The Conservative Son

I try to imagine what things would be like if FDR and the "Greatest Generation" had handled the Axis Powers like the "Grating-est Generation" is handling the Chinese flu. (Thank you Dennis Miller!)

Americans turning on their radios for FDR's weekly fireside chat might hear something like this:

The announcer:

"The next voice you hear will be that of President Franklin Roosevelt."

Roosevelt:

My fellow Americans. We are facing an terrible crisis and we must be strong, vigilant and patient in our war against the enemy. The following are guidelines that I, my cabinet and the Department of Defense have constructed to battle the European and Japanese Fascists:

1. Stay inside.

Don't go to church to pray. Don't go to the market accept for necessities. Don't go to work. We will, therefore, be suspending all defense production and laying off workers for the duration of the war. Staying inside will keep the Nazis from seeing our movements and they will have to wonder if we are even still alive at all.

2. Don't form groups.

Rubber and metal drive collections are hereby canceled. Likewise, bond rallies will be restricted until further notice. In keeping with these new guidelines, all military training will also be suspended. (Refer to guideline number one.)

3. Protect yourself.

All citizens will now be required to wear protective gear while at work. This way, we will be protected against any sort of chemical-biological attack, no matter how unlikely. This will soon apply to citizens while in their homes, also. Better safe than sorry!

4. Severe penalties.

For any who don't comply with our new shelter-in-place policies, there will be severe consequences. The FBI and other federal agencies will be given special powers to enforce these guidelines.

Be aware! You might be required to present papers authorizing you to be wherever you are at any particular moment. You might also be dragged off busses, subways or public places for not complying with these guidelines.

5. Personal protection.

It is currently being taken under consideration by my cabinet and the federal police forces whether or not to restrict the Second Amendment. Citizen owned defense weapons might be noticed by the Axis Powers and seen as aggressive toward them which might make them feel they have to be more aggressive in their military campaigns. Thereby, causing them to notice us and attack us.

Remember: we must hide from the war or it might come to us!

So, restrictions on these rights and others will certainly be increased and strengthened.

6. Bread and entertainment:

To assuage the pain, discomfort and financial strain on citizens, checks will be coming from the federal government to enable citizens to buy food. (No, the government doesn't actually have any money, but by the time the checks clear, well, who cares?) For those who don't need food, you may use the money to buy a new radio to enable your family to listen to the new twenty-four hour stream of entertainment the networks will provide on the government controlled air-waves. (Also, of course, my fireside chats.)

We don't want you to be bored during this time of crisis. Are you not entertained?

7. Surrender.

My fellow Americans, when the Japanese are marching down the streets of Los Angeles and the Germans are in Times Square, simply ignore them. Don't go near them. Remember the guidelines and everyone will be safe.

Of course by the time we finally do come out of our homes, when the war is over, the Germans, Japanese and Italians will have divided up our once great nation, but we will have avoided the vast numbers of deaths that a world war such as this would bring about.

Remember, my fellow citizens, if it saves one life, it's worth it!

Besides, by the time the war is over, your government will have restricted so many God given, Constitutionally enumerated freedoms, we won't really know the difference between our republic and those fascist regimes anyway, right?

Thank you for your attention.

Good night, my fellow Americans!

And God bless America?

It's that time of year again. Time once again for me to trash one of the worst, anti-God, anti-patriotism, anti-free market, pro-communism, atheistic songs ever written by a over-blown, self-centered, self-indulgent millionaire!

For some reason, that I can't even imagine, (pardon the pun,) many Christians have latched onto this song as a sort of anthem. I've seriously had more than one believer get his/her nose out of joint at me for mocking the maudlin little tune.

I suppose it has a purty-ful melody, a couple of catchy lines and talks inanely about peace on earth. I reckon it's good to listen to when your drunk or stoned and you're enjoying feeling warm and mushy about life. You know, not that you would want to do anything about the world's problems; you just want to feel like you do.

"Imagine Re-imagined"

"Imagine there's no Heaven. It's easy if you try."

Why would I want to try? "No Heaven"? In other words, no angels, no God, no Jesus? No thanks!

"No Hell below us."

So, Hitler, Stalin, and every pedophile in history who never got caught escaped justice?

"Above us only sky."

What? No Glory Land? No mom & dad waiting to greet me? No eternal bliss with Jesus?

"Imagine all the people living for today."

Isn't that our problem today? So many living as if there's no eternity and no Almighty God to whom they'll have to answer.

"You may say I'm a dreamer."

No, I just think you did too many drugs.

"But I'm not the only one."

That's true and it makes me want to cry.

"I hope someday you'll join us."

No, I'll stay with Jesus.

"And the world will live as one."

No, I am in the world, but not of it.

Labels: atheist, Christianity, God, John Lennon, liberals, Music

(In no particular order.)

1. Matching outfits. Usually dark in color.

2. Roaming in hordes throughout the streets.

3. Carrying placards and signs with super-simple slogans.

4. Loud and noisy. Disturbing the peace. Shouting simplistic chants.

5. Destruction of public and private property: usually including burning, smashing windows, overturning vehicles and, occasionally, looting.

6. Verbal and physical attacks on bystanders, dissenters and government officials and authority in general.

7. Verbal and physical attacks on, along with a general overt show of contempt for, peace officers. Also, the military.

8. Physical suppression of dissenters. Shouting down, in-your-face verbal attacks as well as physical assaults on any who show disagreement.

9. Demand for government censorship of differing opinions. Call for emotional, financial, societal and employment restriction and suppression of dissenters. Also, rejection of traditional morals and institutions.

 

10. Labeling dissenters as anti-revolutionary, anti-social, less than a person, unworthy of peace and life.

11. Call for boycott of dissenters businesses, restricting them from certain businesses, regulating them out of business, ostracizing them from society, from employment and from being allowed to live in certain areas. Also, going to their homes and businesses and harassing dissenters. Threatening dissenters' employers, employees, customers, financiers and any who do business with them. Use government agencies to make operating a business excruciatingly difficult or keeping finding employment virtually impossible for dissenters.

12. Controlling education and stifling any dissenter, employee or student, who dares to offer a conflicting or opposing opinion. Expulsion, fines, emotional and physical abuse are acceptable weapons to quell dissent.

13. Demand centralized government control of education and health care. Call for government sponsored, "no charge," education and medical care. Oppressively regulate a fine and/or jail those who seek education or health care from private institutions.

14. Demand government forgiveness of debt. Education, medical or otherwise.

15. Be exclusionary of various ethnic backgrounds. Homogeny, if not total, must be nearly so. Feign ethnic openness, but de facto suppress it.


These tools, along with others, were used by the Italian Fascist and German Nazi parties in 1930's Europe.

What groups do we know today who use these tactics?

　

I posted this response to an idiotic post I saw on Face Book. The post in question follows my reply.

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I’ve actually “liked” several pages like this. My fear is, that the old Confederates who warned us about the abuses of an overbearing central government might turn out to be right. Still, calling John Brown, a man who believed that Christ was the Son of God, “THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN TALIBAN,” is so far beyond asinine, I falter at words to describe it! Brown hated the abomination of slavery so much, that he fought and died in an albeit vain hope of securing millions of Americans held in slavery the chance to fight for their own freedom,

I have always said, there is enough honor to go around. Men, like many of my ancestors, fought bravely on both sides of that war and we should respect their devotion to their particular causes.

