For the most part, on my blogs and websites, I pretty much keep my political views to myself.  I don’t hesitate to give my opinion on certain subjects.  For example, I think the war on terrorism had to be waged, but I think it’s time to bring our men and women home.  And I’m all for hugging trees but not at the expense of human beings.  I’m more interested in programs and institutions that better the lives of people than I am those that better the lives of plants.

However, I personally don’t feel the need to announce the candidate I’m supporting.  As someone who is all about people making their own decisions in life and pioneering their own paths, I wouldn’t want to try to influence anyone with my own choice.  It’s my hope that everyone reads everything they can about each candidate.  Each individual is intelligent, compassionate, and has a lot to offer to their country.  I believe each would do us proud.

I think each one takes a lot of needless heat for issues that, on the grand scale, simply aren’t that important.  One of my pet peeves is when John McCain (born on August 29, 1936) is accused of being “too old.”   Do his critics think he’ll be called on to literally run a race?

Irregardless of the side of the political fence we’re on, we have to see the ridiculousness of suggesting that someone is too experienced for any position or job.

Take, for example the following ageless marvels:

• Helen Mirren not only won the Academy Award while in her early 60′s (for her amazing performance in The Queen), she had people all over the world using the word “hot” and they weren’t just referring to her career!
• Mark Twain wrote “Eve’s Diary” and “The $30,000 Bequest” at the age of 71.
• Corrie ten Boom traveled the world with her missionary work in her 80s’.
• Jack LaLanne, at 70, towed seventy boats containing 70 people for a mile across Long Beach Harbor….with a rope in his teeth….while handcuffed…and wearing shackles on his legs.
• Goethe finished “Faust” in his early 80′s.
• Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States at age 69.
• Winston Churchill initiated his protest against Hitler as Prime Minister at the age of 65.  He returned to the House of Commons as a member of Parliament at 80.
• The famous preacher, John Wesley, traveled an average of 20 miles a day for 40 years.  He preached 4,000 sermons and produced 400 books.  At 83 he was actually “annoyed” that he could not write for more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes.  At 86, he got impatient with himself because he couldn’t preach more than twice a day.  But, best of all, he complained in his diary during this time that there was an “increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.”!

I’m just against imposing limits on anyone.  When we do so, we impose them on ourselves, as well.  Age is one of those things- along with money, time, education, etc - that people use to limit what they think other people can or will do.  Thankfully, men and women who refuse to be limited just keep proving them wrong over and over again.  The examples above are just a precious few, can you imagine how many more there actually are? 

Get this:  According to “Speaker’s Sourcebook II” (where many of the facts, above, came from), researchers studied the lives of 400 famous people.  They found that 35 percent of the group’s achievements came when they were between the ages of 60 and 70.  23 percent when they were between 70 and 80, and 8 percent when they were over 80.  As the author, Glenn Van Ekeren, concluded - ”The world’s greatest work has been achieved by people over 60.”

That’s great news for all of us.  For those who are 60 or above, you know you’re in the zone!  For the rest of us, we know our best is still ahead. 

Growing old is not upsetting; being perceived as old is. – Kenny Rogers

To age with dignity and with courage cuts close to what it is to be a man. – Roger Kahn

You don’t stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop laughing. – Michael Pritchard

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was? – Satchel Paige

And my favorite:  Live your life and forget your age! – Norman Vincent Peale