took a logical step back to her pet peeve – tires! She chided us, especially the boys. She knew that it would not be long until we would learn to drive. “When you drive your parents’ car and peel the tires to show off at an intersection, you take miles off the tread!” She shook her head when she lamented that she had heard enough tread wear from outside her classroom window to drive to Alaska and back!

That said, she had a core purpose. She wanted us to comprehend that math would endure as a valuable tool in our everyday lives. She knew that women would use math both at home and at work. Men would figure board feet of lumber, square yards of concrete, invoices, commissions, gas mileage and taxes. Every job involved math. To her, math wasn’t a class to be passed and forgotten the day after the final test. Math lasted a lifetime. She was right.

If you really think about it, you used math countless times without even thinking about it. Perhaps, faced with an unwieldy problem, you honed your math skills. Never skip an opportunity to talk with children about the importance of math. They will thank you for it. Oh, maybe not now – but later! It’s time that our schools taught the basics of math, using pencils and paper so mistakes can be seen clearly and explained well. It takes a lot of brain power to wield a pencil on paper. Lots of brain cells are at work.

Make sure your children and grandchildren understand the value of math for everyday living. Mastering math makes good sense — common sense.

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 313

May 26, 2025

“A Day Like No Other”

Once Decoration Day, what we celebrate today as Memorial Day was instituted after the American Civil War. Changed little in form since its beginning, the day – sadly – had changed a great deal in spirit. What was once a somber day of remembering those men and women who gave their lives for this country morphed into a day off work (not for all) and an occasion to eat, drink and be merry.

However, for households across this nation, there is one (perhaps more than one) empty chair. Some battle scars never fully heal. Wives, sons, daughters, siblings, grandchildren – and yes, parents — experience a mix of feelings that those without losing a member cannot fathom. The empty phrase, “I know how you feel” can only apply to a person who has lived through the trauma of that telegram, those officers walking toward the door, or similar notification of the death of one in the service of his or her country.

We take so much for granted. Every day we go about our lives free to go and do what we wish when we wish. For much of the world that attitude and mindset is as alien as our thoughts of setting up a campsite on the moon. Whether they live under a despot or in the crosshairs of a regime hell bent on destroying anything in its path, countless people never experience a good night’s sleep absent of threat.

It is an anathema to me that so many of us can drive or walk by the American flags along so many of our streets today without so much as a second thought on why they fly around this most special day.

Amid the parades, the music and all that goes along with them, I question whether the majority of us really understands how precious this nation is and what it took to preserve the way of life we live so cavalierly.

This is not so much an assessment of this one calendar day as it is a disbelief that a disproportionate number of Americans never give freedom a second thought. In its core, such a belief rests on the fact that since 1812, with the exception of a small invasion of the Aleutian Islands in World War II and the horrific events of September 11, 2001, this nation has been a safe haven for all its citizens. Safety, in and of itself, is quite a concept. Our hope is that it continue to be the normal state of affairs.

This Memorial Day we have troops in Cuba, at Guantanamo Bay. There is an area that separates the base from Communist Cuba. The “DMZ” (demilitarized zone) exists today
as a reminder that we are only free because of those who step up to defend America.
Many people have today to enjoy time with their families, and others go to work as if it were any other day – toiling as medical staff, law enforcement officers, hotel workers, restaurant cooks and wait staff, truck stop personnel, and campground or resort staff, they happily serve and welcome customers. Their work enables others to have a good day.

I hope that when you see someone in uniform, whether in the National Guard or in a branch of active-duty personnel, that you take the time to say, “Thank you.” It will be appreciated.
Never adopt an attitude that could detract from their service.

Stand when hearing The National Anthem. Take off your hat in respect for the flag and for which it stands. It stands for freedom. It represents sacrifice. It showcases love of country – a concept sorely lacking in the public square today.

Look into the curricula of the schools. It’s not hard to spot shortfalls. Our children need to learn accurate American history and to respect this nation – unique in all the world. Sometimes, a single thought is best. One follows.

If you have followed my column for the past twenty-plus years, you know my affinity for Ronald Wilson Reagan.

In his words, “Some people live a lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference in the world. A veteran does not have that problem.”

God Bless our Veterans. God rest those who have their all for all of us.

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 312 “The Gift”

March 12, 2025

There is a pattern to life, and often that pattern does not fit what we have in mind. The ordinary falls into daily life and what should be special becomes so routine that we fail to see the importance of it in the larger scheme of life.

Over time, we take far too much for granted. What seems commonplace is set aside mentally and the everyday morphs into a repetition that is not only comfortable but also predictable.

And so it was with a companion of mine. Our days began with a good meal and some exercise. We greeted others with a smile and a lilt in our steps. Sheer dimension elicited reactions from onlookers as we plied the streets of the small town or did errands in the suburbs of the state capital.

The good that came from our union glowed in the aftereffects as folks walked away from us in both awe and appreciation of what we shared together.

There is no way that a simple column could do my colleague justice. In essence, he made me a better person and affected, in some way, anyone with whom we came in contact.

We led a simple life, replete with the basics that we assume with always be there for us. Our valued communication is something I will treasure and regret that I failed to fully appreciate – accepting the depth of it and seldom giving a second thought of its longevity.