None of us should need a history lesson explaining that the average Confederate soldier neither owned nor wanted slaves, but most fought because they found Yankees in their back yards. (More than enough reason to fight for your average redneck.) When I listen to the liberals in Washington accuse me of “clinging to guns and religion,” I think, “Amen!” When someone calls Brown and his compatriots “anti-slavery terrorists,” I think, “If fighting for the freedom of millions would qualify me as a “terrorist,” thank you, I’ll just take that as a compliment.” I suppose that line of thinking would make every soldier who killed and died for the freedom of our nation “terrorists.” Sheesh!

I only hope that when this government finally enslaves me and mine, (which seems more and more to be their goal,) there’ll be some crazy, fanatical, wild-eyed “John Brown” out there for us willing to take up arms to aid me in fighting to protect my family‘s freedom! And yours!

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"Defending the Heritage"

Labels: John Brown, patriotism, slavery, terrorists

So, Joe Bite-me says to black Americans that Romney "gonna put ya'll back in chains!" Funny too, for a moment there, he lost that Maryland accent of his. Don’t suppose he’s faking it, do ya? Well, maybe. Can you get more condescending?

Democrats have no new tricks! Republicans just hate women, poor, blacks, Latinos, we want to starve children and want to give all of our money to the evil rich! I suppose it’s worked for them for decades. Why change it?

This is really funny coming from the people who started a war that would’ve retained slavery, founded the KKK, lynched blacks in the South, voted against the Civil Rights amendment, segregated lunch counters and water fountains, sicked dogs on school children, impoverished a generation by making them government dependents and supported the murder of millions in the womb!

Yeah, Joe! Who do you want in chains?


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Oops! Biden was senator from Delaware. Sorry, all Yankees sound the same to me. tee-hee!

Labels: Joe Biden, politics, prejudice, racism

Our local newspaper, the DPA, was insane enough to once again publish my most recent letter "To the Editor." While I am glad and gratified that they saw fit to print my ramblings, I must say that they have taken to editing my editorials.

I am no prima donna, but I spend hours picking just the right words to express what it is that I want to say. I wouldn’t mind them messing with my work so much if they would, as my daughter suggests, pay me.
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To the Editor:

“Make us a king!” That’s what the tribes of Israel said to Samuel. He warned them that a king would take the best of everything they had. He warned them that a king would conscript their youth into his service and weigh them all down with heavy taxes and war. Samuel reminded them that the Lord God Jehovah was their King, but they would have none of that. They wanted nothing more than to pass the decisions of their life on to someone who, at least in their own farcical estimation, was more qualified than they were. They simply wanted to be taken care of.

Sadly and predictably, the people would not hearken unto Samuel’s words of warning. When Samuel complained to God, God told him, “They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me.”

Israel rejected their King in Heaven for a king on earth. They rejected the self-government of their tribal-states in their desire to be “like all the nations.” (Incidentally, only in America does “state” not mean “nation.”)

Today, politicians promise us more and more. More and more Americans are happy to take more and more. Many voters simply support whoever promises to increase their wages or guarantee their retirement, education, health care or food stamps. In short, a growing majority ask, “What’s in it for me?” Sadly, too many have cast their ballot, in more than one election, considering only personal gain, never contemplating the costs of such government extravagance. And if someone else is forced to pay for their goodies, well, they’re okay with that.

Our snake-oil salesmen in Washington D.C. argue that the cripple will never walk, the blind will never see, the hungry will go unfed and the old and sick will die if the government doesn’t step in to help. A lot seem to think that some how, some way with enough taxes and regulation, the federal government can solve all of our problems. What’s next? Will they tell us that if we give up enough of our freedom and money they can legislate away death? (That’s about all that’s left for them to promise.)

I’ve heard it said, “Somebody’s got to do something!” Well, they cried those same words in the Depression of nineteen-thirties Germany and, sure enough, someone “did something.” He did something that resulted in the deaths of millions in the most destructive war the world has ever known. He took good care of his people, providing for their every need and they hailed him as their “Fuhrer.” Yes, he kept every promise he made right up to the point when the shooting started.

My ancestors and yours came to this country by hook or by crook, but all by great hardship. Many came seeking freedom of religion; many came seeking a fortune. Some came as slaves or indentured servants. Some came merely seeking adventure. Countless died at sea and at the hands of those defending what was then their own country. Still, they kept coming! They keep coming today. They come on boats and planes and cross deserts, rivers and oceans, but they keep coming!

One thing’s for sure, they didn’t brave the swelling tides of the Pacific and the Atlantic for free health care. They didn’t endure starvation and lost loved ones for Social Security. They didn’t leave the tacit safety of hearth, home and king for food stamps. Neither did they sell all they owned and leave everyone they knew behind, never to be seen or heard from again, for “free” government education that would make them out to be liars when they told their children, “There is a God and it is He who has made us and not we ourselves.” Funny, most of our ancestors came here to escape a tyrant a thousand miles away, yet we today choose a thousand tyrants a mile away.

Recollecting the first time I voted, I was so excited, idealistic and, perhaps, naïve. I voted as if my vote not only counted, but also would be the deciding one. When choosing a candidate, I can honestly say, that I still think only of the good of my beloved country and not my personal gain. Yes, I’ve considered the effects that one candidate or another might have on the economy or the environment, immigration, the debt, national security, etc. Still, I always pick the one I believe loves America and freedom the most. My question is always, “Does he love liberty?” I still take it that seriously. No brag, just fact.

What’s my point? For far too many Americans today, rugged individualism is anachronistic at best and anathema at worst. They say, “Yeah, it’d be nice to live free, but if someone doesn’t provide my health care, I won’t be alive anyway! Isn’t it good that the government takes care of us?” These sad-sacks sound all too much like the slave saying, “If it wasn’t for master, I wouldn’t have a roof over my head.” Well, our “masters” in Washington seem to think they can provide us a roof much better than we can for ourselves. “Give us your money and your freedom and we’ll make you…comfortable.” Sheesh!

So, I ask you, Mr. & Ms. Citizen, what will be on your mind when you cast your ballot this November? Will you be thinking about the blood of patriots whose sanguine sacrifice anointed that Holy of Holies we call the voting booth? Will you be thinking of the liberty that your ancestors prayed for as they walked, for the first time, upon this Eden shore? Will you be thinking about your grandchildren and at what point there will be so much central government control that they are no longer free?

Israel sold its sovereignty for servitude. What will you sell yours for? Will you trade the fire of liberty for tepid comfort? Will you exchange autonomy for a gilded cage? Will you sell so cheaply that which was bought for us by others at so great a price?

Labels: America, D.C., freedom, Israel, kings, liberty, presidential campaign, presidents, Samuel, Saul, slavery, voting, Washington

So, Vice-President Joe Bite-me wants to call God-fearing, Constitution loving, TEA Party Americans
"terrorists" and then backs down and gives a feigned apology? Well, I don't want his apology! I'd feel good about his resignation, though.

Labels: apology, God, Joe Biden, terrorists, U.S. Constitution

I don't really so much want to see the pics of Bin Ladin dead as I want to see the video of when a dozen or so Navy SEALs walk through his bedroom door and he says, "Oh, Shiite!"

Labels: Islam, Osama Bin Ladin, Shiite, U.S. Navy

Well, I sure am glad that Congress avoided the shutdown. Yeah, those courageous Republicans were able to hold the line and get two thirds of what amounts to an infinitesimal budget cut. Yeah, and isn't it great that Harry Reid can now keep government abortions..."health care"...for his daughter and granddaughters. Too bad he doesn't have government-paid-for health care for his family already. Too bad he isn't a multi-millionaire who can pay for his granddaughters abortions..."health care"...himself. Poor, poor, pencil-neck Harry. Do we really expect him to let go of some of his own money? Shame on us for not wanting to pay for poor millionaire's daughters' abortions..."health care."

