Marshall in the Middle - Regarding this Blog

 By CE Marshall 

*Chuck Marshall's Humble Opinion regarding... his own blog.   

                                                      Chief Justice John Marshall 

Dear readers--- 

     Some of you may have been following me going back a while, when I titled my blog "Chuck Marshall's Humble Opinion", so you know what the above tagline is referencing.  Anyway, this blog has always been a bit of a frustration to me, in that I'm never totally sure what direction I want to go- so I changed the name - twice- and then thought of having two blogs to address two different forms of writing- one more serious and one more humorous.  So, as it were upon me to provide clarity- when I am posting my blogs  I will try to title it to offer direction to the topic at hand by stating "Chuck Marshall's Humble Opinion On......." giving an idea of what the topic of the day is.   I have very little patience for ramblings and tangents but I am one of the worst offenders, of course.   I'm hoping to stick with this theme;  Marshall in the Middle as the title of my blog- that does not mean I'm totally in the middle politically, it means I am open to other ideas.  I like both sides and I like to hear debates- real debates - not the clown shows you see on the networks and Cable television.   It also represents my economic background as being of a  middle class background , and my heritage which is a mix of nearly every single European country- from Spain to England to France to Russia, etc....  and 18% American Indian making me officially Heinz 57 - a little bit of a lot of different- which I think makes me more "middle American".  But of course, that's entirely debatable.    I like to think I have my pulse on the mood and debates of the nation and I hope this blog offers a fresh perspective that works to see both sides of political philosophies.  Finally, I have an ancestor considered one of the founding fathers, John Marshall which I think adds some weight to my words and thoughts as I strive to open conversation and communication between differing ideas within our country just as John Marshall did as Supreme Court justice in the early 19th century.   At that point in history, The United States was struggling to become a united country,  much like today.    You see, differences between people are guaranteed- but that doesn't mean they have to result in hate or mistrust.  We can learn from each other and grow because of the debate and dialogue.  

Sincerely,  

CE Marshall 

*Because everyone's entitled to my own opinion. 

The Truth Sits in the Middle and Knows

 By CE Marshall

We dance round in a ring and suppose,

But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.

                                                    Robert Frost 

     I've always liked this small poem (it's called a couplet, I just learned) by Robert Frost, but to me it sounds better if you say "truth" instead of "secret".   The truth has always sat with moderate Americans- The Silent Majority- they used to be called. I believe we've lost something important in our society in that the middle, or the politically moderate no longer have much power and the extremes of both parties hold sway of the population.  But the middle, or an open- minded look at any political topic warrants the most truth and benefit to all of us.  We no longer have open debate !  All conversation is biased towards one side or another.  With the internet this difference has been aggravated by the echo chamber of X (previously known as Twitter) and other social media platforms where you can choose who you listen to and the differences become more and more pronounced.  Opposing ideas are non-existent.  The "other" side is evil, devious, and not to be trusted or considered.   The truth is silenced. 

     I was once told by a close friend that I'm not at all in the middle and the title of this blog is not accurate to my true opinions- it's a misnomer.  He says I'm to the extreme right.   I disagree, I am very much in the middle of people who are willing to listen to other opinions.  The left has gone so far left that their main talking points are not even legitimate points to me.  Their conversation and debates are hysterical and shrill.  They simply won't listen to other opinions.  It doesn't help that the media and whoever is running our government are fully in favor of their extremist ideas because it behooves them- the reasons are the subject of another blog.   The Deep State, or "Mad King George" as I like to call them,  are making a lot of money and maintain all their power through the mouth breathing thoughts of the "rank and file" Democrats.  These days are a special consideration regarding moderate politics,  in that the Democrats themselves have become the problem itself.  They are not a political party- they are the government itself.  I AM in the political middle of ideas regarding how our government and society should be run based on liberty, truth and justice not based on feelings, victimhood and virtue signalling.  I am open to the idea of government participation in our lives with reasonable restrictions- but not at the sacrifice of the blubbery, obscene bureaucracy that we have and pay for today.  I stand for a truth that looks and hears both sides of debates. 

     I can remember a time when people had reasonable debates and the media did not dictate their opinion to the public.  It was hard to detect any "side" from the media (The big three networks- ABC, NBC, CBS) were reasonable in their coverage and fair with opinions and debates.  The newspaper industry was not owned by a handful of liberally biased conglomerates the way it is today.  They at least appeared neutral.  Once the cable news industry started up in the 1980's,  the news became a 24 hour "thing".  You can't fill 24 hours with news everyone has heard over and over-- so, the media itself becomes the news.  And it's not profitable news if you're not angry and shrill, and hysterical and full of venom.  Honestly,  the state of the media is truly evil today.  There is no middle ground, there are only hysterical comments, name calling, finger pointing, fear mongering.  They stir the pot and profit from our fears and bias.  Common ground is neither covered 'nor discussed.  The truth is no longer the endeavor of the media- it's money and power that motivates them.  

   So, I crave the truth and I am determined it comes back into fashion.  

We dance round in a ring and suppose,

But the Truth sits in the middle and knows.

In My Humble Opinion.... 

Chuck Marshall