Welcome to my blog page. I will be adding blogs to let you know the latest news involving Archie Smith Instruments. You can view past blogs by clicking a blog date at the bottom of the page. (July, 2008-  I am adding some new types of information in the blogs that do not deal specifically with my instruments necessarily, but will provide you information, views, etc. that allow you to see more about what makes me "tick."  I also will stick in an "Opinion Blog" occasionally, but will clearly label it as opinion.  I WELCOME your response to these blogs.  Please let me know what you think.  E-mail me at  info@archiesmithinstruments.com  Thanks)

Dear Friends –

For some time I have debated with myself about the appropriateness of my interjecting my opinions on a blog page that is primarily about my instruments.  In the end, I have decided that I will interject my opinions SO LONG AS I label them as my opinions and encourage my readers to respond.  I am who I am and make no apologies for it.  I make NO claim to have a monopoly on the “truth,” but I do claim the right to express my opinion.  It is only through the free exchange of ideas that democracy can flourish.  I will label any “Opinion Blog” AS an “Opinion Blog” and encourage readers to respond with their opinion.  In my opinion, it is important for all of us to express our opinion WHILE recognizing that we are all in this together and that NO ONE has an absolute monopoly on the “truth” or what is best for OUR country. 

OPINION BLOG

REGARDING A BUMPER STICKER THAT I SAW

Several weeks ago I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a pick-up truck that read “DEMOCRATS – THE PARTY OF COWARDS AND TRAITORS.”  The owner of this pick-up was exercising his constitutional right of free speech.  Since then I have been “doing a slow burn” and now I want to “have my say.”

On June 15^th, 1944 my uncle was flying a P-47 fighter plane behind the thin American lines at Normandy nine days after the famous invasion  He and MANY others were trying to prevent the Germans from bringing supplies and reinforcements to the front to push the Allied forces back into the sea.  After shooting down a German fighter plane his plane was hit by ground fire.  He bailed out and was killed.  This was shortly after his 21^st birthday.  His life was over.   He would never marry (he did leave a grieving fiance), have children or enjoy the way of life that he died defending.  He gave his life to defend the constitutional rights of persons like the owner of this pick-up.  He was also a democrat. 

What about the young men and women of our armed forces in Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq and other conflicts, who have lost limbs, eyes, faces and lives in the defense of their country and who are democrats.  The idea that there are Americans like the owner of this pick-up who consider these young people, who have made incredible sacrifices for their country, as ‘cowards and traitors’ makes my “blood boil.”  I am sure that he takes great pride in his “supporting the troops.”  But does this mean only Republican troops and not Democrat troops.  I was under the impression that the troops are AMERICAN troops, not Republican troops or Democrat troops. 

What is happening to our country?  Time was when we were all Americans who wanted the best for our country.  We might have different views on how to get there, but we recognized that we ALL wanted the best for our country.  If someone disagreed with us on how to get there – that was just their view, but that did not make them cowards or traitors.  Some political figures have tried to “wrap themselves in the flag” and give the impression that if you opposed their particular policies, then you were unpatriotic, but one of the true “wonders” of democracy is that we have the free exchange of ideas and can recognize that while we all have the same goal – what is best for our country, we can differ on the “means” and way to attain that goal. 

Remember when we had all of the “United We Stand” signs shortly after 9/11?  Those signs must have given Osama Bin Laden pause to realized that he was facing a UNITED country.  Can you imagine his smile and pleasure as he hears of signs like the one on the back of that pick-up truck?  In September of this year I will be 65 years old and that bumper sticker is, without doubt, the most divisive and unpatriotic thing that I have ever seen. 

By the way, my “blood would have boiled” equally if the bumper sticker had said “Republican” instead of “Democrat.”  We are all in this together and attacking one another helps NO ONE BUT OUR ENEMIES.

Your e-mail comments are welcome.