Labels: abortion, government, Harry Reid, health care, Senate

What if my president had handled the "pep rally" the other day differently? In all fairness to him, he appeared taken aback by the repeated thunderous applause from supposed mourners who were no more than Obama fans jumping on the chance to see him. What if, when they were chanting his name and loudly proclaiming their love for him, he had stopped in mid-speech and said something to the effect, "Wait! This is not about me. This is about the six dead, including a nine year old girl who had barely begun to live. Please don't chant my name, but do remember these families in your prayers." Believe it or not, that would have made even an old right-winger like me who can barely stand the man give him respect for setting those star-eyed zealots strait.

Labels: assassine, Christina Green

It was stupefying to see Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County, Arizona today, while being interviewed by Megan Kelley, blame talk radio and people against Obama-Care for the murders in Tucson recently. Oh, and I laughed when Megan pointed out to him that he is, surprise, surprise, a Democrat. Funny though, that he knew nothing about the fruition of some charges against the shooter from some time back when it appears he had made death threats against the congresswoman. I suppose the, cough, good sheriff was too busy trying to figure out how to blame this mindless violence on Rush Limbaugh. God help us!

Labels: Arizona, assasin, Claren Dupknik, Rush Limbaugh

I saw the video at the link below and my head nearly exploded! I've had it in for Little Jimmy Duncan for years because of his lack of respect for our military, but this is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the pale! So, I sent this email to him, post haste.

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Con. Duncan:



Do they know you want to cut their retirement, Jimmy?



I am furious! I am disgusted! I just watched a clip of you on You Tube.

So, now you want to “balance” the budget on the backs of veterans? You think allowing men to retire after twenty years in the military makes no sense?

I served three years proudly in Uncle Sam’s Army. I am not a retiree, but I was honored to wear the uniform and my heart goes out to those who have the courage to at least potentially, if not literally, face enemy bullets, dismemberment or death to protect this great nation.

Hey, Jimmy! If you want to find a way to “balance” the budget, why don’t you refuse that big, fat pension you’re going to get when you retire. Yeah, like that’ll ever happen.

“…very unnecessary foreign wars…” I wrote you years ago and said I’ll never vote for you again over remarks like this. Can’t you just support the troops and quit saying what they are doing is “unnecessary”? (I’m sure Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid agree with you.)

“…healthy, able bodied people…” Oh, sure, all we ask is that they leave their homes for months and months on end, go to strange countries, dodge enemy bullets and bombs and maybe die a little bit one day. Oh, yeah, they also have to listen to their Congressman saying that they don’t deserve a proper retirement after twenty years of that.

What will your retirement be after way too long in D.C.? Oh, yeah, that’s right. You believe your worth a six figure salary and pension with full health benefits and a retired Army colonel isn’t? Sheesh! You’re a veteran! What happened? When did you become a professional politician?

“…working as a waiter or waitress is more physically demanding…” Well, I’ve been a waiter and I’ve been a soldier. I was fortunate enough to never experience combat, but have friends who have. No waiter/waitress with any humility thinks their job is “more physically demanding” than that of a cop or a soldier.

I have been a life-long Republican and my family has been Republican since Lincoln. Shamefully, Republicans, such as yourself, can spend with the best of the Democrats as long as it’s your own pet project. (Yes, I read the DPA and see you passing out checks all the time.) This is the sort of thing that makes me ashamed, almost, to be a Republican.

I’m convinced you’ve been in D.C. too long and maybe feel you deserve your office and that you’re unbeatable. (Perhaps you think you can bequeath your office to someone?) This is another of the reasons, though I’ll never vote Democrat, I said I’ll never vote for you again and will discourage everyone I can from doing so. (I’ve met with some success on the latter.) When I hear you talk like that, all I can think is “Term Limits”!

This is also one of the reasons why I was proud to finally, after a decade, vote for a Congressional candidate again. I voted for Joe Leinweber, thank you.

I was always proud to vote for your daddy. For years, I felt the same way about you. Something changed about a year or two after 9-11. I don’t know what the polls told you, but pretty much everybody I talk to wants to give the troops a raise!

It breaks my heart to hear the words like you said in that video come out of a good old boy from East Tennessee that I once admired and respected so much. It really just makes me so sad.

I’m thankful for our military and their hard work and sacrifice! God bless them! Lay off! Don’t cut their pay! Don’t cut their retirement! Cut the pay of U.S. Congressmen and Senators! Talk about a cushy job!

Sincerely,

etc.

Con. Duncan calls for cuts in military retirement, but not his own.

Labels: Congressman John Duncan, Democrat, government, Harry Reid, Jr., military, Nancy Pelosi, patriotism, R.I.N.O., Term Limits

Let me be, perhaps, the first to predict that in a year when President Obama kicks off his reelection campaign, the experience that he said didn't matter two years ago, will be his main argument for reelection. The experience that didn’t matter for John McCain will be the salient reason for reelection of our president.




Funny how a thing like that works. You don’t have to have any experience to set on the president’s cabinet, to be a Supreme Court Justice or even to be President of the most powerful nation on the planet.



You don’t have to have ever had a real job. You don’t have to have ever have hired or fired anyone. You don’t have to have ever had to have met a payroll. You don’t have to have ever have had any accomplishments whatsoever! You don’t have to have ever done anything more than get yourself elected to a couple of political offices. Still, none of that matters if you talk glibly about “hope and change.” Sheesh!



It reminds me of the ‘92 campaign, when military service and/or draft dodging didn’t matter because Bill Clinton was a Democrat. Yet, in 2000, when questions were raised about George Bush’s honorable service, suddenly it did matter since he is a Republican. Well, when the campaign commercials begin next year that talk about the “steady, experienced, proven leadership of Barack Obama,” that explosion you hear is not the balloon going up…it’s my head!

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Democrat, George Bush, John McCain, presidential campaign, presidents, Republican, Supreme Court

This is another one of those stories that I don’t share with just anybody. If you care to go with me on this, another emotionally fraught journey, you are welcome to tag along.




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One regret I have from my trip to D.C. is, although I spent better than two days in Arlington Cemetery, I never once saw a funeral. I know that they were taking place. There are upwards of sixty a day, to my understanding. Although I saw the Lee mansion flag at half-mast repeatedly, I never actually observed a funeral procession. The closest I came was what took place while I was looking for the grave of Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon, USMC.



LCP Nixon was the first Tennessean to die under fire in the war on terror. He was killed in action at a bridge on the outskirts of An Nasiriyah in Iraq. He gained a certain amount of fame when Trace Atkins released the video version of his hit song "Arlington." In the video, you not only see the gravestone for Corporal Nixon, but the image of his face billowing in the background.



I visited many graves while in Arlington: Halsey, Marshall, the Unknowns, Audie Murphy, "Black Jack” Pershing, "Pappy" Boyington, Jimmy Dolittle, Todd Lincoln and others. Each was a thrill. Each was humbling. Yet, Corporal Nixon’s was the hardest to locate.



My information on his internment was scanty, at best. Still, I searched arduously with my family over several acres of markers in the vicinity where I thought he was buried. Yet, to no avail. I seriously considered giving up the search, but realized that I would regret it if I didn't persevere.



I pondered leaving my family there while I rushed back to the reception center. I had taken note of a computer in the museum designed specifically for doing grave searches. It was a blistering hot day and my family didn't really seem too keen on the suggestion of being marooned in the hot sun while I hurried off for who knows how long. I can't say that I blame them for that. So, I decided to take them back to where they could wait in an air-conditioned building and then I could continue my quest. There I searched the listings, quickly discovering the coordinates for LCP Nixon’s place of burial. I assured my wife and child that I would hurry every chance I got and rushed at near double-time in pursuit of my objective.