The relationship between a dog and owner is uncomprehensible to those who go about their days sans canine. For those who share their days with an animal who counts on you for its very life, the bond is all too familiar and comforting.

Physicians will tell you that petting a dog lowers blood pressure. Considering what a great percentage of us face in terms of daily stress, it would seem that a dog is certainly a pleasant way to stay healthy. As for me, the last sixteen years of my eighty have been nothing less than golden.

Breakfast, while with little variety, was anticipated with excitement. Browsing new streets and vistas heightened the mood. The exhilaration of scents and sounds gave rise to a new human appreciation for what others ignore as normal. And then there is the reaction of others to this wonderful friend. From the smallest of children — and I mean babies – to retirees, the reactions ran the gamut. Because our breed of choice is large and a bit intimidating for many an onlooker, the surprise comes in response to the gentle nature of a dog who outweighs – and “out loves” – his owner. I admit that he had much more enthusiasm for a perfect stranger than I. Although, I must tell you, that a dog senses a person to be avoided much quicker than an owner. When a dog skirts a stranger, there is a great deal of wisdom in action and it best to pay attention.

I recall vividly times when my dog reacted to a stranger in a way that flummoxed me. The rare ability of a dog to sense danger is amazing. It happened more than once, but in terms of the numbers of people we saw over the years, it was also very rare. Only the quick reaction of the dog alerts the owner to a possible threat.

To a great degree, I chalk the whole relationship up to an extension of what I enjoyed most about life: mothering. Taken in sum, the years with three small children evaporated in a blur. It’s not that I fail to remember what happened over a half century ago. I do. Yet, the feeling that it all passed so quickly is only felt many years later. And so I mothered my dog.

Size certainly played a part in our shared life. I cannot begin to fathom the number of people we met over the years that were completely floored by the gentle, unassuming and patient behavior of my Newfoundland dog. I realize that a large breed dog is not for everyone, but for devoted Newfie owners, there is no other dog that even comes close.

They don’t call a Newfie a Gentle Giant for nothing. Indeed, the Newfoundland is a proud dog that exhibits every nuance of gentility and love one can imagine. Whether visiting nursing homes accompanied by my Therapy Dog or giving our “Memorable Journey” program on Lewis and Clark for school children, a community organization, a church group or a national convention, the reaction was the same. How could a huge dog be so good?
The fact that Merriwether Lewis took his Newfoundand, Seaman, on the trek only served to mesmerize audiences. Lying quietly for an hour and fifteen minutes was no problem for Bear. He would make eye contact with a child or an adult in the audience and captivate their imagination.

I have witnessed my Bear sit for nearly an hour while a nursing home resident petted his head and I have watched as onlookers gaped in amazement as he navigated tourist sites nationwide. I wonder if there is another dog who had his picture taken – by request – by Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Arizona. I wonder how many dogs prompted an invitation for his family to enjoy a free sunset cruise on Lake Superior on a three-masted schooner. I wonder how many dogs welcomed the captain of a hydrofoil who sauntered down to the deck after returning from Mackinac Island to greet Bear by name and ask if he had a good time ashore. A constant in our lives for years, we loved him so much. He was such a big part of our lives that we probably just took him for granted. My husband and I never had to question the Bear’s behavior. Many people who never allowed a dog in their homes, welcomed Bear and made mention of the fact that he was the only dog allowed to do so. His behavior was consistent and exemplary. Observing other dogs who misbehaved only heightened our appreciation for the Newfoundland breed.

In our RV travel nationwide, we inspired awe and laughter among too many people to count. Walking a campground, we greeted campers who piled out of simple, tents, fifth-wheels (including toy haulers) and pricey motorhomes – all padding out to meet Bear. I can attest to the fact that many of our current relationships root in meeting Bear in a campground. Had it not been for him, we would have missed out on good friends!

The years went all too quickly, and while taking on a puppy was no trouble at all in my 60s and 70s, the prospect of doing it again is not wise. It’s not that I do not want another furry companion, it’s that I would not be smart to do it in my 80s.

The roughly seventy-two hours that brought to its end a relationship that, while raw now, will morph over time in a litany of smiles and memories more precious than gold was totally unexpected. We were blindsided. The clues that were there in front of us never failed to warn us. Sudden illness took our Bear. We never saw it coming and that is a good thing. Everything happened so quickly that we rode out the storm unaware that the end would be swift.

We gave him the one thing that he needed, a respite from pain and suffering. While a dog cannot talk, he communicates with eyes that tell it all. He was ready to go. He knew it. As a matter of fact, he lay on the snow for hours taking in all that was around him. If he had to go, the season could not have been more perfect. He was in his element, surrounded by familiar fir trees and the sylvan wilderness he had come to love.

As time goes by, I know our memories will surface again and again and remind us of how bringing a puppy home can change your life forever. The anguish comes when it is time for you to say good-bye. Memories comfort us now, yet the edge is still much too raw. Time heals all wounds, and this will be no different.

And so, on March 4, the beginning of Lent, we said good-bye to an invaluable family member who counted on us for his health and well-being. It is not lost on me that three letters, arranged differently, are inextricably linked. It is no coincidence that God and dog share the same three letters. Three: three letters… the Biblical Trilogy… husband, wife and dog. The power of three.

After eight years, two months and eleven days, the day came. God gave him to us and the time had come for us to give him back. Rest in peace, dearest Bear.