I finally arrived in the correct section and began to count off rows of stones. Presently, I found LCP Nixon. I had hopes of conferring some small amount of honor that a feeble man such as myself could. I stood there, looking down at this young man’s final resting place, thinking about his sacrifice, that of so many others in our nation's past, those of today and those who will suffer loss in the future.



Though I had been concentrating intensely on my search, I noticed some very clean-cut young men, grouped together not many rows over. They seemed to be, like myself, searching for someone among the markers. I didn't want to be nosey or disturb them, but I found myself drawn to them and persistently kept turning my eyes in their direction. I must say, when it dawned on me that they were nothing less than military men dressed in civvies, I was taken aback. I didn't want to bother them, so I only observed from a distance while they talked among themselves and walked among the stones.



After a short while, they departed the premises. As I recall, cars were waiting for them, which they gathered into, disappearing down the avenue.



Curiosity got the better of me, so, I meandered over to the place where the servicemen had been wandering. Here I discovered several unfinished graves. Lose dirt covered many of them and it was obvious that the grounds crew had some work yet to do. One was even covered by a slab in preparation, I suppose, for an ensuing graveside ceremony.



To say the least, I was enthralled and mesmerized by what I chanced upon there. Yet, my astonishment was to grow in a way I could not have anticipated.



I walked along, reading the names and dates on several gravestones, when I raised my eyes and was dumbfounded to see line after line of graves of so many who were killed in action in the war on terror. I found myself surrounded by the dead of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. I myself was buried, so to speak, deep among the honored dead.



I stood with my mouth open reading the names of soldiers, sailors and marines surrounding me who had given the "last full measure of devotion." Name after name, after name, after name, after name, after name, after name! I was astonished, perplexed, mortified and broken. It appeared to me as a sea of stones rolling in like a tide.



Then, for some reason, it occurred to me that I should call my wife and let her know that I had made it safely to my destination. Perhaps, I wished to share with her and my child what I was seeing there. I heard her answer her cell phone, but suddenly found myself barely able to speak. I stood there among those brave souls, completely overwhelmed with the gravity and emotion of it all. I began to choke up and tried to spit out a few words in my weak attempt to tell her what I was witnessing. I think the only halfway coherent sentence that came out of me was, "There are just so many!" Then, of course, I broke down and boo-hood. Yes, I found myself crying a lot in D.C.



I made my way slowly through their ranks, taking time to have one last long look across this army of fallen heroes. My desire to tarry among these brave immortals there was not one that swiftly passed.



I soon returned to my family where they, of course, greeted this weepy old man with hugs and kisses and “I love you”s. The awe I felt at the gravesite was fresh in my mind and heart. Curious thing about it, years later, that sentiment is with me still.

Labels: Arlington National Cemetery, funerals, Marines, Patrick Nixon, Tennessee

Deism, as defined by Dictionary.com, among other variations, is: "belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it." My "Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary" defines it, in another way, as: "In philosophy, the belief that reason is sufficient to prove the existence of God, with the consequent rejection of revelation and authority." The latter leans more toward a traditional characterization of Enlightenment deism.

I am neither scholar nor philosopher, but I know how to open a book, read the words written therein and gain at least a modicum of understanding thereof. I have studied many of these philosophies and find an interesting progression of thinking on this road of intellectual meandering.

Modern deism has it's roots as far back as the very first century. John, the Apostle of Christ, warned us of those who would deny that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." Those he identified in that same passage as "antichrist." (Sorry, my fundamentalist friends, but that is the Bible's definition of "antichrist." No capital "a.")

Now, this idea begs the question: If you don't believe Christ is come "in the flesh," what do you think of Him? You might believe a lot of positive things: teacher, prophet, healer, miracle worker. One thing, though, that you couldn't reasonably accept is that Jesus is the Christ of God. You couldn't accept that Christ is "very God." You might think of Him as some sort of an angel, a demigod or even a demiurge, but He would not, could not be God. The only thing that can bring a man to acceptance that Jesus is and was who the Bible says He is, is faith alone. "Sola Fide."

What would later be called the "Gnostic Gospels" were nothing more than an attack on Christ's divinity. While any expert I've seen or heard tell of would never claim that these brief books are any reliable sort of "Gospel," they are a revelation of the twisted reason that was grasping at the heels of the Church even before its weaning.

Further, we know that at some point along about the fifth century, Europe entered into an oppressive, stifling "Dark Age" that sought to suppress reason, thought, science and, of course, even true religion. The occidental world was taught that "God said it and that settles it." The concept of a rational God who had any desire to walk and talk with men as practical equals was anathema to the iron fist of the Roman Catholic church.

Time passes, Columbus sails the ocean blue and the New World is opened to mankind. Thousands and hundreds of thousands flee to a land where men can think freely, work for their own gain and worship their own God by the dictates of their own consciences. Europe itself saw a Renaissance of invention and thought that began to grind away at that iron fist which had subjugated the soul of western man for centuries. For the first time, men were looking, not only outwardly to find God, but believed they could, after a manner, find God within themselves.

No, they weren't abandoning God in any numbers or saying that man is God. (As so many seem to think today.) They just began to conclude through, empirical study and natural science that, perhaps, what the priests and bishops had been telling them for centuries about an aloof, repressive God who wanted not to share himself with man was, possibly, not truly His way. Perchance, we who "have the mind of Christ" should exercise it and could, through reason, know the mind of God.

While acumen is desirable and thinking and asking questions is never sinful, dismissing the Holy Scriptures, not to mention the Holy Ghost, can lead us in paths of unrighteousness where lies become truth and even evil can seem good. The unregenerate mind that searches the skies and Scriptures, will never find the harmony that God intended to exist between them. The unregenerate mind that searches the skies and earth, will assume there is no harmony to discover. So, it was inevitable that conclusions were drawn that the intellect in love with Christ would never have drawn.

Remember, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no god.'" These men were a lot of things, but fools they weren't. Empirical observation caused some healthy psyches to postulate that, "Yes, God is there, but do I even need someone to tell me so? Can I not, by cognition, understand that He is there? If this is true, has mankind ever really needed 'divine revelation?'"

It doesn't take long to see how even a logical man, especially one who looks around at the allurements and temptations of a vast, new world of science, pseudo-reason and infinite opportunities for abandon might be led, by discovery and pleasure, to flirt with the idea of shaking off the tenets of "revelation and authority" that have, in his way of thinking, kept men bound to old mores that were quickly becoming quaint and archaic. How long would it take for some rational men to conclude that not only do the Holy Scriptures no longer hold sway over their lives, but their testimony about who and what Jesus was should now be viewed as less than reliable.

While some few of our Founding Fathers, very few, did subscribe, to one degree or another, to some aspects of this philosophy, even a modicum of research would reveal that they were, almost without exception, devout Christians. Many were even ministers. Some could have been influenced by what is sometimes called "Christian Deism." Which, oversimplified, means that, as I am fond of saying, acceptance of Christ by faith doesn't mean the abandonment of reason.

Now, I realize that words change, evolve, progress and digress and what might've meant one thing two hundred years ago, doesn't necessarily mean the same thing today. Cool hasn't always meant "cool." Two centuries ago, I would've been called a liberal. Remember, though, "Words mean things." They do change, but you can't change the meaning of any word at any moment that you so chose simply to suit your own ignorant, mercurial desires and passions. Society, over time and usage, is what dictates contemporary meanings of words.

In the past century, deism came more to be defined as the concept of "A God who didn't care, who lived away out there." Mostly disappeared is the idea of learning about God through reason and empiricism and appeared is the idea of an aloof God who is, frankly, unknowable. Renaissance deism never, never, never had any connotations such as are ascribed to it in this modern age by those who are all but atheists. (By the way, I don't believe in atheists.)

It has now become fashionable to abandon all facts of history and cast defamations and aspersions on our Founders by accusing them of being, frankly, Godless. Furthermore, many today pathetically attempt to elevate themselves to a level that had been, by these original free thinkers, held as a place for the Creator of Heaven and earth, whomever and whatever He might ultimately be.

This is no more than the continuing pursuit of anarchy and lawlessness. Modern agnostic thinkers desire only to pull the darkness over their sins in a vainglorious attempt to hide themselves from the Truth of God. Even more, they foist upon those who may disagree with them not only the tolerance of their intellectual hypocrisy, but acceptance of and adherence to their twisted logic, squashing any questioning of their lives and lifestyles whether overt or covert, verbal or mental.

Now, what has all this to do with George Washington? The plaque, shown above, placed in the tomb over the remains of Father Washington and his bride, are the last testimony the General wanted to leave this world. He had the good sense to know that many would come to see his burial place and, even though he is gone to his great reward, he could continue to testify his faith in Christ to every visitor at his tomb.

Deist? I think not! Are you as tired of that red herring as I am? (Of course, I would expect unscrupulous deists to lie about General Washington being a deist.) This misnomer is cast at Washington by liars and the willfully ignorant like so much spaghetti tossed at the wall. After enough is thrown, some of it is going to stick. They misuse the word, some unknowingly, but most knowingly, in the perverted hope that they could count the godly general as one of their own.

Freemasonry inculcates the belief in a Grand Architect of the Universe, Who created us, guides us, grants us eternal life and will require some sort of accounting of our actions here on earth, when, at the "end of our toilsome journey," we stand before His throne. Brother Washington, among many things that he was proud to be, was proud to be counted as a member of our fraternity. What will these slime-ball prevaricators say next? Will they say he was a hypocritical fake or weak-minded dupe? Actually, they'll say anything.

Sadly, calling our first president a deist, is one of the many lies that have been told about Washington in his time and ours. I, for one, know better.

1 Corinthians 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world

St. John 11:25,26a
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Labels: angels, antichrist, Christian, deism, demiurge, Freemason, Geore Washington

Yeah, I used to have some respect for Juan, but when I saw him acidly attack Sarah Palin on Hannity, again, as not being as smart as Obama, it was obvious there was one reason only. Funny, but he never mentions anything Obama ever did to prove himself to be so smart.

All Juan did was make fun of how pretty Palin is. That's what a sexist does, he writes off a woman because she is either too ugly or too pretty. I suppose that makes him a sexist too. Sheesh!

Labels: Barack Obama, bigotry, Fox News, Juan Williams, liberals, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, sexism

Introduction:

When this event first occurred, I shared it with everyone who would shut up long enough for me to tell it. From this, I learned a valuable lesson: Not everyone is worthy of this story.

Too many, regretably, didn't appreciate or understand it. Too many couldn't relate to it. Too many just really didn't pay that much attention to, what I believe is, a magnificent story.

Today, I only share this with people whom, I believe, will truly comprehend the magnitude of what was a singular and salient event in my life and that of my family. If you reach the end of this tale, you must certainly be part of this group.

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My family had talked about going to Washington, D.C. for several years. My daughter had heard the story of my trip to Arlington Cemetery during my service years more times than her young mind, or my old one, could remember.

So, at last, the time for vacation arrived and we headed northeast in a rented car with little more than vague plans to see the main attractions of D.C. that any patriotic American would want to visit. These of course included, Arlington, the Washington Mall, the George Washington Masonic Memorial and, of course, Mount Vernon.

The first day was the Masonic Memorial. The second was Arlington and the Mall. The third was, best of all, Mount Vernon.

We made the drive to Washington's home on the Potomac River. It was, seemingly, off the beaten path. Of course, there were easy access roads and we found plenty of parking where still many trees were growing, giving it a very forested look.

For whatever reason, we decided to check out the gift shop first. That went well, since we found some useful information there, plus we purchased our daughter, Natalie, an awesome three-cornered hat.

We moved on to the admission booth, paid our fees and entered the plantation. We passed through new construction and I was pleased to see that the old place was receiving a renovation. There were paths and flowers and a road ascending a small rise making for a nice little walk. Suddenly, we found ourselves standing at gates opening before a long carriage path leading to the residence, which seemed to tower before our eyes, about a hundred yards from where we stood.

Soon, we saw signs pointing the way to various points of interest and I took quick note of one giving direction to the family tomb. I, of course, quickly made a bee-line, with family in tow, for that portion of the tour.

We meandered down a short hill on the pea-gravel road following further markers which pointed our way. We walked past fields and a barn with a mule, turned left and quickly found the red brick sepulchre. There, we approached a wrought iron gate that kept the public at barely more than arm's length from the two sarcophagi holding General Washington and his dearly beloved, Martha.

It was a heady experience just standing there at those gates. I repeatedly pointed out to my precious child that we were ever so close to greatness. I told her that we were standing ever so close to the greatest American of all. To say that I was in awe, would definitely understate my feelings at that moment.

I found myself almost transfixed. I couldn't pull myself away from this, might I call it, presence. I was thoroughly basking in the moment.

After some time, I noticed a guide talking to a group of tourists, sharing fascinating facts and anecdotes about the farm, the General's life there and the tomb itself. My family and I paused listening intently to his commentaries. Before very long, I had virtually joined them, standing at almost the very back of the crowd. Next, something happened that will affect myself and my family for as long as we live.

The man continued by asking the group if there were any veterans present. I thought, as often happens at public events, he merely wished to recognize the veterans in attendance that day. No one quickly answered, so, after a quick look around, I raised my hand and stated, "I'm a veteran." He made some positive remarks regarding that and continued with his discourse. Soon thereafter, he asked if their were any school children present. This time, I boldly spoke up and said, "My daughter's in school; she's home schooled."

Next thing I knew, I got what might've been the shock of my life. The guide asked us if we would be interested in helping with the daily wreath-laying ceremony inside the President's tomb. I was so completely aghast that I couldn't even speak. I'm quite sure I looked brainless to the man as I stood, gasping for air like a landed fish.

He obviously didn't know how to interpret my response since he told me that I didn't have to participate. I managed to cough out words to the effect that I really wanted to, but didn't feel worthy. He spoke reassuringly and invited my daughter and I to accompany him to the crypt, explaining to us what would be required during the ensuing ritual.

We proceeded to the tomb where he removed a barrier rope, unlocked the gates and opened them widely. He further explained to the audience that this ceremony had been performed by many heads of state, including Churchill, I noted. (I actually saw George W. Bush perform this ceremony on television later that year.) He explained that a type of green plant growing there on the plantation, (I forget the name,) was used for the ceremony and that it took place once a day in the winter and twice a day in the summer, as I recall.

After he completed his remarks, we joined together in patriotic song. (For the life of me, I can't remember which one.) Per his orders, Natalie and I picked up the wreath, which was on a prepared stand, stepped into the tomb, placed it between the saints reposing there and pivoted with big smiles on our faces. Before our exit he encouraged my darling wife, Roberta, to take pictures and video of the moment.

Just before this, the moment after we turned from placing the wreath, I had an epiphany, I suppose. As I stood there beside the remains of the father of our country, a thousand thoughts and feelings rushed through my already soaring mind. Almost without thinking, yet, still knowing exactly what I was doing, I reached my hand down and, ever so lightly, stroked the edge of Washington's sarcophagus. Had I thought more about it, I would likely not have done so.

Now, this is, sadly, the point where I've seen far too many eyes glaze over and lost more than one listener. To try to explain to the profane and ignorant why I would do such a thing, I have found to be completely impossible. I have discovered that if I have to try to explain this one seminal event to you, I simply cannot! Yet, it was the most moving and affective part of the entire ceremony for me. If you are numbered among the mind-numbed who think it strange that I made it a point to do such a thing, I would only want to ask you, "Wouldn't you have done the same?" If you answer, "No," then you are not among those who have made it thus far in this discourse.

I thanked this unnamed park guide profusely and tried explaining to him what an honor this was for my daughter and I. I conveyed that it was a double honor since I was currently serving as Worshipful Master of my Lodge and that, of course, Washington had held the same office in his own. He asked me to sign a simple notebook with mine and my daughter's names and explained that these would be added to the archives of the home, along with the names of others who had performed the same ceremony as a perpetual memorial, so to speak, that we had been participants in this most honorable event. We lingered there, of course, for some minutes, and finally made our way from the grave site.

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed and overjoyed. A feeling overcame me that was not unexpected, but tremendously more emotionaly powerful than for which I was prepared. We walked for a minute or so and I tried to discuss the swarm of emotions that were presently coursing through me, but found that there were no words. My wife and child smiled and the former remarked how I had really, in so many words, had a fine day. To this, I agreed.

I'll freely admit that I'm not a man who is above crying. I've cried at births and funerals and even at the right moment in just the right movie. I've cried when I've felt the Spirit of God sweep over me in a way that only He can do. No, I don't cry at the drop of a hat. Still, I do sometimes cry.

Well, I'm not ashamed to say that this is one time when I did cry. I broke down and cried like a baby! I don't mean dainty little tears that barely reached half-way down my cheeks. I cried the tears of a man who had been broken and humbled in a way that he will experience not even a handful of times in his life. I cried, I cried and then, I cried some more. I cried great heaving, uncontrollable sobs. I blubbered! I wept!

Now if I have to explain to you what it meant to stand at this grave and take part in this ceremony along with my darling daughter, I can't. If I have to explain to you why I was so swept up in the moment, being at the tomb of the man who did more for me than any other American, I can't. If I have to explain to you why it affected me so to be allowed to pay this tribute to the man without whom there would be no United States of America, I cannot.

My father was a decorated combat veteran of WW II, but he held the same esteem for General Washington as I. My Savior is the God of the universe and no one has done more for me than He. Nothing I say is to diminish their sacrifice for my life and salvation. These men are more important to me and mine than I can ever articulate. They are the reason I am the man, if any man at all, I am today.

The honors confered upon me in my life are few and far between. I've proudly worn the uniform of my country, being honorably discharged and receiving the good conduct medal. I've been bestowed with at least one honor that is "emblematical of purity and all perfection." I was elected Worshipful Master of my Lodge and dubbed Sir Knight of the Templar Knights in my local Commandery. I've performed many Masonic funerals for brethren who have "sought admittance into the Celestial Lodge above." I'm honored to have a wife and child who love me dearly. I'm proud to be an American! Still, I can say with certainty, that this, along with those others in my life, was truly more honor than I deserve.

Labels: Arlington National Cemetery, D.C., Freemason, Geore Washington, graving, honor, Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, Potomic River, Templar Knights, three-cornered hat, vacation, Worshipful Master

So, our vice-president got caught with his dirty foot in his mouth again. What else is new?

Alright, I admit Vice-President Cheney used the word in anger against a Congressman. I didn't approve then and I don't approve now. I won't attempt to make either appear more acceptable, but I can't help but wonder one thing.

Is this the way our vice-president talks normally. Does he use language like this habitually? Does he use it casually? Is this just a normal part of his vernacular? It appears to be.

For "Say It Ain't So" Joe to be so easily caught whispering such filthy language in the ear of our president, is just totally unnerving. He even said it with a smile.

Of course, this discussion begs another question. Is this the kind of language our president uses. Was this just a simple matter of course for him? Would he have not noticed it if it not been on national television and in front of an open microphone?

I guess it's true what I always say, if there are no words you won't use, then there's nothing you won't say. Wash your mouth out with soap, Joe!

Labels: Barack Obama, cursing, Joe Biden, swearing

This is an email I sent to Bill O'Reilly Recently. I haven't gotten an answer yet.

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Dear Bill:

Love your show and watch it on a more-or-less regular basis. I must say, though, that I was shocked and stupefied when you began your broadcast tonight with the words, "Thanks for watching the first Factor of the new decade."

Come on, Bill! You know the new decade doesn't begin until 2011! I know you can count to ten. I was perturbed to hear the asinine teleprompter readers say in 2000, "The start of the new millennium" only to hear them whisper at the start of 2001, "This is actually the start of the new millennium."

I didn't expect the same in-crowd dribble from you that I hear from the rest of the talking heads on t.v. I suppose it doesn't really matter when the decade starts of you don't care about math or a simple thing like the truth.

I still think your great, most of the time, but would be amiss if I said I'm not disappointed to hear you, of all people, tow the line this way.
Thanks for watching out for us!

Labels: Bill O'Reilly, decade, talking heads, truth

I wonder why is it that any style or genre of music, (except, perhaps, Country & Western,) as long as it's performed by a "black artist," qualifies for the Soul Train or B.E.T. awards. Yet, if Clarence Thomas and Alan Keyes don't tow the line of the liberal agenda as laid out by the left, they say, "They aren't really black."

I wonder why is it that our president, who has as much white heritage as black, is automatically considered "African-American" simply because he has some measure of African blood. (Or, is it simply the way he looks?) Yet, Bill Clinton was called by many the "first black president" because he came from a broken home and always was just one step ahead of the law.

America has fought a civil war, endured decades of segregation, even apartheid, passed several Constitutional amendments and suffered more lynchings than I can stomach to contemplate. Was it all so simple-minded bigots can make asinine pronouncements like "He's black" or "He's white" in a disgusting attempt to frighten and manipulate the uninformed mob? Was it merely so the narrow-minded can foist upon the willingly ignorant masses their myopic schemes of control through fear, intimidation and political correctness? Has our country learned no more than that? Have we, as Americans, learned no more than that? So much for judging a man by the "content of his character."

When I see my president, I don't see a black man who has overcome generations of struggle against hate in our great,but imperfect, nation. No, I just see another white liberal trying to take my freedom away from me and my family.

So, I ask myself a question: Who is the real bigot here? The bigots are the ones who want to cram everyone into nice, neat little boxes that fit whatever particular political or social agenda they possess at any given moment. As I write this blog, I can't help but wonder, what they will do with Darius Rucker?

Labels: Africa, Alan Keyes, apartheid, B.E.T., Barack Obama, bigotry, Bill Clinton, Clarence Thomas, Darius Rucker, prejudice, Soul Train

Sheesh!!! I just heard Mike Wilbon, who co-hosts "Pardon the Interruption" on ESPN, call Rush Limbaugh a "bigot." The story is that Rush, news to me, is buying in on the St. Louis Rams. Some black players on the team are saying they'll refuse to play for him.(They better have good lawyers if they breach their contracts.) Wilbon even tried to claim that Rush has made favorable statements about antebellum slavery! Of course, Tony Kornheiser, in true white-guilt fashion, amened Wilbon's uninformed, obnoxious statements.

Well, pardon my interruption, but that is a pile of manure! That's an ugly, ugly red herring!

I am way, way, way over tired of people who never listen to Rush, do not agree with him on his politics and are offended by his rock-ribbed confidence throw the "bigot" word around. Even poor, pathetic Jimmy Carter says that if you don't agree with our president, it's because you're a racist. I am way, way, way over tired of people who never listen to Rush, or myself, accusing us of racism and bigotry because we won't give in to their political terrorism. Small thoughts for small minds.

I suppose that since I don't like Al Gore, I should never buy another Apple Computer? I suppose because I don't like most of the actors in Hollywood, I should never watch another movie?

Ninety-plus percent of black voters consistently vote Democrat in national and state elections. Now, a statistic like that begs the question that liberal media will never ask: "Exactly who are the bigots here?"

P.S. I had to look these birds names up on the internet. They're really not famous enough for me to know them.

Labels: Apple Computers, bigotry, ESPN, hollywood, Jimmy Carter, Mike Wilbon, NFL, Rush Limbaugh, Tony Kornheiser, Volunteer Football

Well, I suppose I've got to get my two cents in on this topic. Everybody else has.

Does anyone believe that Barack Hussein Obama, huh, huh, huh, didn't get a big ego kick out of the children being taught to sing his praises? Does anyone really think that it's o.k. to change the words to traditional Gospel songs like, "Jesus Loves the Little Children," and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to sing praises to any politician?

Does anyone believe that if similar songs to George Bush were sung during his presidency, that the "main stream media" wouldn't have had a cow? Does anyone believe that if similar songs to Ronald Reagan were sung during his presidency, that the "main stream media" wouldn't have gone apoplectic?

I've seen the old thirties film of children singing praises to Hitler in Nazi Germany. Does anyone believe that there really is a difference?

Labels: Adolph Hitler, Barack Obama, children, Jeusus, Nazis

I saw a car today with an "Obama-Biden 2008" sticker on the back. Just above and to the right of it was one of those Christian fish symbols.

I thought, "What an incongruity!" Then I thought, "I wonder how the driver would feel if Obama aborted her fish."

Labels: Barack Obama, bumper stickers, Christian, fish

I am sick at my stomach and thoroughly frosted over the sycophantic press coverage around the death of Saint Teddy the Devine. I suppose they were all trying to make sure they got an invitation to the most recent Kennedy funeral.

Mary Jo Kopechne did not get such favorable coverage. She didn't have the droves of grievers at her funeral. She did get a lot of very catty remarks made in the press about her and her relationship with the married junior-senator.

Somebody tell me, please, just what Teddy Kennedy ever, in his entire life, did for this nation! There is really no major legislation that bears his name. (Except, maybe "No Child Left Behind." Sheesh!) He was a boozer, a philander and a murderer. Not to mention, there was no pile of dead babies stacked high enough to constrain him to be true to his supposed Catholic upbringing and do even the very least to protect the unborn. No, he was more interested in the campaign money he was getting from N.O.W., Planned Parenthood, (there's an Orwellian name for you,) et al.

Teddy Kennedy, like so many in the political world today, was famous for being famous. He was famous, and admired, because he was a Kennedy. John was a war hero; Bobby was, well, he was John's brother too.

I've heard several quotes from the butt-kissing, unashamed liars on the boob-tube, trying to paint Teddy as a statesman who was above the fray. What a load of hog manure!

He was a bitter, jealous man who hated anything remotely attached to traditional family values or genuine Godliness. I've even heard them absurdly claim he never attacked his political adversaries but reached out to them on many occasions. Well, here's one of Teddy's more civil comments concerning George Bush and the war on terror. (Which was, incidently, a war which Teddy never supported.)

"There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud."

Here, Teddy stooped so low as to accuse George Bush of manufacturing the war on terror, killing thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians, not to mention the thousands of Americans dead, just to advance his own political career. How would Teddy have felt if someone accused John of doing the same thing in Southeast Asia for his own political aggrandizement?

One interesting thing I heard a few years ago is that the Kennedy's are practicaly broke. (Yeah, pretty much down to their last millions. ha!)They've all lived off of Joe P. Kennedy's money for so long that there's almost none left. The rest of the clan has really done nothing productive. (John-John, I think, was the exception.) They're just a bunch of politicians living off trust funds and the tax-payer dollar. Exactly like the tics in my back yard, they're nothing but a bunch of parasites who refuse to get a real job.

Honestly, I would love to be able to just simply say a prayer for the family and forget about all the rest of the dumb stuff, but the over-the-top acclamation for a man who came nowhere near accomplishing anything truly meaningful in his life, is almost more than I can bare. John was a bone-fide war hero; Bobby did...well, not that much either; Teddy was good at getting himself reelected and that for no other reason than his family name. Nothing would please me more than to let this family grieve and say narry a negative word about the deceased senator. The fact is, the poop is being thrown so hard and so fast it's nearly impossible for me to keep from screaming.

Probably, the most nauseating part of this whole burlesque is that Teddy qualifies for burial at Arlington. As a vet myself, I've made it a point to keep up with the regulations for Arlington internment and I don't qualify. Yet, there is this loophole that allows him to slip in since he is a both a veteran and U.S. Senator. (These shiftless civil-servants always take care of one another.) Although I seriously would take nothing away from Senator Kennedy's honorable, yet, uneventful time in the service, the limitied space at Arlington, should be saved for veterans with more exalted service.

I'm only glad there are no more Kennedy brothers. One more Kennedy burial at Arlington and there won't be any space for the real heroes of our nation. Wouldn't it be perfect irony if they transported Teddy's remains to Chappaquiddick and buried him at sea?

Labels: Arlington National Cemetery, Chappaquiddick Island, funerals, John Kennedy, Jr., Mary Jo Kopechne, politics, Senate, Sr., Teddy Kennedy. John Kennedy, veterans

This is a letter I wrote to the local newspaper a couple of years ago concerning out state lottery. I was recently perusing it and decided I'd like to add it here.

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So, you think you’ve heard the last word on the lottery. I only wish it were so. I hear it every time I listen to radio or pick up the newspaper.

I’ll not hide my disgust over Tennessee finally succumbing to the “quick buck” crowd and amending our Constitution, allowing the lottery camel to not only get his nose in the tent, but to bring in his whole big, fat hump! (I’m sure you’ve heard the analogy.) I believe that gambling is a sin and I’ll be happy to tell anyone who asks me, I think exactly that. I’ve fussed and fumed and campaigned against allowing the beast in, but I, along with the apparent minority of Tennesseans who saw the monster for what it is, lost our battle to follow the wisdom and morality our legislature has shown for more than a century.

As for those who said, “It’s for the children,” the only thing that’s
holding them down, considering how full of hot air they are, must be their big feet. If they are so concerned about “the children,” then why haven’t they been donating that $20, $50 or more a month that they will spend on the lottery, to the schools for all these years to pay for books, computers, improved infrastructure or even raises for teachers. If they would be truthful about it, they are less concerned about “the children,” than the prospect, albeit a slim one, of becoming an instant millionaire. The intellectual dishonesty of our state legislators and community and educational leaders is, at best, nauseating and, at worst, sinful. One might argue whether or not gambling is a sin, but I guarantee you it’s a sin to give more money to politicians .

Still, there is more to this little varmint than most will admit. The truth is, it’s really all about an income tax.

You say, “How in the world do you figure that?” Well, lets put on our
little thinking caps for a minute and imagine this scenario: The first lottery winner receives, let’s say, ten million dollars. Assuming he takes it in a lump sum, he’ll pay a couple million social security taxes, about the same federal taxes and that would leave him a cool six million. Not a bad little sum. The only taxes he has left to pay are sales taxes on that new Hummer he’s finally got the bucks for.

Think a little further: what if he decides to do all of his spending in a
state, like Georgia, where the sales tax is half ours? Or even worse, he
pulls up stakes and moves there. What if he’s not a Tennessee resident in the first place, and takes all of his left-overs to California, New York or wherever he lives, and there pays another two million or so in state income tax. (That’s part of the twisted irony of this whole lottery business. Some hot shot wins a hundred million dollars, but, by the time the feds and the state gets through taxing him, he takes home half or less. Granted, fifty million is still a lot of cash, but it would really frost me to know the government got fifty million of my hard “won” cash!) Now, when this high-roller leaves our state without us getting a nickel back, as all other lottery states do, can’t you just hear our legislators and governor whining that it’s not right for other states to get the money that Tennessee would’ve gotten if only we had an income tax? (If I’ve thought of it, you know they have.)

Can’t you just hear them now: “It would only be a small tax on the
lottery winners. All we need is a constitutional amendment allowing us, your trusted Representatives and your honest governor, to pass this teeny-weeny income tax...for the children.” Then let the games begin! It’s bad enough that we are taxed on everything we spend or eat or drive, walk on, in or around, but when they get there mitts on our paychecks where they can take it before we even see it...sheesh! (Remember, Dr. Frankenstein thought his creation beautiful until he gave it life and it killed everyone he loved.)

You can say I’m going off the deep end, but history will bear me out. Our original U.S. Constitution forbade an income tax, but fast-talking politicians, complaining about rich robber barons, convinced our
slow-thinking citizenry to accept the sixteenth amendment allowing a, reportedly, small income tax on only the richest of Americans. They argued that these evil rich could afford it and it was time to spread the wealth around. I’m sure they must have told their constituents, “It’s for the children.” The rest is history.

If you’re in doubt, just take another look at your paycheck and take a
serious listen to these politicians who can always give themselves raises and yet, can’t balance the state check book. These are the same guys who tell you the lottery is “for the children.” Well, it may be for their children, but not for mine.

Labels: children, gambling, government, lottery, sin, taxes, Tennessee

I recently heard Nancy Pelosi (yech!) commenting on her view of the "Cap and Tax" bill. She said that it is "...a bill to honor our moral responsibility to protect God's beautiful creation by preserving the planet."

For a second there, she scared me. At first I thought she was referring to unborn babies.

Labels: abortion, God, Nancy Pelosi, nature, taxes

Seventy-two virgins? That's the reward Allah has waiting for his favorite servants? Sex? The highest pinnacle of Heaven is sex? With virgins? That's the best they have to offer?

Most Muslims live in a society where girls are old maids at sixteen. So, what could possibly be the age of these "virgins"? Furthermore, what are the implications of dirty old men committing suicide for Allah so they can be rewarded with intercourse with eleven and twelve year old girls? What are we to infer from the fact that these dirty old men find that appealing?

I like what one comedian said. He remarked, "They won't be virgins for long." How true! Then, what's next, I wonder. Once your supply of virgins is depleted, what does Allah have in store for his little nest of perverts?

I suppose once you understand radical Islams attitude toward little girls, it helps you understand their attitude toward suicide for God. In both cases, they are really, really twisted.

Labels: Allah, Heaven, Islam, terrorists, virgins

So, Mancow decided to have himself water boarded. I saw the video on You Tube. He lasted less than five seconds, setting up from the table, coughing and spitting and complaining. He said that it really was torture. Then he rambled on about nearly drowning as a child.

I only know Mancow from Fox News. He's always entertaining and seems to be consistently conservative. Mostly, the guy is manic. Oh, boy, I mean, manic!

So, I see him subject himself to this "enhanced interrogation technique," known as water boarding, only to say, in his analysis, that it is torture. Say it? He couldn't shut up about it! For a man who was just subjected to "torture," he didn't have any problem running his mouth ninety miles an hour just like he always does.

I know John McCain says water boarding is torture, but let's be real about it. What I saw happen to Mancow doesn't even begin to compare to what happened to our servicemen at the hands of the Germans, Japanese, North Koreans or in the Hanoi Hilton.

Come on, people! Let's have a little perspective about things!

If I ever hear a presidential candidate stand up and say, "If we have a terrorist in custody, who our intelligence causes us to believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, has information about an impending plot to kill hundreds or even thousands of Americans, I will personally pull his fingernails out one by one until he tells us where the bomb is hidden." That man will get my vote!

Labels: John McCain, Mancow, presidential campaign, torture, water board

Imagine, if you will, that the police raid an apartment on a tip that a violent crime was just committed there. They quickly arrive at the apartment, only to find upon entrance, a man, covered with blood, and no one else present.

Now, the officers would certainly arrest him, for obvious reasons, until they could determine if a crime had actually been committed. The man, wisely, kept his mouth shut and called his lawyer.

His lawyer advised him to continue to exercise his right to remain silent. He told him, "I'll handle everything."

The prosecutor was bright and ambitious and decided to have the man arraigned, though there was no body. Still, he felt sure that he could convince the jury that, simply because the accused was shrewd enough to dispose of the remains, that was no reason to let him get away with murder. He declared, "With all of this blood, surely we'll get a conviction."

The trial commenced and the attorneys did a great job arguing their respective cases. The defense argued that there was no body, so, there was no conclusive evidence that a murder had taken place. The prosecutor argued that DNA evidence proved the blood was human, therefore, even though the accused craftily disposed of the remains, that was not cause to let him go free.

Both sides were persuasive, yet, in the end, the jury found the man guilty. They felt, even without the body, a crime had been committed. The human blood was proof enough for them.

At this point, the man, on his lawyer's advice, decided it was time to confess to the truth of what had happened. This was his last chance for freedom. So, he admitted that he had, perhaps, taken a life, but not in the way it seemed.

He explained that he was a physician and had received a call from a frantic female friend of the family who had become, unexpectedly, pregnant. She begged him to perform an abortion and keep it secret from her husband and the rest of the family. After some persuasion, the doctor reluctantly agreed to meet her at a secluded motel, perform the operation, and they could both slip away without anyone knowing.

The story became more loathsome when he confessed further that, even though in the first trimester, the child was, he believed, viable. This was a terrible situation for himself and the "mother." She vehemently begged him to dispose of the infant in spite of its budding health. At this point, he agreed it was best for her and him if he did exactly that.

He continued that after terminating the fetus, he disposed of the remains in a fashion that he felt would leave no evidence. Perhaps all the blood and the sound of a hysterical woman kept him from being as surreptitious as he would have liked to have been. Apparently, someone at the hotel became suspicious and called law enforcement.

His lawyer argued that he had not committed a murder, but had merely performed a private health service for a distraught woman. He further argued that thousands of such procedures are performed every day well within the confines of federal law. Therefore, he asserted the judge must overturn the conviction and release the doctor. This was the conundrum in which the judge found himself.

Sadly, the same basic scenario occurs on a daily basis in America and around the world. Women "choose" to abort their children and it's considered, by some, to be nothing more than a "medical procedure." You know, much like an appendectomy or removing a gall bladder, they claim.

In most states, first trimester abortions are protected by federal, state, and local law. Some even are allowed much later in pregnancy, such as in partial birth abortions.

Far to many Americans' have a cavalier attitude toward the unborn. This is a never ending source of amazement to me. Still, a simple DNA test can prove the pre-delivery child to be human. Yet, far too many don't consider it wrong to arbitrarily end its life. Far toomany of us have hearts that are cold as stone and just as hard.

So, should the doctor be found guilty of murder? Is there any difference, practically speaking, between what he did and what doctors do in abortion clinics daily? Should the judge let the doctor go? Should he, legally speaking, be set free?

If you had the power to decide, what would you do? Actually, when you support those who support this heartless sort of thinking, you do have the power. You know what they say: With great power comes great responsibility. What will you do with that power?

Labels: abortion, DNA, murder